NBA Free Agency Recap

By Tyler Cramsey

With the NBA offseason coming to the end there is much to talk about in another year of crazy free agency signings. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest movers in free agency:

• LeBron James (F) signed a 4 year/154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers
  • He spent the last 4 years in Cleveland, after originally being drafted by them and going to the Miami Heat for 4 years from 2010-11 to 2013-14. He brought the Cavs their first ever title in the history of the team and ended a 50+ year championship drought in that city including  all of the major sports. LeBron looks to continue his career outside of basketball by moving much closer to Hollywood. He’ll look to help this young Lakers team navigate the tough Western Conference.

• DeAndre Jordan (C) signed a 1 year/24 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks
  • He spent the last 10 years of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers and actually almost signed with the Mavericks in the 2015 offseason when he verbally committed to them before going back on his word and resigning with the Clippers. He almost averaged a double-double in his career with 9.4 points and 10.7 rebounds to go along with 1.7 blocks a game. He provides

• DeMarcus Cousins (C) signed a 1 year/5.3 million deal with the Golden State Warriors
  • What many are calling a week move from both the Warriors and “Boogie” Cousins side of the signing, he joined a team that just won back to back championships with 4 all-stars on the team. He was named an all-star starter last year on the New Orleans Pelicans averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists a game before tearing his achilles, ending his season early.

• Julius Randle (F/C) signed a 2 year/18 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans
  • He spent 4 years with the Lakers and showed huge improvement last year on that young team. Some are saying he does have superstar potential and with those kinds of compliments this deal is a bargain for the Pelicans who are reeling after losing their all-star center DeMarcus Cousins to the Warriors. After averaging 16 ppg, Randle could try to help Anthony Davis try to bring the Pelicans past the second round they never can get past.

• Jabari Parker (F) signed a 2 year/40 million deal with the Chicago Bulls
  • Spent the first four years of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, but injuries plagued his tenure there. He was drafted second overall and was injured a lot in college too. He tore his ACL twice and is hoping to come back strong with this young rebuilding Bulls team looking to make the playoffs.

• Isaiah Thomas (G) signed a 1 year/2 million deal with the Denver Nuggets
  • The Nuggets will be Thomas’ fourth team in 3 years and his 6th team of his career. After his MVP caliber season with the Celtics in the 2016-17 season, averaging 28 ppg, Thomas was waiting on the max contract offer from the Boston Celtics. Instead he injured his hip in the playoffs and was sent off in a package deal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving. Midway through the 2017-18 season he was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance. When the Lakers declined to re-sign him he went with the best offer available.