There is nothing more entertaining than the first 24 hours of the NBA free agency. After the unexpected trades and signings of big names to various NBA teams, it is just fair to ask who the biggest winners are and of course losers during the most recent NBA free agency.
The Biggest Winners
GM Sean Marks of Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving team up for the Brooklyn Nets and general manager Sean Marks who laboriously built up the team's assets after the tragic trade involving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce deserves all the credits for landing these two NBA heavyweights. Although it's quite early but Sean Marks deserves the NBA Executive of the Year recognition. By blending Irving and Durant with a rising line up that features young talents like Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, the Brooklyn Nets could build from the 42-win record they had last season.
Jimmy Butler
After three teams pulled back from offering Jimmy Butler a long-term deal with big money, the NBA star finally got a monster deal with the Miami Heat. The forward player signed a four-year deal with the Miami Heat worth $142 million as part of the deal with the 76ers who got Josh Richardson n exchange. Jimmy Butler has an average of 18 points, four assists, and five rebounds per game. He shoots 46 percent on the floor and 34 percent from the deep.
The Biggest Losers
Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker previously said that he was willing to get less money just to stay with Charlotte Hornets. Surprisingly, the Hornets took the NBA star's statement literally and low-balled him on a max contract at the time of the negotiation. NBA Insider Shans Charania said that this triggered the NBA star to move to Boston Celtics during the start of the NBA free agency.
Since the Hornets failed to sign Kimba Walker, they lost an NBA All-star player and given the team's status, players like Walker do not grow on trees. Moreover, the Hornets move also sends a wrong impression to future players. Low-balling one of the all-time greats of the time is just not a positive image.
New York Knicks
It appears that the New York Knicks is like a gift that it keeps on giving and giving. Last season, the Knicks was the fan-favorite team where NBA superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are expected to land. When the Knicks landed the third overall pick during the NBA 2019 Draft, they could actually form their own BIG THREE and make a stronger team.
However, Anthony Davis moved to the LA Lakers and Irving and Durant ended up in Brooklyn Nets. So, the New York Knicks moved to Plan B, which is the strategy that involves kicking the free agency down the road to 2020 and 2021.
