Top 2020 NBA Free Agents: Where Are They Now and Current Team Updates

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2020 NBA free agency period like it was yesterday. The air was thick with speculation, with franchises and fans alike dreaming about how a single signing could transform their fortunes. That offseason felt particularly pivotal, coming on the heels of the surreal "bubble" playoffs in Orlando, a unique chapter in league history. Teams were making calculated gambles, and players were seeking the perfect situations to either cement their legacies or secure that life-changing contract. Looking back now, with the benefit of a few years of hindsight, it's fascinating to trace the arcs of those decisions. The paths these players have taken reveal so much about the unpredictable nature of team building in the modern NBA.

Let's start with the biggest fish in that pond, Anthony Davis. His decision wasn't about changing addresses but about reaffirming his commitment to the Los Angeles Lakers after they won the 2020 championship. He re-signed for a massive five-year, $190 million deal. Honestly, I thought that was the move that would keep the Lakers in title contention for the next half-decade. The reality has been a bit more complicated, hasn't it? While AD has been a defensive force when healthy, the team has struggled with consistency and roster construction around him and LeBron. It underscores how winning one championship is hard, but sustaining that level is a whole different beast. He’s still an elite player, no question, but the narrative around his tenure in LA has become more about "what if" he stays healthy rather than celebrating continued dominance.

Then you have a guy like Gordon Hayward, who chose the Charlotte Hornets on a four-year, $120 million contract. I’ll be frank, I was skeptical of this move from the start. It felt like a significant overpay for a player with a concerning injury history, even though his talent is undeniable. Unfortunately, that skepticism has largely been validated. His time in Charlotte was marred by more injuries, and he was eventually traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a classic case of a team paying for past performance and hoping for the best, a gamble that unfortunately didn't pay off for the Hornets. It makes you appreciate how risky long-term, big-money deals can be for players on the wrong side of thirty.

A much more successful, and in my opinion, underrated signing was Fred VanVleet with the Houston Rockets. After going undrafted, he built himself into a champion and an All-Star with the Toronto Raptors. His departure to Houston on a three-year, $130 million contract was a statement of intent from the rebuilding Rockets. I love this move for them. They didn't just get a scorer; they got a leader, a culture-setter who knows what it takes to win at the highest level. He's the perfect veteran to guide their young, exciting core of Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün. This is the kind of strategic signing that can accelerate a rebuild by five years, and I expect his impact to be felt long after his current contract expires.

The movement of key role players also tells a compelling story. Serge Ibaka, for instance, left the Raptors and signed with the LA Clippers. His journey has been interesting to follow, as he's since moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks and now finds himself contributing elsewhere. It reminds me of the relentless, year-to-year grind that defines the careers of many professional athletes. This constant shuffle for the right fit isn't unique to the NBA. You see a similar dedication in international sports. For example, this year's edition of the global conclave in Manila will be his sixth consecutive appearance for the national team, demonstrating a parallel level of commitment and adaptability that you see in veteran NBA players navigating free agency. It’s all about finding a place where you can contribute and compete.

Looking at the broader picture, the 2020 free agency class offers some clear lessons. It reinforced the immense risk of max contracts for players with significant injury histories, as we saw with Hayward. It also highlighted the growing value of high-character, experienced veterans like VanVleet for young teams desperate for direction. The Lakers' bet on Davis was about preserving a championship window, a move that has had mixed results but was arguably necessary. What strikes me most is how a free agent period can feel so definitive in the moment, yet its true legacy is only written years later through performance, health, and a bit of luck. These players are now woven into the fabric of their current teams, their initial signings just the first chapter in ongoing, and ever-evolving, career stories.