The NBA’s most impactful free agents of 2019

Utah Statesman sports staff writer Adam Larson also contributed to this story.

Kevin Durant – 4 years, $164 million with the Brooklyn Nets 

The signing that kicked off the summer, and caught a lot of people by surprise, came via the social media accounts of Durant’s company The Boardroom, right at the 6:00 p.m. deadline Sunday. The contract is going to count fully against the cap, peaking at 43.9 million in 2022-23 according to Spotrac. Durant’s availability for next season will obviously be left up to his doctor’s and the team’s, but after some speculation of him being rushed back in the playoffs and eventually rupturing his Achilles, chances are he will be out the entirety of 2019-20. But don’t be fooled into thinking this isn’t a major win for the Nets. When he gets back on the court, he will still be a dynamic scorer and a lights out shooter that can use him abnormal height to stretch over just about anyone and create a shot. Durant’s defense may be limited because of the injury moving forward, but he averaged a career-high 5.9 assists this past season and continues to improve in that area of his game. Paired with Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie, the Nets may have one of the best offensive groups in the league.

Kyrie Irving – 4 years, $142 Million with The Brooklyn Nets

Irving committed to what was thought to be a four-year, $142 million deal with the Nets at 6:00 p.m. but it came out that both Irving and Durant would take slight discounts to allow their friend DeAndre Jordan to sign with the team at a $10 million per year price tag. Irving will be a great fit for the team, as he essentially takes on the role of D’Angelo Russell but is a much better player than Russell is. The Nets get exactly what they want as well, Irving bringing in a second star, and one better than him. The Nets might end up as just a first or second round team next season, but they will be a dominant force in the East when they get Durant back in two years. 

Kawhi Leonard – (Still unattached, July 1)

One of the bigger mysteries of free agency is getting into the mind of Leonard. He’s given little indication of where he wants to go, besides reports that he contacted Durant to team-up before he eventually took his talents to Brooklyn. We’ll most likely get word in the coming days, but for a man that refuses to rush anything, don’t be surprised if the Finals MVP waits to find the best fit between likely candidates the Clippers, Lakers or remaining in Toronto.

The crowd is reflected in Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard’s sunglasses as he celebrates during the NBA basketball championship team’s victory parade in Toronto, Monday, June 17, 2019. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kemba Walker – 4 years, $142 Million with the Boston Celtics

Kemba committed to sign with the Boston Celtics on a four-year, $142 million deal after his former team, Charlotte, reportedly didn’t offer anywhere close to the super-max contract of $190 million he was looking for from them. Walker’s deal might end up coming in a sign-and-trade but that has yet to be worked out. Walker will fit nicely in an on-ball and off-ball role with the Celtics, taking over what was Kyrie Irving’s spot. Walker isn’t as great of an on-ball shot creator or one-on-one scorer, but he’s a much better shooter coming off screens. Walker will likely fit the mold of what Brad Stevens used Isaiah Thomas as, but while having a much better supporting cast.

Jimmy Butler – 4 years, $142 million sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat

What was originally supposed to be a straight swap of Butler and Josh Richardson to the 76ers, ended up being a three-team trade that sent Kelly Olynk and Derrick Jones from Miami to the Dallas Mavericks. Reports from Marc Stein are that in order to finalize the deal, one more player will have to be moved to allow the Heat to fall under the salary-tax threshold. Assuming this all goes through and Butler is in Miami on a more permanent basis, it’s a move that greatly increases the Heat’s chances of entering the top half of the Eastern Conference. But maybe not for a few years. Butler will be a piece to build around, but the roster is pretty bare of talent. This past season’s top three scorers will all be gone assuming Goran Dragic becomes a trade casualty. While Butler can shine on his own and be content with mediocrity (look at the final few years he was in Chicago), Miami will have its work cut out if the playoffs is somewhere the team wants to be next season.

Al Horford – 4 years, $109 million with the Philadelphia 76ers

Horford opted out of his $30 million option with the Boston Celtics and went right to its biggest division rival in the 76ers on a longer deal worth almost as much annually. Horford’s deal comes with $97 million guaranteed and $12 million in championship incentives. Horford will fit nicely with the 76ers as he provides good shooting and switchability on defense. The 76ers will now be trotting out an even bigger lineup than last year, which is crazy to think about. Horford will give the Sixers a much needed veteran presence and depth in their big man rotation.

Al Horford has agreed to a 4-year, $109M deal with the 76ers, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/uraWUgLA53

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 1, 2019

Malcolm Brogdon – 4 years, $85 million sign-and-trade to the Indiana Pacers

Brogdon is about as good as good as it gets on the free agent market when you’re a team searching for a dependable second or third scorer. His efficiency mixed with defensive abilities puts him in elite category of NBA players, much in the mold of Kawhi Leonard. In fact, Brogdon entered an elite category of shooters this past season, becoming only the eighth player in the 50/40/90 club since the three-point shot was added in the 1979-80 season. Indiana may have lost Bogdanovic to the Jazz, but adding Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb is a huge improvement on last season. Especially when you include a healthy Victor Oladipo in the starting lineup. As far as the money goes — Indiana isn’t risking much. The Pacers had to trade away a first-round and two second-round picks to Milwaukee to get the deal done, but $20 million for a player as impactful and efficient as Brogdon makes this a relatively safe buy.

Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell – 5 years, $190 million and 4 years, $117 million with the Golden State Warriors

Klay Thompson reportedly resigned with Golden State before the free agency period and just told nobody. Thompson seems like the type of guy to go celebrate by getting some new shorts and sunglasses at Costco before going home and calling his brother to ask how his day was. D’Angelo Russell is the much bigger signing here, as Thompson was expected to get the max deal from the Warriors. Russell was somewhat pushed out of Brooklyn as the Nets signed Durant and Irving, and Russell decided to do his best to replace Durant in Golden State. Russell’s fit will be great this season along Steph Curry up until the point that Thompson comes back from injury, then it gets a little bit wonky. Knowing how well Steve Kerr has mixed and matched players over the past few years, they’ll make it work, and work very well. Only the Warriors could lose Kevin Durant and still get an All-Star back.

Bojan Bogdanovic – 4 years, $73 million with the Utah Jazz

The Jazz have now become the NBA’s not so quiet sleeper to win the Western Conference. Bogdanovic had somewhat of a revitalization in Indiana after Oladipo suffered an injury in the middle of the season, averaging a career-high 18.0 points per game. The Jazz have been looking for a stretch-four for a few seasons, and initially had its sights on Nikola Mirotic until he decided to head back to the Euroleague, a move that shocked more than just Utah’s front office. But, it looks as if Bogdanovic will fill that role as a player who shot 42.5 percent on nearly five attempts per game from three last season. Paying him nearly $20 million a season in his early 30’s could be considered a risk, but the Jazz seem to have made the best decision for who was available on the market this offseason. Pairing him with newly acquired point guard Mike Conley officially means the team is in “win now” mode for the next couple of seasons.

Utah could be dangerous next season 👀

Bojan Bogdanovic has agreed to a $4-year, $73M deal with the Jazz, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/GXNKpVQNyZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2019

Tobias Harris – 5 years, $180 million with the Philadelphia 76ers

Harris resigned with the 76ers on the biggest deal he could get in the market, a good move for both the Sixers and for Harris. Without Jimmy Butler moving forward, Harris will have a bigger role on the team, which might solve some of the confidence issues he seemed to have in the playoffs. The Sixers will have Josh Richardson and Al Horford in their starting lineup now which will allow for Harris to have two great shooters to space the floor for him when he gets the ball. The Sixers are likely going to be the favorite out of the East next season, barring Kawhi Leonard staying in Toronto.

by my count, 48 nba contracts were agreed to in the first 8 hours of free agency

they're worth more than $3.175 billion pic.twitter.com/DCuYcNGTS9

— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) July 1, 2019

Editor’s note: (This article will be updated as more free agents are signed.)