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NBA: The Biggest Winners And Losers Of Free Agency Day 1

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 20, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) is guarded by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) is guarded by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2), guard J.R. Smith (5) and forward LeBron James (23) celebrates beating the Atlanta Hawks in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: The Cleveland Cavaliers

We still don’t know what’s going to happen with J.R. Smith, but the Cleveland Cavaliers did a pretty damn good job of making sure their key cogs will be back for another title run next season. Right now, nobody in the Eastern Conference is even close to touching the Cavs, and I’m not even sure how that could possibly change over the next few weeks of free agency.

Kevin Love announced he’d be returning to Cleveland and agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal. Tristan Thompson will sign for an excess of $80 million over five years and even Iman Shumpert made bank by agreeing to a four-year, $40 million extension.

There’s still the matter of Matthew Dellavedova‘s restricted free agency, and LeBron James hasn’t even signed yet. But the Cavs don’t seem to be shying away from a historic luxury tax bill if that’s what it takes to field a championship contender and finally end this city’s suffering.

Next: Loser: Dan Gilbert's Wallet