Now that there has been a little over a month since the NBA free agency signing period began, let's look back to some of the key signings that have taken place and list some of the winners and the losers. Remember, this will not cover any trades or draft picks that have happened, but only free agents signed or lost.
Winners
Los Angeles Lakers - Not only were they able to re-sign two key free agents, F Lamar Odom and G Shannon Brown, but they were able to get a perennial all star, and headache, in F Ron Artest. Even though they lost F Trevor Ariza, to the Rockets, the signing of Artest is a sizable one on defense. Artest can guard the other teams best player at the two, three and sometimes four position. Artest was a better 3-point shooter last year (39.9%-31.9%) and has always been known for being a great defender. Even if the Lakers had lost Odom, they would have still been winners with the Artest signing.
Boston Celtics - The Celtics were already a pretty deep team to begin with, but their depth was put to the test last year when at certain times of the year, F/C Kevin Garnett, F Leon Powe, F Brian Scalabrine and G Tony Allen went down with injuries. Powe just signed a two year contract with the Cavaliers, but the Celtics had the luxury of letting him go after landing his replacement earlier this summer. Boston signed F/C Rasheed Wallace to a three year contract. Wallace had a down year last season (12.0 ppg, his lowest since his rookie season in Washington, 95-96, 10.1 ppg) but now is teamed up with fellow intense low post players in Garnett, Kendrick Perkins to form one of the most intimidating front courts in the NBA. The Celtics also resigned F Glen "Big Baby" Davis to a 2 year contract and former lottery pick F Sheldon Williams. Also, former Indiana Pacers F/G Marquis Daniels has verbally committed to coming to the Celtics via either a sign and trade or a free agent signing.
Detroit Pistons - GM Joe Dumars has completely stripped away the team the won the NBA championship only five short years ago. Things don't look so bleak in Motown, not with the additions of G Ben Gordan and F/C Charlie Villanueva, both whom the Pistons signed immediately after the free agent signing period was initiated. The Pistons also added some more bulk on the front court with the signing of F Chris Wilcox. Detroit did lose some front court help in F Antonio Mcdyess (signed with the Spurs) and back court help in not re-signing G Allen Iverson.
Losers
New York Knicks - This was suppose to be the last summer before the King was coming to town. The Knicks were supposed to be dumping salaries to free up cap room for the summer of 2010 while still adding quality, low-cost pieces to entice Lebron James to come to New York. They have not signed any free agents and have lost two serviceable pieces in F Chris Wilcox (signed with Detroit) and G Quentin Richardson (trade with Memphis). Explain to me why Lebron will want to come to New York besides hanging out with his friend Jay-Z and scoping on his wife?
Chicago Bulls - OK, so you just come off one of the most memorable playoff series ever, you have a ROY in Derrick Rose who looks like he is going to be a star, you made a great trade to get F John Salmons and C Brad Miller, G Ben Gordon looks like a mix between Ray Allen and Allen Iverson and then you sign nobody? In fact you let Gordon walk and F Tim Thomas walk. You flirt with trading for F Carlos Boozer, you think about F/C Amare Stoudemire and at the end of the day you do nothing. Well, I guess Bulls fans will be happen to know that Chicago native, and 2010 free agent to be, Dwayne Wade just bought a house in downtown Chicago. Here's to next summer!
Los Angeles Clippers - Wow, so you won the lottery and got F Blake Griffin. You have a shooting machine in G Eric Gordon, you have a big name in G Baron Davis and the Clippers sign....Tony Brown? That would be assistant coach Tony Brown. The Clippers flirted with Iverson, they flirted with trading Davis back to Golden State but as L.A. is accustomed to doing, they did nothing. This would have been the summer to throw money into the wind, sign a couple of big names. Can you imagine Davis leading the break, Griffin on one side, Iverson on the other side and C Shaquille O'neal trailing (salaries would have matched up for a few players). What could have been. Well at least there will be another good player in the lottery next year Clipper fans.
There were lots of big trades that happened in the NBA this summer, i.e. F/G Vince Carter to Orlando, F/G Hedo Turkoglu to Toronto, F Shawn Marion to Dallas, but teams that really go for it go for it with the free agent market and some teams hit home runs, some teams strike out and some teams never leave the locker room.
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Joe Dumars has always been regarded as a pretty smart guy and I believe has picked up GM or executive of the year once or possibly twice. Though a large chunk of the championship core has gone bye-bye, one of the biggest pieces of that chunk, aka BEN WALLACE, is now back for a 1-year deal after unsuccessful stints with Chicago and Cleveland, and then flirting with retirement. Who knows if they can light that fire again? He was happy and successful there just a few seasons ago... who knows... the Ben Wallace of old could really boost that defensive tenacity the Pistons are usually known for.
ReplyDeleteLOSERS: My I also suggest the Utah Jazz. Not only did we not make it out of the first round this year with the sub-par team we had, now we had to pay through the nose to keep our sub-par team intact for the next few years by dishing out heavy blingage to Paul Millsap (who may end up coming off the bench again) and another contract to Mehmet Okur, who can't play D any better than Boozer. D-Will any Ronnie Brewer are the only bright spots on an otherwise ho-hum roster. Will any team out there trade for Boozer or Kirilenko.... PLEASE!!!!?????
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