Nets look like head of the class in East
Locking up Durant helps secure top mark for off-season moves
The ongoing pandemic has made it difficult for teams to weight what is real against what might not be sustainable. And it’s made it difficult to analyze their off-season moves. Contracts that seem like a steal today may soon weigh down their team’s cap sheet. Players who excelled or struggled last year could regress back to who they really are. But here’s a look at the Eastern Conference teams that had the best off-seasons, and a grade for the Raptors as well:
BROOKLYN NETS
Brooklyn may have the first (Kevin Durant) and second (James Harden) most unstop- pable scorers in the league, amplified by an obscenely overqualified third option (Kyrie Ir- ving). All three are currently healthy. Every important role player (except Jeff Green) was retained at a price that should have rivals begging the NBA to launch an investigation. Blake Griffin is coming back for the veteran’s minimum and Bruce Brown will play out the year on his qualifying offer. Patty Mills was stolen with the taxpayer mid-level exception. Defence may not matter, but the Nets didn’t ignore it. They traded Landry Shamet for Jevon Carter, and signed James Johnson.
Locking Durant up through 2026 is the most important agreement this organization has made with a player, yet given everything that’s already been mentioned it somehow feels like little more than a cherry on top. The rich just got a lot richer. Grade: A+
MIAMI HEAT
Jimmy Butler is about to turn 32 and signed a four-year, $184million (U.S.) max extension. That contract may not look terrific two years from now but, if it keeps the franchise player happy, it’s fine for a team that wants to contend now. Kyle Lowry is 35. PJ Tucker is 36. There should be a need to conserve these bodies.
Getting a talent like Victor Oladipo back for the minimum to fill what was essentially Goran Dragic’s role the past two seasons was a possible heist, and bringing Lowry in with a sign-and-trade that didn’t ship out Tyler Herro, or require a series of damaging salary dumps to open up enough cap space, was vital.
The Heat feel like they’ve gone all in but they sort of haven’t. Bam Adebayo is barely scratching the surface of who he can be. Herro is still around. And Oladipo is a low-risk, high-reward question mark. Grade: A
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Getting off Russell Westbrook’s contract without forfeiting any first-round picks is a miracle. Replacing him with Spencer Dinwiddie, at a $29.7 million discount in guaranteed money, is brilliant. Surrounding Bradley Beal with three sensible role players who have meaningful playoff experience — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma — is propitious. Landing Isaiah Todd and Corey Kispert in the draft is encouraging.
This front office finally showed Beal they know what they’re doing. And likely took a step in convincing him to sign the five-year, $235-million su- permax extension he is eligible to ink next summer. Grade: A
ATLANTA HAWKS
Atlanta’s primary tasks this offseason were to take care of John Collins, give Trae Young a max extension and upgrade at backup point guard, where the Hawks still need some type of offensive punch when their franchise player has to rest. On those fronts, mission accomplished.
Collins got his five-year, $125million extension after a breakthrough post-season. Young was paid handsomely for being awesome. Then, the Hawks dealt Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando and a second-round pick to the Celtics in a three-team transaction that landed them Delon Wright, a crafty 29-yearold journeyman guard on an expiring $8.5 million deal. Don’t be shocked if the Hawks bundle several contracts for an established star sometime in the future. Right now they’re almost too deep. Grade: A
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics’ significant see-saw off-season began with a series of decisions that made it seem as if they were prioritizing cap space and financial flexibility. Kemba Walker was dumped. Evan Fournier was replaced by Josh Richardson in a savvy trade with the Mavericks. And Boston refused to give Dennis Schröder anything more than a one-year, $5.9 million offer.
But then Marcus Smart was rewarded with a four-year, $77 million extension last week and, a few days later, Robert Williams followed with his own $54 million pact. Still, neither extension eliminates the possibility of adding a third star. The Celtics now boast a healthy mix of veterans, stars who’ve yet to scrape their ceiling and compelling youngsters (Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard, Romeo Langford). Grade: A
TORONTO RAPTORS
Even though the Raptors likely could have received a greater return for Kyle Lowry at the deadline, Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic’s expiring contract was a decent haul when compared to losing the greatest player in franchise history for nothing.
Dragic could be on the move again. The Raptors may prefer to merge the mid-career stalwarts who helped them win a championship with promising first- and second-year prospects that already double as fascinating trade chips. Achiuwa is the bouncy, rim-running five they didn’t have last season, and first-rounder Scottie Barnes has length and instincts. Put him beside Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and a big, and it won’t be long before the opposing offence is in tears.
Gary Trent Jr.’s three-year, $51-million deal gives him time to grow with the rest of this roster. Much like everyone else, his contract is agreeable in just about any trade negotiation. If Dame Lillard or Bradley Beal officially asks out, keep an eye on the Raptors. Grade: B