Front offices throughout the NBA are waiting for the Damian Lillard situation to resolve itself before they move on to other business, but plenty has already taken place this offseason, so we’re taking stock and highlighting some of the best roster maneuvers to play out thus far.
Everything you see here will require a caveat to consider that these deals are being evaluated in an evolving context. A few pieces of business have been excluded for that very reason.
The Kristaps Porzingis trade, for example, netted the Boston Celtics incredible value, but it’s hard to analyze just how “good” of a trade it was until Brad Stevens does or does not extend Jaylen Brown and makes any final tweaks to the roster.
We’re leaving those kind of transactions to the side for now and focusing on situations that are either unlikely to change much further or where there was a clear win regardless of whether or not they do. Let’s get to it.
The Lakers’ Backcourt Bargains
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their offseason by signing 27-year old point guard Gabe Vincent to a 3-year/$33 million contract. Vincent is coming off a campaign in which he started for a team that reached the NBA Finals, and has a game that is far more malleable than that which Dennis Schröder (off to Toronto) provided.
Schröder was good for the Lakers last year, but the bulk of his offensive value comes from his ability to attack with the ball in his hands. When Los Angeles is fully healthy they have multiple better options for such duties. Vincent is a solid, albeit streaky, shooter who can more effectively space the floor and serve as a threat against scrambling defenses. He can play the role of offensive focal point just as well as Schröder should the moment call for it.
Vincent is solid defensively. He’s small, which is exploitable, but he’s great navigating screens and reliably in the right spots. To get three years of Vincent‘s prime at the price they did is an absolute heist for the Lakers.
And it‘s not the only value signing Los Angeles pulled off. The Lakers inked Austin Reaves to a new 4-year/$54 million contract and D‘Angelo Russell to a 2-year/$37 million pact. The former is an adaptable starting-level talent whose salary will underpay his production throughout the duration of his deal. The latter is less tantalizing, but retaining Russell on a relatively tradeable contract is far more palatable than letting him walk for nothing.
At the very least, he can serve as a solid regular season innings eater when the Lakers need a bit of offensive creation.
Indiana’s Flyer
The Indiana Pacers acquired Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks for the exceptionally low cost of just two second-round picks. The 25-year old big man has struggled to find playing time in a crowded New York frontcourt, but has shown flashes of dynamism in his time with the Knicks.
The Pacers project to be a far better fit for Toppin’s skill set. He’s an athletic, high-energy forward who thrives in transition and as a roller with space to showcase his vertical pop in the halfcourt.
The Knicks ranked 25th in the NBA in pace last year and frequently paired Toppin with a fellow non-spacing big. In contrast, the Pacers sported the league’s fourth fastest pace and have shown a willingness to prioritize shooting as much as possible. For the first time in his career Toppin - who was intriguing enough for the Knicks to take eighth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft - will be playing in a context that suits him.
He’ll have a chance to make magic as a screener and lob threat for Tyrese Haliburton and will be asked to get out on the break as frequently as humanly possible. If Toppin can figure out how to be a reliable piece on the defensive end of the court (a big if), the Pacers are likely to look very smart for buying low on him.
Retaining a Piece of the Dynastic Core
The Golden State Warriors opted to keep the band together when they retained Draymond Green’s services via a new 4-year/$100 million contract. That was the right choice. Stephen Curry is still capable of being the best player on a championship team, and the synergy he and Green have on the court is unparalleled.
Things may completely fall apart for the Warriors toward the end of Green’s new deal, but the core he is a part of deserves the right to go down swinging. They’ve got a few haymakers left.
A Strus is Loose in Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers sought to address their deficiencies on the wing by adding Max Strus via sign-and-trade. Cleveland sent out Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, and two second-round picks for the right to sign Strus to a 4-year/$63 million contract. That’s a steepish price, but Strus gives the Cavaliers competence at an incredible area of need.
He’s a knockdown shooter who has proven capable of defending up relatively adequately, even at the game’s very highest level. Strus isn’t a perfect 3-and-D wing but he’s worlds better than anyone that Cleveland could turn to last year, all of whom required the Cavs to surrender an advantage on one end of the court or the other.