The biggest winners and losers of the 2021 NBA free agency period.
The NBA‘s offseason is always such a pivotal part of what shapes the next year of basketball. Big players can impact the whole league with their signings, entire rosters could be flipped, but worst of all a team could strike out and not sign a single body to help them for their next tip-off.
Let’s see who struck gold this offseason and who’s still looking for a bite.
Winner: Miami Heat
Definitely, the most blatant victory in free agency came from South Beach. The Miami Heat have not only retained key role players like Duncan Robinson but have also beefed up their already star-studded cast with some very optimistic additions.
Through a sign-and-trade, the Heat acquired six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors. They also signed veterans P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris; two inside defenders that can also take the open shot and mix well with Miami Heat culture.
The Heat also found a way to free up some space in the departure of Kendrick Nunn, who was struggling to get minutes, and Andre Iguodala, who’s returned back to the bay with the Golden State Warriors.
To top it off, they were able to negotiate with All-Star Victor Oladipo, an All-NBA guard who was just a few years ago making $21 million, to a one-year, $2.3 million dollar contract. The Heat got star power, kept their key guys, and dropped the dead weight. Nothing short of a clean and productive free agency.