The start of the NBA’s free agency period is just days away. When teams hope to add big stars to their roster. NBA franchises could learn from the Cincinnati Reds heading into this offseason.

NBA free agency features characteristics of a town’s campaign for a factory or corporate headquarters. With a mad dash of financial incentives to bring stars to their team. There’s also the wining and dining of high-profile free agents. Some might resort to billboards asking a free agent to stay or come to their team. All in the hopes that a splashy acquisition will result in a future championship.

A team doesn’t need to make a splashy acquisition to succeed. The Reds offseason deals are effectively exhibit A in this case. Now sure, NBA teams have less roster space than MLB teams. The NBA also has a smaller farm system than baseball does. Nonetheless, NBA teams could still learn something from the Reds.

Going into Opening Day, if asked what the Reds best offseason deal was. The response from many likely would’ve been the deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati. Trading Homer Bailey for Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer and Matt Kemp. One can understand why someone would have that response. After all, those players came from a team that won the National League pennant last year.

Nearly halfway through this season, this deal is bringing mixed results. One of the four players acquired is not with the Reds anymore. The Reds released Matt Kemp back in early May. He is currently in the minor leagues with Triple-A Syracuse. Spending parts of this season recovering from an injury.

Pitcher Alex Wood is recovering from a back injury; not making a single appearance in a Reds game this season. Meanwhile, the best and least known players acquired in this deal are delivering the goods. Yasiel Puig is having a good season, providing a defensive boost in the outfield that the Reds need. Kyle Farmer is an largely dependable pinch hitting infielder for the Reds. Hitting a career-high 19 runs batted in and six home runs to date in 2019.

On field results point to a different offseason deal being the best one for Cincinnati. The deals that brought Jose Iglesias and Derrick Dietrich to the Reds is delivering solid results. Both were brought in through minor league deals in the offseason. Iglesias and Dietrich are two of the Reds most dependable hitters this season. Becoming household names among Reds fans and having breakout seasons.

Ultimately, building a winning roster is the most important things a front office can do. The Reds current roster has the potential to build a contending team. Doing so without throwing all of their resources behind acquiring one player. A major lesson for any professional sports franchise to remember.

Unrelated but important Reds news…

Second baseman Scooter Gennett will make his season debut Friday night. After spending the entire season so far recovering from a groin injury. Meanwhile, catcher Tucker Barnhart is being placed on the ten day injury list. According to mlb.com’s David Adler, Barnhart is dealing with a right oblique strain. One that caused him to miss Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.