As 2019 NBA Free Agency winds down, all teams now are almost set for the next season. The best teams in the league are ready and some are still looking to get better. There are still decent free agents in the market that can be picked up. The Los Angeles Clippers are the biggest winner of this year’s free agency. And, if there are winners, there are also some losers.
The Losers of 2019 NBA Free Agency
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are losers because they didn’t pay attention to other free agents and put all their focus on only one free agent – D’Angelo Russell. They didn’t even focus on pursuing some mid-level free agents to make the team better.
Their backcourt got thinner as they lost Derrick Rose to the Detroit Pistons. Their back-up plan, which was their former point guard Ricky Rubio, signed with the Phoenix Suns. The only guard left is Jeff Teague who is not getting any younger. And in a crazy turn of events, Russell ends up being a Warrior. The Golden State Warriors might consider trading D`Lo, but can the likes of Andrew Wiggins really tempt the Warriors?
This quiet offseason for the Timberwolves will not help them get back to the playoffs. The West is too stacked and I don’t think that the Wolves can compete.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are a mess. They have been a mess for a long time and this offseason they got even worse. Low-balling Kemba Walker was a huge mistake. Losing the best player in your franchise and your team’s two top scorers in free agency, that’s huge. Maybe, it’s time to get GM Mitch Kupchak to pack his things. The Hornets replaced Kemba with former Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier. He may be a little overpaid but we never know what impact he can bring to the Hornets.
The Hornets should focus on developing their young players this upcoming season. They should go young and not care about their record. The Hornets have to go into full rebuild mode at this point.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are the biggest loser of 2019 NBA Free agency. Before the start of free agency, the Knicks were the frontrunners in landing two top-tier free agents in the market. They were even projected to be Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s top destination.
But when free agency came, Durant and Irving signed with the Brooklyn Nets and the Knicks ended up signing three power forwards in Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, and Julius Randle. That was a huge downgrade from KD and Kyrie. They also added some role players in Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, and Elfrid Payton.
The Knicks are too loaded with role players in every position. Randle will be their best player and the young guys – RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox – would likely be the second and third options.
The Knicks’ failure to land a max player in free agency will keep Brooklyn to continue running the state of New York. The front office will surely face a lot of criticism from fans. How far can this Knicks team go? Will it be another year of tanking? Let’s see.
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