It’s Friday, you know what that means. With NBA Free Agency right around the corner, we’re counting down the 10 greatest free agent signings of All Time. It is limited to one signing per player so sorry LeBron fans.
10.
Steve Nash returns to Phoenix
When the Dallas Mavericks failed to match the Phoenix Suns 6-year, $63 Million offer to Nash, he returned to the place that drafted him in 1996. He rewarded the Suns by leading them to two consecutive Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006 (losing to Dallas in 2006). Nash was also an instant 50, 40, 90 player and led the league in assists 5 times and he stayed that way until he retired in 2015.
9.
Horace Grant magically lands in Orlando
After Michael Jordan briefly left the NBA in 1993, the Bulls did not have a way to keep players in the Windy City. Horace Grant was one such player that went and signed a 6-year, $22.3 Million contract with the Orlando Magic. He teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway to make the Magic a title contender. Grant was a great all-around player to blend with O’Neal’s intimidating size and Hardaway’s perimeter shooting that allowed the Magic to run over the Eastern Conference. They drove all the way to the Finals in 1995, before losing to the Houston Rockets in 4 games.
8.
Gus Williams superbly signs with Seattle
In 1977, the Golden State Warriors lost key pieces to Free Agency. One was Gus Williams. He signed with the Seattle Supersonics and sent them off the deep end as they cut through the NBA like a hot knife through butter, finishing with a 52-30 record. In the 1979 playoffs, Williams averaged 26.7 PPG and the Sonics defeated the best the league had to offer in the Lakers and Suns, then defeating the defending champion Washington Bullets to win their only NBA Championship.
7.
Chris Bosh heats up in Miami
When the Big 3 came together in 2010, the story was about 90 percent LeBron James. But Chris Bosh was a massive signing in his own regard. He signed for $14.5 Million to join the Heat in July of 2010. Bosh rewarded the Heat by becoming the Big Man down low that the Heat had needed since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal. This led to 4 straight championship appearances for Miami from 2011-2014, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.
6.
Dr. J cures Philly’s Championship woes
After a legendary career with the New York Nets in the ABA, Julius “Dr. J” Erving turned heads by signing with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. He brought back the championship desires in the City of Brotherly Love that had been nonexistent since Wilt Chamberlain left in 1968. Erving averaged 21.8 PPG over 11 years with Philly and led them to two Finals appearances in 1980 and 1983, winning the NBA Finals in 1983 and Dr. J won the 1981 NBA MVP.
5.
Chauncey gets money in Motown
In 2002, the Detroit Pistons were trying to build a new contender in the East. They began this by signing Chauncey Billups to a 6-year, $35 Million contract that paid immediate dividends. The Pistons went to the Finals in 2004, defeating the heavily favored Lakers in 5 games, with Billups being named Finals MVP. He then led the Pistons to the Finals in 2005, before losing in 7 games to the San Antonio Spurs. Billups remained with the Pistons until 2008, leading them to 5 consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances from 2004-2008.
4.
Durant goes Golden
In 2016, the Golden State Warriors had just lost the NBA Finals in 7 games to the Cleveland Cavaliers after a tremendous 73-9 season. They felt they needed one more big piece. They went and signed Kevin Durant to a 2-year, $54.3 Million contract that immediately made the Warriors the favorites for the foreseeable future. Durant led the Warriors, with Steph Curry and company, to three consecutive Finals, winning back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. He averaged 26.2 PPG over three years and was the Finals MVP in 2017 ands 2018.
3.
Shaq goes Showtime
In 1996, the Lakers made their biggest splash in free agency by signing the big, bad monster in Shaquille O’Neal to a 7-year, $121 Million contract. At first, it seemed to be a bad signing, yet O’Neal persevered and took the steps to become the 2000 NBA MVP and, alongside Kobe Bryant, lead the Lakers to four Finals appearances in five years, three-peating from 2000-2002. O’Neal was the 2000 NBA Finals MVP and averaged 26.9 PPG over his 8 year tenure in LA.
2.
LeBron comes home
Going into the 2014 offseason, there was speculation that LeBron James would return to Cleveland to bring a title to the city. James did, signing a two-year, $42.2 Million contract that became 4 years. He averaged 26.1 PPG and led the Cavaliers to four straight NBA Finals appearances, winning the Finals in 2016 and being named the 2016 NBA Finals MVP.
1.
Rodman brings streetball to the Windy City
With the return of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls were projected to be a good team. But they made the greatest free agent signing of all time by signing legendary rebounder and physical force Dennis Rodman. Known for his physical play and wacky persona, Rodman became a monster for the Bulls and helped Jordan lead the Bulls to 3 consecutive Finals, winning all of them, and Rodman, though he only averaged 5.3 PPG, averaged 15.3 RPG and cleared the way for Jordan and Scottie Pippen to lead the team in scoring.
What do you think of these signings? Are there any glaring omissions?
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