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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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Jan 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) battle for the ball during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Toronto Raptors

Shifting to the opposite end of the country, the Toronto Raptors are basically the Suns of the East with the way they went from “irrelevant” to “free agency players” out of nowhere. First, they jumped the market by offering DeMarre Carroll a massive four-year, $60 million deal to snatch him from the Atlanta Hawks, giving the team the three-point and defensive help it’s needed at the small forward position.

Before they pulled that off, however, they emerged as a random dark horse for LaMarcus Aldridge. Then they threw their name into the ring for Wesley Matthews along with the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings. And even better, Paul Pierce signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, so the Raptors no longer have to worry about the Truth ending their season in the East!

Like the Suns, it won’t be the end of the world if Toronto misses out on Aldridge/Matthews in the end. They’ve strengthened their roster for next season, they’ve let the world know they’re tired of mediocrity and they’ve made the overnight leap from ambiguity to relevance. No matter what, Raptors fans should be happy about the direction general manager Masai Ujiri is taking this franchise in.

Next: Loser: The Knickerbockers