Winners After a Week of NBA Free Agency

We're going to take a close look at which teams made some impressive moves a week after free agency began. Teams were considered winners if they made great deals that ultimately fit the direction of the franchise. The organization's that I believe made the best signings are listed below:

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are big winners in free agency because they brought in Max Strus and Georges Niang, both on solid deals. They bring shooting and spacing to a team that desperately needs it. Last season, the Cavaliers were slightly below the league median in three-pointers made per game but also ranked near the bottom in three-pointers attempted. If you combine Strus and Niang's long-distance shooting stats from this past year, the team would be ranked in the top five in both of the previously mentioned categories. I believe these two moves were tremendous for the Cavaliers and will create more space for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to work within the pick-and-roll setting. Now, how is a team going to guard a play that has one of these great guards coming off a ball screen set by Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley? If you try to hedge on the ball screen, then the help defender must choose whether to protect the paint for a potential alley-oop or go out to a shooter on the three-point line. Bringing back Caris LeVert on a short-term deal also strengthens the team's bench. These moves will ensure that the Cavaliers do not get bounced out of the first round of the playoffs again and prove they have the potential for a championship run.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers made arguably the best free agency moves in the entire league. They brought back D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, both on very cheap deals. Everyone thought the Lakers could not bring back both of their starting guards, but they seemed to take pay cuts so they can make another run in the playoffs and, this time, get to the NBA Finals. Additionally, they re-signed Rui Hachimura after he proved to be a great burst of energy off their bench, scoring in bunches. They also filled out some of their roster holes by picking up Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish. I am curious to see, though, if Russell or Vincent starts for the team. Either way, both are good game managers and can elevate their teammates' play. The Lakers got a bargain on every single player they signed, and that is why I believe they had the best off-season so far. A team that just went to the Western Conference Finals now has a much deeper roster and is poised to take that next step and compete for a championship.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are another team that had a really great first week in free agency. The big question was if Kyrie Irving would re-sign, and thankfully for the Mavericks, he signed a three-year deal. The team needed to get some shooting help, and that's why they brought in Seth Curry. The Mavericks need as much shooting as they can get so they can create space for Kyrie and Luka Doncic to make magic happen. The other aspect they definitely needed to improve on is defense, and the Grant Williams sign-and-trade deal made sense. Williams is going to be someone who can knock down corner threes and defend his tail off. If the Mavericks can continue to add quality defensive and three-point shooting role players, then they can trend toward being a competitive playoff team. The Mavericks have always been atop the league in offensive play; if they can just be average defensively, they could be a potential threat in the Western Conference, just like they were a few years ago.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets had an underrated offseason, even though they overpaid for players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. I like the VanVleet signing because it brings a veteran presence in the locker room, which is exactly what the Rockets need, given they are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. I believe he can be the leader of this team and will hold the core young players on this roster accountable for their actions on and off the court. Dillon Brooks will bring that defensive presence, which is much needed on the Rockets. Ime Udoka's coaching philosophy has been to focus on team defense, and Brooks will help instill that intensity and energy on the defensive side, where Houston has been lacking. People forget that Dillon Brooks made an NBA All-Defensive team last year; they only remember his being the center of attention in the media. Both of these new additions are great, even if they were for an extra cost. I particularly like the VanVleet and Brooks signings because they are not star players and will not take away from the development of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, and Amen Thompson.