FA Day 1 Grades (as letter grades)
Posted: March 14th, 2024, 9:48 am
Kings Sign PF Pau Gasol for $131,250,000 over 6 years
Grade: B-
Pau was going to get a ton of money from someone. Right now, he’s both an efficient volume scorer and a classic big butt. As soon as one of those things stops being true, he’ll no longer be a value. I think Jesse or whoever winds up with him gets two good years, two okay years, and then two very painful years on the backend.
2012 181 Clippers Sign PG Derrick Rose for $119,809,138 over 7 years
Grade: B
Despite the lack of range outside, Rose was more efficient than you’d think last season thanks to his 46% mark from the field. At 24 showing B potential, it’s pretty reasonable to expect Rose to continue to develop as well. This is yet another of many “he was going to get maxed somewhere” situations. Having already RFA’d him, I’m not sure I personally would have actually offered a deal and instead tried to use my cap space to land an additional guy, but doing so you obviously run the risk of striking out and having to match a shorter deal on Rose. This is fine.
Hornets Sign PG Goran Dragic for $50,000,000 over 5 years
Grade: B-
I don’t think Dragic is particularly good, and this deal prevents Charlotte from being to offer a full $12.5mm cap space max, so the opportunity cost feels high as well. I’m not sure if the Hornets are going to tank or try to keep the train going, but I don’t think Dragic moves the needle a ton either way. He should be tradeable at a flat $10mm in AAV as long as camps don’t start dragging him down.
Hawks Sign SF Russell Westbrook for $109,612,750 over 7 years
Grade: A
Heimer does very well here to lock up Westbrook for 7 sub-max years. Westbrook forewent enough in annual raises to save the Hawks $2mm by the end of the deal. He might never be an efficient scorer, but the rebounding and point of attack defense are definitely valuable, and I’m always happy to bet on potential.
Suns Sign SG Ray Allen for $9,000,000 over one year
Grade: A
I wish every SLN guy that got the full post-rookie max lived long enough to sign a value deal on the backend. I really like this for Phoenix, who keep a 25ppg scorer around using his bird rights, without sacrificing anything.
Heat Sign C Channing Frye for $9,600,000 over one year
Grade: B+
Nice signing for the Heat who did not have meaningful cap space, and keep Frye in tow for another season on a deal that can easily be aggregated into something larger. Frye is a better rebounder than you might guess, although not very stocky and not a particularly good scorer either. Still, I think this is fine for Miami who don’t lose anything and maintain some flexibility.
Grizzlies Sign C Roy Hibbert for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: A-
Am I too easy a grader? I like Hibbert on the MLE as a net new piece for Josh - with a good training camp, he’s an easy extension decision. That said, he probably should be a third big, which is kind of what I expect the other MLE level guys here to be, and he certainly won’t be able to fill the Pau-sized frontcourt hole.
Pacers Sign PF Kevin Love for $93,750,000 over 6 years
Grade: B+
A fun signing for Tonger, and an easy match decision for Tyler. I like Kevin Love, and I’d bet on his potential long term. He’s in a good spot offensively, scoring with volume, efficiently. Weirdly his promised rebounding hasn’t really been a weapon yet in SLN, and he doesn’t seem to have developed much on the defensive side of the ball either. I’d think the rebounding will continue to improve, and given his potential, he should have some TC juice left as well. This deal is a good bet, although not without risk.
2012 181 Hawks Sign PF Kris Humphries for $15,000,000 over one year
Grade: B
Humphries is good - definitely a good starter, and between bringing back Humphries and Westbrook, it was going to be tough for the Hawks to use their cap space on an additional net new player. It’s possible that they could have pulled it off with a lower offer for Humphries and skipping the offer on Westbrook, but they’re probably better off more often than not this way. Overall, a decent deal for Humphries that’ll be movable.
Magic Sign C Elton Brand for $11,500,000 over one year
Grade: A
Nice move for Merv who doesn't imperil any future cap space, creates a tradeable contract, and brings back a nice, important piece from a solid playoff team.
Heat Sign C Fabricio Oberto for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: B+
The MLE is fine for Fab who’s been playing the last few years on an MLE or similar level deal, and still providing good value at 37(!!!!) years old. This isn’t a guy that you’d necessarily want to extend though, which makes me wonder if the Heat are trying to flip the switch this year. If not, there might have been better potential long term signing opportunities on the MLE. As long as he doesn’t die in TC, Fab should have a ton of trade value, albeit in a day 30 deal.
Rockets Sign PG Speedy Claxton for $3,400,000 over one year
Grade: INC
I like the Blake pickup for Houston. A nice payday for Speedy here to be the matching salary - not sure what the plan is for him in Golden State, but I’m sure he’s not sweating it.
Spurs Sign C DeAndre Jordan for $77,027,255 over 6 years.
Grade: A
Really nice sub-max deal here for DJ and a coup for San Antonio who are looking primed to flip the switch next season (caveat landing another free agency piece). The toughest part of the long term tank is camping all the guys you wind up drafting, so a huge help to Jordo to have the job done for him (sorry, Joe).
Bucks Sign SF Jumaine Jones for $1,200,000 over one year
Grade: C+
Jones should be able to eat some innings for the Bucks who are a pretty complete team and won’t need much out of him, but there are a lot of other guys still left I’d prefer on the LLE.
Magic Sign PF Pops Mensah-Bonsu for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: B+
Solid no-offense third big for Orlando that should round out the frontcourt rotation nicely. Similar to the Oberto signing, I think there were younger and higher upside guys available for roughly this sized contract, but no harm in moving first and landing a player that’s going to contribute.
Nuggets Sign SG Ime Udoka for $1,200,000 over one year
Grade: INC
Ime stays in Denver on what looks like the LLE? After the Jamison retirement, Denver actually has meaningful room under the hardcap, so I think they could have signed Ime on a coring deal (maybe that’s what this is), and retained the LLE. Regardless, I like Ime; I had hoped to bring him back to Portland a year ago. He somehow always seems to play useful bench minutes, and is able to spell starters across a few positions. He’s a great depth piece to have around.
Cavaliers Sign SF Adam Morrison for $19,500,000 over 3 years
Grade: B+
Morrison is a nice volume and efficient bench scorer on what is a very tradeable deal here for Cleveland, that takes him through the back half of his prime. BRB, going to put together an offer for him.
Bullets Sign C Chris Mihm for $18,000,000 over 3 years
Grade: B+
While not super stocky, Mihm is a very good rebounder and a fine starting center for Washington. I could be wrong about this, but I feel like I haven’t seen a lot of good bigs die in TC the last few years, so Mihm seems like a decent bet to survive a few more seasons at ~starter level production. $6mm isn’t too much for a third big, either, so the Bullets (who are not invested much in their frontcourt financially at the moment) have some wiggle room in that regard.
Bucks Sign C Joel Przybilla for $1,100,000 over one year
Grade: B
A nice move here for Derek who locks up a playable third big on a coring deal slightly above his minimum on day 1. I’d probably still look for one more minimum-level frontcourt piece, especially give the Oberto departure, but this is a fine signing.
Celtics Sign C Kosta Koufos for $7,000,000 over one year
Grade: INC
I look forward to seeing where Joe is sending this schlub.
Grade: B-
Pau was going to get a ton of money from someone. Right now, he’s both an efficient volume scorer and a classic big butt. As soon as one of those things stops being true, he’ll no longer be a value. I think Jesse or whoever winds up with him gets two good years, two okay years, and then two very painful years on the backend.
2012 181 Clippers Sign PG Derrick Rose for $119,809,138 over 7 years
Grade: B
Despite the lack of range outside, Rose was more efficient than you’d think last season thanks to his 46% mark from the field. At 24 showing B potential, it’s pretty reasonable to expect Rose to continue to develop as well. This is yet another of many “he was going to get maxed somewhere” situations. Having already RFA’d him, I’m not sure I personally would have actually offered a deal and instead tried to use my cap space to land an additional guy, but doing so you obviously run the risk of striking out and having to match a shorter deal on Rose. This is fine.
Hornets Sign PG Goran Dragic for $50,000,000 over 5 years
Grade: B-
I don’t think Dragic is particularly good, and this deal prevents Charlotte from being to offer a full $12.5mm cap space max, so the opportunity cost feels high as well. I’m not sure if the Hornets are going to tank or try to keep the train going, but I don’t think Dragic moves the needle a ton either way. He should be tradeable at a flat $10mm in AAV as long as camps don’t start dragging him down.
Hawks Sign SF Russell Westbrook for $109,612,750 over 7 years
Grade: A
Heimer does very well here to lock up Westbrook for 7 sub-max years. Westbrook forewent enough in annual raises to save the Hawks $2mm by the end of the deal. He might never be an efficient scorer, but the rebounding and point of attack defense are definitely valuable, and I’m always happy to bet on potential.
Suns Sign SG Ray Allen for $9,000,000 over one year
Grade: A
I wish every SLN guy that got the full post-rookie max lived long enough to sign a value deal on the backend. I really like this for Phoenix, who keep a 25ppg scorer around using his bird rights, without sacrificing anything.
Heat Sign C Channing Frye for $9,600,000 over one year
Grade: B+
Nice signing for the Heat who did not have meaningful cap space, and keep Frye in tow for another season on a deal that can easily be aggregated into something larger. Frye is a better rebounder than you might guess, although not very stocky and not a particularly good scorer either. Still, I think this is fine for Miami who don’t lose anything and maintain some flexibility.
Grizzlies Sign C Roy Hibbert for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: A-
Am I too easy a grader? I like Hibbert on the MLE as a net new piece for Josh - with a good training camp, he’s an easy extension decision. That said, he probably should be a third big, which is kind of what I expect the other MLE level guys here to be, and he certainly won’t be able to fill the Pau-sized frontcourt hole.
Pacers Sign PF Kevin Love for $93,750,000 over 6 years
Grade: B+
A fun signing for Tonger, and an easy match decision for Tyler. I like Kevin Love, and I’d bet on his potential long term. He’s in a good spot offensively, scoring with volume, efficiently. Weirdly his promised rebounding hasn’t really been a weapon yet in SLN, and he doesn’t seem to have developed much on the defensive side of the ball either. I’d think the rebounding will continue to improve, and given his potential, he should have some TC juice left as well. This deal is a good bet, although not without risk.
2012 181 Hawks Sign PF Kris Humphries for $15,000,000 over one year
Grade: B
Humphries is good - definitely a good starter, and between bringing back Humphries and Westbrook, it was going to be tough for the Hawks to use their cap space on an additional net new player. It’s possible that they could have pulled it off with a lower offer for Humphries and skipping the offer on Westbrook, but they’re probably better off more often than not this way. Overall, a decent deal for Humphries that’ll be movable.
Magic Sign C Elton Brand for $11,500,000 over one year
Grade: A
Nice move for Merv who doesn't imperil any future cap space, creates a tradeable contract, and brings back a nice, important piece from a solid playoff team.
Heat Sign C Fabricio Oberto for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: B+
The MLE is fine for Fab who’s been playing the last few years on an MLE or similar level deal, and still providing good value at 37(!!!!) years old. This isn’t a guy that you’d necessarily want to extend though, which makes me wonder if the Heat are trying to flip the switch this year. If not, there might have been better potential long term signing opportunities on the MLE. As long as he doesn’t die in TC, Fab should have a ton of trade value, albeit in a day 30 deal.
Rockets Sign PG Speedy Claxton for $3,400,000 over one year
Grade: INC
I like the Blake pickup for Houston. A nice payday for Speedy here to be the matching salary - not sure what the plan is for him in Golden State, but I’m sure he’s not sweating it.
Spurs Sign C DeAndre Jordan for $77,027,255 over 6 years.
Grade: A
Really nice sub-max deal here for DJ and a coup for San Antonio who are looking primed to flip the switch next season (caveat landing another free agency piece). The toughest part of the long term tank is camping all the guys you wind up drafting, so a huge help to Jordo to have the job done for him (sorry, Joe).
Bucks Sign SF Jumaine Jones for $1,200,000 over one year
Grade: C+
Jones should be able to eat some innings for the Bucks who are a pretty complete team and won’t need much out of him, but there are a lot of other guys still left I’d prefer on the LLE.
Magic Sign PF Pops Mensah-Bonsu for $4,500,000 over one year
Grade: B+
Solid no-offense third big for Orlando that should round out the frontcourt rotation nicely. Similar to the Oberto signing, I think there were younger and higher upside guys available for roughly this sized contract, but no harm in moving first and landing a player that’s going to contribute.
Nuggets Sign SG Ime Udoka for $1,200,000 over one year
Grade: INC
Ime stays in Denver on what looks like the LLE? After the Jamison retirement, Denver actually has meaningful room under the hardcap, so I think they could have signed Ime on a coring deal (maybe that’s what this is), and retained the LLE. Regardless, I like Ime; I had hoped to bring him back to Portland a year ago. He somehow always seems to play useful bench minutes, and is able to spell starters across a few positions. He’s a great depth piece to have around.
Cavaliers Sign SF Adam Morrison for $19,500,000 over 3 years
Grade: B+
Morrison is a nice volume and efficient bench scorer on what is a very tradeable deal here for Cleveland, that takes him through the back half of his prime. BRB, going to put together an offer for him.
Bullets Sign C Chris Mihm for $18,000,000 over 3 years
Grade: B+
While not super stocky, Mihm is a very good rebounder and a fine starting center for Washington. I could be wrong about this, but I feel like I haven’t seen a lot of good bigs die in TC the last few years, so Mihm seems like a decent bet to survive a few more seasons at ~starter level production. $6mm isn’t too much for a third big, either, so the Bullets (who are not invested much in their frontcourt financially at the moment) have some wiggle room in that regard.
Bucks Sign C Joel Przybilla for $1,100,000 over one year
Grade: B
A nice move here for Derek who locks up a playable third big on a coring deal slightly above his minimum on day 1. I’d probably still look for one more minimum-level frontcourt piece, especially give the Oberto departure, but this is a fine signing.
Celtics Sign C Kosta Koufos for $7,000,000 over one year
Grade: INC
I look forward to seeing where Joe is sending this schlub.