Anyway, let's review the history of the signing of great free agents on each of the following teams, so the US media picked the best free agent signings of each NBA team ever.
Eagles: Mutombo
Stats with the team: 11.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 52.6 percent shooting
Honors: Four-time All-Star, two All-Star, three-time NBA All-NBA, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Defensive Team, and twice defensive second
NBA Hall of Famer Mutombo began his career as a member of the Denver Nuggets, earning all-Star honors three times over a five-year period while leading the league in blocks per game on three occasions. After such a successful achievement in the early days, Mutombo reportedly wanted to sign a 10-year contract with the Nuggets in the 1996 offseason, but Denver declined, opening the door for the blocking legend to join the Atlanta Hawks on a five-year, $55 million contract.
After completing the deal, Mutombo told the media that it was time for him to move on with his life, and then-Nuggets general manager Bernie Bixtaff would later say that leaving Mutombo was the only regret in his career as general manager.
Honorable mentions: Joe Johnson, Paul Millsap
Celtics: Al Horford
Stats with the team (first signing season): 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 38.2% three-point shooting percentage
Honors: Once an All-Star and twice in the Best Team
The Boston Celtics' glorious history has not been a strong team that has mainly recruited players in the free agent market. So we had to sign Al-Horford as the best free agent the team has ever had, and the Celtics signed him on a four-year contract of $113 million.
Honorable Mention: Kemba Walker
Nets: Kevin Durant
Team stats: 28.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 40.9 percent three-pointers
Honors with the team: Twice selected as an All-Star and twice named to the NBA All-NBA Team
After playing three seasons and only playing 2 seasons, the Nets were given a four-year top salary contract, and finally forced to trade, the Nets are too difficult. Four-year contract worth $164.3 million was unscathed.
Hornets: Alger ferson
Stats with the team: 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 49.5% shooting
Honors: All-In-Between Third Team
In his three years with the Hornets, the big man helped the team reach the playoffs twice, though never broke through in the first round. After six fantastic seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz, Algerfison signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Hornets in the 2013 offseason. That summer, to make room for Jefferson, Charlotte had to use her one-time pardon clause against Thales Thomas.
Honorable Mention: Gordon Hayward
Cavaliers: LeBron James
Stats with the team (second Cavaliers season): 26.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.0 rebounds, 52.6 percent shooting percentage
Honors (Season 2): Four-time All-Star, four-time NBA First-Team, one-time Championship, and one-time Finals MVP
The only top free agent on the list is also a player in their draft, LeBron James' return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 offseason changed the NBA landscape at the time, and it is of great historical significance that LeBron James was able to bring the championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. In any case, James' signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 was clearly an epic one.
Bulls: Paul Gasol
Stats with the team: 17.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 48.3% shooting
Honors: Twice all-Star and twice in the All-Team
DeRozan has a chance to take the spot from Gasol in the coming years, and it could happen sooner if he plays another season or two like he did in 2021-22. For now, we're opting for Paul Gasol, who joined Chicago after more than six seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, signed a three-year, $22.3 million contract with the team, and he stated that he declined a higher offer and only played for a team he believes has a championship ceiling.
Honorary nominations: Dwyane Wade, De Madrozan
Mavericks: Sean Marion
Stats with the team: 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 49.6% shooting
Honors: A championship
The fact that Sean Marion was able to play a key role as a role player in the only championship in the team's history was enough for us to choose him to sign as the best free agent ever for a Texas team.
After spending half a season with the Toronto Raptors, Marion was bought by Dallas in the 2009 offseason through a signing deal, which gave him a new contract worth about $39 million for five years. Just one season later, in 2010-11, Marion was pushed into the starting position after coming off the bench for the Mavericks' first season.
Winners: Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Harrison Barnes
Nuggets: KenYan Martin
Stats with the team: 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 49.6% shooting
In the 2004 offseason, KenJan Martin signed a six-year contract with the Nuggets worth $82.3 million. For seven seasons he helped the team defend the interior.
Honorable Mention: Andre Miller
Pistons: Ben Wallace
Stats with the team: 7.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.8 rebounds, 47.4% shooting percentage
Honors: Four All-Stars, one championship, three All-Team Two, two All-Team Three, Four Defensive Player of the Year, Five All-Defensive Team One, Two Rebounding Kings, One Block King
There is no doubt that Ben Wallace is the greatest undrafted player in history, and signing Ben Wallace with the Detroit Pistons in the summer of 2000 was one of the biggest successes we've seen, as Ben Wallace was inducted into the Hall of Fame primarily because of his achievements in Detroit.
Wallace was bought by the Pistons from the Orlando Magic as part of a deal granted to the Granthills, which led him to a six-year, $34 million contract with the Detroit Pistons.
Honorable Mention: Changsi Billups
Warriors: Kevin Durant
With team stats: 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 52.4% shooting
Team Honors: Three-time All-Star, two-time Championship, two-time Finals MVP, First-Team All-Star, and two-time Second-Team All-Star
One of the most unpopular free agent decisions of all time, Durant made the list for the second time, this time signing as the Warriors' best free agent ever. The signing brought real success to the Golden State Warriors, as the team won two championships in Durant's three seasons, and Durant won the Finals MVP honor in both seasons. Regardless, Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Honorable Mention: Andre iguodala
Rocket: Dwight Howard
Stats with the team: 16.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 60.1% shooting percentage
Honors: Once an All-Star and twice in the Best Team
Despite signing with the Rockets before his 28-year-old season, few knew Houston wouldn't get an elite version of Howard as the big man slipped from his first to third year on the Rockets. Still, Howard's signing with Houston wasn't disastrous in any case, as the team made it to the playoffs during his three years on the floor and even to the Western Conference Finals in the second season. Howard subsequently joined the Rockets on a four-year, $87.5 million highest contract after a chaotic season with the Los Angeles Lakers and announced his decision on Twitter.
Pacers: David West
Stats with the team: 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 48.7% shooting
Since Indiana is a smaller market in the league and isn't exactly one of the best destinations for free agents, the list of players we can choose to sign as the best free agents isn't very long. The Pacers made it to the playoffs in three of West's four seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals twice during that time, with David West playing a key role as an interior starter on the team. At the time, he signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Pacers.
Clippers: Leonard
Stats with the team: 26.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 48.8% shooting
Honors: Twice selected as an All-Star, once to the All-Team, twice to the Defensive Team,
It was an easy decision because not only was the Los Angeles Clippers never a free agent destination for their cross-city rivals, the Lakers, but Leonard would be the best free agent signed from most teams in NBA history. Leonard, after winning the championship with the Toronto Raptors, opted to sign with the Clippers in the summer of 2019, signing a three-year, $103.1 million contract.
Lakers: Shaquille O'Neill
Stats with the team: 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 57.5% shooting percentage
Honors with the team: Seven all-stars, league MVP, three championships, three Finals MVP, six first team, two best team second team, three best defensive team second team, three best defensive team two team, scoring king
It was one of the largest free agent signings of all time, and O'Neal opened the door for the likes of James and Durant to follow suit. Years later, Shaquille O'Neill left Orlando, Florida, for the bright lights of Los Angeles, changing the league landscape. Orlando reportedly bid $115 million to renew his contract, but fans don't think he's worth it. In the end, the Lakers signed O'Neal to a seven-year, $121 million contract
Honorable Mention: LeBron James, Jamal Wilkes
Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Allen
Stats with the team: 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 47.4% shooting percentage
Honors with the team: Three times selected for the Best Defensive Team, one team, and twice selected for best defense
Discussing the Grizzlies' best-ever free agency signing, we reckon he's Tony Allen. Before heading to Memphis, Tony Allen was a significant player in the Celtics' championship-winning season and even played a role in the team's 2008 championship battle. He joined the Grizzlies on a three-year, $9.7 million contract.
Heat: LeBron James
Stats with the team: 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 54.3% shooting
Honors with the team: Four All-Stars, two league regular season MVP, two championships, two Finals MVP, four All-Team, three Best Defensive First, one Best Defensive Second
One of the largest free agent signings in history, James' addition to the Heat was an astounding moment in the league's history, especially due to the way the decision was announced on a special show broadcast by ESPN, a decision that could be compared to O'Neal's addition to the Lakers and Durant's addition to the Warriors. James signed a six-year, $110 million contract with the Heat, with the option to terminate the contract early.
Honorable mentions: Jimmy Butler, Chris Bosch, Ray Allen
Bucks: Brooke Lopez
Stats with the team: 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 46.2 percent shooting
Honors: One championship, best defensive team
The Milwaukee Bucks' offseason history isn't particularly impressive, but even so, Brook Lopez is a savvy big man. Since signing Lopez off-season in 2018, Milwaukee has made the playoffs four times, once to the Finals, and even brought a championship in 2021. Over the past four seasons, Lopez has played an important role in this regard as the team's starting center.
Honorable Mention: Mo Williams
Timberwolves: Chansi Billups
Stats with the team: 10.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 42.3% shooting
We had no choice but to choose Billups to sign as the Timberwolves' best free agent ever because the team didn't give us a lot of good options. Billups, who signed a two-year, $4.7 million contract with the Timberwolves after playing for three different teams for the first three seasons, impressed with Billups' starter as the Timberwolves, with Whom Detroit signed a six-year, $34 million contract.
Pelicans: Julius Randall
Stats with the team: 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 52.4% shooting.
Julius Randall didn't have a long time in New Orleans because he only had one season at the Pelicans, but there weren't a lot of other options here and we didn't have too many players who had the strength to be the best free agents on the team.
After the Lakers quietly started his career, Randle asked the Lakers to relinquish his restricted free agent rights in the summer of 2019 because the Lakers clearly had no plans to offer him a long-term contract. The Lakers accepted the request, paving the way for Randall to sign a two-year, $18 million contract with New Orleans.
Knicks: Alan Houston
Stats with the team: 18.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 44.4% shooting
Honors: Twice named all-Star
One of the NBA's underrated all-around guards in the late '90s and early '00s, the New York Knicks signed Alan Houston to a six-year, $35 million contract in the 1996 offseason.
Awarded: Amar Stadermaier, John Stax
Thunder: Gus Williams
Team stats: 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 47.5% shooting
Honors: Twice named all-star, one championship, best team first team, best team two team
He's a strong two-way defender who can play an impressive level of scoring and passing at the other end of the pitch. Considered one of the league's top guards in the late '70s and early '80s, Gusway Williams was dubbed the "Wizards" and even led the Seattle Supersonics with an average of 29.0 points per game in the 1979 Finals, which was also the last time the team tasted the championship.
Gus Williams joined the Supersonics in the 1977 offseason after spending two seasons with the Golden State Warriors on a three-year contract worth $510,000.
Honorable Mention: Spencer Haywood
Magic: Maddie
Stats with the team: 28.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 44.6% shooting
Honors: Four-time All-Star, twice in the All-Team First Team, twice in the All-Team Second Team, twice the Leading Scorer, the fastest improving player
The Heat aren't the only Florida team to have succeeded in the free agency market, and the Orlando Magic's offseason signing list is also impressive. However, there is one person who is considered the best free agent signing in the history of the Magic, and that is Maddy, who left the Toronto Raptors and immediately became an MVP-level player in four years in Orlando.
Maddy decided to leave Toronto to join the Magic as a free agent for a variety of reasons, including a staggering seven-year, $92.8 million contract. And Maddie didn't like to play a minor role in his cousin Wenscat, which was one of the reasons he made this decision.
Winners: Horace Grant, Turcoglu, Rashad Lewis, Grant Hill
76ers: Moses Malone
Stats with the team: 23.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 47.8% shooting percentage
Honors: Four-time All-Star, one Championship, Finals MVP, League MVP, two-time All-Team First Team, Two-time All-Team Second Team, All-Defensive Team, Three Rebounding Kings
After Receiving League MVP Honors in 1981-82, Despite being a restricted free agent, when Malone signed a six-year, $13.2 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, they said the league MVP didn't fit their plans, so let him go, even though they could at least sign a deal with Philadelphia, which included giving the Rockets a first-round pick.
Winners: Steve Meeks, Caldwell Jones, Elton Brand
Sun: Steve Nash
Stats with the team (second Suns season): 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 43.7% three-point shooting percentage
Honors: Six-time All-Star, two league MVP, three first-team, two-time second-team, five assists, four-time 50/40/90 club
After initially being drafted by the Phoenix Suns and spending his first two seasons there, Steve Nash was traded to the Mavericks, where he spent the next six seasons of his career. Then, in the summer of 2004, ahead of his 30-year-old season, Nash became a free agent and hoped to re-sign with Dallas, a team that helped him become a top point guard. However, with the likes of Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, Antoine Jamison and DeKnovitsky already earning high salaries, Nash is in his 30s and the Mavericks have given their point guard a low price, giving him a four-year contract worth about $36 million.
Phoenix, on the other hand, offered Nash a six-year, $63 million contract, which the Canadian legend eventually agreed to. This is also the achievement of the Sun's artillery tactics and 7 seconds of offense.
Honorable Mention: Tom Chambers, Hawkins
Trailblazer: Rod Strickland
Stats with the team: 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 47.3% shooting
Rod Strickland was a good player in his heyday and did not receive any honors at the Blazers. Still, we had to choose Strickland as the trail Blazers' best free agent ever signed because the team didn't leave us with too many other strong options. Strickland signed with the Blazers in the 1992 offseason, when the team had just reached the Finals, and he signed a multi-year contract worth $12.6 million.
Winners: Wesley Matthews, Danny Angel, Kenny Anderson
King: Divac
Stats with the team: 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 47.8% shooting
Honors: All-Star
While Divac was with the Kings, the Kings experienced one of their most successful periods in modern times, making it to six seasons in the playoffs, three to the second round and one to the Western Conference Finals. During that time, they also achieved regular season bests of 61 wins and 59 wins, as well as two more 55 win seasons. And when Divac signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract with Sacramento, he said turning the Kings into a competitive team would be an exciting challenge, and he did, even though the team did fail to reach the Finals or win the championship during his tenure.
Spurs: La Marcus Aldridge
Stats with the team: 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 50.2% shooting
Honors: Three-time All-Star, twice in the All-Team Second Team, three times in the All-Team Three
The Spurs don't usually go after big-name free agents, but there seems to be an exception in the 2015 offseason, when the Texas team managed to recruit La Marcus Aldridge and secured him on a four-year, $80 million contract.
Honorable Mention: Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen
Raptors: VanVleet
Stats with the team: 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 40.4% shooting percentage
Honors: All-Star, a championship
VanVleet is the only player on the list to be signed as a non-draft free agent, and he will be recorded as one of the greatest non-draft players of all time as he has developed into one of the top point guards in the East.
Still, it took VanVleet a while to grow into the backbone of the NBA, but Toronto did a good job of being patient with him, turning a diminutive, ordinary point guard into an All-Star in the Eastern Conference and one of the toughest point guards in the league.
Honorable Mention: Jose Calderon
JAZZ: Carlos Buszel
Stats with the team: 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 54.4% shooting
Honors: Twice named all-Star, named to the NBA All-NBA Third Team
The jazz's real top free agent signed was Carlos Boozer, which happened during the 2004 offseason. Carlos Boozer's signing worked well for the Utah Jazz, a former Duke university standout who became an All-Star big man with his outstanding performances at the Jazz, which helped the Utah Jazz succeed for four consecutive years, including reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2006-07.
However, Carlos Busser's signing with the Jazz is not without drama. There were reports at the time that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boozer had reached an agreement that he would renew a six-year contract with the Cavaliers if they renewed him in the final year of his contract to make him a restricted free agent, but the Cavaliers could not afford a six-year, $70 million contract.
Wizards: Arenas
Stats with the team: 26.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 42.6% shooting
Honors: Three-time All-Star, twice all-Star, twice in the All-Star Team, twice in the All-Team Third Team
Although Arenas has retired, he is still the best free agent the Washington Wizards have ever signed, even surpassing legendary Michael Jordan. When he became a free agent in 2004, Arenas had a hard time deciding which team to sign with after ruling out a return to the Warriors, and the Wizards were still the Clippers, so he opted for a coin toss decision.
Even stranger, Arenas said he tossed the coin 10 times, and the Clippers were positive and Odd was the opposite. The coin landed on the head eight times. So Arenas chose the Wizards because, according to him, he likes to go against the trend. The Wizards enjoyed some success with Arenas, making the playoffs four times and once passing the first round.
Honorable Mention: Michael Jordan