The best free-agent signing in the history of each NBA franchise

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The best free-agent signing in the history of each NBA franchise

Frank Urbina, USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Jun 29, 2026 ·

6 min read

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NBA free agency is one of the most exciting periods of the year for fans addicted to rumors and transactions around the Association. (Since you're a HoopsHype reader, you're probably one of them.)

Still, not every NBA team enjoys the same amount of success in free agency, with the larger markets and bigger brands tending to hog the big-name-free-agent pickups.

One interesting note on the matter: Hornets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans and Trail Blazers have never signed a player in free agency who would go on to become an All-Star for them.

Regardless, we went through each team's history and picked every NBA franchise's best free-agent signing ever. Check it out below.

Hawks: Dikembe Mutombo

Stats with team:11.9 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.1 bpg, 52.6 FG%

Accolades with team:Four-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA, 3rd Team All-NBA, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time 1st Team All-Defense, 2nd Team All-Defense

NBA Hall-of-Famer Dikembe Mutombobegan his career as a member of the Denver Nuggets , receiving All-Star honors three times in five years while leading the league in nightly blocks three times.

After so much early success, Mutombo reportedly wanted a 10-year contract from the Nuggets in the 1996 offseason, which Denver balked at, opening the door for the shot-blocking legend to join the Atlanta Hawks on a five-year, $55 million contract.

Upon completion of the move, Mutombo told the media it was time for him to move on with his life while then-Nuggets general manager Bernie Bickerstaffwould later say letting Mutombo walk was the only regret of his career as a general manager .

Mutombo would enjoy a lot of individual success while with the Hawks as noted above, though the Atlanta's success during that stretch was just so-so, with the team never getting past the second round of the playoffs with Mutombo manning the paint.

Honorable mentions:Joe Johnson, Paul Millsap, Dan Roundfield

Celtics: Al Horford

Stats with the team (both stints):11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 48.4 FG% Accolades with the team:One-time NBA title, one-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-Defense

As you can denote by both the selection of the player here and by the short, weak list of honorable mentions spanning just one player, the Boston Celtics haven't exactly been a powerhouse on the free-agent market in the team's otherwise illustrious history, for whatever reason.

So we had to go with Al Horfordas the team's best free-agent pickup ever, despite just-solid statistics. Even so, Horford has always been more of an impact player than one who will put up tremendous individual statistics, and both times he signed with Boston proved to be hugely successful.

Certainly not the flashiest signing on this list, Horford was quietly a great free-agent pickup for the Celtics, who snatched him up on a four-year $113 million deal in 2021, especially considering the fact that he helped the team win a championship in 2023-24 with his steady two-way play out of the frontcourt.

Honorable mentions:Kemba Walker

Nets: Kevin Durant

Stats with team:29.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.8 apg, 53.5 FG%

Accolades with team:Three-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA

In the end, the Kevin Durant/Brooklyn Nets marriage ended unceremoniously after three and a half seasons with a grand total of 129 regular season games played. And the Nets have been rebuilding ever since.

Regardless, whenever a franchise is able to pick up a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer in free agency, that player is going to be its top free-agent signing ever, no matter how it ends.

Such is the case with Durant and the Nets, who did enjoy some success together, as the former league MVP was able to lead Brooklyn to the second round of the playoffs in his first season of action, coming within inches on a deep two-point shot of possibly getting the Nets to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

And who knows what might have happened after that?

Durant chose to sign with the Nets following a devastating Achilles injury suffered in the 2019 postseason as a member of the Golden State Warriors. He announced the decision on his media business' ( The Boardroom ) Instagram account and signed with Brooklyn on a four-year, $164.3 million via sign-and-trade with Golden State.

Durant's reasoning for leaving the Warriors for the Nets remains somewhat unclear, though Brooklyn's market size, off-court business opportunities and a chance for Durant to change the narrative on his legacy likely all played a factor in the decision.

Hornets: Al Jefferson

Stats with team:17.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 49.5 FG%

Accolades with team:3rd Team All-NBA

It's quite rare for marquee free agents to sign with the league's smaller brands and franchises.

That's the case with the Charlotte Hornets, whose best free-agent pickup ever, according to us, was Al Jeffersonback in 2013.

Still, this shouldn't be seen as a slight to Jefferson, whose throwback post-heavy game was actually quite effective, especially during his time with the Hornets, a three-year stretch in which the big man helped guide the club to the playoffs twice, though never out of the first round.

After six great seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz, Jefferson signed with the Hornets on a three-year, $40.5 million contract in the 2013 offseason. To make room for Jefferson that summer, Charlotte had to use its one-time amnesty clause provision on Tyrus Thomas.

Honorable mentions:Gordon Hayward

Cavaliers: LeBron James

Stats with team (second stint):26.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 8.0 bpg, 52.6 FG%

Accolades with team (second stint):Four-time All-Star, four-time 1st Team All-NBA, one championship, one Finals MVP

The only instance on this list where a franchise's top free-agent signing ever is also a player they drafted, LeBron Jamesjoining with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 offseason changed the landscape of the NBA at the time and was historically important, as James was able to bring a championship to Cleveland in 2016.

After four successful seasons with the Miami Heat, James opted to return home in 2014 and sign with the Cavs, a deal that was eventually reported to be for two years and $42.2 million, announcing the decision on July 11 via Sports Illustrated , ending the column with:

It was noteworthy (and a bit hilarious) at the time that James neglected to mention Andrew Wiggins as a young player he was excited to work with, as it was immediately obvious Wiggins would be used as trade bait to build James his next Big Three. And that he was, as Wiggins was quickly dealt for Kevin Love as the Cavaliers' championship triumvirate was formed.

Regardless, James' signing by Cleveland in 2014 was obviously a grand-slam home run, leaving us without even a close second-place choice to pick as the team's best free-agent signing ever.

Bulls: Pau Gasol

Stats with team: 17.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 48.3 FG%

Accolades with team: Two-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA

Pau Gasoljoined Chicago after very successful six-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, signing with the team on a three-year, $22.3 million deal, stating that he turned down more lucrative offers in order to play for a team he felt had a championship ceiling.

Gasol would go on to spend two seasons with the Bulls, getting to the second round of the playoffs in Year 1 before missing the postseason in Year 2.

Still, it wasn't a bad two-year run for Gasol and the Bulls, and at the price he signed for, he was a downright value signing for Chicago, even if the championship hopes didn't come to fruition.

Honorable mentions: Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan

Mavericks: Shawn Marion

Stats with team: 11.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 49.6 FG% Accolades with team: One championship

His list of accolades as a Dallas Mavericks player might not be long, but the fact Shawn Marion was able to play a pivotal role in the lone championship in the franchise's history as a role player was reason enough for us to pick him as the Texan team's best free-agent signing ever.

After spending half of one season with the Toronto Raptors, Marion was acquired by Dallas in the 2009 offseason via a sign-and-trade, one that gave him a new contract worth five years and roughly $39 million.

Just one season later, in 2010-11, Marion was thrust into a starting role after coming off the bench in his inaugural Mavericks campaign and eventually helped guide Dallas to a championship playing off of the brilliance of Dirk Nowitzki, slashing to the bucket, spotting up from the corners, feasting in transition and defending multiple positions on the other end.

Maybe not the flashiest free-agent pickup ever, but one that paid off handsomely for Mark Cuban and Co.

Honorable mentions: Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Harrison Barnes

Nuggets: Kenyon Martin

Stats with team: 12.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 49.6 FG%

As discussed above, smaller-market franchises haven't exactly lit things up on the free-agent market historically. The Nuggets are a prime example of that, as their best free-agent signing ever, Kenyon Martin, amassed zero individual accolades during his seven years with the club.

In the 2004 offseason, Martin, coming off the lone All-Star appearance of his career, as well as two Finals runs and a second-round playoff exit with the then-New Jersey Nets, was acquired by Denver in a sign-and-trade deal, inking a six-year, $82.3 million contract with the Nuggets.

Denver formed a solid squad during Martin's tenure, building around Carmelo Anthony, as the franchise made the playoffs all seven years that Martin was there. The Nuggets only got out of the first round once during that span of time, however, albeit getting all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2008-09.

Martin's high-flying frontcourt play and toughness on both ends of the floor was an important factor for various good-but-maybe-not-great Nuggets squads, though neither the team nor the individual, in this case, can say this signing was a grand-slam success, either.

Honorable mentions: Andre Miller

Pistons: Chauncey Billups

DALLAS - DECEMBER 6: Chauncey Billups #1 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on December 6, 2004 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Stats with team: 16.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 39.7 3PT%

Accolades with team: NBA championship, Finals MVP, four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA 3rd Team

After a slow start to his career that saw him play for four teams over his first five seasons, things finally clicked for Chauncey Billupsin Detroit, where he became one of the best two-way point guards in the game during his prime.

Billups became the head of the snake for what were strong Pistons teams in the mid-00s, earning the nickname Mr. Big Shot for his propensity to come up clutch when Detroit needed a basket late in important games.

Billups was so impressive in Detroit and broke out in such a manner that by his second season with the team, 2003-04, he had helped lead the franchise to its first championship in 14 years, upsetting the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in the '04 Finals in five games, ending the Shaq-and-Kobe dynasty and befuddling Hall-of-Fame head coach Phil Jackson( via NBC News ):

Billups has dominated counterparts Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, particularly in all three third quarters, when he has strung together scoring runs. He has used his muscular 6-foot-3 frame to bully opponents on defense and he's done a remarkable job of keeping the Lakers off balance by mixing up jump shots, drives and passes in Detroit's highly effective pick-and-roll sets. "We've made an all-star out of Chauncey Billups so far," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "I don't know if he's ever been an all-star. I don't think so, but in this particular series, we have made him one."

Billups and Co. would make a return trip the following season, 2004-05, and push the eventual champion Spurs to a seven-game battle before finally falling. Billups would then help lead Detroit to three straight Eastern Conference Finals before his run on the team finally came to a wrap.

From being a total journeyman to being one of the most respected point guards in the NBA, Billups' signing by Detroit was one of the most fruitful pickups in league history.

Honorable mentions: Ben Wallace, Tobias Harris

Warriors: Kevin Durant

Stats with team: 25.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.4 apg, 52.4 FG%

Accolades with team: Three-time All-Star, two championships, two Finals MVPs, 1st Team All-NBA, two-time 2nd Team All-NBA

One of the most unpopular free-agent decisions of all time, Durant makes our list for the second time, this time as the Warriors' best free-agent signing ever. And that signing panned out in spades for Golden State, as the team added two championships to its mantle in Durant's three seasons there, both of which Durant took home Finals MVP honors.

With the level James was playing at during that second Cavaliers' stint, who knows if the Warriors would have had enough firepower to stop him twice without Durant?

Still, Durant's choice was trashed by both fans and the media – probably even by other players behind closed doors – and though he likely doesn't regret it, the fact he chose to leave after just three seasons is a bit telling.

What made the choice particularly tough to digest was the fact that Durant had just led the Oklahoma City Thunder to within a game of the Finals, going up against those very Warriors in the Western Conference Finals that year before he and his team blew a 3-1 series lead, before opting to join the club that beat his.

Regardless, Durant signed with Golden State on a two-year, $54.3 million deal and announced his decision on July 4 via The Players' Tribune , stating:

The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.

Durant continued:

It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career. I will miss Oklahoma City, and the role I have had in building this remarkable team. I will forever cherish the relationships within the organization — the friends and teammates that I went to war with on the court for nine years, and all the fans and people of the community. They have always had my back unconditionally, and I cannot be more grateful for what they have meant to my family and to me.

At least Thunder fans were solaced by the fact Durant felt somewhat bad about his decision.

Honorable mentions: Andre Iguodala

Rockets: Dwight Howard

Mar 6, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after a dunk against Toronto Raptors in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Stats with team: 16.0 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 60.1 FG%

Accolades with team: One-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA

Despite signing with the Rockets ahead of his age-28 season, little did anyone know Houston would not be getting the elite, All-NBA version of Howard for long, as the big man's drop-off from his first year with the Rockets to his third was pretty steep.

Even so, the Howard signing by Houston wasn't disastrous by any means, as the team made the playoffs all three years he was there, even getting to the Western Conference Finals in the second season.

Howard joined the Rockets on a four-year, $87.5 million max contract after one tumultuous season with the Los Angeles Lakers, announcing his decision on Twitter :

I've decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets. I feel its the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I'm looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best.

Although things ended in an ugly manner, Howard would eventually rejoin the Lakers and even win a title with the purple and gold.

Pacers: David West

Stats with team:14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 48.7 FG%

The list of accolades is nonexistent, but David Westwas a reliable starter on various very good Pacers teams. Plus, with Indiana, one of the league's smaller markets, not exactly being a free-agent destination, our list of choices to pick as its best free-agent signing wasn't exactly long.

The Pacers made it to the playoffs in three of West's four seasons there, getting to the Eastern Conference Finals twice in that span, with West playing a pivotal role as a frontcourt starter on those teams.

West signed with the Pacers on a two-year, $20 million contract after starting his career with the then-New Orleans Hornets. Both West and Pacers president of basketball operations at the time, Larry Bird, were excited about the move, telling the media :

"It's great for the Indiana Pacers to have a class, quality person that David is join our team," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "We know what he has accomplished on the court, but it's the other intangibles he brings that will make us stronger off the court as well as on the court." "This is a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to finding my role with this team," said West, who played collegiately at Xavier, earning two national player of the year awards as a senior. ""I feel I can add to this group and once I find my place, I'll help this ballclub the best I can."

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets defends against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers during the second quarter in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome on May 01, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Stats with team: 25.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.7 spg, 50.3 FG%

Accolades with team: Four-time All-Star, 1st Team All-NBA, three 2nd Team All-NBAs, two 2nd Team All-Defenses

The Kawhi Leonardera in Los Angeles never met the lofty expectations many set for it when the two-time Finals MVP joined the team in the 2019 offseason, along with then-fellow-superstar wing Paul George. Even so, it was still the best signing in Los Angeles Clippers history, with no close second even in the running.

Marred by injuries - the California native played in more than 65 regular-season games for the Clippers only once, and missed the entire 2021-22 season - Leonard was never able to lead L.A. to the heights he reached in San Antonio and Toronto. In fact, over his final five seasons with the Clippers, the team never made it out of the first round of the playoffs. Considering the manner in which Los Angeles mortgaged its future to land Leonard and George, to say his time with the Clippers has been disappointing would be underselling it quite a bit.

And that's without even mentioning the ugly Aspiration rumors, which allege that the Clippers used a Leonard endorsement deal with a now-defunct company called Aspiration to pay him more money under the table. Talk about not getting much bang for your buck there, if you're the Clippers and those allegations prove to be true. At least win a championship if you're going to skirt the rules in such an ugly manner.

Here's what well-known L.A. sports columnist Bill Plaschkehad to say recently on the Leonard era in Los Angeles ( via the LA Times ):

Seven years later, Leonard has abused an organization, alienated a fan base and basically collected nearly $300 million of Steve Ballmer's money and burned it. Seven years later, he has been injured, apathetic, entitled, disconnected and generally nothing but a pain in the backside for a reenergized franchise that deserved so much better. As the Clippers stare down another offseason Leonard dilemma — he's in the middle of this Aspiration mess and in the final year of his contract — one thing is clear. Kawhi Leonard was the worst free-agent signing in Los Angeles sports history.

We definitely see the irony in us still calling Leonard the best free-agent signing in Clippers history while Plaschke calls him the worst, but we digress.

Plaschke continued:

Leonard has been that disappointing. Leonard has been that destructive. Even accounting for his on-court resurgence over the last 18 months, Leonard has been that damn bad. Where does one start? How about at the start? Even before he officially signed, Leonard made the Clippers worse. Remember, the only reason he joined them is because they traded for Paul George at the same time. He wasn't coming without his buddy, and so the Clippers had to do cartwheels to complete the deal in conjunction with signing Leonard. Those gymnastics landed the Clippers flat on their backs, as the George trade will be remembered as one of the most one-sided deals in NBA history, the Clippers sending future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five first-round draft picks — five! — to Oklahoma City. While the Thunder were becoming NBA champions, the Clippers had trouble getting Leonard and George to even play together. During their five seasons as teammates they appeared on the court together less than half the time.

Regardless, the Leonard era was a huge disappointment for the Clippers, but purely from a statistical standpoint, the two-time NBA champion is still the best free-agent signing in that franchise's history.

Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal

Peja Stojakovic (R) and Scot Pollard (L) of the Sacramento Kings defend against Shaquille O'Neal (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers during 3rd quarter action of Game 6 in their Western Conference Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles 31 May 2002. The Kings lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Matt SIMON (Photo by MATT SIMON / AFP) (Photo credit should read MATT SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

Stats with team: 27.0 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 57.5 FG%

Accolades with team: Seven-time All-Star, league MVP, three-time champion, three-time Final MVP, six-time 1st Team All-NBA, 2nd Team All-NBA, 3rd Team All-NBA, three-time 2nd Team All-Defense, scoring champion

One of the biggest free-agent pickups of all time and arguably the first such move of its kind, opening the doors for the likes of James and Durant to follow suit years later, Shaquille O'Neal leaving Orlando for the bright lights of L.A. changed the landscape of the Association forever.

Once O'Neal left the small-market franchise that drafted him for one of the biggest brands and markets in the world, it became more palatable for free agents later on to do the same.

O'Neal was hugely successful during his time with the Magic, winning a scoring title, reaching the Finals and receiving All-Star honors all four years. But he still chose the Lakers in the summer of 1996 and for a variety of reasons, with off-court endeavors and treatment by Magic fans during his free agency – when they strongly voted against O'Neal being worth the $115 million Orlando were reportedly offering him – playing a part.

Of course, the monster seven-year, $121 million contract the Lakers signed him to certainly had a hand in matters, as did the fact that the Magic tried to low-ball O'Neal with their original free-agent offers.

Whatever the reason, in the end, L.A. won out, causing Jerry West, the Lakers' executive vice president of basketball operations at the time, to compare O'Neal committing to Los Angeles to the birth of his children :

When the deal was complete, West, a Hall of Fame player and National Basketball Association champion who also helped lead the legendary 1960 United States Olympic team, compared his feelings with those at life-altering moments. "At about 2:15 in the morning when we signed the contract, it was probably the most relieved I've ever felt in my life," West said. "I really can't explain it. I've often thought that the birth of my children was something that I'd never forget. Just the excitement of this, for us to sign him, really rates right there with that."

Jerry West might love basketball just a bit more than the rest of us.

Of course, O'Neal's tenure with the Lakers was an enormous, transcendent success, as O'Neal and Kobe Bryant would form arguably the greatest big man/guard duo of all time, winning three titles together and playing some of the most exciting, dominant basketball the league has ever seen.

Pretty easy choice here for the Lakers' best free-agent signing ever.

Honorable mentions: LeBron James, Jamaal Wilkes

Grizzlies: Tony Allen

Stats with team: 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 spg, 47.4 FG%

Accolades with team: Three-time 1st Team All-Defense, three-time 2nd Team All-Defense

After seeing the Hall-of-Famers the Los Angeles teams were able to pick up in free agency, we head to another small market, Memphis, to discuss the Grizzlies' best free-agent signing ever, who is, in our estimation, Tony Allen.

Allen was not exactly a Shaq- or Kawhi-level signing but he was no slouch, either, a savvy, team-friendly signing money-wise who was arguably the league's best guard defender during most of his Grizzlies tenure.

Prior to heading to Memphis, Allen was an important piece on various good Celtics teams, even playing a part in the team's 2008 championship run, though many forget he was even on the team at the time. That was part of what played into his decision to leave Boston for the Grizzlies on a cheap three-year, $9.7 million deal, as Allen said he felt he was overshadowed while with the Celtics :

"I'm definitely going to try to start early defining a role, try to bring some sort of toughness to the ballclub," Allen said. "It's obvious I have experience and I'm just looking forward to just letting that marinate amongst the players that's in this locker room." … "Being in Boston I was kind of overshadowed by those guys, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen," Allen said. "Here's a ballclub who's on the rise and a lot of guys can make names for themselves. It's a coming out party for a lot of guys on this team."

Allen, a career 8.1-point-per-game scorer with no All-Star appearances, saying he felt overshadowed by two Hall-of-Famers is so very Tony Allen, but either way, the signing panned out wonderfully for Memphis. The Grizzlies made the playoffs all seven years he was there, getting as far as the Western Conference Finals in 2012-13, with Allen playing a huge part in the team's success as one of the league's top defenders.

Heat: LeBron James

Stats with team: 26.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.7 apg, 54.3 FG% Accolades with team: Four-time All-Star, two-time league MVP, two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, four-time 1st Team All-NBA, three-time 1st Team All-Defense, 2nd Team All-Defense

One of the biggest free-agent moves of all time on par with O'Neal to the Lakers and Durant to the Warriors, James to the Heat was a shocking moment in league history, particularly due to the manner it was announced, on television in an aired special on ESPN called The Decision .

Once The Decision show was announced, some believed that meant Cleveland was in the driver's seat to re-sign James, as surely he wouldn't spurn his hometown franchise on national television like that… would he?

But that he did, as James told the world that night he was headed to South Beach and taking his talents with him with the rest being history, as James would sign with the Heat on a six-year, $110 million deal with an early-termination option after four years after taking meetings with the Bulls, Clippers, Knicks Nets and Cavaliers.

By doing so, James became just the second league MVP to switch teams in free agency, the first being (spoiler alert) Moses Malone in 1982, who we'll talk about in just a bit.

Joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James helped form one of the best Big Threes of all time, leading Miami to four straight Finals, winning two of them and really only failing to live up to expectations once, in the 2011 Finals.

Outside of that one series, James was the undisputed best player in the world during his four years in Miami as he took home league MVP honors in back-to-back campaigns with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and was 1st Team All-NBA all four seasons.

For a team with so many major trades and free-agent pickups in their history, James still goes down as the best free-agent signing in Heat history – and it's really not close.

Honorable mentions: Jimmy Butler, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen

Bucks: Brook Lopez

Stats with team: 13.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 2.1 bpg, 48.7 FG%

Accolades with team: One championship, 1st Team All-Defense, 2nd Team All-Defense

The Milwaukee Bucks' offseason history isn't a super impressive one, but even so, Brook Lopez was a savvy pickup at a solid price, the exact type of smart signing that teams like the Bucks have to make to thrive.

And thrive they did for some time, as Lopez played a huge part in Milwaukee's championship run in 2021, spacing the floor from three and defending the rim at a high level.

Lopez signed with the Bucks after a lone season with the Lakers on an unbelievably team-friendly, one-year, $3.4 million deal, one that the big man greatly outperformed. Milwaukee then rewarded Lopez with a four-year, $52 million contract the following summer, a deal far more befitting a role player as solid as Lopez has proven to be, and then with a two-year, $48 million deal in 2023.

Lopez was the best free-agent signing the Bucks have ever made, as the team went 321-148 in games he played, won a title in 2021 with him as a starter and made it past the first round of the playoffs four times in his seven seasons there.

Honorable mentions: Mo Williams

Timberwolves: Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups #4, Point Guard and Shooting Guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves in motion dribbling the basketball down court during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on 24th November 2000 at the STAPLES Center arena in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Los Angeles Lakers won the game 115 - 108. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Stats: 10.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 42.3 FG%

We had no choice but to go with Chauncey Billups as the Timberwolves' best free-agent signing ever, as the franchise didn't give us many good options to choose from.

Billups didn't even fully break out during his two seasons in Minnesota prior to joining the Pistons, amassing zero individual accolades while the team made the playoffs twice, losing in the first round both times.

Billups signed with the Timberwolves on a two-year, $4.7 million contract after spending his first three seasons with three different teams, and was originally slated to be a backup to Terrell Brandon. In Billups' second season with Minnesota, however, Brandon hurt his knee, allowing Billups to become the starter at point guard, eventually breaking out in the playoffs by averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the 2002 postseason.

Billups was impressive enough as the starter for the Timberwolves that Detroit signed him to a six-year, $34 million deal.

Solid signing by the Pistons, there.

Pelicans: Julius Randle

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans scores in front of Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center on December 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Stats with team: 21.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 52.4 FG%

Julius Randle was not long for New Orleans as his time with the Pelicans lasted just one season, but without many other options here, we weren't left with much of a choice for the team's best free-agent signing.

Still, despite a lack of individual accolades and even though New Orleans failed to make the playoffs in his one year there, Randle did break out in 2018-19 with the Pelicans, looking like the elite prospect the Lakers originally drafted him to be.

After a quiet start to his career with Los Angeles, Randle asked the Lakers to renounce his restricted free-agent rights in the summer of 2019 once it became clear the purple-and-gold franchise had no plans to offer him a long-term deal to stay. The Lakers accommodated the request, paving the way for Randle to sign with New Orleans on a two-year, $18 million deal, one that the former Kentucky standout outperformed in his lone season there.

Knicks: Jalen Brunson

May 29, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after a three point shot against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Stats with team: 26.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.8 apg, 48 FG%

Accolades with team: NBA championship, Finals MVP, three-time All-Star, three-time 2nd Team All-NBA

What former Villanova standout Jalen Brunsonhas done in New York City has been nothing short of astounding, turning a franchise that had become a bit of a joke into a winner once again, and doing so despite being 6-foot-2 on a good day, simultaneously silencing critics who would say small players like him couldn't lead teams to championships.

Brunson was the driving force in the Knicks' 2025-26 title run, leading the 2026 playoffs in scoring at 28.4 points per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and chipping in 3.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per contest. He has also helped lead New York past the first round of the playoffs every year he's been on the team, including making a trip to the 2024-25 Eastern Conference Finals.

This Knicks' run, in our estimation, appears to be far from over, as Brunson, flanked by former Villanova national-title-winning teammates Josh Hartand Mikal Bridges, along with All-Star/All-NBA talents like OG Anunobyand Karl-Anthony Towns, form a core that should compete for more titles in the years to come.

Still, Brunson is the head of the snake, a player who by now has firmly established himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA.

Brunson might not just be the best free-agent signing in Knicks history (that New York was able to pick him up on a four-year deal worth $104 million back in 2022 looks nothing short of miraculous in hindsight), but over the coming seasons, we could see him making a run at earning the title of best Knicks player in franchise history.

Some think he's already there.

Honorable mentions: Allan Houston, Amare Stoudemire, John Starks

Thunder: Lu Dort

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 08: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends the inbound against Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter in Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 08, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)

Stats with team:11.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg, 40.5 FG%

Accolades with team:One-time 1st Team All-Defense, one championship

This free agent signing is slightly different, as Lu Dort is an undrafted player out of Arizona State who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 as an undrafted free agent.

Still, this makes him the best free agent signing in Thunder history, as Dort has become one of the most impactful defensive players in the NBA today, while also greatly improving his offensive game, blossoming into a starter-level player on a championship-winning team.

In his post-championship press conference, Dort talked about how excited he was to have the opportunity to sign with the Thunder as an undrafted free agent (via Clutch Points):

"Looking back on my first year, it's crazy. I went undrafted six years ago. June 19 was the draft day. That week was probably the worst week of my life," Dort said. "To think now, June 22, 2022, that I can go back in time, it's crazy, I have to trust the whole process. And this organization gave me an amazing opportunity. I'm grateful and happy to be here."

This was a solid scouting job by Sam Presti and his staff.

(Note: If we also refer to the history of the Seattle SuperSonics, the answer is still Gus Williams , who was selected to the All-Star team twice, the All-NBA team twice, and won an NBA championship after signing with the SuperSonics in 1977.)

Honorable mentions: Isaiah Hartenstein

Magic: Tracy McGrady

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 15: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic tries to get past Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at Staples Center on March 15, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Stats with team: 28.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 44.6 FG%

Accolades with team: Four-time All-Star, two-time 1st Team All-NBA, two-time 2nd Team All-NBA, two-time scoring champion, Most Improved Player

The Heat aren't the only Floridian franchise to have success on the free-agent market, as the Orlando Magic's list of offseason signings is an impressive one, too.

One man reigns as the best free-agent pickup in Magic history, however, and that's Tracy McGrady, who left the Toronto Raptors and immediately became an MVP-level player with Orlando during his four years there.

It led to absolutely zero team success as the Magic never got out of the first round of the playoffs during McGrady's time there, but even so, to sign a player in free agency and have him turn into one of the top players in the world is no easy feat, and Orlando was able to accomplish just that.

Multiple factors played into McGrady's decision to leave Toronto for the Magic in free agency for a variety of reasons, including the monstrous seven-year, $92.8 million contract. Also playing a role in the decision was the fact that McGrady didn't love having a secondary role behind his cousin , Vince Carter:

"Playing behind a superstar in Vince Carter last year, it wasn't my turn," said McGrady, who left Toronto to join the Magic as a free agent before this season. "I believe I could have done some of the things I did this year last year, but I was held back. So, I brought my talent to Orlando and exploited it here."

McGrady has since walked that back, even later saying he regrets the decision to sign with Orlando , but back in 2001 after winning Most Improved Player, that's what he claimed to have felt.

To this day, that remains one of the NBA's biggest what-ifs: What if McGrady had re-signed with the Raptors and developed into his borderline-MVP-level self alongside Carter, who was one of the league's top 2-guards at the time?

Unfortunately for Raptors fans, we'll never find out.

Honorable mentions: Horace Grant, Hidayet Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Grant Hill

76ers: Moses Malone

Stats with team: 23.9 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 47.8 FG%

Accolades with team: Four-time All-Star, one championship, Finals MVP, league MVP, two-time 1st Team All-NBA, 2nd Team All-NBA, 1st Team All-Defense, three-time rebounding champion

Everyone remembers LeBron James as one league MVP to switch teams the offseason after receiving the distinction. What far fewer recall is that Moses Malone, after taking home league MVP honors in 1981-82, did the exact same thing, though as a restricted free agent.

The Rockets, Malone's prior team, had just switched ownership, so when Malone signed a six-year, $13.2 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia 76ers, they said the reigning league MVP did not fit into their plans at that cost and let him walk, though they were at least able to make it a sign-and-trade with Philadephia that included a first-round pick going back to the Rockets.

Here's a bit on what was a very interesting free agency:

On Sept. 2, 1982, the Sixers met with Malone and his agent, Lee Fentress, in New York and signed Malone to an offer sheet. The Rockets had 15 days to match the offer or lose Malone without compensation. Sounds simple enough, but it wasn't. First, there was a unique no-trade clause in Malone's contract with the Rockets. It stipulated that Malone would play for no owner other than previous Rockets owner Gavin Maloof without Malone's approval. The Sixers argued that the contract, because of new ownership, made Malone a free agent without compensation. Also, the Sixers put a contract together they knew the Rockets couldn't match. They offered Malone a 6-year, $13.2 million deal, which could grow to $15 million. The league had no problem with the $1 million signing bonus or the $100,000 bonus for each season Malone averaged more than 30 minutes a game.

So for those who believe players have too much power these days when it comes to free agency or demanding trades, just realize this sort of thing has been happening for decades, though certainly not as publicly as today.

Regardless, Malone joined what was a stacked Sixers team, featuring Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones, and the team ran away with the 1983 championship. Malone also won league MVP that year, his first with Philadelphia, and Finals MVP for his efforts in the championship series.

Honorable mentions: Steve Mix, Caldwell Jones, Elton Brand

Suns: Steve Nash

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles around Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at the Staples Center on December, 10 2008 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Stats with team (second stint): 16.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 10.9 apg, 43.7 3P%

Accolades with team: Six-time All-Star, two-time league MVP, three-time 1st Team All-NBA, two-time 2nd Team All-NBA, five-time assists champion, four-time 50/40/90 club

After originally 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 and started to show signs of being one of the top floor generals in the NBA, making two All-Star appearances along the way.

Then, in the summer of 2004, ahead of his age-30 campaign, Nash became a free agent and had hopes of re-signing with Dallas, the team that helped turn him into an elite point guard. However, with so many big salaries already on the payroll, namely those of Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison and Dirk Nowitzki, and with Nash already entering his 30s, the Mavericks low-balled their point guard, offering him a four-year deal worth roughly $36 million.

Phoenix, on the other hand, was offering Nash a six-year, $63 million contract, which the Canadian legend ended up agreeing to.

We know how the rest of the story goes, as Nash, alongside Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, and under the tutelage of then-head coach Mike D'Antoni, helped form the 7-seconds-or-less-era Suns and turned the franchise into contenders, getting to the conference finals three times during his tenure there, a span in which he was named league MVP twice.

Honorable mentions: Tom Chambers, Connie Hawkins

Trail Blazers: Rod Strickland

Rod Strickland #1, Point Guard and Shooting Guard for the Portland Trail Blazers in motion dribbling the basketball down court during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets on 2nd March 1995 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Hornets won the game 109 - 99. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images)

Stats with team: 17.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 8.6 apg, 47.3 FG%

Rod Strickland was a nice player in his heyday, right on the cusp of being an All-Star but never quite receiving the honor. He did manage to pick up a 2nd Team All-NBA distinction in his career, but did so after his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, making that point moot with regards to this discussion.

Still, we had to go with Strickland as Portland's best free-agent signing ever, as the team didn't leave us with many other strong options. Plus, his raw numbers during his four seasons there were impressive at over 17 points and eight assists nightly. Moreover, the Blazers made the playoffs all four years Strickland was there.

Strickland signed with Portland in the 1992 offseason immediately after the franchise had made it to the Finals, doing so on a multi-year contract worth $12.6 million.

The Blazers' head coach at the time, Rick Adleman, said at the time of the signing that Strickland would be important to Portland because the team lacked a second ball-handler outside of Terry Porter to get the ball up the floor, a deficiency that was exposed by the Bulls in the 1992 Finals:

In Portland, Strickland is expected to be part of a three-guard rotation with Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter. "It was fairly obvious in the Chicago (championship) series that, when Porter was out of the game, we struggled to get the ball up the court," Portland Coach Rick Adelman said. "In looking at the free agents available, Rod was the guy we wanted. Whether Danny was here or not, Rod Strickland was the guy we wanted to get."

Strickland would go on to perform admirably for the Blazers but even so, the team wouldn't get out of the first round of the playoffs during his time there, so Adleman was unable to find out if that second ball-handler would have made a difference against the Bulls in a Finals rematch.

Honorable mentions: Wesley Matthews, Danny Ainge, Kenny Anderson

Kings: Vlade Divac

Stats with team: 11.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 47.8 FG%

Accolades with team: All-Star

Vlade Divac may not have put up monster numbers or racked up a ton of accolades with the Sacramento Kings, but he was an above-average starting center on various contending teams while there.

The Kings had their most successful stretch of the modern era while Divac was there, making the playoffs all six seasons, making it to the second round three times and to the conference finals once. They also had a 61-win and 59-win regular seasons in that span, and two more 55-win campaigns.

Divac may not have been the driving force behind that, that honor would probably go to Chris Webber, but Divac played an important role as a low-post scorer and mid-post creator.

Divac said when he signed with Sacramento on a six-year, $62.5 million contract that it would be an exciting challenge to turn the Kings into a competitive team , but that he did, even if the team did fail to reach the Finals or win a title during his time there:

"With Chris and Corliss, we have one of the best front lines in the league," said Divac, who spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the Charlotte Hornets. Divac, one of just five active NBA players with 8,000 career points, 5,000 rebounds, 1,500 assists and 1,000 blocks, said he wants to break a streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons by the Kings — a league record. "That's one of the biggest challenges in my career now, to make Sacramento a competitive team," he said. "It's a very big challenge, and I like challenges."

Honorable mention:Malik Monk

Spurs: LaMarcus Aldridge

Jan 17, 2020; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks center Damian Jones (30) in the second half of the game at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Stats with team: 19.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50.2 FG%

Accolades with team: Three-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA, 3rd Team All-NBA

The Spurs don't typically go after marquee free agents, but an exception was seemingly made in the 2015 offseason when the Texan franchise successfully recruited and landed LaMarcus Aldridge on a four-year, $80 million contract.

It's not difficult to see why Aldridge ultimately said yes to the Spurs, either, over a bevy of other offers, as the team did a great job recruiting him, putting on the full-court press for the talented scoring big man :

Sources said the pitch Aldridge received Friday in Los Angeles ‎from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich — about playing with Tim Duncan his final days in the NBA and then taking over for him as the Spurs' frontcourt linchpin alongside Kawhi Leonard — resonated strongly with Aldridge. It was the Spurs' second meeting with Aldridge. Popovich, Duncan, Leonard and Tony Parker all pitched Aldridge directly Wednesday morning, sources said.

Aldridge chose the Spurs over offers from the Lakers, Rockets, Mavericks Suns, Raptors and Heat.

Despite boasting a loaded roster, however, Aldridge never proved to be an ideal fit with San Antonio, though the player and franchise did enjoy success together, with Aldridge racking up solid personal accolades and the team making the playoffs four times while he was there, including a trip to the conference finals.

Aldridge would be bought out of his contract in the 2020-21 season.

Honorable mentions: Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen

Raptors: Fred VanVleet

Stats with team:13.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.9 apg, 40.4 FG%

Accolades with team:All-Star, one championship

Fred VanVleetwill go down as one of the great undrafted players of all time, as he developed into a high-quality starting point guard in the NBA.

Despite an impressive four-year career at Wichita State, VanVleet went undrafted in 2016, reportedly turning down two offers to get drafted in the second round and play in what was then called the D-League for two years before agreeing to join the Raptors.

Even so, VanVleet took a while to develop into an NBA stud but Toronto did a great job of being patient with him, turning the undersized, average athlete at point guard into an All-Star in the Eastern Conference and one of the toughest lead guards in the league.

Honorable mentions:Jose Calderon

Jazz: Carlos Boozer

Stats with team:19.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 54.4 FG%

Accolades with team:Two-time All-Star, 3rd Team All-NBA

A team known far better for its drafting and developing as opposed to its free-agent prowess, the one top free-agent signing the Jazz did pick up was Carlos Boozer, which happened in the 2004 offseason.

The Boozer signing panned out well for Utah, with the former Duke standout becoming an All-Star-level big man with the franchise, one that helped lead it four years in a row, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2006-07.

Boozer's signing by the Jazz was not without drama, however. It was reported back then that Cleveland, the big man's original team, and Boozer had an understanding that if they released him from the final year of his contract and made him a restricted free agent, he would re-sign with the Cavaliers for six years and $39 million.

Once Cleveland granted his wishes and released him, though, Boozer would turn around and sign a six-year, $70 million deal that the Cavaliers could not afford to match.

The Cavs owner at the time, Gordon Gund, was not happy with the situation, telling fans and the media :

Boozer has denied there was an agreement, although he did tell The Associated Press at the beginning of the free-agency period that he planned to stay in Cleveland. Gund posted a letter to fans on the team's Web site explaining Cleveland's side of the story. "In the final analysis, I decided to trust Carlos and show him the respect he asked for. He did not show that trust and respect in return. That's what happened," Gund's letter said.

Somewhat amusing to see Cavaliers' owners have a history of publicly calling out their former players who choose to leave the team in free agency.

Either way, Boozer and the Jazz enjoyed solid success together, which is fortunate for both parties considering the drama that went into the signing.

Wizards: Gilbert Arenas

Stats with team:26.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.9 apg, 42.6 FG%

Accolades with team:Three-time All-Star, 2nd Team All-NBA, two-time 3rd Team All-NBA

Tumultuous as the ending of his time with the team was, Gilbert Arenasstill goes down as the best free-agent signing by the Washington Wizards ever, even over the legendary Michael Jordan.

Arenas had a stretch there with Washington where he was one of the top guards in the league, a player ahead of his time in that he was willing to shoot – with aplomb – from beyond the arc before it was common to do so. In the modern NBA, Arenas' game would be even more respected, as guards with deep range are one of the most important player archetypes of the times.

When he hit free agency in 2004, Arenas was having a hard time deciding which team to sign with, the Wizards or Clippers, after ruling out a return to the Warriors, so he opted to... flip a coin to decide.

Even weirder about the process was the fact that Arenas said he flipped the coin 10 times, with the Clippers being heads and the Wizards, tails. The coin landed on heads eight times.

So Arenas picked the Wizards, because, according to him , he likes to go against the grain:

The Clippers were heads, the Wizards were tails. Ten flips of a quarter would decide. Heads came up eight times. Washington it was. "I always go against the odds," Arenas said of his unconventional process. "When the Clippers came up eight times, I was like, I don't go with the grain. I go against the wave. I go upstream." That is Gilbert Arenas.

The Wizards and Arenas enjoyed some success together, making the playoffs four times and getting past the first round once, but that go-against-the-grain mindset ultimately made the marriage end in an awkward, ugly fashion.

Honorable mentions:Michael Jordan

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The best free-agent signing in the history of each NBA franchise

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