Kofie Yeboah

USATODAY

While LeBron James was the NBA's biggest free agent addition in the offseason, leaving the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there were many other important pickups.

Some could turn lottery teams into playoff hopefuls. Others could turn perennial playoff teams into championship contenders.

Here are nine free agents who could have the most impact this season:

PAU GASOL

Old team: Los Angeles Lakers

New team: Chicago Bulls

Gasol to the Bulls should be an upgrade from Carlos Boozer. Gasol is a better passer than Boozer and is good enough defensively that coach Tom Thibodeau won't sit him in the fourth quarter. Gasol can score, giving Derrick Rose another much-needed offensive option. Gasol is a big enough addition that the Bulls, if Rose stays healthy, could be an NBA Finals contender.

CHANDLER PARSONS

Old team: Houston Rockets

New team: Dallas Mavericks

Playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis, Parsons should get a lot of opportunities to score. He has increased his production offensively every season and was a key piece in the Rockets' run to a No. 4 seed in the Western Conference last season. At 6-9, Parsons is hard to match up against, and he takes advantage by shooting 47% from the field.

ISAIAH THOMAS

Old team: Sacramento Kings

New team: Phoenix Suns

Thomas had a breakout season (20.3 ppg, 6.3 apg) and cashed in with a good deal from the Suns. He is a great scoring guard and gives Phoenix some depth after it signed Eric Bledsoe to a five-year deal. Thomas should fit in with a hungry Suns team that fell one game short of the playoffs.

DARREN COLLISON

Old team: Los Angeles Clippers

New team: Kings

Collison is a reliable point guard who is better than his stats (career 11.9 ppg, 4.9 apg) might indicate. He would start on a lot of teams, but with the Clippers he played well behind Chris Paul. With Thomas gone, Collison should be on the floor a lot with the Kings. With his speed and passing ability, he should work well with scorers Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins.

LUOL DENG

Old team: Cleveland Cavaliers

New team: Miami Heat

Last season, Deng was traded from a contender in Chicago to a struggling team in Cleveland. Because of that, there was little doubt the dependable 6-9 small forward wanted to leave. Deng will join Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami, hoping to soften the impact of James' departure.

ANTHONY MORROW

Old team: New Orleans Pelicans

New team: Oklahoma City Thunder

The underplayed addition of Morrow was big for the Thunder. Morrow doesn't make up for the defensive prowess lost in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Thabo Sefolosha to the Atlanta Hawks, but he will be able to space the floor as a 43% career three-point shooter. Morrow will complement Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson on the offensive side.

PAUL PIERCE

Old team: Brooklyn Nets

New team: Washington Wizards

Pierce, 36, has been brought in to be a positive influence on the dynamic young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. The upstart Wizards were the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference last season, exceeding expectations. The Wizards are hoping Pierce — who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in the 2007-08 season — will provide leadership to help them take the next step to contending for a title.

CARLOS BOOZER

Old team: Bulls

New team: Lakers

Boozer, who had solid numbers for the Bulls last season, will join Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and Jeremy Lin in an effort to get the Lakers back into playoff contention. He has battled injuries for most of his career but has been relatively healthy the last two seasons. The Lakers hope that trend continues because they need the kind of intensity Boozer brings to the court.

SPENCER HAWES

Old team: Cavaliers

New team: Clippers

Hawes has the ability to score from inside and outside. He is a solid rebounder and has tremendous passing skills for a big man. Hawes could be what the Clippers need when they must stretch the floor or Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan are in foul trouble, which is often.