Top NBA free agency signings/trades this July

The 2024 NBA offseason has been an extremely eventful one, and now that the lionshare of the roster moves are in the rearview mirror, it’s time to recap the yearly free agency frenzy and dive into the most impactful moves since the start of free agency on July 1.

From blockbuster trades and high-profile free agent signings, to moves on the margins that could make a significant difference for a few teams in the long run, let’s break down some of the key transactions of the 2024 offseason so far. 

George Finds a New Home in Philadelphia

Over the course of his NBA career, Paul George has become something of a journeyman. After spending time in Indiana, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, the veteran small forward has found his way to a new contender in the Philadelphia 76ers. 

On paper, George is exactly what the Sixers are looking for. He’s an experienced two-way player who has been on many contending teams in the past and knows how to handle the pressure in big moments in the postseason. George also crucially doesn’t need the ball in his hands and can operate as an overqualified third option alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

It remains to be seen if this move will take the 76ers over the top, but at the very least it certainly places them near the top of the Eastern Conference heading into the 2024-25 season.

Bridges Moves Across Town

While most of the notable action pertaining to free agency happened on July 1, there were a handful of impactful trades that shook up rosters on a couple of playoff teams, as well as a few teams that are looking to rebuild. 

Perhaps the most impactful trade occurred between the Nets and Knicks toward the end of June and was finalized on July 6. Mikal Bridges is one of the best two-way wings in the Association, but he had been toiling away as a largely unsuccessful first option on a Brooklyn Nets team that was going nowhere fast. However, the Nets finally decided to press the reset button this offseason and traded Bridges to their crosstown rivals at Madison Square Garden. 

Not only does this addition make the Knicks viable contenders in the Eastern Conference (currently sitting third in the NBA betting odds behind Philadelphia and Boston), but Brooklyn managed to squeeze a whopping five first-round picks out of the deal, kicking off its rebuild with a bang and putting New York in “win now” mode. 

Murray and DeRozan get Traded

While Dejounte Murray and Demar DeRozan are not quite the same caliber of player as Bridges, both players were dealt to teams that they can immediately make an impact on this coming season. 

Murray’s time in Atlanta was tumultuous, but the Hawks were still able to extract some value from the trade, as he was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package that included Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and a pair of future first-round draft picks. 

Murray immediately joins a Pelicans backcourt that could use a scoring punch, as well as a defense that really needs a capable point-of-attack defender on the perimeter. If Murray can fill both needs successfully, New Orleans could be a threat in a loaded Western Conference.      

Also out west, the Sacramento Kings didn’t want to stand pat either, trading for a veteran scorer and leader in DeMar DeRozan to slot in alongside De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and the rest of the Kings' explosive offense. Sacramento parted ways with Harrison Barnes in the deal, freeing up more room for Keegan Murray and now DeRozan to operate on the wings. 

For their part in the deal, the Bulls received Chris Duarte, a couple of second-round draft picks and cash considerations in what ultimately was another move to jump-start what should be a long rebuild in Chicago.

Thunder win Hartenstein Sweepstakes

Oklahoma City has garnered a reputation as being one of the more savvy front offices in the NBA, and after a multi-year rebuild that started to pay dividends with a 57-win campaign this past season, the Thunder are pushing their chips in and making a run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy. 

Signing Isaiah Hartenstein to a multi-year deal isn’t the most splashy move on paper, but Oklahoma City badly needed another big man to bolster its postseason rotation alongside Chet Holmgren. While Hartenstein is only a role player, everything he does on both ends of the floor compliments the Oklahoma City system. 

Alongside fellow new addition Alex Caruso, Hartenstein completes what is an excellent nine-man rotation for a Thunder team that are now the favorites in the Western Conference.  

Spurs, Mavericks and Warriors make Moves on the Margins

The San Antonio Spurs knew they were going to need to make moves to put pieces around Victor Wembanyama, and they took major steps toward doing just that on July 7 when they officially signed Chris Paul to a one-year deal worth $11 million. The 19-year veteran is one of the best point guards in league history and should immediately make an impact on a young roster that could really use some professionalism and experience to help the team grow in Wembanyama’s sophomore season.

Over in Dallas, the Mavericks were busy honing in on luring Klay Thompson away from the Golden State Warriors and were successful in doing so, ultimately inking a deal with the all-time great shooter for three years and $50 million as part of a 6-team trade that saw Dallas also net a second-round draft pick. The addition of Thompson should provide the Mavs with a much-needed scoring punch off the bench, even if the overall team defense could suffer as a result.  

With Thompson leaving Golden State — signifying the end of an era in the Bay Area — the Warriors were left to make moves on the margins to replace one of the “Splash Brothers”. All in all, the Dubs front office did a nice job, picking up a trio of veteran pieces in Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson to fill team needs and fill in for the production that Thompson and Paul gave them this past season. Time will tell if the Warriors will ever be title contenders again, but these moves ensured that they’d still be at least somewhat relevant in a loaded Western Conference.