LeBron James. AP FILE PHOTO
A look at the biggest moves made so far during the NBA’s free agency period:
LeBron James
Leaves Miami for Cleveland. Best player in the world changes teams and goes home, and the balance of power in the East has now shifted out of Miami.
Chris Bosh
Staying in Miami, will be signing five-year deal worth $118 million. Keeping Bosh helped Heat avoid what would have been offseason disaster.
Carmelo Anthony
Staying with New York Knicks and gave them a little discount as well. Knicks would have been in worlds of trouble without him this season.
Kyle Lowry
Staying in Toronto, and despite widespread speculation otherwise, there was no way Masai Ujiri was letting the Raps’ point guard go anywhere.
Chandler Parson
Leaves Houston for Dallas, which got him after Rockets declined to match the Mavs’ three-year offer sheet. Another shooter to play off Nowitzki.
Pau Gasol
Leaves the Los Angeles Lakers for Chicago Bulls, making his announcement Saturday. Add Bulls to suddenly growing list of big-time East contenders.
Marcin Gortat
Staying in Washington, five years and $60 million. Wizards impressed many last season and young core will only get better.
Paul Pierce
Leaves Brooklyn for Washington, and if the Wizards didn’t strike you as a team on the rise already, they probably do now.
Gordon Hayward
Staying in Utah after Jazz matched Charlotte’s offer sheet. Hayward has answered every challenge since coming to NBA from Butler. Stardom next?
Isaiah Thomas
Leaves Sacramento for Phoenix. With this playmaker running the point, the Suns will be a very popular sleeper pick in the West going into the season.
Luol Deng
Leaves Cleveland for Miami, which seems fitting, since the Heat had an opening at small forward because of LeBron James’ return to the Cavaliers.
Zach Randolph
Staying in Memphis, which alone gives Grizzlies hope. When Randolph is right, he can be close to unguardable 1-on-1.
Anthony Morrow
Leaves New Orleans for Oklahoma City. He’s one of the league’s best 3-point threats and now gets to play off MVP Kevin Durant.
Shaun Livingston
Leaves Brooklyn for Golden State, gets chance to be a full-fledged starter and got paid. His comeback from that awful knee injury? Complete.
Darren Collison
Leaves the Los Angeles Clippers for Sacramento, where he gets a nice raise and chance to be Isaiah Thomas’ replacement in the backcourt.
Vince Carter
Leaves Dallas for Memphis, gets three-year deal. Leadership will help, but Grizzlies need more to get into mix with the best West teams.
Avery Bradley
Staying in Boston, getting $32 million over four years after proving himself last year when Celtics were without Rajon Rondo.
Tim Duncan
Staying in San Antonio, like there was any chance of anything else.
Dirk Nowitzki
Staying in Dallas, also like there was any chance of anything else.
Mario Chalmers
Staying in Miami, in a deal that means the Heat will at least have a proven starter back at the point.
Spencer Hawes
Leaves Cleveland for the Los Angeles Clippers. Big, strong and now a 3-point threat? Clips got better, without question.
Boris Diaw
Staying in San Antonio, and after the way he played in the Finals this is no surprise.
Nick Young
Staying with the Los Angeles Lakers, and really was the team’s lone bright spot at times last season. Explosive scorer when rolling.
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