It’s not in hindsight whether there are “winners” and “losers” of free agency.  It’s simply a matter of who will be crowned the champions on paper.  The NBA has a lot of the so called “middle of the road” teams that one or two moves can make them into contenders.  This year has given those teams many opportunities to make a candidate to be the paper champions.  I have narrowed down the winners, losers and an “undecided” section to four teams per category.  If there should be more or none at all, do share.

Undecided

New York Knicks

What they got: F Amare Stoudemire, F Anthony Randolph, G Raymond Felton

The Knicks did get one of the top free agents on the market in Stoudemire, but they had their sights set on LeBron James.  Is it a total failure?  Not exactly.  Yes, LeBron was the big catch, but it’s hard to say they lost when they brought in one of the best scoring forwards in the game.  Felton is a proven point guard that actually took less money to come to New York.  Randolph was the main piece New York received from Golden State in the David Lee sign and trade.  Randolph has a decent outside-inside game and has a lot of upside.  With an inside presence, a leader at the point and a scoring option off the bench, New York could matter again.  It’s a tough sell in the “Big Apple”, but Knicks fans can be excited that their team will be in the mix for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference

Phoenix Suns

What they got: G Josh Childress, F Hedo Turkoglu

Phoenix lost Stoudemire and decided to re-sign F Channing Frye and F Grant Hill.  It makes sense for them because those two were a big part of what the Suns accomplished last year.  Stoudemire was too, but it doesn’t put the Suns out of contention completely.  Steve Nash is still around and acquiring Childress and Turkoglu can help offset the loss by getting two players looking for a fresh start.  Childress has spent the past two seasons in Greece.  Judging by his stats, he hasn’t regressed at all.  He can be what Boris Diaw was for the Suns a few years ago.  Turkoglu had a rough going in Toronto.  After he left Orlando for “greener” pastures, he seemed to want to take it easy rather than play with urgency.  Accusations of being a quitter and a liar hurt his reputation and Phoenix was willing to take a chance.  Why not?  He is just one year removed from leading the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals.  The Suns can’t put all their hopes on Turkoglu, but he will be motivated to prove his doubters wrong.

Milwaukee Bucks

What they got: F Drew Gooden, F Corey Maggette, G Chris Douglas-Roberts

Because of another team in their division, I’m not putting Milwaukee in the winners category.  However, I do like what they’ve done.  Aside from Gooden’s over valued contract, he does bring added rebounding and defensive prowess that head coach Scott Skiles covets.  Maggette is another tough guy who is constantly attacking the basket.  He will instantly make the Bucks bench a force.  Douglas-Roberts is an up and coming wing player who needs to improve his shooting stroke, but has crazy athleticism that will be utilized with Brandon Jennings leading this rising force in the Eastern Conference.

Utah Jazz

What they got: G Raja Bell, F Al Jefferson

Yes Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver will be missed.  As will Wesley Matthews who was an undrafted free agent.  Raja Bell will bring the toughness and defense that is a staple for Jerry Sloan’s teams.  Bell has played for Utah before and his familiarity with Utah’s style of play lead him to pick Utah ahead of the Lakers.  Al Jefferson was handed to the Jazz on a silver platter.  Not a lot was given to Minnesota to land the double-double machine.  Jefferson can be seen as an upgrade.  One is the age difference (4 years) and two is offensive output.  Both Boozer and Jefferson are prone to injury, but Jefferson can consistently put up 20+ points a game.  Utah will probably need to make a few other moves, but getting Jefferson was a nice surprise.

Losers

New Jersey Nets

No LeBron.  No Wade.  No Bosh.  No Stoudemire.  No Johnson.  That’s why they’re here.  Not a single big name came looking for the Nets money.  They settled for Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow.  They were the worst team in the league last year and probably won’t be any better this upcoming season.  Small pieces will get you out of the cellar, but not out of the hole.

Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh was part of a sign and trade with the Miami Heat that gave Toronto a huge trade exception.  But it doesn’t make any sense.  It seemed that they were extremely upset with Bosh’s handling of the free agent fiasco and weren’t going to help him get max money.  Instead they backed down and in the beginning of free agency they threw 34 million dollars at Amir Johnson.  The same Amir Johnson who has averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game through four seasons.  Good job.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Yes LeBron is gone.  Was it their fault.  Not entirely, but they should have planned better for it.  With LeBron gone, the face of their franchise is Antawn Jamison.  Mo Williams will have to stay as well and they can’t just sell of Delonte West.  They have some good pieces in J.J. Hickson and Leon Powe, but they are near the bottom of the Central Division with Indiana and Detroit with one free agent subtraction.

Minnesota Timberwolves

They do have some good players in place, but what exactly is the plan?  Michael Beasley is a better version of Ryan Gomes.  Darko did play his best basketball in Minnesota, but was it worth 20 million for four years?  You already have two point guards, three if you count Ricky Rubio.  But that didn’t stop David Kahn (President of Basketball Operations) to sign Luke Ridnour, you guessed it, another point guard.  Dumping Al Jefferson isn’t even the icing on the cake.  When Minnesota finishes with the worst record this year, they will pin all their misfortune on Kurt Rambis.  But it starts at the top.

Winners

Miami Heat

What they got: F LeBron James, F Chris Bosh, G Mike Miller

Yes they performed the ultimate coup and captured the top two free agents and brought them to Dwayne Wade’s team.  Instantly they are a force to be reckoned with and it will be hard to keep all three of their game at the same time.  The bench is still suspect, mainly in the frontcourt, but bringing in Miller was a good choice.  He nearly shot 50% from 3-point range last year and that will pay big dividends for Miami in close games.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard are not the answers at center, but they will make another move before camp.

Boston Celtics

What thy got: G Ray Allen, C Jermaine O’Neal, G Nate Robinson

Paul Pierce took less money so the Celtics could bring back Allen and Robinson.  Allen decided that the best shot to win again was back in Beantown.  Robinson didn’t want to leave a sure thing.  O’Neal is a good fit to replace Kendrick Perkins.  The “Big Three” will be together at least one more year (Garnett has one year left).  As will head coach Doc Rivers.  Do they have another run in them?  Why not?  If they can get into the playoffs healthy, they can beat anyone.  But this is definitely the last run for this group. 

Los Angeles Lakers

What they got: F Matt Barnes, G Steve Blake, C Theo Ratliff

Just getting Blake would have been good enough, but in the same day they grabbed Ratliff and Barnes out of the sky.  Barnes was reportedly going to Toronto in a sign and trade with Orlando, but money problems nixed the deal.  Immediately, according to Barnes, Kobe sprung into action and began texting Barnes to come to LA.  With Blake and Ratliff the Lakers bench has a whole new attitude.  It seemed at times that the bench seemed to lose focus far too often and get flustered.  That shouldn’t be a problem with these three.  Taking less money to win says a lot about an athlete.  That’s exactly what these three did.

Chicago Bulls

What they got: F Carlos Boozer, G Kyle Korver, F Kurt Thomas

They got a great consolation prize in Boozer and nabbed one of the best shooters in Korver.  Nearly getting J.J. Redick from Orlando would have put Chicago over the top.  Thomas was a smart move.  He has a knack for crashing the boards and will be able to spell Joakim Noah or Taj Gibson in a cinch.  Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Watson were quiet additions that further strengthen the bench against some of the deeper teams in the Eastern Conference