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The NBA free agency affords teams the chance to add that “missing piece” or completely overhaul their franchise. While some head for the cellars to rebuild, others spend enormous amounts to bring glory to their respective teams. The free agency is always a safer bet when compared to the draft.
Whether it is through money (Brooklyn Nets), the city (Los Angeles, Miami) or legacy (Lakers, Celtics), in a market that is ruled by the players rather than the teams, the name of the game is wooing; and playing the free market is a tough game.
Three years ago it was Miami Heat and if you look further back to 2007, it was the Boston Celtics, who built their respective “big three” that has redefined the history of these franchises in years to come.
Like every year, there were the big movers and shakers. Here are the five big winners from 2013:
Anthony Bennett of UNLV reacts after he was drafted #1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 27, 2013 in in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. (Getty Images)
5) Cleveland Cavaliers
Notable additions: Andrew Bynum, Jarrett Jack, Anthony Bennett, Earl Clark
Notable losses: None
Kyrie Irving is well on his way to becoming a superstar but as one similar ex- Cleveland superstar found out, you just can’t do it all on your own. Enter Andrew Bynum.
When healthy, Bynum is arguably among the three best centres in the league. With a partially guaranteed contract, Bynum is a gamble that Cleveland can well afford to take. If Bynum remain healthy, then the word is “look out”.
Jarrett Jack, off of his best year at Golden State, will not only give the Cavs the punch off the bench but also frees second year guard and last year number three pick, Dion Waiters to concentrate on strictly off-guard duties.
Then there is the case of Anthony Bennett, who was chosen with Cleveland’s second number one pick in the space of three years. The pick certainly bewildered the experts but the value of Bennett as the alpha pick, will only be determined as time goes on.
Add the hard-working Earl Clark and Anderson Varejao, who is returning from a season-ending injury and you have a core group of players that can do some real damage.
Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a photo on July 11, 2013 at the GS Warriors practice facility in Oakland, California. (Getty Images)
Notable additions: Andre Iguodala, Toney Douglas, Marreese Speights
Notable losses: Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry
The Warriors were the find of last season as they finally made their mark in the Western Conference, the first time since 2007. Stephen Curry came alive in the playoffs and with help from a finally injury-free Andrew Bogut and Klay Thompson, plotted the downfall of the much fancied Denver Nuggets.
To improve matters heading into this season, the signing of perennial All-Star small forward Andre Iguodala to a four-year, $48 million sign-and-trade would go a long way to give them the boost that they need. Iguodala’s presence alone would sky-rocket Warriors’ defensive efficiency from 19th to 11th and is an improvement over both Harrison Barnes and Thompson in term of taking over the play-making duties.
Iguodala’s presence however meant that the Warriors weren’t able to sign two of their potent weapons off the bench. Jarrett Jack and the hard-working Carl Landry were the price that the Warriors had to pay for Iguodala’s capture but that’s where Toney Douglas and Marreese Speights come in.
The bottom line of their season may however still be defined by the presence/absence of their oft injured Aussie, Bogut. If Bogut can remain injury free this season, then the Californians are going to have a hell of a time.
Kevin Garnett #2, Paul Pierce #34, and Jason Terry #31 of the Brooklyn Nets pose with their new jerseys during a press conference at the Barclays Center on July 18, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Getty Images)
3) Brooklyn Nets
Notable additions: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, Andrei Kirilenko
Notable losses: Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Kris Joseph
Back in 2009 when Mikhail Prokhorov announced that he would bring a championship to the Nets within five years, he certainly wasn’t kidding. Since then he has moved the team to Brooklyn, signed perennial All-Star Deron Williams as the cornerstone, traded for the obnoxious contract of Joe Johnson and signed Brook Lopez to a max deal. It doesn’t end there however.
The Nets’ owner seems to have done the math and has come to the conclusion that if they can’t beat the Heat in the East by quality, then they would do so by numbers. With the acquisition of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry from the Celtics, they now have a starting 5 of 5 present/ex All-Stars. They didn’t end there.
Soon Prokhorov would wield his political powers back home in Russia to get the versatile Andrei Kirilenko to agree to a $3.1million deal after the Russian opted out of a $10million final year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This means they will now have a further two ex-All Stars coming off the bench. How about that for an off-season? The only question mark that still remains is whether or not rookie coach Jason Kidd can work this band of stars to function as one unit.
Doc Rivers poses for a portrait after being introduced as the new head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Clippers during a press conference at the Los Angeles Clippers training center on June 26, 2013 in Playa Vista, California. (Getty Images)
Notable additions: Chris Paul (re-signed), Doc Rivers (head coach), Jared Dudley, J.J. Reddick, Matt Barnes (re-signed), Darren Collison, Ryan Hollins
Notable losses: Caron Butler, Eric Bledsoe, Chauncey Billups
Not many might have noticed but Chris Paul was a free-agent in this year’s free agency as well. Paul never made the headlines as he set about orchestrating the moves for the Clippers, acting as de-facto GM. The signing may not have his name in the box scores but it certainly was the acquisition of Doc Rivers to push the Clippers to the next level.
The names that would take to the hardwood would follow suit to play under one of the most revered coaches in the NBA. The Doc Rivers signing inherently meant CP3 signing up for the long term, which was quickly followed by the signings of sharp-shooter J.J. Reddick and effective yet much-underrated Jared Dudley.
While the Clippers parted with the rising point guard Eric Bledsoe, they gave Paul an ideal back up in Darren Collison while also resigning their perimeter defence specialist in the form of Matt Barnes.
Houston Rocktes head coach Kevin McHale (L) and Dwight Howard hold up his new jersey during a press conference on July 13, 2013 in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)
Notable additions: Dwight Howard, Aaron Brooks, Omri Casspi, Reggie Williams, Francisco Garcia (re-signed), Marcus Camby
Notable losses: Carlos Delfino
One year ago, Daryl Morey swung for the fences. After the NBA rejected a trade deal that would have brought Pau Gasol to the Rockets, Morey cleared the farm for a shot at bringing Dwight Howard down south.
The Rockets’ General Manager let go of the improving Goran Dragic, traded the impressive Kyle Lowry while amnestying Luis Scola, who had become one with the franchise after playing for the Rockets his entire time in the NBA.
When D12 bolted for Los Angeles, Morey’s dream seemed shattered. Then the James Harden trade happened. With “the Beard” churning up an All-Star season in Houston, the Rockets went into the playoffs with help from Jeremy Lin and Omar Asik.
This year, Morey finally got his wish. They got the big fish, the alpha male of the free agency, Dwight Howard. With Howard coming on board to help the franchise which already has a well-oiled functioning core of players in Harden, Lin, Asik and Chandler Parsons, the NBA has its new monster.
The addition of Marcus Camby lends years of experience to the team, while the likes of Reggie Williams and defensive minded Francisco Garcia gives the team some real depth. The complete Houdini act was completed when Hakeem Olajuwon came on board as an assistant coach to the team.
Guess the Lakers players!
