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NBA: Top 5 Free Agency Moves In NBA History

By Ray Petree

Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left), Kevin Durant (center), and general manager Bob Myers (right) pose for a photo during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left), Kevin Durant (center), and general manager Bob Myers (right) pose for a photo during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

After one of the most controversial NBA free agency periods in history of the league, we look back at the five biggest free agency moves ever

The Art of the Deal: These Are the Masterpieces

Generally, free agency serves two purposes:

  1. For NBA players, it is a chance to spread their wings and take their talents elsewhere. Whether it be to better their basketball careers by joining a team that best fits their unique talents, experiencing a change of scenery, or to strap on some extra digits to their paycheck – or maybe it’s a combination of all three.
  2. For NBA teams, it’s a way to add valuable pieces to their existing roster. Strengthening a core of players, or in some cases finding the right free agent that can take a dormant team over the edge.

It’s a beautiful process, leaving every diehard basketball fan on the edge of their seat. Of course, free agency isn’t without its negatives:  

  1. Some teams just don’t understand what their existing roster needs. Whether that manifests in the form of signing a low impact player to an enormous contract, or letting key players walk that are essential to the team’s success.
  2. Many players aren’t interested in competing at the highest level. Instead, they’re simply joining the team that can offer them the highest contract.
  3. Players have complete control in free agency so, in most cases, teams earn nothing in return for a player’s departure. No players, no cash-in-hand, no draft picks…nothing.

On the flip side, however, the majority of free agents are role players. They aren’t generally transcendent talents and, at best, just solid second or third options (i.e Hassan Whiteside or Mike Conley).

Key word being generally.

Every so often there comes an aligning free agent. A player who completely shifts the landscape of basketball as we know it. Transcendent superstars and future Hall-of-Famers like Kevin Durant or LeBron James.
So we are going to countdown the five greatest signings in free agency history. Where will Kevin Durant rank? Or the infamous “Decision” in Miami? Let the countdown begin.

Next: Honorable Mentions

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