It’s nine days into NBA free agency, and the monies are drying up quickly. There were going to be two philosophies after the other 28 teams watched Golden State whip Cleveland in the NBA Finals last month. Teams would either scrap their current plans and begin rebuilding for the long term or ramp up and try to compete with the Warriors.
Several teams in the Eastern Conference chose the former approach, including the Atlanta Hawks, who allowed Paul Millsap to walk without even making an offer and dealt Dwight Howard for spare parts. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, many teams have decided to load up their rosters to make runs at the Warriors. It will make for a fascinating regular season.
The disparity between the Western Conference and Eastern Conference is cyclical, and no reason to make drastic moves in terms of conference affiliation. Teams such as Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Miami, and Orlando are eventually going to rise again. But for now, the West is overwhelmingly better.
Who are the winners and losers in free agency so far? What teams are really making moves? Here is a list of teams who have made an impact during free agency.
Winners
Sacramento: The Kings drafted well — Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox along with North Carolina’s Justin Jackson, Duke’s Harry Giles, and Kansas’s Frank Mason — and followed that up with some astute free agent signings.
General manager Vlade Divac was heavily criticized for his return on trading DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans. But he was able to get a solid player in return — Buddy Hield — and start fresh with younger players. Divac then added veterans to make the Kings legitimate for the first time since the Chris Webber era.
George Hill can serve as a mentor to Fox and is also a solid scorer and distributor. Zach Randolph still has some post moves left and gives the Kings a tough guy in the middle. Vince Carter can do nothing but have a positive effect on his younger teammates.
Houston: The Rockets began the offseason frenzy by trading for point guard Chris Paul to pair with All-NBA guard James Harden. The Rockets have decided to at least nudge the Spurs as the second-best team in the West. Houston also re-signed center Nene to a below-market contract, keeping a serviceable player in Mike D’Antoni’s system, and then added gritty defender P.J. Tucker on a four-year pact. Houston, which didn’t have to give up a significant player, is still looking to add another piece — the main target is Carmelo Anthony — to really make things interesting for the Warriors.
Golden State: How did a team that has everything get more? The Warriors were able to re-sign Stephen Curry for the super-maxand they were also able to bring back Kevin Durant at a discounted rate. That enabled management to bring back Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. Both had appeared likely to leave for more money with other teams. The duo agreed to three-year deals, which means the core of the team will be together for a few more years.
Also, the Warriors were able to attract even more shooting in Omri Casspi, a onetime Celtics’ target, and the mercurial Nick Young, who could be a solid pickup if he’s mentally prepared. Zaza Pachulia agreed to return on a one-year contract, though fellow center JaVale McGee could depart. The league champions were able to upgrade an already formidable roster.
Minnesota: The Timberwolves began by trading for Jimmy Butler, only having to sacrifice an injured Zach LaVine and guard Kris Dunn, and then added toughness by signing Taj Gibson and a floor general in Jeff Teague. The Timberwolves had lost patience with Ricky Rubio’s inconsistent shooting. He is a solid point guard but shot 40.2 percent last season (a career high) and 30.6 percent from the 3-point line. The Wolves had to become more competitive after last season’s disappointment under coach Tom Thibodeau, and adding two ex-Bulls in Butler and Gibson make them a playoff lock.
Oklahoma City: Just when you thought Russell Westbrook was going to follow Durant out the door to greener free agent pastures next summer, the Thunder acquired Paul George for practically nothing. General manager Sam Presti gave up the bloated contract of Victor Oladipo and prospect Domantas Sabonis and no draft picks for a one-year chance to convince George to stay in OKC.
Oklahoma City’s major issue last season was a lack of shooting and Presti addressed that by signing Toronto stretch-four Patrick Patterson to a manageable three-year deal. Patterson gives Westbrook the long-range shooter he sorely lacked last season. Presti also re-signed defensive ace Andre Roberson to a three-year contract.
Los Angeles Clippers: This may seem to be a stretch to call the Clippers free agent winners, but Doc Rivers had to change the complexion of the team, and allowing Paul to go to Houston was one of those changes. The Clippers then acquired swingman Danilo Gallinari in a sign-and-trade deal, giving up Jamal Crawford.
Gallinari becomes the small forward the Clippers have been seeking for years. And he’ll pair nicely with the re-signed Blake Griffin, who wasn’t even allowed to hit free agency before the Clippers signed him to a five-year, $173 million extension. They also got Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, and Montrezl Harrell in the Houston deal, three solid depth players.
Rivers also signed crafty Serbian point guard Milos Teodosic to a two-year deal. He may be the best point guard outside of the NBA — a brilliant passer who has spent the past 10 years overseas, playing most recently for CSKA Moscow. The Clippers will be a different team, but perhaps better and more cohesive. Chemistry was always an issue with the Clippers and that had to be addressed this summer.
Losers
New York: The Knicks have gotten little accomplished this summer. They still have the bloated contract of Joakim Noah and still have Anthony on the roster. The organization parted ways with president Phil Jackson just after he made the decision to draft French point guard Frank Ntilikina. It’s uncertain how Ntilikina will fit into the team’s new system.
And general manager Steve Mills used some of the team’s available salary cap space to bring back swingman Tim Hardaway Jr., a player New York traded away two years ago for guard Jerian Grant, who has also since been traded. Hardaway had a strong season for the Hawks, but the Knicks offering him $71 million after essentially discarding him is a testament to the dysfunction of the Jackson era.
San Antonio: The best the Spurs could do is sign Rudy Gay, who is coming off a torn Achilles’. Other than that they missed on the opportunity to sign an heir apparent to Tony Parker with Paul going to Houston. And they also will have to deal with LaMarcus Aldridge, who was placed on the trade block during the draft with no takers. Aldridge doesn’t seem happy with the Spurs and the team doesn’t seem happy with him, either. But as of now, he’s staying put.
New Orleans: The Pelicans still have not proven to be a landing spot for quality free agents. Last year, general manager Dell Demps signed former Celtic E’Twaun Moore ($34 million) and Solomon Hill ($52 million) and the two combined to average 15.6 points per game. Demps re-signed Jrue Holiday, who has battled injuries over his career, to a five-year, $125 million extension. That gives the Pelicans a formidable Big Three with Anthony Davis and Cousins, health permitting, but Demps has not been able to surround that trio with capable complements.
Cleveland: The Cavaliers haven’t improved at all this offseason because they still lack a GM. David Griffin was not brought back despite putting together the team that won Cleveland’s first major professional sports championship in 52 years.Team owner Dan Gilbert sought Chauncey Billupsto replace Griffin, but he reportedly offered the former NBA star a below-market salary to become team president. Billups rejected the offer and went back to playing in the Big3 League with his retired brethren.
The Cavaliers added Jeff Green on a one-year deal and did re-sign Kyle Korver because salary cap constraints didn’t give them much choice, but they now are in the process of trying to dump the contract of Iman Shumpert on another club. Kevin Love is Cleveland’s only viable trade option but many teams aren’t interested in Love because of perceived limitations.
Dallas: The Mavericks want to be contenders as long as Dirk Nowitzki is in uniform, but they aren’t an attractive free agent destination with their aging roster.
They were able to get Harrison Barnes on a maximum contract last summer but they still have two more years of paying Wesley Matthews and are saving money to match any offer for Nerlens Noel. It’s not like the Mavericks have missed out on any major free agents but they are also a franchise that is becoming increasingly overshadowed by the more aggressive and formidable teams in the Western Conference.
ETC.
Romar praises Thomas’s growth
Lorenzo Romar coached Isaiah Thomas in college and the former University of Washington coach has watched the pint-sized point guard transform into a two-time NBA All-Star. Thomas led the Celtics to a 53-win season and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and then endured tragedy during the playoffs with the death of his younger sister.
Romar, now an assistant coach at the University of Arizona, praised Thomas for his growth. He recruited a then 5-foot-7-inch Thomas out of Curtis High School in University Place, Wash. Thomas emerged in college as an all-conference guard before entering the draft after his junior season and then flourishing with the Sacramento Kings despite being the final pick in the draft.
“I believe it was the first time in Isaiah’s life that he couldn’t will it to be better,’’ Romar said of Thomas’s sister’s tragic death.“When he was in high school, school wasn’t as much a priority for him his first few years. And his back was against the wall to be eligible and he got after that — not only willed himself into becoming not only a fine student but going on to college and graduating, even though he left early.
“On the basketball floor, him not being the tallest guy and people doubting him all the time, he’s somehow been able to will himself to do these things. He seems to have fought through it.’’
Romar said one of his biggest challenges was to encourage Thomas to focus on anything other than basketball. But that is the passion that fueled Thomas to being an NBA standout when the perception was he would never even crack a roster.
“It depends on how talented they are,’’ Romar said when asked about encouraging players to think nothing but basketball. “If they have no talent, then you have to encourage them to do other things. When they have a chance to make it, they’re not going to listen to you anyway. You can plant seeds in the event when that day [basketball career] is over, I encourage them to pursue other interests.
“Like Isaiah went back and got his degree [from Washington]. You try to encourage Markelle [Fultz] to come back and get his degree at some point. You have to make them think.’’
Romar said he recalls a conversation with Thomas when he decided to skip his senior season and enter the draft.
“I said, ‘Isaiah, you know if you come back for another year you will be the all-time leading steals, all-time assists, and scoring leader in this school’s history,’ ’’ Romar said. “That’s what I said to him. And he said, ‘Coach, I know. But all my years practicing in my backyard and playing games, I never practiced with that as the goal. My goal was to play in the NBA and I think I can get there.’ It’s a Catch-22. When you’re trying to be the best at this game, they’re not just trying to make it, they’re trying to be the best, it’s hard to focus on a whole lot of other things. It’s hard.
“Those guys [Thomas and Fultz] are going to be successful when they can no longer play the game of basketball. But at this point, to be the best, that focus, they’ve got one goal in mind and they’re putting all their efforts into that.’’
Layups
There are still nearly 100 free agents waiting for rewarding paydays but those opportunities are drying up because of the contracts handed out in the first week of free agency. Derrick Rose is still looking for a home. And so is Rajon Rondo, who was waived by the Bulls. Rondo has been considered by the Lakers, who are looking for a point guard to mentor Lonzo Ball, but nothing is imminent and the money is drying up. Many of these aging free agents with checkered pasts may have to accept mid-level exceptions, as Nick Young did with the Warriors . . . League executives believed Avery Bradley was the most sensible player to move for the Celtics because he will be a free agent next summer. Bradley was shipped to Detroit on Friday. With Gordon Hayward earning $128 million from the Celtics, and players such as Kyle Lowry earning $100 million, Bradley will have his eyes on a $100 million-plus deal. He will be 27 when he hits free agency, entering his prime, with his only drawback being that he is injury-prone. The Celtics were going to have to decide whether to re-sign Bradley or Thomas because they will not have enough salary cap space for four maximum-salary players without paying a considerable luxury tax. Would the Celtics embrace being a luxury-tax team in order to build a championship contender? That remains to be seen . . . The difference between free agency this summer and last year is the lack of four-year deals, especially those $70 million-plus packages. They were being handed out in excess last summer and they ended up backfiring on nearly every team that consummated those deals. The Lakers immediately had buyer’s remorse in signing Luol Deng and are still looking to dump his contract. The Knicks can’t move their Joakim Noah contract that has three years left. The Trail Blazers are saddled with the deals of Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe and have done little in free agency. Teams are signing players to shorter-term deals to avoid potential regret. J.J. Redick thought he would cash in on one of those $18 million-per-year contracts for three or four years, but he settled for a one-year, $23 million contract from the 76ers.
Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
