Man, was that intense! Free Agency is behind us For some, fond memories will be looked back on with warmth and price. For others, it will be looked at as lost opportunity, tough luck or a hangover served with self-loathing.

Scanning the field, most teams did what they had to do. The talent was spread across teams, with some huge surprises of a total lack of bids, and some players garnering way more value than they should.

Free Agency is such an interesting process; the gamble, the game theory, the mind games, the chance. It’s not for the faint hearted, and just like everything in the NSL, for every person who added, there’s someone who lost.

Shoutout to the teams that did well, or what they had to do. Oubre for free. Bucks adding more complementary pieces to a fearsome squad. Portland retained their guys (albeit have some issues with shooting the GM point wad, with reckless abandon). Wolves filled their roster. And many more I haven’t mentioned.

I have identified a few teams who I think clearly added, and a few unfortunate teams who got to the cash register and realised they had forgotten their wallets, their trolley, their groceries or for one poor soul, wasn’t even in the shop.


“Ya did good, kid.”
[teams that did really well]

[Toronto Raptors - the brightest heist in the FA sky]
Added: D’Angelo Russell, Ayo Dusonmu, Boban Marjonavic, Sasha Veznekov, Seth Curry

Goddamn, did the Raptors have themselves a night! Yeet was at the bottom of a bottle when his prized FA in Russell, was up for the taking. While Yeet was dreaming of Wemby, Dyl was stealing his teammate in Russell. He was the prize of the FA period. Toronto continued to add talent throughout the night. Congratulations.

[Phoenix Suns - the knife; pivoting, carving, signing]
Added: Bruce Brown, Christian Wood, Max Strus, Vasilje Micic, Jalen McDaniels

What a pivot! There was anticipation in the air as the Suns cut salary just before it all kicked off. In a shock move, they renounced their two tall free agents, including prized Bol Bol (Laddas would then go on to remind people to bid on him, uhhh). What wonderful calculations they were, as he was able to nab Bruce Brown for free, retain Strus, win Wood on a clutch 99 bid and win Micic over other suitors. What a performance.

[Brooklyn Nets - the redemption tour, rolling on]
Added: Kyrie Irving, Alex Len, Cody Zeller, Shake Milton, Ish Smith, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jevon Carter

If there’s a team other than the Portland Trailblazers who have copped a beating in previous Free Agency algorithms, it’s the Nets. However, it is a new dawn in Brooklyn, and now, it’s undeniable. The winner of the Zeller sweepstakes, the symbolism cannot be escaped - the losing is done. Not only did they have their best haul ever in a Free Agency, they now actually have a great core to add it to. Instead of plugging leaks in the hull, they are priming the cannons.

[San Antonio Spurs - the team that doesn’t know bad luck]
Added: Dillon Brooks, Javale McGee, Reggie Jackson, Bol Bol, Frank Nkilitina, Giannis’ brother, Lamar Stevens, Justin Holiday

The Wes Mantooth quote, about respect and hate dancing hand in hand together, rings true every time I see, hear or think about the Spurs. The champs, and that ain’t no fluke. For all the fortune they have received over the last period of time, there’s no one who plays the game better, on the court, off and during the bidding process. Spurs didn’t need to add anything to be great, but naturally they did, and with relative ease. Spurs world, man…

*Yawn, vomit, cry, squint, read the website, cry again* - no, not Yeet when he woke up after FA had finished.


[New Orleans Pelicans - the quiet achievers of FA]
Added: Austin Reaves, Kevin Love, Mo Wagner, Cameron Payne, Toumani Camara, Svi Mykhailuik

To do a Leeroy, is to bid just the right amount on players who occur later in the draft, securing their services and the services of the incumbent players. Every season, the Pelicans do what they need to do, and do it well, adding useful players to a deep roster of useful players. Once the top end talent clicks, they will have all the assets and depth to make another big move.

[Charlotte Hornets - the FA survivor]
Added: Fred Vanvleet, Draymond Green, Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley, Harry Giles, Kevin Knox, Anthony Gill, Dru Smith, Ryan ‘A’

Craig enters most Free Agency periods with a barren roster, aside from his core stars, and as the auction ceases, he manages to fit out the rest of his roster, EVERY TIME. No matter how unlikely it seems, the friendly algorithm of the Hornets lures in another set of role players to don the teal. Well done.


[Portland Trailblazers - the random factor whisperer]
Added: LeBron James, Jakob Poeltl, Caris Levert, Cam Reddish, Josh Richardson, Tristan Thompson, Ty Jerome, Orlando Robinson

Oh, the misery. In what was more about maintaining than gaining, the Bad Luck Blazers were able to ride some fortunate timing and binge drinking into securing every player they held the rights for. Did they overpay for their minimum guys? Absolutely. But not a GM was spent on their better players.


[Washington Wizards - the ‘contender special’]
Added: Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Chimezi Metu, Wesley Matthews

For every Cody Zeller, there is an Eric Gordon - a great player, so inexplicably undervalued and under-committed in terms of bids, that a great team walks away with a piece that could push them over the top. The Wiz didn’t have to do much, but they did it well, adding positions where they required depth and adding talent and value.