Winners of the free NBA agency

LeBron James' signature is an automatic free agency win. You could fill the rest of your starting range with Scooby Doo's human companions and having LeBron is a win. And although there are certainly a lot of losses in this win, getting James was not the only good decision made by the Lakers this summer.

For all the bluster on Los Angeles' lack of shooting, it's worth noting that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has improved considerably as a shooter in the last two years and made 38.3 for a hundred of his three-pointers last season without LeBron on his team. He plans as an elite three-and-one player next season. The signatures of Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson make no sense, but Caldwell-Pope should not be confused with them.

Another victory: The Lakers did not have to use the stretching layout to throw Luol Deng. That would have left them something like $ 7 million on their dead silver finish sheet for the next five years. It will be much easier to negotiate next summer – when its contract expires – and stretch it until it produces even greater savings. The Lakers could and should have been more aggressive in their post-LeBron moves this summer, but there are positives to consider.

Behind Door # 1, there is a cap without Paul George. Behind Door # 2 is hell with Paul George. If you can not do anything to improve, having Paul George on your team is a major victory. If nothing else, it makes it easier to win signatures on the fringes. That's what the Thunder did this summer.

Nerlens Noel for the minimum is criminal. He is a more valuable basketball player than Rondo, who earns $ 9 million. He is the perfect support for Steven Adams, someone who can do many of the same things and play enough minutes to keep him cool. Jerami Grant should continue to grow as a switch advocate. If he adds a shot, he will be a viable starter going from the front.

And in the surprise of all the surprises, the Thunder are at least trying to derive some value from Carmelo Anthony's expiring contract. Congratulations on the free expenses, Thunder. He is six years too late, but he is well received anyway

Addition by subtraction. Jabari Parker is a great scorer who plays the same role as Giannis Antetokounmpo. Guess who will win this battle? Despite Ersan İlyasova's horrible contract, not giving Parker a long-term deal puts the Bucks in a position to do something very interesting.

With only Giannis, Tony Snell, Ilyasova and their rookie contracts in the summer of 2020 (with a potential new contract for Khris Middleton), the Bucks will be positioned to launch a maximum bid for someone. Anthony Davis is the first choice, but the Bucks will be looking for any free agent that they desire. Having Antetokounmpo does that. It may take some small maneuvering depending on the exact value of the ceiling, but this kind of flexibility waiting at the end of the tunnel is perhaps the biggest win for the Bucks since Giannis was drafted.

Count me like the one Dwight Howard thought was left on the planet. He bounces again, and he still defends. He can still catch alley-oops provided that he does not insist on wasting more possessions with post-ups or his new mid-range affinity. There is nothing he can do to aggravate the locker room.

Sorcerers were stuck in purgatory. They had to take the risk of getting out. By adding Howard, they improved a starting range that was already pretty good. By transforming former starter Marcin Gortat into Austin Rivers, they found the defense and ball handling they desperately needed. Even if none of these movements work, where does it leave the Wizards? It's hard to imagine anything worse than a No. 8 seed for a team with John Wall and Bradley Beal. They have nowhere to go, but they are standing

The Warriors have five All-Stars, and that's the darkest chronology.

Ok, now that it is settled, Golden State adding Jonas Jerebko for the minimum is criminal. The wings of this type of length that can shoot and handle the ball should at least get someone's Piece Exception. This is an easy comparison, but Jerebko slips into the role that the Warriors had planned for Omri Casspi last summer.

A lack of deep wings almost ended their season against the Houston Rockets. Jerebko should help alleviate this weakness in the inevitable rematch of next year.