The 2020 Free Agency class has more than likely found a home by now, except a few guys who are still considering their options. We take a look at who did the best job this entire offseason, from the draft to trades and free agency.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers struggled last season, mainly because they were decimated by injuries. Their offense was great, as it has always been, but there were a lot of areas where the team couldn’t compete. Wing defense, rebounding, depth…
All of those got addressed, and Blazers GM Neil Olshey did a terrific job of putting this roster together. He turned Mario Hezonja, Ariza and 2 non-lottery picks into Robert Covington, one of the league’s premier wing defenders and a good catch-and-shoot threat, and Enes Kanter, who already was in Portland in 2019.
Olshey then went on to sign Derrick Jones Jr., another elite wing defender, with the MLE, re-signed Rodney Hood and Carmelo Anthony, got an interesting project in Harry Giles and basically stocked up on a rotation that is absolutely stacked and very versatile going into the season after the shortest offseason in history.
But you shouldn’t just look at the additions. Last year, the G/F/C combo of Hood/Collins/Kanter didn’t play while in 2019, they didn’t have/use the combo of Trent/Melo/Nurkic. Those 2 sets of players can now finally play together, or at least go into the season together healthy for the first time, and they added 3 other pieces in RoCo/DJJ/Giles. The Blazers still have a good future too. Simons, Trent, Little, DJJ, Collins, Giles, Elleby can all have a very bright future and will learn from an experienced group of vets.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks did a lot. Gallinari, Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn were all great signings that will help them win games, while rookie Onyeka Okongwu has Bam Adebayo-esque upside.
The fit is questionable, however. The projected starting lineup of Trae Young, Bogdanovic, Gallinari, Collins and Capela still doesn’t have a lot of perimeter defense. The logjam created at the 4 is reminiscent of the one in Philly this year, where Tobias Harris clearly regressed after going back to the 3. At this point in time, it’s a question whether Galo can play the 4.
But all of that aside, the front office still did a great job. Adding so much talent is always a plus, definitely because their core guys are still young. If it doesn’t work out, the incoming talent can always be viewed as assets and be traded. Rondo mentoring Trae Young is quite possibly the best thing for Trae, as Rondo is one of the smartest basketball players ever and can set an offense, as well as a defense, like no other.
Los Angeles Lakers
If the question was whether the Lakers are as good or better as last year, the answer would be a no from me. They lost a lot of what made them champions in the first place. Veterans, size, defense, depth and rebounding. The goal was to add shooting and scoring, and they did the latter, but didn’t really add the former.
But assuming Rondo and Avery Bradley didn’t want to be back and also taking into the consideration the ages of the outgoing Lakers players, they did a terrific job of replacing them. Schröder and Harrell are younger, and they will have to prove that they can be trusted late in games and in the pick and roll, but in the meantime, they provide explosive and fast bench scoring. Wes Matthews and Danny Green basically profile as the same player, so that won’t change too much.
If Marc Gasol can return to his 2019-self, when he won the NBA championship in Toronto and the FIBA World Cup with Spain, then he can be very good. But he already took a huge step back last season and in the bubble he was unplayable. Nevertheless, his shooting and passing should still be there which provides a nice complement at the 5 next to LeBron James.
Courtside 