While NBA free agency started on Monday, there has already been a flurry of free agency signings and trades across the league. While there weren’t many big names available this offseason, what’s surprising is what some of the best teams in basketball did to improve.
The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets stand out for their splash moves, which they each hope will allow them to challenge the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder next season. However, a few clubs in the Eastern Conference also made significant moves early on.
Let’s dive into our list of the biggest winners from NBA free agency so far
Denver Nuggets
Heading into NBA free agency, there were fair questions about whether the Denver Nuggets could realistically make the necessary moves to help turn the team back into a championship contender. Miraculously, Denver was able to dump Michael Porter Jr.’s contract ($79.14 million over the next two seasons) and get an upgrade in the process. Not only is Cameron Johnson a significant defensive upgrade over Porter, but he is also a more consistent source of offensive production.
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The trade also gave Denver the financial flexibility to sign Bruce Brown Jr. and acquire backup center Jonas Valančiūnas from the Sacramento Kings. The Nuggets finally have a dependable center who can spell Nikola Jokić, an upgrade over Porter Jr., plus they added Brown to the rotation. Denver’s championship window is wide open again, and the team might now be the second-best in the West.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were already one of the biggest offseason winners heading into NBA free agency. Not only did they acquire Kristaps Porziņģis at a discount, but they also landed the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick. The Porziņģis trade still left the Hawks’ front office with the financial flexibility to strengthen the bench. With that flexibility, the Hawks signed 3-and-D guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and added sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
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With the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics poised to take a significant step back next season, Atlanta can be a dangerous playoff contender in the Eastern Conference, and they have a potential top-10 pick to shop around for a major trade. Just a masterful job by the front office this offseason.
Houston Rockets
Similar to the Atlanta Hawks, the Houston Rockets were already winners before NBA free agency opened. The Kevin Durant trade, which really cost this front office nothing, gave Houston the bucket-getter it desperately needed for the NBA playoffs. The Rockets’ front office then signed Jabari Smith Jr. to a reasonably priced extension (5 years, $24.4 million AAV) and followed that up by adding veteran depth with Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. The Rockets have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, ascending talent, a great coach, and a clutch performer. Houston is ready to challenge the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder next season to be the best team in basketball.
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Milwaukee Bucks
Yes, the combination of signing Myles Turner in addition to stretching and waiving Damian Lillard will cost the Milwaukee Bucks at least $50 million a year. However, the organization needed to do something to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo and rebuilding doesn’t work when you don’t have your future first-round picks. So, Milwaukee bit the financial bullet. Turner is an upgrade over Brook Lopez and poaching him was a gutshot to the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks’ rival might now take a significant step backward in the next two-plus years, which in itself is worthwhile. Milwaukee is still in desperate need of a point guard and should try everything it can to dump Kyle Kuzma, but this team really improved, which matters in a weakened Eastern Conference.
New York Knicks
With Tom Thibodeau gone, the New York Knicks’ front office needed to go out and find additional players to run a normal NBA rotation. They struck quickly in NBA free agency. Jordan Clarkson (16.2 PPG) signed with New York for the veteran’s minimum, which allowed the Knicks to still use the midlevel exception. Then, the Knicks shored up their frontcourt depth by signing Guerschon Yabusele (11 PPG and 5.6 RPG) to a two-year, $12 million deal. The additions came at a low cost and should help New York remain one of the three best teams in the Eastern Conference next season.
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