NBA free agency never fails to entertain.
Even in a year where there weren't many marquee free agents, there were still plenty of trade rumors and big deals to keep the NBA world buzzing at the start of the tentpole offseason event.
The day really took off when it was reported that All-Star forward Kevin Durant has requested a trade out of Brooklyn. That kept NBA fans busy until the 6 p.m. ET starting point, where NBA insiders emptied their Twitter drafts of all the signings they have been sitting on for only they know how long.
From quarter-billion-dollar deals like Nikola Jokic's five-year, $261 million supermax with the Nuggets or Bradley Beal's five-year, $251 million supermax with the Wizards to smaller deals like Lonnie Walker IV's one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Lakers, everyone was getting paid on the first day of free agency.
If you missed any of the signings or didn't have your Twitter notifications turned on, The Sporting News' Stephen Noh had you covered with live grades and analysis from each deal.
But how much money was spent on the first day of free agency? Find out below, along with the five best and worst value contracts of Day 1.
How much money was spent on Day 1 of NBA free agency?
Before we get into the roughly estimated total, there are a few things to note: We did not include any options that were picked up prior to Thursday's 6 p.m. ET start time (example: Kyrie Irving's $37 million player option). Also, there were a handful of reported deals that linked players to teams without revealing the details of the contract, meaning this estimate will certainly be off in the slightest.
With that being said, over 38 reported deals, there was approximately $1.5 billion – with a "B" – spent by NBA teams on the first day of free agency.
The five most lucrative deals signed so far can be found below:
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: Five years, $261 million
- Bradley Beal, Wizards: Five years, $251 million
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves: Five years, $224 million
- Devin Booker, Suns: Five years, $214 million
- Jalen Brunson, Knicks: Four years, $104 million
Ranking the best, worst contracts from Day 1 of NBA free agency
The best
Disclaimer: This list excludes major deals like Jokic, Beal, Booker and Towns, who were all no-brainers to sign max contracts with their current team.
1. Kyle Anderson, Timberwolves: Two years, $18 million
Anderson is the type of do-it-all playmaker the Timberwolves could use to make life easier for players like Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. He gives Minnesota something it doesn't have in an offensively versatile forward and at $9 million a year, this was one of the most favorable deals handed out on Day 1.
2. Nic Claxton, Nets: Two years, $20 million
At just 23 years old, it feels like Claxton showed enough potential to command more than $20 million over two years. On a day where not much else went right for the Nets, they retained their starting center of the future on a very team-friendly deal.
3. Jae'Sean Tate, Rockets: Three years, $22.1 million
Tate was a jack-of-all-trades for the Rockets last season, bringing energy on both ends of the floor while playing versatile, lockdown defense across multiple positions. To retain the 26-year-old starter on just over $7 million annually is a great deal for a rebuilding Houston team.
4. Malik Monk, Kings: Two years, $19 million
There were rumors that Monk was going to return to the Lakers on a discount but he elected to take more money elsewhere. Even so, the Kings didn't have to pay up much to sign Monk, who revitalized himself in Los Angeles last season. Now, the former No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft is reunited with his former Kentucky teammate, De'Aaron Fox, in the Kings' backcourt.
5. Nicolas Batum, Clippers: Two years, $22 million
With Kawhi Leonard expected to return to full strength next season, the Clippers will once again be contending for a title. Ever since Batum joined the Clippers, he has done all the little things you need from a glue guy on a championship-caliber team. He can play just about any position and at $11 million a year, Los Angeles was able to get back a key piece for their title hunt next season.
The worst
1. PJ Tucker, 76ers: Three years, $33.2 million
Don't get me wrong, Tucker will be huge in the 76ers' pursuit of a title this upcoming season. They have a strict win-now window since acquiring James Harden at the deadline and Tucker only aids that cause. But at 37 years old, Tucker will be 40 by the end of this contract and it feels like Philly could have gotten him for cheaper.
2. JaVale McGee, Mavericks: Three years, $20.1 million
McGee was as solid as can be for the Suns last year and he brings championship DNA to a team trying to get over the hump, but almost $7 million a year for a reserve center who likely won't play more than 15 minutes per game in the playoffs is sort of questionable.
3. Chris Boucher, Raptors: Three years, $35.25 million
Boucher has been one of the Raptors' developmental gems and they paid him handsomely relative to his production last season. Boucher had moments last year – as he has throughout his four-year run with the Raptors – but almost $12 million a year for inconsistent play from a backup center seems hefty.
4. Marvin Bagley III, Pistons: Three years, $37 million
This is a very low-risk signing for the Pistons, who started to see glimpses of the former college star once he was traded to Detroit last season. Relatively speaking, $12 million a year for a former No. 2 pick – who is still only 23 (!) years old – isn't all that bad. But his production hasn't suggested he even deserves that much just yet.
5. Anfernee Simons, Trail Blazers: Four years, $100 million
This lands at the bottom of the list because I don't think it's all that far off from what Simons deserves. I'm surprised he cracked the $100 million threshold but I would have guessed he'd be closer to $80-90 million. With that being said, at 23 years old, the future is bright for the electrifying guard and the Blazers paid for what they believe he'll be worth in the future.
