NBA free agent market is sometimes as exciting as the game itself. Most big-name free agents in this offseason have identified their bosses and will not know what the result of their cooperation will be until the real season starts or even a few years later. Let's look back here to see what happened in the last five years from 2017 to 2021. The most eye-catching free agent transfer cases at that time.
Jimmy Butler switched to the Miami Heat (2019)
contract content: 4 years, $140.8 million
Miami Heat needs the right direction and star power in 2019, and Jimmy Butler's addition will do both. The length of the
contract was a bit worrying at the time, because he was 30 years old and had a lot of records in his career. (The main players who used to be Tom Hibberdeau had to be like an Iron Man.) Whether Jimmy Butler can become a top star is also on the edge.
3 seasons later, Miami senior executives continued to watch the victory and box office. Jimmy Butler has become the team's unique leader, bringing 3 playoff spots, 5-round series wins and 1 NBA Finals journey. He now looks as agile as ever, contributing a total of 82 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals in the last two playoff games.
Evaluation: A
Demar DeRozan airborne the Chicago Bulls (2021)
Contract content: 3 years, $85 million
For players who turned 32 years old before the start of the contract, plus Bulls already had a lineup that focused on the offensive end, and the signing at that time was not favored by most people.
However, Demar DeRozan made a perfect movement in Wind City. He incredibly turned his 32-year-old season into a career year, averaging his personal best 27.9 points and the second highest player efficiency value in his career (23.1). He entered the top 10 in the MVP vote, which is only the second time he has made it to the list in his career.
At present, Demar DeRozan has eliminated all the doubts about reality, and this contract looks more valuable. However, the Bulls have not proved too much in the playoffs, and the defensive flaws of the Demar DeRozan-Zach Laven-Nicol Vucevic trio still exist, so the B+ evaluation is given.
Evaluation: B+
Kevin Durant Joined Brooklyn Nets (2019)
Contract content: 4 years, $164.3 million
Brooklyn Nets knew at the time that their investment would not be immediately rewarded because Durant 's Achilles tendon injury had not fully recovered when he signed the contract.
So far, the journey has been crazy and unpredictable, but it still puts all the effort when Durant is healthy. His average of 28.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in , and his shooting measurements were 52.5%/40.9%/90.0%.
However, what the Nets could not have expected were all the changes he would encounter when he came back. For example, KD has only played 90 games in the past two seasons, or rumors of trying to demand a deal and trying to force the head coach and general manager to leave.
KD is still the unsolved offensive weapon, but for the Nets, the original championship dream seems out of reach. This season may be his last chance to prove this contract with the team.
Evaluation: C+
Kyrie Irving Joined Brooklyn Nets (2019)
Contract content: 4 years, $136.5 million
Irving and Durant for personal reasons came to D Andrew Jordan to Brooklyn together. Irving was originally an offensive genius, and his joint efforts with KD naturally caused a shock in the basketball world that summer.
Since then, Brooklyn has spent 3 weird seasons. During that period, Irving only played 103 games, including injuries and various personal factors.
However, it was really great when he decided to play. He plays with the defender as if he is shooting another Uncle Drew movie. His offensive data is equally efficient: 49.0%/40.6%/92% of the shooting measurements, averaging 27.1 points and 6.0 assists per game.But for any boss, a grassroots employee who can go to work is far more contributing than a manager who often takes leave.
Review: C
Gordon Hayward Forward Boston Celtics (2017)
Contract content: 4 years, $128 million
2017 Gordon Hayward's decision to join the Boston Celtics in 2017 is undoubtedly. He reunited with college coach Brad Stevens. The Celtics who once owned Larry Bird fans are also looking forward to another big bird coming.
However, just 5 minutes after his debut, everything changed. Gordon Hayward suffered a very serious ankle injury after an air relay, which made him reimburse in his first season of Boston . He returns to play 72 games next season, but he is no longer the star skills he used to be.
His data rebounded in the 2019-20 season (17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game), but the injury still affected the attendance rate. In the end, Gordon Hayward chose to become a free agent without executing the $34.2 million player option and signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Since then, he has never played more than 50 games in any season.
Evaluation: D
James airborne Los Angeles Lakers (2018)
Contract content: 4 years, $153.3 million
Before James arrived in 2018, the Los Angeles Lakers were struggling to deal with the reconstruction work of the post- Kobe era, and went through 5 years of playoffs window period . But in the second season when James came to , the Lakers , the Purple and Gold Army once again became the NBA champion.
What happened to James in these 4 seasons is almost irrelevant, because this title will always be famous in team history.
In addition to this title, the Lakers only played in one playoffs and won two playoffs. Nevertheless, this cannot be blamed on James, who is already 38, as he ranked 14th in the league in his winning contributions during this period, and his game was only the second-to-last of all the top 20 players.
Review: A
Leonard transfer to the Los Angeles Clippers (2019)
Contract content: 3 years, $103.1 million
In 2019, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking for the way after the era of throwing city, and Leonard performed well in the Toronto Raptors' championship journey. Leonard eventually chose Los Angeles over other suitors, and he even convinced another All-star Paul George to join.
Leonard said at the time: "They want to win, and I want to win again. It's an opportunity for us to build ourselves and make history... It's a big and exciting decision for me."
Although they did make it to the 2021 Western Conference Finals, unfortunately Leonard suffered a knee injury, which in turn caused him to pay the reimbursement price throughout the 2021-22 season.
Leonard did not disappoint the contract and fans' expectations when he was healthy, averaging 26 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. At the same time, the shooting measurements were beautiful 48.8%/38.7%/88.5%, but it has only played 109 games so far.
Rating: B
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