The big stories of NBA free agency in recent years have been centered around player movement—but more trades than free agent signings. Superstar players never hit the open market anymore because they can usually make significantly more money signing with their current teams; most sign for as much as possible and force their way out later if they become unhappy with their current home. The era of player movement has been going on for a long time, but the era of significant player movement as free agents ended years ago.
Still, every year there are good players in free agency. There are no more LeBron Jameses, but there are plenty of Tobias Harrises and Fred VanVleets, role players who wind up perfect fits for their new teams and make a big impact the following season. They aren’t splashy signings most of the time, but they are necessary for an organization to make a jump, big or small, over the next year.
