A Complete Guide to the 2019-2020 NBA Free Agents and Where They Landed

When I first sat down to analyze the 2019-2020 NBA free agency period, I couldn't help but draw parallels to Alex Eala stepping onto Centre Court during her Wimbledon debut. Much like that young tennis prodigy chasing history, every free agent that summer was pursuing their own legacy - whether it was chasing championships, securing life-changing contracts, or cementing their place in basketball history. I remember thinking how this particular free agency class felt like a watershed moment, with franchise-altering decisions that would reshape the league's landscape for years to come.

The summer of 2019 will forever be remembered for the seismic shift that occurred when Kawhi Leonard decided to join the LA Clippers, bringing Paul George with him in a move that completely reshaped the Western Conference power structure. I've been covering the NBA for over a decade, and I can count on one hand the number of free agency decisions that carried this much weight. Leonard's move wasn't just about basketball - it was about coming home to Southern California while simultaneously creating his own legacy rather than following in someone else's footsteps. The Clippers surrendered what felt like half their future draft capital - five first-round picks and two pick swaps - to secure George, making this arguably the riskiest all-in gamble we've seen in modern NBA history.

What fascinated me most during that period was watching how dominoes fell after Leonard's decision. The Oklahoma City Thunder entered what appeared to be a full rebuild, collecting enough draft picks to field an entire team of future first-rounders. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets made their own monumental splash by securing both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, though Durant's Achilles injury meant we wouldn't see the full fruits of this partnership until the following season. I remember debating with colleagues about whether the Nets were being too aggressive given Durant's health concerns, but looking back, that gamble has certainly paid dividends.

The movement wasn't limited to superstars, though that's what captured most headlines. What truly separates great front offices from mediocre ones is how they handle the middle-tier signings, and the 2019 market offered plenty of opportunities for savvy teams. The Utah Jazz's acquisition of Bojan Bogdanović for $73 million over four years struck me as one of the most underrated moves of the summer. Bogdanović provided the spacing and secondary scoring the Jazz desperately needed, and his impact was immediate and substantial. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns signing Ricky Rubio for three years and $51 million gave them the professional point guard they'd been lacking for years, accelerating Devin Booker's development and setting the stage for their eventual rise to contention.

One signing that particularly captured my imagination was Al Horford joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $109 million contract. On paper, pairing Horford with Joel Embiid created what should have been the most formidable defensive frontcourt in basketball. But as we'd learn, the fit was awkward at best, proving that sometimes the most logical moves on paper don't translate to court success. I recall watching their early season games and noticing the offensive spacing issues immediately - it was like trying to fit two kings on the same chessboard.

The financial landscape that summer was particularly interesting because it represented what I believe was the last "normal" free agency period before the pandemic altered everything. Teams spent approximately $3.8 billion in committed salaries during the first six hours of free agency alone, with the total value of contracts signed that summer reaching nearly $4.2 billion. These numbers still boggle my mind when I think about them - the economic engine of the NBA was firing on all cylinders, with teams willing to spend unprecedented amounts to secure talent.

What made this free agency period uniquely compelling was how it reflected the evolving nature of player empowerment. We saw stars like Kemba Walker choose the Boston Celtics over staying with the Charlotte Hornets, prioritizing winning environments over financial maximization. Jimmy Butler's sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat created the perfect marriage of player and culture, something I've rarely seen work out as perfectly as it has in Miami. Butler's intensity and Miami's demanding culture were like peanut butter and jelly - they just fit together in ways that transcended conventional basketball analysis.

The ripple effects of that summer are still being felt today. The Clippers' gamble ultimately led to their first Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history, while the Thunder's treasure trove of picks is only now beginning to bear fruit. The Nets' superteam experiment eventually fizzled out, but not before producing some of the most entertaining basketball we've seen in recent years. And through it all, the lessons about team building, fit versus talent, and the importance of organizational culture became clearer than ever.

Reflecting on that period, I'm struck by how much courage it takes for players to make these career-defining decisions. Much like Alex Eala stepping onto that Wimbledon court, each free agent was making a choice that would define their legacy, facing uncertainty with the hope of achieving something historic. The 2019-2020 free agency period wasn't just about basketball transactions - it was about human ambition, calculated risks, and the eternal pursuit of greatness that defines both sports and the athletes who play them.