The biggest winners and losers of 2017 NBA free agency
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
The Process has never been more trustworthy. Forget about adding No. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz, getting a healthy Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid on the court or bringing Furkan Korkmaz stateside. From a pure free agency perspective, the Philadelphia 76ers still emerged as winners.
Just a few summers ago, Philly was basically the NBA’s Siberia, where basketball careers were banished away and sentenced to die. Now, reputable free agents and veteran locker room leaders like J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson actually want to play for the 76ers, with Redick even tweeting the trademark phrase to announce his decision.
Redick provides the shooting, floor spacing and locker room presence this young team needed, while Johnson will add frontcourt depth and veteran experience as well. On one-year deals, they keep Philly’s cap space intact for the foreseeable future, and suddenly, it seems like the playoffs are a realistic expectation. Sam Hinkie had to die for their sins, but the Sixers’ day of redemption is finally at hand.
Loser: Restricted free agents and big men
To be fair, there were a few success stories for restricted free agents this summer. Tony Snell (four years, $46 million), Cristiano Felicio (four years, $32 million) and Joe Ingles (four years, $52 million) were re-signed rather quickly, while massive offer sheets for Otto Porter Jr. (four years, $106.5 million) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (four years, $71 million) were matched by their respective teams.
However, the rest of the restricted free agency class either got the short end of the stick or is still awaiting a summer payday.
Andre Roberson got three years and $30 million from OKC, which seems fair for both the Thunder and their one-dimensional defender, but also seems like less than his value on the open market. Then there’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was renounced outright by the Detroit Pistons and had to settle for a one-year “prove it” deal with the Lakers (even if it is worth $18 million).
Meanwhile, Nerlens Noel, Nikola Mirotic, Alex Len, Mason Plumlee and JaMychal Green all have yet to receive an offer sheet, let alone reach an agreement to re-sign with their respective teams.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
As for the big men, it’s not a surprise to see their money dry up after A) last summer’s irresponsible spending spree and B) the current direction of the league. But Willie Reed (one year, $1.5 million), Dewayne Dedmon (two years, $14 million), Nene (three years, $11 million), Mike Muscala (two years, $10 million), Aron Baynes (one year, $4.3 million) and Tarik Black (one year, $3.5 million) show just how bad it’s gotten for backup centers.