Fansided

5 teams that got better during 2020 NBA free agency

By Bryan Toporek

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors reacts to play in front of Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 113-104 Raptor win at Staples Center on November 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors reacts to play in front of Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 113-104 Raptor win at Staples Center on November 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Fresh off winning the 2020 NBA championship, the rich got even richer.

Prior to the draft, the Los Angeles Lakers shipped Danny Green along with the No. 28 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Dennis Schroder, who finished as the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up last season. What the spark-plug guard lacks in basketball IQ compared to former Lakers backup Rajon Rondo, he’ll make up for with three-level scoring ability.

Once free agency began, the Lakers fired a shot across the bow at their crosstown rivals, snagging Montrezl Harrell on a two-year, $19 million contract. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is fresh off a season in which he averaged a career-high 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in only 27.8 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he should slide in as a picture-perfect pick-and-roll partner with Schroder off the bench.

To make up for the loss of Green and Avery Bradley, the Lakers signed Wes Matthews to a one-year, $3.6 million contract that he’s all but certain to outplay. Matthews started all 67 regular-season games with the Milwaukee Bucks last year, and he’ll be a strong low-usage, 3-and-D complement to LeBron James and Anthony Davis in L.A.

The Lakers also secured perhaps the single biggest steal of the offseason, signing Marc Gasol to a two-year minimum contract. The 35-year-old isn’t much of a scoring threat at this stage of his career, but he remains a phenomenal passer for his size and a stout defender. JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard played well for the Lakers last year, but Gasol will be a marked upgrade over both.

Although the Lakers did lose Green, Bradley, Rondo, McGee and Howard, they did manage to re-sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (three years, $40 million) and Markieff Morris (one year, $2.3 million). KCP and Matthews figure to round out the Lakers’ starting lineup next to James, Davis and Gasol, while Morris will provide forward depth alongside Harrell and Kyle Kuzma.

The defending champs might get off to a slow start given the quick turnaround from the bubble, but they appear even stronger than they were last year.

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Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac.

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