2020 NBA Free Agency Superlatives: Biggest Winners, Losers, Trades, Signings

NBA Offseason Superlatives: Winners, losers from wild week originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

In a perfect world, the dust could settle a bit on the NBA’s transaction window before dolling out final determinations on each team’s offseason performance.

But training camps (likely) start next week. The time is nigh.

Here are NBC Sports Chicago’s 2020 offseason superlatives:

Biggest Winner: Los Angeles Lakers

This is as obvious as it is unequivocal. The defending champions ran back most* who fueled their championship run and tacked on where needed -- adding Wesley Matthews, Dennis Schröder, Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol (whom they used some savvy salary cap maneuvering to secure) while subtracting Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard and Danny Green.

I mean, seriously?

You could reasonably argue losing Rondo, Howard and Avery Bradley will eat into the team’s defensive identity. But our biggest loser in this column might as well be parity. Barring a LeBron James-Anthony Davis spat, there was never going to be a reason for the Lakers to not enter this season as the odds-on title favorites. They’re lapping the field for now.

* = Davis still needs to officially put pen to paper on an extension with the team, but it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll be back for at least next year. Probably longer.

Biggest Loser: Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets had a real opportunity this offseason. Run back the young core that came within two wins of the Finals, keep Michael Porter Jr. healthy and draft for upside with the 22nd pick. 

So close. Leaving draft night with Zeke Nnaji and R.J. Hampton was solid work. But Jerami Grant fled for Detroit in free agency, despite reportedly receiving an identical offer sheet from Denver. The Nuggets scurried to bring in JaMychal Green and re-up Paul Millsap to fill the void, but then cut loose another crucial defensive presence in Torrey Craig. A real step into the title contender circle was within reach for the Nuggets, but something about their offseason feels sour.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Golden State Warriors, who, through no fault of their own, saw their contention hopes go up in flames with the news of Klay Thompson’s right Achilles tear. They should still hang around the fray with the additions of James Wiseman and Kelly Oubre, but the dynasty is in a precarious position.
• Centers not named Mason Plumlee. The money dried up fast. So are the times.

The ‘Dante Alighieri’ award for being most in purgatory: Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks could unseat either of the above for their respective mantles depending on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status come Dec. 22.

If he inks his supermax extension with Milwaukee before the season tips, the Bogdan Bogdanović debacle is an amusing footnote to an offseason that saw Jon Horst add a third star to his nucleus in Jrue Holiday and a solid cast of role players in D.J. Augustin, Torrey Craig, Bobby Portis and second-round picks Jordan Nwora and Sam Merrill.

If not… Well, let the games begin. The NBA’s balance of power quite literally hinges on which uniform Antetokounmpo is wearing when the 2021-22 season begins. The Bucks improved on paper, albeit marginally. But if the answer to that question is up in the air throughout the regular season and playoffs, the Bucks will be stuck in limbo, with indomitable dread one early playoff exit away.

The ‘There’s Always This Year’ award for finally getting their act together: Philadelphia 76ers

Not so coincidentally, Daryl Morey’s first offseason atop the 76ers’ basketball operations tree was a rollicking success. 

Before the draft, Philly shipped out Al Horford’s abominable contract and, while only attaching one first and one second round pick, pulled back Danny Green -- an instant rock as a perimeter shooter and defender. 

Then, on draft night, they snared Tyrese Maxey (No. 21) well after he should have gone, and, rather inexplicably, Isaiah Joe (No. 49) and Paul Reed (No. 58) in the last 12 selections of the second round. Add in their flip of Josh Richardson for Seth Curry (with some draft order shuffling included) and their signing of Dwight Howard, and this is what their roster projects to look like entering next season:

That’s a roster built to maximize Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. That’s a roster that should frighten the Eastern Conference’s elite.

The ‘Running it Back and Should Feel Good About It’ crowd: Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat

The Celtics, on the surface, incurred a stinging loss in Gordon Hayward, especially given that his walking returned them for nothing in the way of assets. But they did well to rebound -- pun intended -- by adding the forceful frontcourt presence they’ve lacked in Tristan Thompson and extending Jayson Tatum for as much money as they were physically allowed to give him. There's no doubt the Celtics will be worse without Hayward, but another step forward from Tatum and Jaylen Brown would keep them contenders.

The Jazz, meanwhile, feel relatively forgotten in the context of a crowded West. But this is a team that, without its second-leading scorer in Bojan Bogdanović, pushed everyone’s friendly neighborhood Nuggets to the final possession of Game 7 in last season’s Western Conference first round (yes, after blowing a 3-1 lead). Donovan Mitchell, another recently-indoctrinated hundred-millionaire, is only getting better.

And the Heat mitigated losing Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. by bringing in Moe Harkless and Avery Bradley at a fraction of the price, and re-signed Goran Dragić. They’re not going anywhere after coming within two wins of a title last season.

Honorable mention

• The Toronto Raptors lost Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, but restaffed the frontcourt admirably with Aron Baynes, Chris Boucher (retained) and Alex Len and avoided the massive step back many feared by extending Fred VanVleet (at a pretty reasonable price!) -- the Heat/Celtics/Raptors/76ers tier of the East is going to be a battle

The ‘Running it Back and Should Feel So-So About It’ crowd: Los Angeles Clippers

Reshaping the coaching staff, inserting Luke Kennard and signing Ibaka would have looked like a solid offseason for one of the more loaded rosters in the league a week ago this time. It still does. But watching the Lakers pluck Harrell and Gasol and upgrade the point guard spot has to leave the Clips feeling a little hollow. They're still a lead guard short.

The ‘Running it Back and I Don’t Know What to Think’ crowd: Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic

The Pacers, as a team that finished above .500 last season, are the one of these is not like the others team in this group. Still, they whiffed at a shot at a wing upgrade in Hayward and have ample Victor Oladipo drama looming ominously over their heads. Under first year coach Nate Bjorkgren, it’s hard to know what to expect.

The Bulls, at least, overhauled their front office and coaching staff and expect internal improvements from their young core, but are currently set to return 13 of 15 players from last season’s full-time roster. The Magic remain respectable, but won’t get Jonathan Isaac back until 2021-22. The Spurs totally bottoming out isn’t conceivable, but a stripdown and rebuild feels inevitable for this middling group. 

Honorable Mention:

• New York Knicks -- they made some nice, asset-stacky moves, but the roster still makes little sense

The ‘Setting their DVRs for every 2020-21 Oklahoma State game’ crowd: Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks

It’s all bad, but Cade Cunningham could change everything.

Most Ready to Make a Leap: Dallas Mavericks

Luka Dončić will be a popular preseason MVP pick, and with good reason. Plus, Dallas upgraded their wing defense and athleticism with the additions of Josh Richardson, Wesley Iwundu and Tyler Bey. Seth Curry and his value deal leaving town hurts, but you could do a lot worse than Tyrell Terry sliding into his place. Another season of historic offense -- and improved defense -- means the Mavericks could be making a leap this season.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Portland Trail Blazers, for procuring some legitimate wing defense to back up Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr.
• Phoenix Suns, who, with the additions of Chris Paul and Jae Crowder to augment their already enviable core, are poised to be the most delightful league pass watch in the association
• Brooklyn Nets, because duh

Most Eager For You to Think They’re Ready to Make a Leap: Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves

Four years, $120 million for Hayward screams rebuild fatigue, and while it is a fairly massive overpay in the long-term, the move makes the Hornets significantly better for next year (health provided). Hayward is exactly the brand of wing defender and playmaker that could unlock Charlotte’s core and push them into the play-in throng.

The Timberwolves were relatively quiet outside of drafting Anthony Edwards No. 1, bringing back Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangómez, and acquiring Ricky Rubio in a draft-night trade to stabilize their backcourt. It’s still a lot of young, mismatched pieces to break through in a crowded bottom of the West, but with D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, they’ll have talked themselves into being in pole position for a playoff spot.

The ‘Golden Briefcase’ award for most efficient draft asset stack: Oklahoma City Thunder

“‘Yeah, we’re happy’ -- Vincent Vega” -- Sam Presti, who owns approximately three kajillion first round picks between now and 2028. And the Thunder remain a watchable product with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Aleksej Pokusevski and Lu Dort in tow. Maybe that's just me.

Honorable Mention

• New Orleans Pelicans, who probably deserve more than an honorable mention for nabbing three firsts and two pick-swaps for Jrue Holiday -- you better believe they’re watching Giannis’ supermax deliberations closely.

Happiest Franchise Player: Trae Young

In this day and age, it’s never too early to begin crafting your free agent pitch. The Hawks, clearly ready to burst out of their current rebuild, threw bags at Danillo Galinari and Bogdan Bogdanović -- the latter of whom they’re waiting for the Kings decide on an offer match -- drafted their defensive anchor of the future in Onyeka Okongwu and now appear poised for a return to the playoffs (or at least the play-in). Sunny days are ahead in Atlanta.

Saddest Franchise Player: Who Isn’t At This Point?

James Harden, Russell Westbrook and John Wall all reportedly want out. Maybe two of them will even be traded for each other! What a time to be alive.

Not much to add here, except: The Bucks best not hope Giannis gets added to this mix soon.

Front Office Most Likely to Reveal That They’re Being Secretly Run by Nathan Fielder: Detroit Pistons

“Basketball is a game of inches. And with one goal: Put the ball through the basket that hangs ten feet above the ground. But what if you could build a team that -- across the board -- started just three feet below the rim?

“The plan: Assemble a basketball team entirely of power forwards and centers. Block every shot on defense, and take only layups at the offensive end.”

In all seriousness, it’s been days and I still have very little handle on what the Pistons did this offseason. Maybe there’s more to come. At least they drafted Killian Hayes.