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Solomon Hill
The deal: Four years, $52 million with the New Orleans Pelicans
The analysis: After Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird declined to pick up Hill's fourth year rookie option, the 2013 first round pick then went on to have an impressive playoff series against the Toronto Raptors, and set himself up as an attractive free agent because of his ability to hold up as a small ball power forward. New Orleans decided to cash in on that potential, grabbing Hill on day one of free agency — though paying a premium to do so.
The grade: C-
Here's the thing: Hill averaged 4.2 points and shot 44 percent overall and 32.4 percent from three-point range. He had a good playoff series for the Pacers against the Raptors, and his option should've been picked up, but it's not like he lit the world on fire. Now he's going to a Pelicans team that seems likely to play him as much at small forward as power forward — despite the fact he's a bad fit as a small forward, given his shooting woes. Having a hard worker is worth something, and the hope is he can push on from what he did in the playoffs, but there's a lot of risk with signing Hill for this number.
Mirza Teletovic
The deal: Three years, $30 million from the Milwaukee Bucks
The analysis: Mirza Teletovic loved playing for Jason Kidd two years ago in Brooklyn, and he'll get a chance to do so again. One of the better shooting power forwards in the NBA, Teletovic is a great fit for the Bucks, a spacing-starved team that needs all the shooting it can get. The fact Teletovic has been brought in on a very fair contract in this inflated market only adds to the benefits of the deal for Milwaukee.
The grade: A
This is a perfect marriage of player, team and need. Teletovic loved playing for Kidd, and on a Bucks team with a bunch of so-so to bad three-point shooters, his spacing gives Milwaukee the kind of room for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker they desperately need. Grabbing Teletovic and Matthew Dellavedova gives Milwaukee a pair of 40-percent three-point shooters at power forward and point guard — the single-biggest need Milwaukee had. Teletovic being on a great contract is icing on the cake.
Evan Fournier
The deal: Five years, $85 million with the Orlando Magic (player option on the fifth year)
The analysis: Fournier was expected to get a ton of interest as a restricted free agent wing this month, all the way up to a possible max contract. But then Orlando managed to not only keep him, but convince him to give the Magic a fairly steep discount by agreeing to a contract about $40 million lower than what the total payout over five years could've been.
The grade: A
Hard to see this as anything but a win for the Magic. Instead of Fournier going out and getting a much bigger deal on the open market, he instead was willing to take on a contract for the same annual value as Evan Turner — despite being a far superior shooter on the wings, something every team is desperate to find these days. Fournier has his issues — he's not a good defender and he isn't much of a creator for others — but he should make up the value on this deal over the next four years with his scoring ability. Plus, at that price he could easily be moved in a trade.
Matthew Dellavedova
The deal: Four years, $38 million with the Milwaukee Bucks
The analysis: Dellavedova couldn't find himself a long-term offer last summer, so he took the one-year qualifying offer to stay with Cleveland and make himself a restricted free agent this summer.
Even after being benched for the final few games of the NBA Finals, Dellavedova was able to find a strong deal on the market from the Bucks, as his ability to defend point guards and hit three-pointers (he shot 41 percent from behind the arc) makes him a nice fit next to Antetokounmpo, who is expected to be Milwaukee's primary ball-handler.
The grade: B-
Dellavedova isn't anything special, but he's a serviceable backup point guard who fits nicely with what Milwaukee is trying to do. It seems unlikely Cleveland will match at this price, though, and Dellavedova is a better fit for what Milwaukee needs than the player he's replacing, Jerryd Bayless, who received a similar contract from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Chandler Parsons
The deal: Four years, $94 million max contract with the Memphis Grizzlies
The analysis: This is a banner day for the Grizzlies as a franchise. Not only did they finally go out and find the secondary creator and shooter this team has so desperately needed for years, but Memphis also managed to convince a max player to come there and play for the Grizzlies.
Parsons isn't a player who they overpaid to come to Memphis. He was a guy with multiple competitive offers, and chose to be a member of the Grizzlies. That's a big deal for a small market team like this.
The grade: A-
The only reason this isn't an A is because of the injury concerns that come with Parsons. He's had multiple knee surgeries the past two years, and if he can't stay on the court this deal could become problematic for Memphis. But on the court he's an ideal fit: a second creator and terrific shooter who can finally give the Grizzlies the extra offensive space they've needed for years. It also is a strong sign Mike Conley will return — another reason to like the deal.
Evan Turner
The deal: Four years, $70 million with the Portland Trail Blazers
The analysis: Portland went into Friday afternoon seeking to try and reunite longtime friends Parsons and Dwight Howard. But once Parsons decided to take Memphis' four-year max offer instead, the Trail Blazers instead turned to Turner, quickly locking up the former No. 2 overall pick to a long-term commitment instead.
Turner played well as a secondary creator for the Celtics, averaging the two highest assist totals of his career, but still posted far below 30 percent shooting numbers from three-point range — a common theme on a Boston team starved for space.
The grade: D
Turner carved out a nice role for himself in Boston, but as a decent defender and ball-handler who is also a terrible shooter, he makes himself a difficult fit for teams as a perimeter player. But teams around the NBA were shocked when the terms of this deal came out. Now, Portland — which The Vertical says is trying to chase Pau Gasol — will either not be able to add any more significant free agents, or will have to renounce one of their three prominent restricted free agents (Allen Crabbe, Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard) to sign Gasol or another prominent player.
Jerryd Bayless
The deal: Three years, $27 million with the Philadelphia 76ers
The analysis: The Sixers desperately need ball-handlers. On a team full of big men — and, after the draft, pretty well stocked on the wings, too — they needed someone who could bring the ball up the court.
Enter Bayless, who agreed to a deal Friday and could wind up being Philadelphia's starting point guard. Bayless isn't anything special, but he shot over 43 percent from three-point range last season, and will be signed through his age 30 season.
The grade: C+
Philadelphia is stuck in a bit of a bad spot. The Sixers have to spend over $40 million just to get to the salary floor, and they desperately needed guard help. So signing Bayless to a deal worth about $9 million a year isn't a bad way to go. Philly might have been better off going after someone like Jeremy Lin and trying to overpay him instead. But given the situation the Sixers are in, getting Bayless at reasonable money isn't a terrible way to go.
Al Jefferson
The deal: Three years, $30 million with the Indiana Pacers
The analysis: The Pacers have gone out and made several moves — including trading for Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young — to try to play faster and add scoring to their lineup. Going out and adding Jefferson, a big, lumbering center, would seem to run counter to that.
But having Jefferson playing behind Myles Turner, one of last season's many impressive rookies, and torching second units as a low-post scorer makes a lot of sense ... assuming that's what Indiana is signing him to do.
The grade: C+
This could come down to a couple factors:
1) What Jefferson's role is. If he's starting in front of or alongside Turner, that would be bad. If he's coming off the bench for 20 minutes per game and being a scoring hub for the second unit, that would be good.
2) What the third year of the deal looks like. If it's a team option or partially or non-guaranteed, that would be good. If it's fully guaranteed or a player option, that would be bad. For now, we'll give it a C-plus.
Hassan Whiteside
The deal: Four years, $98 million with the Miami Heat
The analysis: Whiteside's remarkable transformation from castoff to max player is officially complete. He was going to get a max offer this summer, and within hours of free agency beginning the big man had two: one from the Heat, and another from the Dallas Mavericks.
After sleeping on it, Whiteside agreed to a four-year deal to stay on South Beach with the team that rescued him from the NBA scrap heap last season.
The grade: B+
Signing Whiteside to this kind of deal certainly comes with some risk. There's a reason he bounced around the world before eventually finding a home with the Heat, and it had nothing to do with his massive frame or talent. Still, the thought was Whiteside would wind up working out if he stayed with a an organization like the Heat, with plenty of infrastructure around him. By agreeing to remain in Miami, he's assured that will happen.
One other thing that brings this grade up a hair: Whiteside, per multiple reports, is willing to be flexible to help bring Kevin Durant to Miami. That could help the Heat quite a bit.
Jeremy Lin
The deal: Three years, $36 million (including player option for the third season)
The analysis: This was one deal that made too much sense not to happen. The Nets were in desperate need of a starting point guard, and Lin was said to be intent on finding a starting job. Combine the fact he can be a marketing sensation for a Nets team in need of attention and Lin's longstanding relationship and affection for new Coach Kenny Atkinson, and this had to happen.
The grade: A
Just like the marriage itself, this deal is a great one for both sides. The Nets got a steal getting Lin to come to them at about $12 million per season, given he's arguably the second-best point guard available and they so badly needed a starter. But Lin getting a player option after the second year will allow him to get back into the market at 29 if he so chooses - making this a good deal on his end, too.
Bradley Beal
The deal: Five years, $128 million
The analysis: This deal was always going to happen. When Beal and the Wizards didn't come to an agreement on a max contract extension last fall, the expectation was they'd get one done once free agency began, as that would net the Wizards an extra several million dollars in salary cap space. So it came as no surprise when, early on the first day of free agency, the two sides hammered out an agreement for a full max contract for the 23-year-old shooting guard.
The grade: B
For the reasons stated above, this deal was always going to happen. The Wizards did well to not give Beal any kind of option on the end of the deal, so presuming he's healthy they'll have him locked up all the way through his mid-20s — the ideal time to have a player under contract. Because it comes with some risk, though (Beal has only played 70 or more games once in his four year career) this can't get a top grade, though.
Andre Drummond
The deal: Five years, $128 million (early termination option on the fifth year)
The analysis: Like Beal, this was always going to happen. Drummond, an all-star center and one of the best young big men in the game, is the centerpiece of Detroit's rebuilding project under Coach Stan Van Gundy, and has a close relationship with owner Tom Gores. This was just a matter of getting the deal done.
The grade: A
The only thing that could take this down from an A grade, given Drummond's age and stature within the league, is the early termination option. But the Pistons gained about $15 million in space to improve the roster around him by waiting from the fall until now, making that trade off worth it. Now we'll see how Detroit uses the extra money at its disposal.
Nicolas Batum
The deal: Five years, $120 million with the Charlotte Hornets
The analysis: For the past month, the recurring word about Batum's free agency was he was going to eventually agree to a five-year deal to return to the Hornets, who had traded for him a year ago and watched him lead them into the playoffs.
It had seemed Batum might be more interested in surveying the market after agreeing to meet with the Mavericks and phone conversations with a couple of teams Friday morning, including the Washington Wizards. But Batum and the Hornets eventually came to an agreement on a five-year contract and took the French guard off the market before sunrise.
The grade: A
This deal couldn't have gone better for Charlotte. Everyone knew the Hornets needed to hang onto Batum after they dealt away a former lottery pick in Noah Vonleh to get him from the Portland Trail Blazers last June. But not only did the Hornets hang onto one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, they also convinced him to take about $30 million less than the maximum over the life of the contract. Those savings could help the Hornets keep Marvin Williams and Courtney Lee, their two best free agents they're likely able to keep. That combination of getting a must-do deal done and saving money at the same time makes this an easy grade.
Jordan Clarkson
The deal: Four years, $50 million with the Los Angeles Lakers
The analysis: Clarkson was one of several restricted free agents who was never expected to leave his current team. And, just a few hours after the start of free agency, the Lakers made sure he stuck around — locking up Clarkson to a four-year deal to keep one of their young core pieces in place for years to come.
Clarkson may become a Jamal Crawford-like presence off the bench in Los Angeles as a scoring guard, but he's been a home run of a selection as the No. 46 pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Along with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, Clarkson is part of what Los Angeles hopes will become an attractive core to free agents next summer and beyond.
The grade: B-
This contract is fine, and right about what Clarkson was supposed to get if he got a back-loaded offer sheet in free agency. If the Lakers had allowed him to receive one of those offer sheets, they would've had Clarkson locked in at an artificially low contract this year and next, giving them more salary cap space to spend. But the per-year rate won't be terrible on this deal, and the Lakers won't have to deal with a massive salary cap spike in the back half of the deal now, either.
DeMar DeRozan
The deal: Five years, $139 million with the Toronto Raptors
The analysis: Toronto gets its man. DeRozan will now be in position to shatter just about every franchise record after agreeing to return to the team he's spent his entire career with since being the No. 9 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
DeRozan has his flaws. He's not a great shooter, and he's not really capable of guarding small forwards. But he's excellent at getting to the foul line, is a good midrange shooter and is a leader of this Raptors team alongside Kyle Lowry. After Toronto put together the best three-year stretch in franchise history, bringing back DeRozan is a sign the Raptors will carry the success they've had into the next few years.
The grade: B+
Five years for DeRozan isn't ideal, but he's now locked up for his age 27-31 seasons — basically covering the rest of his prime. And because he gave Toronto a bit of a discount, to the tune of about $13 million over the life of the deal, the Raptors may find a way to also bring back their other prominent free agent, Bismack Biyombo. Considering this was expected to be a five-year max, though, the Raptors did well to get him for less.
Timofey Mozgov
The deal: Four years, $64 million with the Los Angeles Lakers
The analysis: The Lakers wanted a meeting with Durant, but couldn't get one. The Lakers wanted a meeting with Whiteside, but couldn't get one. So they went after Mozgov, locking him up within an hour of free agency beginning early Friday morning.
Mozgov never got on track last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers after struggling to recover from offseason knee surgery. He spent much of the postseason on the bench as the Cavaliers won Cleveland's first championship in more than 50 years. But instead of his market value taking a hit, he wound up with a similar deal to the one he would've likely nabbed if he'd been a free agent a year ago -after helping to carry Cleveland to within two wins of a title despite missing Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving with injuries.
The grade: C-
The Lakers got their man, and Mozgov will likely wind up being a better deal than, say, the contract Joakim Noah is closing in on with the Knicks for the same number of years and more money despite him being two years older. But even in the inflated cap environment the NBA finds itself in, this feels like an overpay. After mostly striking out the past couple of years in free agency, it's understandable why the Lakers would need to overpay to get someone they want. And if Mozgov can regain his form from the 2014-15 season and postseason, this deal will look all right.