Despite a shortened offseason compared to recent years, NBA free agency was still filled with many transactions, with teams landing All Stars via trade, signing quality veterans and young talent, or giving their own players lucrative new deals to secure their future.
But even though the wheeling and dealing may not yet be done, some signings are already better than others. Certain teams have made deals that are already looking better compared to others even if the season hasn’t started. From young players who could flourish in their new roles to veterans who could prove to be quality additions for their new teams, here are five of the biggest steals in the first few days of the NBA’s free agency:
1. Kris Dunn, Atlanta Hawks – two years, $10 million
After a three year absence, the Atlanta Hawks look ready to return to the playoffs as general manager Travis Schlenk and the front office made a series of moves to help young players Trae Young, John Collins, and Onyeka Okungwu, who they selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Aside from signing Danillo Gallinari and prying Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Sacramento Kings, the Hawks also signed Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo to mentor Young and inked Solomon Hill on a one-year deal.
But the addition of Chicago Bulls point guard Kris Dunn on a team-friendly two year, $10 million deal is also a solid signing for Atlanta. Dunn, the sixth overall pick in the 2016 Draft by the Bulls, is one of the league’s best defensive point guards and should complement Young and Rondo in the backcourt. In the 2019-2020 season, he averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds. 3.4 assists, and two steals in 51 games, while shooting 44.4% from the field and 25.9% from beyond the arc.
Though his offensive numbers were down last season, he thrived for the Bulls on defense, averaging a 3.8 percent steal rate, which led the NBA, and a 3.1 defensive box plus/minus rating. Dunn may not be the most offensively gifted backup point guard, but he should be able to help shadow some of the league’s best guards for a Hawks team that enters the season with high expectations.
2. Wesley Matthews, Los Angeles Lakers – one year, $3.6 million
Like the Hawks, the Lakers are also one of free agency’s biggest winners. Just over a month after lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, Rob Pelinka and the front office were able to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with a better supporting cast. The most obvious steal for the Lakers was nabbing reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell away from the Los Angeles Clippers and inking him to a two-year, $19 million deal.
But they might have gotten a better bargain in signing shooting guard Wesley Matthews, who joined the defending champions on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. In Matthews, the Purple and Gold will get a veteran who can shoot and defend and fill the void left by Danny Green, who was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the deal that sent Dennis Schroder to the Lakers before being shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers.
During his one season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Matthews averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 39.6% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc. But while Green earned $15 million from the Lakers while providing similar numbers, Matthews joins Los Angeles on a more team-friendly deal. With James and Davis getting a lot of attention from opposing defenses, look for Matthews to get a a lot of open looks and benefit from playing alongside two of the league’s best players next season.
3. Serge Ibaka, Los Angeles Clippers – two years, $19 million
Harrell’s move to the rival Lakers was surprising to a lot of people, including some of his Clippers teammates. The Clippers, however, were able to secure the services of another talented big man in Serge Ibaka, who left the Toronto Raptors to join former teammate Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles. Ibaka, who was projected to be one of the top free agents heading into the offseason, averaged a career-high 15.4 points last season and adding 8.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
Ibaka should help the Clippers after the departure of Harrell and JaMychal Green, and gives them more versatility on defense. The fact that Los Angeles signed a player of his caliber for two years and $19 million dollars, which covers the team’s mid-level exception, makes his signing one of the best deals this offseason. It’s not sure if the 31-year old will start in the place of big man Ivica Zubac, but he should be part of the team’s finishing lineup, where he can give Leonard and Paul George rim protection, rebounding, and shooting.
He’s not the same defender as he was when he was with the Thunder, when he was a three-time All Defensive First Team member and led the NBA in blocks twice, but he should be a better defender than Harrell even though he doesn’t bring as much on offense. With Leonard and George becoming free agents next season, the Clippers remain in win-now mode, and signing Ibaka on a team-friendly deal gives them a chance for redemption next season.
4. Harry Giles, Portland Trail Blazers – one year, veteran’s minimum
Another team that significantly got better after most of the wheeling and dealing in free agency are the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers’ most notable move is trading for wing Robert Covington, and the team also added the likes of Enes Kanter and Derrick Jones Jr. while bringing back Rodney Hood and Carmelo Anthony. Another transaction that might have flown under the radar was signing big man Harry Giles to a one year deal for the veteran’s minimum.
Giles, who is still just 22 years old, was the 20th overall pick in the 2017 Draft, and was actually selected by the Blazers before being traded to the Sacramento Kings. In the 2019-2020 season, he averaged 6.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, while shooting 55.4% from the field. Now, entering his third season after recovering from injury as a rookie, the veteran’s minimum should earn the former Duke big man around $1.6 million, which is a bargain considering his potential.
It’s unclear how much playing time he will get next to big men Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins, but the addition of Giles improves the Blazers front court and surrounds Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum with even more talent.
5. Kent Bazemore, Golden State Warriors – one year, $2.3 million
While a lot of free agents will be joining new teams, Kent Bazemore will be coming back to the team where he began his NBA career. Bazemore has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, the team that gave him his first opportunity to play in the league after he went undrafted out of Old Dominion in the 2012 Draft.
He didn’t get a lot of playing time in the Bay, however, and was traded just before the team started the dynasty that saw them win three championships and make five straight Finals appearances. Now, the 31-year old should be an important piece for a team looking to return to title contention, especially after they lost Klay Thompson to a season-ending Achilles injury. In the 2019-2020 season, Bazemore averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 37.5% from the field and 34.4% from downtown for the Trail Blazers and Kings.
The nine-year NBA veteran reportedly turned down at least eight teams to be reunited with former teammates Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and joined the Dubs on a cheap deal that doesn’t hurt their financial flexibility. Bazemore gives the Warriors shooting and defense, which they will need to keep up in what should be a tight race for the playoffs in the Western Conference.
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