A spike in the NBA salary cap led to some major shakeups around the association in the first week of free agency as billions of dollars were spent and the landscape of the league was changed dramatically. There is no doubt that there were a lot of terrible contracts handed out but there were also a handful of teams that won big thanks in big part to the salary cap situation. Here is a look at the biggest NBA free agency winners in 2016.
Golden State Warriors
The team that just registered the best record in NBA history and then went to Game 7 of the NBA Finals before falling just short of winning back-to-back championships just signed one of the top-five players in basketball to complete one of the most dangerous lineups in the history of the game. It’s pretty safe to say that the Warriors are the biggest winners of free agency. Kevin Durant is a former MVP and will now join the reigning two-time MVP Stephen Curry along with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to create arguably the most lethal lineup in NBA history. Golden State was already the favorite to win the NBA title in 2016-17 and the addition of Durant puts them over the top as a team that will be expected to challenge for the best record in NBA history and win a championship this coming season.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics didn’t land Durant but they did finally break through with their best free agent signing in decades with the addition of Al Horford. The veteran center is a better screener, passer and finisher in pick-and-roll situations than anybody that Boston has had in recent years and he automatically raises the basketball IQ of this team as well. The Celtics still have room to try and make at least one more addition in free agency but the addition of Horford alone makes them a big winner in free agency.
Orlando Magic
Orlando didn’t have to overspend to land Bismack Biyombo after he established himself as one of the better values on the open market following an impressive run with the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs. Biyombo will be paired with Serge Ibaka to give the Magic one of the best defensive big-man tandems in the NBA and it will also allow Aaron Gordon to slide to the three-spot where he will benefit from playing on the wing full-time. Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton, Shabazz Napier, D.J. Augustin and Mario Hezonja will compete for roles in the Orlando backcourt and there is no doubt that a busy offseason has resulted in the Magic becoming good enough to contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings have been among the most criticized teams in the NBA over the last few years because of some of the terrible personnel moves they have made but that wasn’t the case this offseason. Sacramento opted not to overpay for Rajon Rondo, using that money instead to add a couple of veteran guards at reasonable prices in Arron Afflalo and Anthony Tolliver. The Kings improved on paper and the fact that they didn’t overspend or give up any of their assets in the process makes them one of the bigger winners in NBA free agency for 2016.
San Antonio Spurs
Many people might see the Spurs as losers as they now have to contend with a super power in Golden State, but they might be the only team equipped to do it. While so many teams overpaid for so-so big men (see: Timofey Mozgov, Ian Mahinmi), the Spurs actually got a big man who – while he is in the twilight of his career – still put up some career-bests in Chicago over the last couple of seasons. Gasol will slide into the starting lineup next to LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard, and that’s an excellent front lines. This is a team who won 67 games last season and probably won’t fall far from that number – if at all. Gasol was a shrewd pick by the Spurs.
