Ranking the 10 biggest moves in NBA free agency since LeBron James made ‘The Decision’

It’s been 14 years since LeBron James announced his decision to the world on national television, shocking the NBA world. After negotiations with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, the King would shock the basketball world and take his talents to South Beach with the Miami Heat.

Since then, several other blockbuster free agent moves have made their mark on the league. Here are 10 of the biggest NBA moves since 2010.

Following the Miami Heat’s stunning loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, questions arose as to whether the Heat’s Big Three could produce championships. Enter Ray Allen, the All-Star point guard and 2008 NBA champion, who left the Boston Celtics to try to win another ring late in his career with the Heat. Allen’s three-year, $9.5 million contract produced astonishing results, becoming the man some say “saved LeBron’s career” by hitting the iconic game-tying three-point shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals to force a Game 7, helping secure LeBron James’ first championship.

Andre Iguodala’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2013, a year shy of their first championship in decades, proved his long-term value. Despite excelling with the 76ers and a season with the Denver Nuggets, Iguodala saw potential in the Warriors’ promising young core. The signing paid off, leading to a championship in 2015 and his only NBA Finals MVP.

In 2014, “I’m Coming Home” made headlines everywhere when LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite winning two titles in four years with the Miami Heat, James was determined to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to his hometown. Despite becoming the league’s top villain after his departure, his return marked the beginning of a story for Cleveland.

After dislocating his shoulder in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, Kevin Love knew the job wasn’t done. The Cavaliers signed the center to the team on a five-year, $110 million contract. His contributions were vital to Cleveland’s 2016 championship run, leading them to a 3-1 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors.

Kevin Durant shocked the NBA on July 4, 2016, when he joined the Golden State Warriors, the team that had previously eliminated his Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in the previous months. Alongside Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, the signing earned Durant two championships and two Finals MVP awards with the Warriors.

In one of the biggest trades in NBA history, the Houston Rockets traded seven players and a first-round pick to acquire Chris Paul from the Clippers. The combination of Paul and James Harden led them to a 65-win season and a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2018. Technically, it wasn’t a free-agent signing, but Paul had signaled his desire to move on and basically forced the Clippers to act.

The “Summer of LeBron” ended with James signing a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, following growing interest from teams including the Spurs, Rockets, 76ers and Clippers. James’ promise to bring another championship to Los Angeles paid off, leading the team to its 17th title since the late Kobe Bryant in 2010.

When news broke that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were signing with the Brooklyn Nets, NBA fans were stunned, after earlier reports pointed to them signing with the New York Knicks. Despite Durant missing his first season and Irving having challenges with New York’s COVID-19 protocols, the duo delivered highlight-reel moments that electrified Nets fans everywhere.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the only team in NBA history to have won a championship under the extremely special conditions that existed during the bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After making a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis in exchange for a win-now mentality, the Lakers would re-sign the center in the 2020 offseason. The move ensured that the team would remain competitive for years to come as LeBron James’ days of playing basketball are coming to an end.

Basketball analysts questioned the New York Knicks’ decision to sign Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract because of his size and lackluster record as a starter with the Dallas Mavericks. Since Brunson’s arrival, his recent playoff success with the team has attracted key players such as Donte Divincenzo, Josh Hart and newly acquired Mikal Bridges, setting the stage for a possible Knicks appearance in the Eastern Conference in 25 years.