Lakers deliver blow to rival Clippers in busy open to NBA free agency

The rich just got richer when NBA free agency kicked off Friday night.

A month after taking home the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy from the NBA’s playoff bubble, the Lakers added even more talent to their roster as they geared up to defend their title next season.

Though the league’s biggest free agent, superstar Anthony Davis, will reportedly take his time before making his expected return to the Lakers, according to ESPN, the defending champs didn’t just wait around. After officially announcing their trade for guard Dennis Schroder earlier this week, the Lakers on Friday added two key pieces in reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and veteran Wesley Matthews, according to reports.

The Harrell signing — a two-year deal worth $19 million, ESPN reported — is a double-barreled win for the Lakers, adding a physical weapon inside and taking him away from their rival Clippers.

The 34-year-old Matthews, who started 67 games for the Bucks last season, agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal, according to The Athletic.

The other half of the 2020 NBA Finals had an important night as well, as the Heat locked up two of their own free agents in Goran Dragic and Meyers Leonard. Dragic, the veteran guard who came alive during Miami’s playoff run before getting injured in Game 1 of the Finals, agreed to a two-year, $37.4 million deal, according to ESPN.

Sharpshooter Davis Bertans parlayed a career year into a big payday, agreeing to a five-year, $80 million deal to stay with the Wizards, ESPN reported. The 28-year-old forward shot 42.4 percent from beyond the arc last season while averaging 15.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, mostly coming off the bench.

The Hawks took a dip into their hefty pool of cap space to sign forward Danilo Gallinari to a three-year, $61.5 million contract, according to ESPN. After averaging 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds last season with the Thunder, the 32-year-old former Knicks first-round pick will join a young Hawks core led by Trae Young.

After losing Harrell to the Lakers, the Clippers made sure Marcus Morris didn’t get away, inking him to a four-year, $64 million deal, according to ESPN. Morris played last season on a one-year, $15 million contract with the Knicks before being traded to Los Angeles at the deadline.

Centers are flocking to Detroit en masse.

Even after drafting center Isaiah Stewart with the No. 16 pick on Wednesday night and trading for center Dewayne Dedmon (plus reportedly acquiring center Tony Bradley), the Pistons continued to load up their frontcourt by agreeing to sign centers Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor, according to reports. The 30-year-old Plumlee landed a three-year, $25 million deal, ESPN reported, while Okafor, the No. 3 pick in 2015, agreed to a two-year deal.

The Pistons also picked up Jerami Grant and Josh Jackson, the No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft, according to reports.

The Mavericks and Trey Burke, a former Knick, agreed on a $10 million, three-year contract. … Garrett Temple, a former Net, agreed to a one-year, $5M deal with the Bulls, according to ESPN.

De’Aaron Fox landed the first max-contract extension of the offseason. The Kings guard cashed in with a five-year, $163 million extension, according to ESPN. … Restricted free agent Malik Beasley will stay with the Timberwolves on a four-year, $60 million contract, per The Athletic. … The Trail Blazers were set to re-sign Rodney Hood and add Derrick Jones Jr., according to reports.