Signings and Such (Day 3)

Today's sweet action.

Jordan (Mavs): 4yrs/$80m, Matthews (Mavs): 4yrs/$64m. I'm kinda amazed the Clippers let Jordan get away, thought they would do whatever it took to keep him; they're gonna miss him, solid rocks down low are rare and they let him go. Matthews is an underappreciated scorer, a nice bookend for Parsons. The Mavs' summer is looking a lot better (and I guess the Monta sign-and-trade for Hibbert is off the table now but how about West?). They still need a table-setting PG. (Jameer Nelson? Looks like JJ Barea)

Brewer (Rockets): 3yrs/$23m; Beverley (Rockets): 4yrs/$23m. I thought Brewer had a good chance to get a really good deal somewhere else (same age as Afflalo who just got $8.5/per), guess he liked H-town living. Beverley too probably could've done better than $6m/per. They just made the conference finals (w/out Beverley, Motiejunas, Papanickolau, and Howard, Jones for stretches), guess they like their chances to get back. (The Texas teams are gonna kill each other this year)

Neal (Wizards): 1yr/$2.1m. Neal gettin' Steve Blake money to play 3rd string for the Wizards. I'm not a big Neal fan myself but he's a useful vet I guess.

Harris (Magic): 4 yrs/$64m. I like Harris, not sure he's worth Wesley Matthews money but the Magic gotta spend the money on the players they got. I think its a good signing and over time could be a great deal. Keep the youth movement rolling, let the players play and the Magic'll be fine for the next coupla years.

Derek Williams (Knicks): 2yrs/$10m. Like Thomas Robinson, a much maligned non-star player who has potential to be a fine role player. Not a game-changer but he can be a reliable rotation guy (especially for a crappy East team). NYK is doing a good job of nabbing the low risk/high reward players.

Belinelli (Kings): 3yrs/$19m. (Man, this is why the Kings suck) For the last ten years or so the Kings have done absolutely everything wrong (even drafting Cousins is of dubious value when managed this poorly), they just did a salary dump to get out from under the horrible decisions of the previous years, give away valuable draft options and their young cheap SG to sign...an old expensive SG. So you gave away Stauskus to make room for...Belinelli? What? Who does that? The Kings do that, that's why they're the Kings. (Belinelli just got Munson-ed) I like Belinelli, nice player, would be a better player on a good team but he'll shoot marginally better than Stauskus (and he'll stay way clear of the Cousins and the Karl), he's a pro, he'll suit up, take shots and collect checks like a reliable droog. For the Thunder or Pacers or Spurs, Belinelli could show up and make a difference; for the Kings he'll just look like a basketball player for the next three years. The rest of the new money is rumored to be going to Rondo, Josh Smith and Lou Williams...because the team wasn't combustible enough. Is that viable in the West? I doubt it but they'd be better than they've been in a while.

Rondo (Kings): 1yr/$9.5m. (What a weird looking contract) Rondo it is. (Josh Smith on the way?) Rondo could be just fine with Cousins, Rudy and the gang, but if it goes south, it'll go way way waaaaay south (and Rondo would be retiring this next summer). I'm optimistic, they'll catch people off guard, people will see what an unholy badass Demarcus is, might could sneak into the 8th spot (although Mavs cemented their spot in the top 8 today). Or it turns into a party at Polanski's house. Either way, probably a great year to be the Kings beat writer.

Dudley to Wizards; future 2nd rd pick to Bucks. I thought Dudley was actually a nice veteran off the bench for the Bucks, now he's doing it for the Wizards. The Bucks youth movement is already penciled into the playoffs, they're trying win now with the kids so I guess they think Vasquez is all the vet they need. Wizards'll play him, he'll get some of Pierce's minutes.

Robinson (Nets): 2 yrs (player option)/$2.2m; Larkin (Nets): 2yrs/$3m. Robinson's only problem in the NBA has been expectations. Kings, Rockets, Blazers, Nuggets, Sixers have all passed on this guy in the cheapest part of his career. When I watch him he looks just fine to me, definitely a quality 2nd stringer in this league, maybe a starter and clearly not too expensive. Why is he playing for the minimum on the most disappointing team in all of basketball? This guy couldn't get hired in Sacramento? Is he a total dick in real life or something. I dunno. I get that he's not an all-star talent but its too early to call him a bust; this guy might could last another 15 years in this league. He keeps getting chances because he's pretty good at basketball, I think he'll get paid (Danny Green style) one o' these day. Nets got themselves one of the best bargains of the summer. Larkin was disappointing for the Knicks last year but everything about the Knicks was disappointing last year, can't really evaluate him just yet. The Nets are getting a low risk/high reward 2nd string PG in Larkin.

Allen (Pacers): 3yrs/(undisclosed)$. I'm sure the price is right for the Pacers. Allen can play with Monta, Hill and George, continuity is good thing.

Baynes (Pistons)(couldn't find details). I remember Baynes from last summer's FIBA World Cup than from any of his time with the Spurs. He's got good hands, decent footwork, better offensive player than defensive player. Here he's meant to be a low cost replacement for Monroe. I guess he could work.

Wade (Heat): 1yr/$20m. Next year when the salary cap goes up, they'll be able to comfortably overpay Wade for a coupla more years of wearing a suit on the bench at Heat games. This is the bridge to the next bridge.

Kenyon Martin announces retirement. Every once in a while some old movie or TV star dies and you go, Oh really? I thought that dude died like ten years ago...yeah, this is one of those. Martin had some good years for some good teams but his Hall of Fame chances are not real good.

Robin Lopez (Knicks): 3yrs/$54m. He's tall, Knicks need tall guys, no brainer. NYK will be making it up as they go for the first coupla months but by the spring this might be a nice little squad. Good enough for 8th in the East? In the East? Yeah, sure.

Suns trade Marcus Morris, Granger, Bullock to Pistons for future draft considerations. They dared to split up the Morris twins...Morris will be nice role player for the Pistons. Granger gives some veteran gravitas (or gets waived in the next coupla days). Bullock is..I dunno, I've never seen Bullock be Bullock, hopefully he'll get a chance to play this year. The Suns are just dumping salary, presumably to make a run at Lamarcus Aldridge (though they probably would've been better off taking a run at Aminu). I think they should see if they can pry KJ McDaniels away from the Rockets or see if they can get in on Jamal Crawford.

(An older item but I had forgotten) Grizzlies picked up the team option of Jeff Green. Green's not a bad player but, man, he totally did not fit in with the Grizzlies last year. Surely he's trade bait, right?

(Also) Swear I thought I saw Mo Williams to the Grizzlies, but can't find it now. I guess that didn't happen...?