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In after the Golden State Warriors seized this year 's title, the joke was that the true NBA finals would occur when the free agency would be launched. LeBron James was about to make his third decision as Kawhi Leonard requested an exchange with the San Antonio Spurs, and Paul George seemed almost certain to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Los Angeles Lakers
. for a few days of league-changing chaos and, unlike the 2018 final, the NBA has not disappointed. It has happened so much since the weekend that you need a tracker just to follow. The following is a (tentative) list of some of the winners and losers of one of the most surreal free agency periods in recent memory.
Winners
Golden State Warriors
This place was supposed to be reserved for the Lakers, but the Warriors decided that the finals were not enough and that they needed to crush them. James hopes during the free agency too. A day after James left Cleveland to join the Lakers, the defending champions beat the NBA Twitter (and perhaps the NBA) by acquiring the New Orleans DeMarcus Cousins Pelican Center for only $ 5.3 million. Cousins is recovering from a serious Achilles tendon injury, but if it's close to the All-Star form, the Warriors will have one of the scariest queues in the world. # 39; history. If it's not, well they still have one of the scariest queues in history
Nate Silver
(@ NateSilver538)The Warriors of the 39, next year, if they are healthy, will probably have a better start. All-Stars conference (which could be something like Kyrie / Oladipo / Giannis / Love / Embiid).
Los Angeles Lakers
The Warriors were always going to be great, though. In terms of the percentage of victories expected, the Lakers have made the biggest jump in recent days. By adding the best player to basketball, the Lakers immediately transformed themselves from the West Conference's main feeders (11th place last season) in favor of the title contenders. Plus, they still have the ability to add another star player in the mix.
LeBron James
He has a four-year / $ 154 million contract, he plays for the most astonished franchise in the league and traded the winters of Ohio for the sun from California. This is the good news for James. Now come the bad news …
Players who will irritate LeBron James
Here are three of the players that the Lakers immediately signed after James: Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo. It's the row of a murderer of some of the most curious and unpredictable players in the NBA of the last decade (and there's always LaVar Ball lurking on the sidelines). Do not expect all three players to be on the list at the opening day. This seems to be some sort of "Who will be the next JR Smith?" Competition, but it is limit-hilarious that Magic Johnson and the company's first action in the acquisition of the best player in the league surrounds all of the veterans of the League. Misfit Island
Boston Celtics
LeBron James left the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers have not yet landed (Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward) should be healthy early next season. The Celtics have not even had to make a major move to instantly become favorites to represent the East in the final next year.
Oklahoma City Thunder
It seems like centuries ago now, but for the early hours of the free agency, it seemed like the biggest surprise would Paul George re-sign with Oklahoma City Thunder after nonstop "George desperately wants to be a Laker" rumors. George announced the move to a home party held by his team mate Russell Westbrook, a rally that would have been a little less cheery had they known how much the Western Conference would become more competitive [19659003] Devin Booker
A late addition to this list, reports came out Tuesday that Booker, of the 70-point game fame, was signing a five-year / $ 158m extension with the Phoenix Suns . It would be, as one would probably guess, to make him the highest paid player in the team's history.
Period of the Free Agency of the NBA
I am sorry to have here the meta The season is 25% as spectacular as in recent days, we have one good.
Losers
Cleveland Cavaliers (Mostly Dan Gilbert)
Well, at least he was civil in his statement this time around. The owner of the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, will enter the history of the sport as the person who let James go twice. At the head of the free agency there were rumors that Gilbert wanted the chance to win on his own terms. Well, he gets his second chance and he probably will not be able to count repeatedly on No. 1 draft pick.
Portland Trail Blazers
After the Portland Trail The Blazers advanced Ed Davis on foot, mainly for reasons of salary cap, goalkeeper Damian Lillard took on Twitter to express his sorrow by emoji.
Damian Lillard
(@ Lady_Lillard)? https://t.co/uvIwItEQA8
Portland has a great duet in Lillard and CJ McCollum, but it seems more in addition that the team is stuck in limbo. Losing Davis feels like a minor move, but it's not a franchise that can afford to alienate its most important players (or its fans).
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Biggest Name The Timberwolves have managed to reach an agreement in recent days, including Derrick Rose, the player par excellence, who was recruited despite the his declining skills and his considerable baggage. Meanwhile, their best player Jimmy Butler is supposed to be irritated at Karl-Anthony Towns and might consider retiring at the end of his contract. A basketball era could end in Minnesota even before it begins properly
Washington Wizards
The team that ends with Dwight Howard is put on this list. These are just the rules.
Competitive Balance
As entertaining as the free agency period for fans, it came with a hangover. When news of Cousins burst, they sparked a wave of existential angst: what if none of these deals mattered? And if none of this had an impact on the end of the next season or the next one? An already historically stacked Warriors team had potentially improved for the second consecutive season. Why even bother to play games, why not hand over the trophy to the Warriors right now? Even some of the Lakers' avowed foes were tempted to pray for LA to land on Leonard just so there was someone to challenge them [19459042] Stupefying
Houston Rockets [19659003TheRocketsdidnotgetJameswhichwouldhavebeengood(evenifthereigningMVPisback)TheyalsolostTrevorArizatotheSunsandthatwillhurtthemStilltheRocketsmadethemovethattheyhadtomakebyre-signingChrisPaultoafour-yearcontractLostinthedesperatediscussionabouttheinevitabilityoftheWarriorswasthefactthatifPaulhadnotbeeninjuredinGame5therewasaveryrealpossibilitythatHoustonwouldhaveeliminatedtheminthefinaloftheWesternConferenceUntiltheLakerslandtheirnextbigfishtheRocketsremainthebiggestthreattotheGoldenStatereign
San Antonio Spurs
I begin to suspect that they do not even want to trade their
Philadelphia 76ers
Ideally, the 76ers would have signed James, but he only gave them the slightest attention before joining the Lakers. Leonard, for the moment, remains a Spur. The 76ers were not inactive – they re-entered shooter JJ Redick and completed a deal for Wilson Chandler of the Denver Nuggets – but it looks like among all the teams on this list not named the Lakers, they are the more likely to make a big move before the summer. Stay tuned.
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