2020 NBA Free Agency Open Thread

It’s officially 5:00 p.m. (CT) and NBA free agency is officially online (literally and figuratively)! Our team will use this page to update all the news and updates that we hear in regards to free agency. Please feel free to use this thread to talk all things free agency. Also to help you prepare for some of the players who may be switching jerseys, checkout Jack Borman’s free agency preview.

5:04 update:

It begins. Goran Dragic officially returns to the Miami Heat after missing out on the majority of the 2020 NBA finals. He’s 34 going on 35, but had a bit of a career renaissance last season. Let’s see if he can keep at it.

5:09 update:

If you’ll remember, Campazzo’s name came up earlier this summer as a possible target for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but considering the recent acquisitions of both Ricky Rubio and Leandro Bolmero (who will remain overseas for at least another season), the former Real Madrid star was forced to look elsewhere.

5:16 update:

The big man returns to Miami, signaling that the Heat are looking to run it back. Meyers Leonard did not play much in the playoffs (3 games, 10.3 MPG), but it seems they are locking him up to provide bench minutes. Both Dragic and Leonard have team options on the second year of their deals as Miami wants to maintain flexibility to sign a star next offseason.

5:24 update:

An important get for the Lakers, as they sent Danny Green to Oklahoma City for Dennis Schröder. The vet will likely assume that same 3&D role that Green played for the reigning champions, providing much needed perimeter shooting. Meanwhile for Milwaukee, they lose their starting SG (67 games last season) which compounds the botched sign-and-trade of Bogdan Bogdanovic.

In less exciting news, the Spurs retain the 23-year-old big man who has played 2 seasons with them thus far.

5:37 update:

The former FSU star, and close friend of Malik Beasley’s, Dwayne Bacon finds a new home in Orlando. After being drafted 40th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, it’s no surprise that he landed elsewhere. Bacon only played in 39 games last season with the Hornets.

5:44 update:

Detroit plucks Mason Plumlee away from the Denver Nuggets. That’s a nice contract for 30-year-old center who will now be on his 4th NBA team. This is interesting because their unrestricted free agent, Christian Wood, has garnered a lot of interest around the league. Although many believe the Pistons want to retain him, they’ve now drafted (Isaiah Stewart), traded for (Tony Bradley & Dewayne Dedmon), and signed a center (Plumlee).

6:25 update:

Detroit is now stacking below average centers. Bold move.

Patrick Patterson heads back to the Clippers, thus taking another potential Wolves stretch power forward out of the market.

Although this was to be expected, it’s still a big win for the Sacramento Kings. After botching the handling of Bogdanovic, it’s likely he’s going to walk for slim to no return. They needed something to regain favor with their fans and this is still something.

Rich Paul continues to do with Klutch Sports does best - net big paydays. Jordan Clarkson will earn an average of $13-million per year to return as the microwave scorer off the bench.

8:05 update:

The former 4th overall pick of the 2017 draft has been a disappointment so far in his career so we’ll see how he does in the weird mismash of a roster in Detroit.

Big pay day for Danilo Gallinari, who had a relatively successful 1-year stint with the Thunder. Although he surprisingly played in every single game of the season last year, bubble & playoffs included, Gallo has always had injury-concerns. Big risk, but potential big reward to try and push the Hawks back into the playoff picture.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say Dwight Howard had a career resurrection last year, but he certainly showed that he could successfully play the role as a backup. With Al Horford shipped to the graveyard of draft picks in Oklahoma, Howard will be able to support Joel Embiid off the bench.

Good for Rodney Hood, who just tore his right Achilles tendon just under a year ago. He had some huge moments for the Portland Trailblazers in the 2019 NBA playoffs so you have to imagine that played a part in his re-signing.

Also after having some big performances in the bubble playoffs last season, the Dallas Mavericks are rewarding the 6’0” point guard with a team friendly deal.

If you’re like me, you had to look up Anthony Gill’s Wikipedia page to learn who exactly he was. It appears he went undrafted in 2016 and spend the last few seasons playing overseas in the EuroLeague. Interesting signing.

8:46 update:

Another great get by the Lakers. With a bench that was very obviously struggling all last season, they add last year’s 6th Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell on a very team friendly deal. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, time will tell. It seems like LA is ready to run it back again.

9:59 update:

It was widely anticipated that the Washington Wizards were going to retain Davis Bertans. However I did not anticipate the Latvian sharpshooter to pull at 5-year deal. Bertans has become one of the best 3-point shooters in the league and clearly shooting is valued in today’s NBA.

Alec Burks has bounced around for some time, including 5 teams within the past 5 years. Now he can add New York to his passport.

One of the top free agent targets finally gets scooped up. General Manager Troy Weaver continues to wheel and deal, landing Jerami Grant in a huge contract. Much more than I’m sure any other team was willing to pay for a defensive specialist, but he really showed out last season. Even more so in the bubble playoffs. Apparently the Nuggets had planned to match it, but... they just didn’t.

Add this to the evidence of how much quality shooting pays. The former 3-point contest winner, Joe Harris, earned himself a huge deal (More than Beasley!) to provide Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and James Harden some very valuable floor spacing.

Another quality career journeyman gets scooped up. It looks like Garrett Temple is being brought to Chicago to provide some veteran guidance. Wolves could use some more of that right about now.

The Christian Wood hype train lands in Houston via S&T. This means the Rockets have now actually pursued and acquired someone above 6’8”! No one really knows what’s going on there in Houston as murmurs of a Harden for Wall trade were heating up earlier. Who knows, but this is gettin’ good!

A nice short term deal that bodes well for both Derrick Jones Jr. and the Portland Trailblazers. It looks like the Blazers are loading up on long defensive wings (Robert Covington earlier this week), something the Timberwolves are/should be doing.

The Milwaukee Bucks lose their backup center, Robin Lopez, and breaks the unwritten rule of separating twins on the same team. Their curse begins. On a serious note, it seems like a good 1-year rental for the Washington Wizards, although not cheap.

The Los Angeles Clippers get (one of) their enforcers back on a fairly hefty deal. Marcus Morris had a solid season and will look to be the second Morris twin to win a championship in Los Angeles.

And with THAT... let’s call it a wrap for Day 1 of 2020 NBA free agency. An ENORMOUS thank you to one of our own — @Y0Leo — for keeping this thread updated throughout the entire evening.

Be well, stay safe, and have a fantastic rest of your weekend everyone!