Rip City addressed various roster weaknesses this offseason with the trade for Deni Avdija and the selection of Donovan Clingan. Both are promising additions as they continue their rebuild. But the gap between the Blazers and teams at the top of the Western Conference may have increased as teams improved their rosters via free agency.
Winner No. 1: Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings recently made a blockbuster signing, adding DeMar DeRozan to their roster on a three-year, $74 million deal. DeRozan isn't the perfect fit as someone who relies heavily on his midrange game and could somewhat take away from De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. But it was clear after missing the playoffs this past season that the Kings needed another star to help take some of the pressure off of Fox and Sabonis, who were relied on to generate a majority of their high-octane offense.
DeRozan is one of the most clutch players in the entire NBA, which could come in handy as they should be in plenty of competitive games in the loaded Western Conference. The DeRozan signing is also a win because it shows how far the Kings organization has come that a big-name free agent picks Sacramento over other options, including the Lakers. This signing could not only put the Kings firmly back in playoff contention, but they now have a legitimate case to make as the best team in California.
Winner No. 2: Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers made the headliner free agency splash by signing nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George to a four-year, $212 million deal. He's the exact type of player Philadelphia needed to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as an elite secondary playmaker and floor spacer.
Philadelphia didn't appear to be George's first option. On "Podcast P with Paul George," he says he didn't want to leave Los Angeles but ultimately felt it was in his best interest after contract negotiations went astray, calling the Clippers' offer "disrespectful." George also mentions that the Golden State Warriors were another team that could have acquired George through a sign-and-trade, but the Clippers weren't willing to help out a divisional rival.
An underrated addition is Caleb Martin, who Philadelphia poached from the Miami Heat. The 76ers signed Martin to a four-year, $32 million deal, reportedly much less than what Miami offered ($65 million over the next five seasons). Eric Gordon is another notable addition who should help bolster their roster with his shooting and veteran leadership.
They lost several pieces, including Tobias Harris, De'Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Nic Batum, but they still have time to address their lack of depth before next season's trade deadline. The 76ers have positioned themselves to compete with the other elite teams in the East if they stay healthy.
Winner No. 3: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder finished tied for the best record in the Western Conference and have improved their roster in multiple aspects this offseason, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league. They convinced coveted big man Isaiah Hartenstein to leave another contender in the New York Knicks, ultimately signing him to a three-year, $87 million deal.
Hartenstein is one of the most underappreciated centers in the league. It's an excellent signing for the Thunder, who needed to add another big man to play alongside Chet Holmgren to give them more lineup versatility.
The Hartenstein signing is significant come playoff time; the Thunder will likely run into a team with talented big men like the Timberwolves or Nuggets in the playoffs. Holmgren is too undersized to slow down someone like Nikola Jokic or Minnesota's trio of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Adding more physicality solves one of their most glaring roster weaknesses and could be the thing that gets them to the Finals next year.
The Thunder aren't done yet—they still have roughly $8 million left in cap space and one roster spot remaining. They can pursue some promising role players still available on the free agency market, further solidifying their standing as one of the free agency winners.