2019-20 NBA Free Agency (Day Two)

The final (*) Jimmy Butler trade details:
Heat get: Jimmy Butler (4yr/$140.6m), Meyers Leonard (1yr/$11.2m)
Blazers get: Hassan Whiteside (1yr/$27m)
Clippers get: Mo Harkless (1yr/$11.5m), Heat 2023 1st rd pick (lottery protected, I believe)
Sixers get: Josh Richardson (3yr/$31m)

The Heat get the guy they want (though I don't think Butler gets them into the playoffs); the Blazers get a 1-year rim protector that gives them some defense to make up for losing Aminu and Harkless; the Clippers get a nice rebounder off the bench and another pick to throw on the pile; the Sixers get a solid perimeter player on a good deal (and get something rather than nothing).
I think it's good for the Clippers, not bad for the Sixers, okay for the Blazers, and the Heat get to pretend like they can still lure in stars (maybe this pays off down the road but I don't really see the short term upside of this move).


Blazers -- Anthony Tolliver (1yr/$2.6m)
Nice vet off the bench. Can handle the ball a little, can shoot a little, very reasonable deal. Good move.

Bucks -- Wesley Matthews (?/?)
Not sure what this deal is worth but I like Matthews as a reliable wing defender off the bench for a good time looking to go long in the post-season. Depending on the money, I'd say it's a good deal.

Bulls -- Tomas Satoransky (3yrs/$30m)
I like Satoransky and this is a good move to bring newly drafted Coby White along. Good move for the Bulls.

Celtics -- Enes Kanter (2yrs/$10m)
I'm a longtime resident of Kanter island and I think the Celtics are a good fit for him: surround him with a bunch of scorers and he'll do just fine. Good get for the Celtics--I thought he'd be wanting a big deal than this.

Clippers -- Patrick Beverley (3yrs/$40)
Hmmmm....Beverley is one of the guys everyone was gaga over (seems like he would've been a better addition for the Nets than Deandre Jordan) and I get it. But I can't help thinking that the Clippers over paid here, especially if they don't get Kawhi! If Kawhi goes to the Lakers then PatBev becomes a punchline right away and that's a tough way to go. Look, I like Beverley and I'm okay with him getting this contract but it seems like it should've come from someone other than the Clippers. Not a bad move, I'm just saying it has the potential to look not so good.

Kings -- Cory Joseph (3yrs/$37m), Richaun Holmes (2yrs/$10m)
Two more reasonable, reliable vets for the Kings bench. Good deal for Holmes, feels a little rich for Joseph. (These guys also double as trade bait if the West becomes too much for Sacramento)

Knicks -- Wayne Ellington (2yrs/$16m), Elfrid Peyton (2yrs/$16m)
Two more reliable vets for the Knicks to make up for not getting a stud. Look, I know Knicks fans are bummed they didn't get a big star but I kinda like the makeup of this team for the next coupla years--and I think they can even sneak a playoff spot next year (are the Pistons wildly better than this team? Or the Magic?). And as for the criticism that they should be in the mode of keeping cap space and absorbing big contracts for draft picks, I understand that strategy, but these signings give them a bunch of okay guys on okay contracts and can be very attractive at the next coupla trade deadlines, so they're still capable of being active in that way anyway while still putting a not-awful team on the floor. If all the youngsters have good years and each of these signings have nice years, they'll be an okay team for the next two years. So what exactly is the disappointment? Did you think they were getting a big star or two? Why? And, yes, they should probably be piling up draft picks but they'll always see themselves as a free agent destination. Are they delusional? Well, yeah, but let's be honest: the Knicks are the Chicago Cubs of the NBA because the box office and TV ratings and chatter will always be there whether they're any good or not. I actually kinda like their moves so far but the fans are happy to be unhappy and that's a little sad for these new players.

Lakers -- Troy Daniels (1yr/$2.1m; two-way contract?), Zach Norvell Jr (two-way contract)
Hurray! They no longer need Kawhi!

Magic -- Michael Carter-Williams (1yr/?)
Meh.

Mavs -- Maxi Kleber (4yr/$35m), JJ Barea (1yr/$2.5m), Seth Curry (4yr/$32m)
Weird that a team that came nowhere near the playoffs is lavishly giving raises to all their current players. Kleber is a nice fit, good move. They brought back Seth Curry and a pretty good deal, I like it. And let's be clear: Barea blew out his Achilles', so this is a gorgeously generous going-away present--classy fuckin' move by the Mavs, I hope everyone notices.

Pacers -- Edmond Sumner (3yr/?)
Not sure about the money but Sumner is a young guy they like, good move to pay him.

Pistons -- Tim Frazier (1yr/$2m)
Frazier at $2m is a very reasonable 3rd string PG. Not a bad move.

Rockets -- Austin Rivers (2yr/$4.3m)
Kinda thought Rivers could make more money than this. I like it for the Rockets.

Sixers -- Kyle O'Quinn (1yr/$2m)
Great deal for a nice reliable big man off the bench.

Suns -- Frank Kaminsky (2yr/$10m)
Not sure what Frank the Tank is bringing to the Suns, not a crushingly bad deal but I don't really see the upside.

Thunder -- Alec Burks (?/?)
I like Burks and coming off the bench (I think I'd like him better without Westbrook on the floor) and depending on the money, this is a good deal for OKC.

Warriors -- Kevon Looney (3yr/$15m)
Looney played hurt in the Finals, gotta love his grit at a time when his teammates were dropping like flies. Very good deal for the Warriors.

Wizards -- Ish Smith (2yr/$12m), Isaish Thomas (1yr/min?)
Two backup PG's instead of just signing Satoransky? Well, okay. I always liked Ish Smith (the poor man's John Wall) and if IT has anything left, Washington will be a spot for him to give it a try. These are interesting, relatively low risk moves.

Wolves -- Jordan Bell (1yr/$1.6m)
Wolves have long been a landing spot for GSW's cast-offs. This just keeps the trend alive. Money is very reasonable, so can't say it's a bad deal.


(*) The conspiracy theory that this is all a roundabout way to get Butler to the Rockets is still floating out there and given the multi-team nature of the trade, I suppose it is still possible.