NBA · 5 months ago

NBA Free Agency: Top 10 Worst Moves of Free Agency Through Week 1

John Canady

Host · Writer

10) Garrett Temple, Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers' re-signing of Garrett Temple is just one of those moves that you look at and say, "Why?" Temple is 39 years old and didn't appear in a court game for the Trail Blazers after being added to the roster last season. Obviously, it's important to have a veteran presence on a rebuilding team, but for the Blazers, who already have Jrue Holiday now, bringing Temple back just seems like a wasted roster spot.
1) Bucks Waive Damian Lillard
Arguably, the most shocking move of the offseason has to be the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive and stretch star guard Damian Lillard. Milwaukee not only has to pay Lillard $22.5 million in dead money for the next five years, but they made the move just two years after making a bold move to land the playmaker in hopes of building a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It's one thing if the Bucks made a move to land a premier starting center, but the fact that they opted to waive Lillard to sign Myles Turner, who many wouldn't consider being in the top tier of starting centers, makes this a head-scratching move for the Bucks front office.

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2) Celtics Trade Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang
Entering the offseason, it was clear the Boston Celtics' primary goal was to avoid the second apron at whatever cost. After offloading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, it was clear Boston was in deal-making mode, and the roster was set to undergo a major shakeup. However, after receiving Anfernee Simons in exchange for Holiday, there was hope the C's could at least get a strong return for Kristaps Porzingis if they were to move him.

That hope was quickly put to rest when the Celtics sent Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that landed them Georges Niang and a second-round pick. Now, Boston's frontcourt is among the weakest in the league, and they landed a player who will have minimal, if any, impact moving forward.

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3) Clippers Offload Normal Powell
The latest move from the LA Clippers adds them near the top of this list after they essentially opted to offload Norman Powell in a deal to send him to the Miami Heat. The three-team trade landed them John Collins from the Utah Jazz. Overall, the move seems to make sense for LA, bolstering their frontcourt with Collins fresh off a career year. However, at the same time, moving on from Powell, following what many argued was an NBA All-Star level season for such a low price, lands LA on the list.
4) Bulls Trade Lonzo Ball to CLE for Isaac Okoro
The Chicago Bulls opted to do a straight-up player-for-player swap with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sending Lonzo Ball to the Cavs in exchange for Isaac Okoro. For Cleveland, this move is a no-brainer, moving off a former first-round pick who has struggled to contribute at a high level over the last couple of seasons. However, this move for Chicago seems a bit puzzling, considering they could have likely secured a stronger package from other contending teams for Ball, who many consider one of the better defensive and facilitating backcourt options in the league when healthy. Okoro entered the league with potential, but after struggling to tap into it, it's fair to wonder if the Bulls took a step backward despite getting younger.
5) Dennis Schroder Signs with Sacramento Kings
Dennis Schroder signing with the Sacramento Kings is one of the most head-scratching free agency signings to me. Schroder left a bench role with the Detroit Pistons, earning a payday with the Kings that suggests he will be the starting point guard next season. For Schroder, the deal makes sense: get a bag and an increased role as a starter. However, Sacramento's front office continues to suggest that they have no idea what they're doing, especially if they move off Malik Monk to get older at the position with Schroder. Stuck between being a play-in roster and needing to press the restart button once again, this move lands them in the top five.
6) Duncan Robinson Joins Detroit Pistons via Sign-and-Trade
Duncan Robinson signing with the Detroit Pistons is interesting, to say the least. The sharpshooter made a name for himself in Miami as an offensive sparkplug. Still, his limitations on defense led Erik Spoelstra to desperately explore other players to avoid having to put Robinson on the court. Now, heading to Detroit, the fit in a J.B. Bickerstaff defense makes it hard to envision that this deal works out for either side.
7) Clint Capela Joins Houston Rockets via Sign-and-Trade
Clint Capela joining the Houston Rockets this offseason was one of the more surprising moves for both sides. The writing seemed to be on the wall for Capela to leave Atlanta, but as one of the better rebounders in the league, there seemed to be optimism that he could find a starting spot somewhere in the league or at least a role as a backup big man. However, heading to Houston to join a roster loaded in the front court seems to make this move a questionable fit for both sides. If anything, it's more of a luxury for the Rockets than it is a necessity.
8) Blazers Buy out Deandre Ayton
The Portland Trail Blazers' decision to buy out Deandre Ayton was the first of many surprises leading up to free agency. Ayton is a former No. 1 overall pick who has yet to develop into a premier center at the next level. However, he has shown flashes of ability that make him an intriguing big man in any system, and the fact that the Blazers were forced to buy him out due to off-the-court issues is a bizarre way for the Ayton experience in Portland to end. Was there simply no trade market for Ayton, or were the Trail Blazers just in a rush to get him off the roster? Regardless, having the big man's dead money on the books seems like a loss for Portland.
9) Grizzlies Trade Desmond Bane to ORL
The Memphis Grizzlies trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic was the first of many blockbuster trades this offseason. Bane wasn't looked at as an available player via trade, but to everyone's surprise, the Magic managed to persuade the Grizzlies front office to move off the young sharpshooter. However, with the Magic paying a premium price in a huge package that included four unprotected first-round picks and a future first-round pick swap, it's easy to see why the Grizzlies felt forced to accept the offer. Regardless, it feels like Memphis took a step back in terms of contending now.
10) Garrett Temple, Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers' re-signing of Garrett Temple is just one of those moves that you look at and say, "Why?" Temple is 39 years old and didn't appear in a court game for the Trail Blazers after being added to the roster last season. Obviously, it's important to have a veteran presence on a rebuilding team, but for the Blazers, who already have Jrue Holiday now, bringing Temple back just seems like a wasted roster spot.
1) Bucks Waive Damian Lillard
Arguably, the most shocking move of the offseason has to be the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive and stretch star guard Damian Lillard. Milwaukee not only has to pay Lillard $22.5 million in dead money for the next five years, but they made the move just two years after making a bold move to land the playmaker in hopes of building a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It's one thing if the Bucks made a move to land a premier starting center, but the fact that they opted to waive Lillard to sign Myles Turner, who many wouldn't consider being in the top tier of starting centers, makes this a head-scratching move for the Bucks front office.

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NBA Free Agency: Top 10 Worst Moves of Free Agency Through Week 1

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