We’re just days into NBA free agency, yet most of the top players are already off the board. We’ve seen teams like the Houston Rockets become aggressive, landing a couple of expensive impact free agents early on, while others have been a bit more careful with their spending.
As always, there are some decisions that will be viewed as wise, and some that we just wouldn’t recommend. That’s how it goes when teams try and buy a few more wins in the offseason. Some work, some don’t.
Taking a look at all the moves since the start of the spending period, which NBA free agency moves have been the best? Let’s take a look at six of our favorite signings so far.
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Austin Reaves stays with Lakers for $56M
- Austin Reaves’ contract with Lakers: 4 years, $56M ($14M per season)
After making several in-season roster moves, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Seeing their progress and strong chemistry down the stretch, the Lakers made retaining their own players a top priority heading into the summer.
We’ve seen evidence of that with players like Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and possibly most importantly, Austin Reaves all re-signed to new contracts. Reaves in particular is the one we like the most.
After proving himself as a former undrafted athlete out of Oklahoma, Reaves posted a career year, becoming an extremely efficient scorer while becoming a fan favorite in L.A.
Several teams had their eye on the 25-year-old who averaged 13 PPG last season, but the Lakers presented a strong offer, giving him a player option on the final year of the deal while also including a 15% trade kicker. It’s hard not to like what the Lakers did to keep their own.
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Phoenix Suns get Eric Gordon for a bargain
- Eric Gordon’s contract with Suns: 2 years, $6.5 million ($3.25M per season)
After making splashy moves for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to go with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, the Phoenix Suns had a desperate need to find inexpensive talent. As a former 22 PPG scorer with 15 years of experience, Eric Gordon certainly qualifies. Especially for just over $3 million per season.
Now 35, Gordon’s days of being a consistent starter are done, but if there’s anyone who can thrive off the bench, it’s the former Sixth Man of the Year. Gordon has never had a season where he’s averaged fewer than double digits in scoring and that’s unlike to change in Phoenix thanks to a lack of a bench at this point in the offseason as the roster continues to take shape.
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Russell Westbrook looks to maintain momentum in LA
- Russell Westbrook’s contract with Clippers: 2 years, $7.8M ($3.9M per season)
After seeing some of the contracts his peers got this summer, it’s incredibly to see Westbrook, a nine-time member of the All-NBA team and a likely future Hall of Famer, sign for just $3.9 million per season.
We love this move for the Clippers, retaining Westbrook, who found his groove since signing with the team following a trade to the Utah Jazz late last season. He may no longer be the player who can average north of 30 PPG, but the 34-year-old still showed he was plenty capable of providing points in bunches when his fellow Clippers stars were out with injury.
After landing in bad situations in prior stops, we don’t blame Westbrook for wanting to stick with a coach he trusts in Ty Lue. Still, seeing VanVleet get $42.8M per season, D’Angelo Russell get $18.5M per year, Gabe Vincent get $11M, and all Westbrook got was under $4 million? That’s amazing.
Related: NBA trade tracker: NBA trades today with grades and analysis
Nikola Vucevic stays in Chicago for $20M per year
- Nikola Vucevic’s contract with Bulls: 3 years, $60M ($20M per season)
Another absolute bargain is the Chicago Bulls snaring Nikola Vucevic for just $20 million per season before anyone else could jump in with a better offer. Sure, he’s not the best, or even in the top five of top centers today, but he’s still in the upper tier of the best bigs in the NBA.
Vucevic has averaged 19.8 PPG and 11.3 RPG across the past five seasons. That’s some very consistent production, without getting a ton of recognition. Compare his work to Deandre Ayton, who has averaged 16.4 PPG and 10.4 RPG across the same timeframe and is set to earn an average of $34M over the next three years and it’s pretty hard not to love what the Bulls did here.
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Houston Rockets land Dillon Brooks
- Dillon Brooks’ contract with Rockets: 4 years, $80M
Getting Brooks for $20 million isn’t some heist of the century or anything like that. We think it’s a fair rate for a player who has shown he can average as much as 18.4 PPG, while also providing solid defensive effort. Even if he’s a bit controversial and attracts a bit too much attention than some teammates would prefer at times.
But what we really like about this signing for the Rockets, aside from injecting a playoff-tested vet into a young atmosphere, is the contract structure. Knowing the Rockets will eventually have to pay their developing stars such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. among others, Houston opted to front-load the contract, getting the bigger paydays out of the way early on, saving more cap space to pay their talent later.
The specifics have yet to be revealed, but this contract design should provide more flexibility to retain and acquire more talent in the future, while also protecting against the chance that his production dips while his teammates continue to grow. Brooks’ contract will be increasingly tradeable, as long as he can produce at a reasonable rate.
Related: NBA free agency day 1 winners and losers, including Fred VanVleet and Los Angeles Lakers
Dallas Mavericks keep Kyrie Irving
- Kyrie Irving’s contract with Mavericks: 3 years, $126M ($42M per season)
Yeah, it’s a bid odd to suggest a player getting $42 million per season is a great signing. But the Mavericks could not afford to lose the All-NBA point guard they acquired without getting a true chance to see how he paired with Luka Doncic.
Plus, let’s be realistic, Irving’s rate is actually reasonable when compared to his recently-signed peers. He’s an eight-time All-Star who has made the All-NBA team three times. He’s one of the very best at his position, not just a fringe talent who’s had a few great seasons.
Let’s put it this way, would you rather have Fred VanVleet for $42.8M per year or Irving for $42? While the latter is two years older, we’d still take Irving in a heartbeat 100 times out of 100. Sure, the Phoenix Suns may have added to their All-Star core this offseason, but the dynamic duo of Doncic and Irving can still make waves, and we’re about to find out how big they can be.