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The last few days have been an exciting time to be a sports fan. Not only did the NHL’s free agency period kick off on Monday, but the NBA’s version of the free agent madness is also in full swing.
Teams spending millions of dollars in cash is the norm for NBA and this offseason is no exception. Since free agency officially opened on June 30, Spotrac has revealed that the 30 teams have already spent over $3.1 billion — $2.1 billion on new contracts and another $1 billion on extensions.
To put it in perspective, the total amount spent during the previous season’s offseason was $5.6 billion, which indicates that we have already surpassed the halfway mark.
It can be tough to keep track of all the money that was handed out, which is why Betting News is here to help make things digestible.
Let’s take a glimpse at the three major victors, alongside a single unfortunate participant, from the initial complete day of NBA free agency in 2024.
NBA Free Agency 2024 Day 1 Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
Notable Players Added:
- Paul George (4 years, $212 million)
- Andre Drummond (2 years, $10 million)
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (2 years, $16.3 million)
Due to their championship window narrowing, the Philadelphia 76ers were compelled to become one of the most proactive teams in the league during the offseason.
The team wasted no time in free agency, swiftly acquiring Andre Drummond (8.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG) as a backup for Joel Embiid. Additionally, they secured the return of Kelly Oubre Jr. (15.4 PPG on .441/.311/.750) with a two-year contract. Drummond remains one of the league’s premier rebounders, and Oubre surpassed all expectations in his debut season with Philadelphia. However, the franchise’s activity did not cease there.
The 76ers weren’t finished there, though. They also made the biggest splash in free agency thus far, signing Paul George to a four-year max contract worth $212 million. Even though he might not be an NBA MVP candidate anymore, George should look great alongside Embiid and Tyrese Maxey after averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 47.1% from the floor and 41.3% from deep with the LA Clippers last season.
It’s difficult to criticize the progress made by the 76ers, given their current position of being tied for the fourth-best NBA Championship odds on BetOnline.
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NBA Free Agency 2024 Day 1 Winner: Dallas Mavericks
Notable Players Added:
- Klay Thompson (via trade)
- Naji Marshall (3 years, $27 million)
Following their disappointment in the 2024 NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks had to reassess their strategy. Despite their moments of brilliance, their playoff series against the Boston Celtics revealed that the team requires more than just Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in order to secure a championship.
Needing another scoring threat, Dallas went out and acquired veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors in a three-way deal that also involved the Charlotte Hornets. Two second-round selections were sent to the Warriors while Josh Green fifth-year guard Josh Green found his way to the Hornets after Thompson inked a three-year, $50 million to complete the sign-and-trade.
Thompson may not be performing at an All-Star level currently, but his partnership with Doncic and Irving should work well for him. With an impressive average of 17.9 PPG on .432/.387/.927 splits in the previous season, he has shown promising skills. Without the immense pressure he experienced with the Warriors, Thompson has the potential to excel in Dallas.
The Mavs have signed forward Naji Marshall to a three-year contract. Dallas needed to strengthen their wing depth, so it was important to bring in Marshall, who recently played for Xavier and averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.9 three-pointers with a 38.7% shooting percentage while coming off the bench for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Mavericks have the potential to become one of the league’s most formidable contenders next year, thanks to their recent NBA Finals experience and the addition of new talented players.
NBA Free Agency 2024 Day 1 Winner: San Antonio Spurs
Notable Players Added:
- Chris Paul (1 year, $11 million)
With the exception of Victor Wembanyama’s acquisition last year, the San Antonio Spurs have largely remained in the shadows during recent seasons. Although Wembanyama’s debut was exciting and even earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award, Spurs fans eagerly anticipate their team’s progression to the next stage.
San Antonio recognized the need for an experienced playmaker after Chris Paul was released from the Warriors. Known as the “Point God” for his exceptional passing skills, it was believed that Paul would be instrumental in bringing out the full potential of Wembanyama, particularly with his precise lob passes.
Although Paul may not be the same as he used to be, it should not be underestimated that he can still make a significant impact in San Antonio. Despite his declining numbers during his time on the bench with the Warriors last season, he managed to provide 12.4 assists per 100 possessions. It is worth noting that just two years ago, he finished ninth in the NBA MVP voting, leading the league with an average of 10.8 assists per game.
The Spurs’ lineup lacked a playmaker who averaged over 5.0 assists last season, with Trey Jones being the only exception at 6.2 assists. By adding a seasoned player like Paul to the mix, it is expected that the team will receive a significant boost. However, only time will reveal if this difference is sufficient for the Spurs to make a comeback and secure a spot in the postseason.
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NBA Free Agency 2024 Day 1 Loser: Golden State Warriors
Notable Players Added:
- De’Anthony Melton (1 year, $12.8 million)
In order to have NBA free agency winners, there must also be some losers involved. The Golden State Warriors, under the leadership of Steve Kerr, undeniably belong to the latter group.
Last season, the Warriors were a major letdown, leaving their fans hoping for some significant moves during the offseason. However, Golden State’s disappointments continued as they lost both Chris Paul and Klay Thompson, while acquiring only De’Anthony Melton. While Melton performed well as a secondary guard last season, averaging 11.1 PTS/3.7 REB/3.0 AST with .386/.360/.835 splits, his addition does not bring the Warriors any closer to securing another championship.
Although Paul and Thompson are aging and experiencing a decline, they were still among the team’s top six scorers. It is difficult to support their departure without any suitable replacements. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Golden State only received two second-round picks in return for losing them.
Despite being tied for the 11th-best odds to win the 2025 NBA Championship on BetOnline, the Warriors should not be mistaken for contenders. Apart from Stephen Curry (26.4 PPG) and Jonathan Kuminga (16.1 PPG), Andrew Wiggins is the sole returning player who managed to average double-digit points (13.2) last season. Even with the addition of Melton, it is difficult to view Golden State’s current roster as capable of competing for a championship.
Unless any significant trades occur, one could make a case that the Warriors are currently the most significant losers of the entire offseason.
NBA Championship 2025 Odds Following Day 1 of Free Agency
All NBA Championship odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of 3:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 2.
- Boston Celtics (+300)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+650)
- Dallas Mavericks (+700)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+800)
- Denver Nuggets (+800)
- New York Knicks (+900)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000)
- Milwaukee Bucks (+1400)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+2500)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+3300)
- Golden State Warriors (+4000)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+4000)
- Phoenix Suns (+4000)
- Miami Heat (+4000)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+5000)
- Indiana Pacers (+5000)
- Orlando Magic (+5000)
- LA Clippers (+5500)
- Sacramento Kings (+6600)
- Houston Rockets (+10000)
- San Antonio Spurs (+12500)
- Atlanta Hawks (+25000)
- Chicago Bulls (+75000)
- Utah Jazz (+100000)
- Brooklyn Nets (+100000)
- Charlotte Hornets (+100000)
- Detroit Pistons (+100000)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+100000)
- Toronto Raptors (+100000)
- Washington Wizards (+100000)
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