This year’s NBA free agency period hasn’t elicited the same jaw-dropping headlines as summers passed. This year’s class of free agent players was never going to inspire NBA GMs to empty their vaults for the available talent. As a result, many teams have been forced to improve their rosters via trading players and draft picks for proven stars. Others have focused their efforts internally, re-signing key pieces now instead of in 2025 when they’ll become more expensive (see: LeBron James with the Lakers and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia).
So, which players and teams have made the biggest splash so far? I put together my list of the top five trades and free agent signings to date, excluding players who re-signed with the same squad.
The Best NBA Offseason Moves
1) Paul George Traded To Philadelphia 76ers
Things got pretty testy in Los Angeles leading up to George’s cross-country move from L.A. to Philly. After months of haggling, PG and the Clippers’ brass were able to agree on the number of years and money that would’ve made up a new contract with his former team. George, however, wanted a no-trade clause to move forward and L.A.’s ownership just wasn’t having it.
Now, the 14-year vet teams up with former league MVP Joel Embiid and his uber-talented point guard, Tyrese Maxey. Assuming all three stars stay healthy, the 76ers will have no problem obtaining a top four seed in the Eastern Conference. Of course, Philly fans aren’t concerned with their team’s ability to compete during the regular season. They’ve made the postseason for the past seven seasons in a row. During that time, however, it failed to reach a single Conference Finals, much less the NBA Finals.
Most online sportsbooks currently have the 76ers listed as the fourth-most likely team to raise the championship trophy in 2025. This season is shaping up to be Philadelphia’s best chance to make it out of the East since drafting Embiid in 2014.
2) Isaiah Hartenstein Signs With Oklahoma City Thunder
Talk about a match made in heaven! Hartenstein and the Thunder were seemingly made for each other as we head into the 2024-25 season. Hartenstein completely broke loose in New York last year. After starting the season as Mitchell Robinson’s backup, he commandeered the starting role when Robinson got hurt in December. Hartenstein played so well over the 50 games without Robinson, he held onto the starting role even when Mitch Rob returned.
Hartenstein showcased some scoring ability and stellar passing skills last season with the Knicks. However, it was his dominance around the glass that led the Thunder to shell out $87 million over three years. In 45 games without Robinson last year, the six-year veteran averaged an impressive 9.9 rebounds per game. OKC, meanwhile, ranked 28th in rebounding. Considering they were in the top five in both offensive and defensive ratings, rebounding was the obvious area in need of improvement heading into this season.
3) DeMar DeRozan Traded To Sacramento Kings
DeRozan ended up on the Kings via a three-team trade that sent Harrison Barnes to San Antonio and Chris Duarte to Chicago. With DeRozan in town, Sacramento finally has a reliable mid-range scorer and athlete to pair alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. The 15-year vet also provides the Kings with a bonafide “bucket-getter” who can bail his team out at the end of the shot clock.
DeRozan and Sabonis are shaping up to become one of the most lethal combinations in the league. DeMar ranked in the top 20 in plays defined as “cuts” and “dribble handoffs.” Domas is coming off the best passing season of his career, ranking sixth in assists per game at 8.2. The majority of those assists came in the form of dribble handoffs and pinpoint passes to cutting teammates. With DeRozan in town, Sabonis could very well outdo his best passing season from just one year ago.
4) Klay Thompson Signs With Dallas Mavericks
After 13 seasons and four championships with the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson will play for a new team in 2024-25. Thompson was a part of a sign-and-trade that landed him on the Dallas Mavericks and sent former Mavericks’ guard Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets.
On paper, Klay is coming off a fine season. He made 3.5 3-pointers per game while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. Still, he came under fire for his inconsistent shooting and declining ability to drive to the basket. He also ended up becoming a liability on defense, an area of the game at where used to excel.
He should still slot in as an effective shooter playing alongside Luka Dončić. Dallas predicates its offense on Luka’s ability to beat his defender and find open three-point shooters. Last season, the team took the sixth-most catch-and-shoot field goal attempts in the league. That should bode well for Klay, who put up the most catch-and-shoot attempts of any player in the NBA.
5) Russell Westbrook Signs With Denver Nuggets
Technically, Westbrook is not yet a member of the Nuggets at the time I’m writing this article. He was traded from the Clippers to the Jazz on July 18, however the Jazz are fully expected to buy out his contract, making him a free agent. It’s been reported and confirmed that his next move will be to Denver to sign with the Nuggets.
The 2023 NBA champs are in dire need of production off their bench as its non-starters ranked 22nd in net rating last year. After finally accepting his role off the bench for the Clippers last winter, the fiery Westbrook has proven his ability to provide a spark off the bench. He finished with seven votes for 6th Man of the Year and posted the third-best field goal percentage of his career.