Well the big domino finally fell into place and the reverberations of that fall are worth noting. The talk from the beginning was always about Kawhi going to the Clippers and in the end the various other possibilities were just illusory. The Lakers weren't able to sell Kawhi on a super team and though the Raptors seem to have been in the running, their failure to pull off a trade bringing Paul George (and Russell Westbrook?) back to Toronto never materialized meaning the Clippers were the only landing spot.
So the Clippers get Kawhi Leonard (4yr/$142m) and Paul George (who still has 3yr/$105m on his deal), while sending out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five 1st round picks: I believe they were Clippers 2022, 2024 and 2026 and Heat 2021 and 2023 picks, as well as the right to swap picks with the Clippers in 2023 and 2025. The Thunder (like the Pelicans) will be dominating the draft for the next few years, though unless the Clippers suffer a catastrophic injury (which is certainly possible, of course) none of those picks will be all that great. Great day for the Clippers! They went from a perennial laughingstock to a team that gets to go up against Lebron and AD for years to come. And it feels like the Clippers are the perfect landing spot now for Demarcus Cousins, if they want to take a chance on that migraine.
Now it seems like Russell Westbrook (who still has 4yr/$170m left on his deal) would be trade bait since the Thunder brought back Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (instead of Landry Shamet) and have yet to deal away Denis Shroeder, making them very heavy on PGs. Where does Westbrook go? Seems to me the Miami Heat, to pair with Jimmy Butler, is the likeliest landing spot. So here's a pointless trade idea: Westbrook to Miami for Ryan Anderson, Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo (*). Anderson would surely get waived and Winslow and Adebayo would get paired with Gilgeous-Alexander, Terence Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo as the new young core to go with their 400 upcoming draft picks. (Another variation of this could be: Westbrook to Houston, Chris Paul to Miami and the Heat youngsters to OKC)
Or how about this: Westbrook to Minnesota for Andrew Wiggins and Robert Covington? Wiggins has been rather disappointing for his price point but I think he's too much maligned considering the guy is going to play a ton of minutes and, yes, he will leave a lot to be desired in terms of production, but having a work horse to pencil in night after night is a great thing for a coach to have. And Covington is an underappreciated perimeter defender on a reasonable contract.
No matter where OKC goes from here, they're still likely trying to trade Steven Adams and possibly Andre Roberson (Lakers?) and Patrick Patterson (Celtics? Sixers?) and Denis Shroeder (Grizzlies?), too.
After missing out on Kawhi, the Lakers signed Danny Green (2yr/$30m), who was apparently waiting to see if Kawhi would return to Toronto. (Congrats to Danny but I fear living alongside Lebron will mean Green will be taking the blame for most every L) And they were able to lure Quinn Cook (2yr/$6m) away from the Warriors and the buzz is that they're going to re-sign Kentavius Caldwell-Pope and JaVale McGee (though I haven't seen any confirmation of those).
Now the Lakers: While I like Cook as much as the next guy, he's a 2nd string PG and this team could still use a reliable vet in the PG spot; now that he's been properly waived by the Hornets, why not take a run at Tony Parker? He's no longer young but I bet he could figure out how to play with Lebron and AD. Otherwise they're looking at Jamal Crawford, right? Or the resurrected Monta Ellis-Amare Stoudemire combo? Any interest in Alex Abrines (he doesn't strike me as a Lebron type of guy)? Of course, I still expect them to be in on Carmelo Anthony, Lance Stephenson, Nene Hilario and Jakim Noah, as well, and I guess Rajon Rondo, too, and, well, they got the money for all those guys now. (Hmmm....feels like Vince Carter is a bridge too far, right? Weird to bring him in just to go on his farewell tour)
This all happened late last night and now that the Kawhi mystery has been solved, there could be a rush of fresh deals in the next coupla days.
Guys still left:
Jabari Parker, Demarcus Cousins, Kelly Oubre, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Trey Lyles, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jonas Jerebko, Jeremy Lin, Ivaca Zubac, Marcin Gortat, Tyson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, Rajon Rondo, Iman Shumpert, Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos, Markieff Morris, Darrell Arthyur, Jared Bayless, Alex Abrines, Lance Thomas, Milos Teodosic, Wesley Johnson, Ben McLemore, Dragan Bender, Justin Holiday, Luc Mbah a Moute, Stanley Johnson, Michael Beasley, Sam Dekker, Justin Patton, Justin Anderson, Jerian Grant, Tyus Jones, Raymond Felton, Amir Johnson, Greg Monroe, Furkan Korkmaz, David Nwaba, Khim Berch. Patrick McCaw.
(*) Yes, I must confess I saw this exact same deal on NBA Reddit last night but I'm confident I would've come up with the same trade myself, so I'm stealing it with only this vague hint of attribution.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Thursday, July 4, 2019
2019-20 NBA Free Agency (Days Three and Four)
Bulls -- Luke Kornet (2yr/?), Ryan Arcidiacano (3yr/$9m)
I like Arcidiacano and this is a reasonable deal for adding depth at the PG position, which is gonna be a dog fight this season for the Bulls. Not sure what they see in Kornet, I've never seen much in him myself.
Celtics -- Brad Wanamaker (1yr/$1.6m), Daniel Theis (2yr/$10m)
Two reasonable deals to bring back some bench depth. Continuity is a good thing.
Clippers -- Rodney McGruder (3yr/$15m)
Very reasonable deal for a guy that was suddenly everyone's favorite player after the trade deadline last year. Reliable depth guy, I suppose the plan is to make him Kawhi's backup.
Jazz -- Jeff Green (1yr/$2.6m), Emmanuel Mudiay (1yr/?)
Another year, another team for Green. He's a reliable vet, the price isn't a burden and he's good for a good game (out of five). I thought Mudiay was pretty good for the Knicks last year, I think he's got a good chance to push Dante Exum to a trade deadline buzz word.
Lakers -- Jared Dudley (1yr/$2.6m)
Lovable guy, so-so player, pretty much exactly what the new look Lakers are looking for. (Seems like Jeff Green would've perfect here, too)
Mavs -- Dorian Finney-Smith (3yr/$12m), Boban Marjanovic (2yr/$7m)
Another raise for another guy from last year's bench--weird moves but if the Mavs take off next year it'll look like a genius strategy. Boban's good for about ten minutes a game (its the attempt to get twenty out of him where bad things begin to happen).
Nets -- Wilson Chandler (1yr/$2.6m)
Vet minimum for a vet who will bring the minimum.
Pacers -- TJ McConnell (2yr/$7m)
I'm telling ya, now: the Sixers are fools for letting McConnell get away. He's gonna be great for the Pacers' 2nd string and this is a bargain price (that the Sixers' easily could've afforded...tsk, tsk).
Pelicans -- Darius Miller (2yr/$14.25)
I figured Darius was on his way to the Lakers, where they're gonna need every low cost body they can find. But good for him for getting rewarded with a nice chunk of change from the new look Pelicans. (Take this with a grain of salt: listen, when Darius has his mind in the game he is as good as anyone in the league at his position--yeah, I said it!)
Pistons -- Markieff Morris (1yr/$3.6m)
The Morris twins are well known weirdos and their games aren't for everyone but I surely thought each of them could've made a lot more money than this or at least caught on with better team than the Pistons (Marcus is still out there, I assume he'll be getting more money?).
Sixers -- James Ennis (2yr/$4.1m), Shake Milton (4yr/?), Raul Neto (1yr/$1.6m)
I like bringing back Ennis, a work horse guy that can be really great for short periods of time (made for the playoffs). I guess they must think a lot of Milton and Neto, considering they could've gotten McConnell for what they're paying out here. Milton was a promising PG in the NCAA, hasn't really caught on yet; and I like Neto as much as the next guy but the Jazz didn't bring him back for their 3rd string PG, so not sure why the Sixers thought more highly of him. Tellin ya: letting go of McConnell will haunt this team.
Warriors -- Glenn Robinson III (2yr/?), Willie Cauley-Stein (?/?)
I'm a big fan of WCS, got a feeling that Draymond will make the most of him. Robinson is a perfectly reasonable bench filler until Klay gets back.
Wolves -- Noah Vonleh (1yr/$2m), Jake Layman (3yr/$11.5m; sign and trade?)
I thought Vonleh was pretty good with the Knicks last year, kinda surprised they didn't give him another two years. I always found Layman intriguing, not sure he's worth this much just yet, though.
I like Arcidiacano and this is a reasonable deal for adding depth at the PG position, which is gonna be a dog fight this season for the Bulls. Not sure what they see in Kornet, I've never seen much in him myself.
Celtics -- Brad Wanamaker (1yr/$1.6m), Daniel Theis (2yr/$10m)
Two reasonable deals to bring back some bench depth. Continuity is a good thing.
Clippers -- Rodney McGruder (3yr/$15m)
Very reasonable deal for a guy that was suddenly everyone's favorite player after the trade deadline last year. Reliable depth guy, I suppose the plan is to make him Kawhi's backup.
Jazz -- Jeff Green (1yr/$2.6m), Emmanuel Mudiay (1yr/?)
Another year, another team for Green. He's a reliable vet, the price isn't a burden and he's good for a good game (out of five). I thought Mudiay was pretty good for the Knicks last year, I think he's got a good chance to push Dante Exum to a trade deadline buzz word.
Lakers -- Jared Dudley (1yr/$2.6m)
Lovable guy, so-so player, pretty much exactly what the new look Lakers are looking for. (Seems like Jeff Green would've perfect here, too)
Mavs -- Dorian Finney-Smith (3yr/$12m), Boban Marjanovic (2yr/$7m)
Another raise for another guy from last year's bench--weird moves but if the Mavs take off next year it'll look like a genius strategy. Boban's good for about ten minutes a game (its the attempt to get twenty out of him where bad things begin to happen).
Nets -- Wilson Chandler (1yr/$2.6m)
Vet minimum for a vet who will bring the minimum.
Pacers -- TJ McConnell (2yr/$7m)
I'm telling ya, now: the Sixers are fools for letting McConnell get away. He's gonna be great for the Pacers' 2nd string and this is a bargain price (that the Sixers' easily could've afforded...tsk, tsk).
Pelicans -- Darius Miller (2yr/$14.25)
I figured Darius was on his way to the Lakers, where they're gonna need every low cost body they can find. But good for him for getting rewarded with a nice chunk of change from the new look Pelicans. (Take this with a grain of salt: listen, when Darius has his mind in the game he is as good as anyone in the league at his position--yeah, I said it!)
Pistons -- Markieff Morris (1yr/$3.6m)
The Morris twins are well known weirdos and their games aren't for everyone but I surely thought each of them could've made a lot more money than this or at least caught on with better team than the Pistons (Marcus is still out there, I assume he'll be getting more money?).
Sixers -- James Ennis (2yr/$4.1m), Shake Milton (4yr/?), Raul Neto (1yr/$1.6m)
I like bringing back Ennis, a work horse guy that can be really great for short periods of time (made for the playoffs). I guess they must think a lot of Milton and Neto, considering they could've gotten McConnell for what they're paying out here. Milton was a promising PG in the NCAA, hasn't really caught on yet; and I like Neto as much as the next guy but the Jazz didn't bring him back for their 3rd string PG, so not sure why the Sixers thought more highly of him. Tellin ya: letting go of McConnell will haunt this team.
Warriors -- Glenn Robinson III (2yr/?), Willie Cauley-Stein (?/?)
I'm a big fan of WCS, got a feeling that Draymond will make the most of him. Robinson is a perfectly reasonable bench filler until Klay gets back.
Wolves -- Noah Vonleh (1yr/$2m), Jake Layman (3yr/$11.5m; sign and trade?)
I thought Vonleh was pretty good with the Knicks last year, kinda surprised they didn't give him another two years. I always found Layman intriguing, not sure he's worth this much just yet, though.
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
2019-20 NBA Free Agency (Day Two)
The final (*) Jimmy Butler trade details:
Heat get: Jimmy Butler (4yr/$140.6m), Meyers Leonard (1yr/$11.2m)
Blazers get: Hassan Whiteside (1yr/$27m)
Clippers get: Mo Harkless (1yr/$11.5m), Heat 2023 1st rd pick (lottery protected, I believe)
Sixers get: Josh Richardson (3yr/$31m)
The Heat get the guy they want (though I don't think Butler gets them into the playoffs); the Blazers get a 1-year rim protector that gives them some defense to make up for losing Aminu and Harkless; the Clippers get a nice rebounder off the bench and another pick to throw on the pile; the Sixers get a solid perimeter player on a good deal (and get something rather than nothing).
I think it's good for the Clippers, not bad for the Sixers, okay for the Blazers, and the Heat get to pretend like they can still lure in stars (maybe this pays off down the road but I don't really see the short term upside of this move).
Blazers -- Anthony Tolliver (1yr/$2.6m)
Nice vet off the bench. Can handle the ball a little, can shoot a little, very reasonable deal. Good move.
Bucks -- Wesley Matthews (?/?)
Not sure what this deal is worth but I like Matthews as a reliable wing defender off the bench for a good time looking to go long in the post-season. Depending on the money, I'd say it's a good deal.
Bulls -- Tomas Satoransky (3yrs/$30m)
I like Satoransky and this is a good move to bring newly drafted Coby White along. Good move for the Bulls.
Celtics -- Enes Kanter (2yrs/$10m)
I'm a longtime resident of Kanter island and I think the Celtics are a good fit for him: surround him with a bunch of scorers and he'll do just fine. Good get for the Celtics--I thought he'd be wanting a big deal than this.
Clippers -- Patrick Beverley (3yrs/$40)
Hmmmm....Beverley is one of the guys everyone was gaga over (seems like he would've been a better addition for the Nets than Deandre Jordan) and I get it. But I can't help thinking that the Clippers over paid here, especially if they don't get Kawhi! If Kawhi goes to the Lakers then PatBev becomes a punchline right away and that's a tough way to go. Look, I like Beverley and I'm okay with him getting this contract but it seems like it should've come from someone other than the Clippers. Not a bad move, I'm just saying it has the potential to look not so good.
Kings -- Cory Joseph (3yrs/$37m), Richaun Holmes (2yrs/$10m)
Two more reasonable, reliable vets for the Kings bench. Good deal for Holmes, feels a little rich for Joseph. (These guys also double as trade bait if the West becomes too much for Sacramento)
Knicks -- Wayne Ellington (2yrs/$16m), Elfrid Peyton (2yrs/$16m)
Two more reliable vets for the Knicks to make up for not getting a stud. Look, I know Knicks fans are bummed they didn't get a big star but I kinda like the makeup of this team for the next coupla years--and I think they can even sneak a playoff spot next year (are the Pistons wildly better than this team? Or the Magic?). And as for the criticism that they should be in the mode of keeping cap space and absorbing big contracts for draft picks, I understand that strategy, but these signings give them a bunch of okay guys on okay contracts and can be very attractive at the next coupla trade deadlines, so they're still capable of being active in that way anyway while still putting a not-awful team on the floor. If all the youngsters have good years and each of these signings have nice years, they'll be an okay team for the next two years. So what exactly is the disappointment? Did you think they were getting a big star or two? Why? And, yes, they should probably be piling up draft picks but they'll always see themselves as a free agent destination. Are they delusional? Well, yeah, but let's be honest: the Knicks are the Chicago Cubs of the NBA because the box office and TV ratings and chatter will always be there whether they're any good or not. I actually kinda like their moves so far but the fans are happy to be unhappy and that's a little sad for these new players.
Lakers -- Troy Daniels (1yr/$2.1m; two-way contract?), Zach Norvell Jr (two-way contract)
Hurray! They no longer need Kawhi!
Magic -- Michael Carter-Williams (1yr/?)
Meh.
Mavs -- Maxi Kleber (4yr/$35m), JJ Barea (1yr/$2.5m), Seth Curry (4yr/$32m)
Weird that a team that came nowhere near the playoffs is lavishly giving raises to all their current players. Kleber is a nice fit, good move. They brought back Seth Curry and a pretty good deal, I like it. And let's be clear: Barea blew out his Achilles', so this is a gorgeously generous going-away present--classy fuckin' move by the Mavs, I hope everyone notices.
Pacers -- Edmond Sumner (3yr/?)
Not sure about the money but Sumner is a young guy they like, good move to pay him.
Pistons -- Tim Frazier (1yr/$2m)
Frazier at $2m is a very reasonable 3rd string PG. Not a bad move.
Rockets -- Austin Rivers (2yr/$4.3m)
Kinda thought Rivers could make more money than this. I like it for the Rockets.
Sixers -- Kyle O'Quinn (1yr/$2m)
Great deal for a nice reliable big man off the bench.
Suns -- Frank Kaminsky (2yr/$10m)
Not sure what Frank the Tank is bringing to the Suns, not a crushingly bad deal but I don't really see the upside.
Thunder -- Alec Burks (?/?)
I like Burks and coming off the bench (I think I'd like him better without Westbrook on the floor) and depending on the money, this is a good deal for OKC.
Warriors -- Kevon Looney (3yr/$15m)
Looney played hurt in the Finals, gotta love his grit at a time when his teammates were dropping like flies. Very good deal for the Warriors.
Wizards -- Ish Smith (2yr/$12m), Isaish Thomas (1yr/min?)
Two backup PG's instead of just signing Satoransky? Well, okay. I always liked Ish Smith (the poor man's John Wall) and if IT has anything left, Washington will be a spot for him to give it a try. These are interesting, relatively low risk moves.
Wolves -- Jordan Bell (1yr/$1.6m)
Wolves have long been a landing spot for GSW's cast-offs. This just keeps the trend alive. Money is very reasonable, so can't say it's a bad deal.
(*) The conspiracy theory that this is all a roundabout way to get Butler to the Rockets is still floating out there and given the multi-team nature of the trade, I suppose it is still possible.
Heat get: Jimmy Butler (4yr/$140.6m), Meyers Leonard (1yr/$11.2m)
Blazers get: Hassan Whiteside (1yr/$27m)
Clippers get: Mo Harkless (1yr/$11.5m), Heat 2023 1st rd pick (lottery protected, I believe)
Sixers get: Josh Richardson (3yr/$31m)
The Heat get the guy they want (though I don't think Butler gets them into the playoffs); the Blazers get a 1-year rim protector that gives them some defense to make up for losing Aminu and Harkless; the Clippers get a nice rebounder off the bench and another pick to throw on the pile; the Sixers get a solid perimeter player on a good deal (and get something rather than nothing).
I think it's good for the Clippers, not bad for the Sixers, okay for the Blazers, and the Heat get to pretend like they can still lure in stars (maybe this pays off down the road but I don't really see the short term upside of this move).
Blazers -- Anthony Tolliver (1yr/$2.6m)
Nice vet off the bench. Can handle the ball a little, can shoot a little, very reasonable deal. Good move.
Bucks -- Wesley Matthews (?/?)
Not sure what this deal is worth but I like Matthews as a reliable wing defender off the bench for a good time looking to go long in the post-season. Depending on the money, I'd say it's a good deal.
Bulls -- Tomas Satoransky (3yrs/$30m)
I like Satoransky and this is a good move to bring newly drafted Coby White along. Good move for the Bulls.
Celtics -- Enes Kanter (2yrs/$10m)
I'm a longtime resident of Kanter island and I think the Celtics are a good fit for him: surround him with a bunch of scorers and he'll do just fine. Good get for the Celtics--I thought he'd be wanting a big deal than this.
Clippers -- Patrick Beverley (3yrs/$40)
Hmmmm....Beverley is one of the guys everyone was gaga over (seems like he would've been a better addition for the Nets than Deandre Jordan) and I get it. But I can't help thinking that the Clippers over paid here, especially if they don't get Kawhi! If Kawhi goes to the Lakers then PatBev becomes a punchline right away and that's a tough way to go. Look, I like Beverley and I'm okay with him getting this contract but it seems like it should've come from someone other than the Clippers. Not a bad move, I'm just saying it has the potential to look not so good.
Kings -- Cory Joseph (3yrs/$37m), Richaun Holmes (2yrs/$10m)
Two more reasonable, reliable vets for the Kings bench. Good deal for Holmes, feels a little rich for Joseph. (These guys also double as trade bait if the West becomes too much for Sacramento)
Knicks -- Wayne Ellington (2yrs/$16m), Elfrid Peyton (2yrs/$16m)
Two more reliable vets for the Knicks to make up for not getting a stud. Look, I know Knicks fans are bummed they didn't get a big star but I kinda like the makeup of this team for the next coupla years--and I think they can even sneak a playoff spot next year (are the Pistons wildly better than this team? Or the Magic?). And as for the criticism that they should be in the mode of keeping cap space and absorbing big contracts for draft picks, I understand that strategy, but these signings give them a bunch of okay guys on okay contracts and can be very attractive at the next coupla trade deadlines, so they're still capable of being active in that way anyway while still putting a not-awful team on the floor. If all the youngsters have good years and each of these signings have nice years, they'll be an okay team for the next two years. So what exactly is the disappointment? Did you think they were getting a big star or two? Why? And, yes, they should probably be piling up draft picks but they'll always see themselves as a free agent destination. Are they delusional? Well, yeah, but let's be honest: the Knicks are the Chicago Cubs of the NBA because the box office and TV ratings and chatter will always be there whether they're any good or not. I actually kinda like their moves so far but the fans are happy to be unhappy and that's a little sad for these new players.
Lakers -- Troy Daniels (1yr/$2.1m; two-way contract?), Zach Norvell Jr (two-way contract)
Hurray! They no longer need Kawhi!
Magic -- Michael Carter-Williams (1yr/?)
Meh.
Mavs -- Maxi Kleber (4yr/$35m), JJ Barea (1yr/$2.5m), Seth Curry (4yr/$32m)
Weird that a team that came nowhere near the playoffs is lavishly giving raises to all their current players. Kleber is a nice fit, good move. They brought back Seth Curry and a pretty good deal, I like it. And let's be clear: Barea blew out his Achilles', so this is a gorgeously generous going-away present--classy fuckin' move by the Mavs, I hope everyone notices.
Pacers -- Edmond Sumner (3yr/?)
Not sure about the money but Sumner is a young guy they like, good move to pay him.
Pistons -- Tim Frazier (1yr/$2m)
Frazier at $2m is a very reasonable 3rd string PG. Not a bad move.
Rockets -- Austin Rivers (2yr/$4.3m)
Kinda thought Rivers could make more money than this. I like it for the Rockets.
Sixers -- Kyle O'Quinn (1yr/$2m)
Great deal for a nice reliable big man off the bench.
Suns -- Frank Kaminsky (2yr/$10m)
Not sure what Frank the Tank is bringing to the Suns, not a crushingly bad deal but I don't really see the upside.
Thunder -- Alec Burks (?/?)
I like Burks and coming off the bench (I think I'd like him better without Westbrook on the floor) and depending on the money, this is a good deal for OKC.
Warriors -- Kevon Looney (3yr/$15m)
Looney played hurt in the Finals, gotta love his grit at a time when his teammates were dropping like flies. Very good deal for the Warriors.
Wizards -- Ish Smith (2yr/$12m), Isaish Thomas (1yr/min?)
Two backup PG's instead of just signing Satoransky? Well, okay. I always liked Ish Smith (the poor man's John Wall) and if IT has anything left, Washington will be a spot for him to give it a try. These are interesting, relatively low risk moves.
Wolves -- Jordan Bell (1yr/$1.6m)
Wolves have long been a landing spot for GSW's cast-offs. This just keeps the trend alive. Money is very reasonable, so can't say it's a bad deal.
(*) The conspiracy theory that this is all a roundabout way to get Butler to the Rockets is still floating out there and given the multi-team nature of the trade, I suppose it is still possible.
Monday, July 1, 2019
2019-20 NBA Free Agency (Day One)
Blazers: Damian Lillard (extension of 4yrs/$196m), Rodney Hood (2yrs/$16m), Mario Hezonja (1yr/min)
Listen: we have this notion that the rich bosses don't want to share their money with workers but that is not the case. When a guy like Lillard, a guy that gets the job done, comes along, the bosses can't wait to give that guy more money--don't you think the Pelicans would've gladly given Anthony Davis more money? Great move for the Blazers, the kind of move that doesn't matter if it bites them in the long run--they've already gotten enough out of Lillard to make this deal work. This town belongs to Dame and the two are a good match.
I kinda thought the Pelicans would make a run at Hood just to fill out their roster with Blue Devils (and, yes, they got Reddick instead, but I thought they'd go for both!). Hood is a nice player and this is a reasonable deal for the Blazers. Good move.
Hezonja is worth another look, especially in a rotation that already has strong guard play. Not expensive, worth a try, good move.
Bucks: Brook Lopez (4yrs/$52m), Khris Middleton (5yrs/$178m), George Hill (3yrs/$29m), Robin Lopez (?/?)
Okay, they lost Brogdon but brought back Lopez, Middleton and Hill (and got an extra Lopez for their troubles), good move? Hard to tell. Here's the deal with the Bucks: retaining all these guys doesn't make them better, but then again losing them doesn't make them better either. Now they're running back the same squad (minus Brogdon) at a wildly higher price point. This team is all about Giannis, so it doesn't really matter, I guess, but this was gonna be a tough night for the Bucks no matter what happened. The Bucks are still looking good for next season and that's what's important, I reckon, but man they just sent out a bunch of money for a team that's not quite as good as the one that lost last year and that hurts.
Bulls: Thaddeus Young (3yrs/$41m)
Sure, why not?
Celtics: Kemba Walker (4yrs/$141m)
Great pick up! I think Kemba is the perfect palette cleanser after the tumultuous Kyrie period. Kemba has a similar game but just seems like a much nicer guy and has more to play for. Seems to me that Tatum, Hayward, Brown and even Williams are set to be better and I think Kemba brings a sunny disposition on the upswing rather than Kyrie's gloomy selfishness. Great move by the Celtics (tough to lose Horford, though).
Grizzlies: Jonas Valenciunas (3yrs/$45m), traded for Andre Iguodala
I always like Valenciunas, I think he fits the Grizz and this is a reasonable contract for the team. Good move. Iguodala, too, is a Grizz kinda guy (though I'm guessing he'll get moved at the trade deadline).
Heat: sign and trade for Jimmy Butler (4yrs/$142m)
(Hmmmm....still figuring out who went out the door to make room for Jimmy Butler, making me wonder if perhaps this doesn't get voided and/or re-worked--avs are holding out for Justise Winslow?)
Does this make the Heat any better? I dunno, maybe. But we won't find out til next summer's free agent moves anyway.
Hornets: Terry Rozier (3yrs/$58m)
*ugh* Hornets are in a bad way and this deal doesn't do anything to decrease that feeling. Rozier is getting paid, good for him, but I don't otherwise see how this positively impacts his career.
Jazz: Bojan Bogdanovic (4yrs/$73m), Ed Davis (2yrs/$10m), (traded away Derrick Favors)
Bogdanovic started in the NBA as a good shooter but not otherwise noteworthy to a dude that was bodying up Lebron in the playoffs 2 years ago. That's a transformation! If he keeps busting his ass, then this is a great pickup for the Jazz. He gives them a perimeter shooter that plays smart and hard.
I always liked Ed Davis and since Favors is now on the way out, they'll need his rebounding down low. Very good deal for the Jazz.
Kings: Trevor Ariza (2yrs/$25m), Dwayne Dedmon (3yrs/$41m), Harrison Barnes (4yrs/$85m)
I loved the Barnes trade last season and re-upping him was the top priority and I like that they got it done. And to that end bringing in Ariza and Dedmon to help Barnes be the 'adults' to watch over the kids strikes me as good moves, too. (Though Al Horford would've been better) I like where the Kings stand in the West, this team is getting better and these moves push them in the right direction.
Knicks: Julius Randle (3yrs/$63m), Taj Gibson (2yrs/$20m), Bobby Portis (2yrs/$31m)
They wanted Zion...and they got Julius Randle. I like Randle, I think he's actually had a pretty good career so far but his presence did not work for Lebron or for Zion so he keeps getting moved--which should give the Knicks fans hope that someone else will soon push him out again (remember Steve DeBerg? Randle is having a DeBerg-ish career so far).
Portis still has upside but for the Knicks I can't help thinking he does nothing for them and they do nothing for him.
I like Taj, thought he'd fit better on a veteran team that's playing for something instead of a young team going nowhere. The fact that he's not getting paid more or at least on a better squad (where were the Celtics?) is kind of a shame.
I like all three of these guys but they're not enough to make any difference in the East. And the fact that these guys are walking into a situation where everyone has impossible expectations and they have virtually no chance of the post-season just sets them up for failure and that's disappointing. The Knicks gonna Knick.
Magic: Terrence Ross (4yrs/$54m), Al-Farouq Aminu (3yrs/$29m), Nikola Vucevic (4yrs/$100m)
The Magic gave raises to two important vets that got them into the playoffs last year and added another reliable defensive presence on a reasonable deal in Aminu. This doesn't really make them better but at least they're smart moves. It's all about Fultz now...
Mavs: Kristaps Porzingis (5yrs/$158m), Dwight Powell (3yrs/$33m)
Okay, Mavs ready to roll. (Kinda bummed the Dragic trade didn't work out, I think he'd be a great addition off the bench; that trade is still up in the air, we'll see if the Mavs can put the screws to Pat Riley one more time)
Nets: Kevin Durant (4yrs/$164m), Kyrie Irving (4yrs/$141m), Garret Temple (2yrs/$10m), Deandre Jordan (?/?)
The big moves of the night...but do the actually make the Nets better next season? I kinda doubt it. They had to cast off D'Angelo Russell, Ed Davis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Demarre Caroll and Jared Dudley--all guys who played significant minutes for a playoff team last year--which leaves a bunch of nice youngsters to go with Kyrie. Durant won't play next season, Deandre will be backing up Jarrett Allen and Temple will be backing up Dinwiddie, so for next season they basically gutted their roster...for Kyrie and nothing else. Hmmmmm, that doesn't seem nearly as sexy as ya thought, right? There's still time to make moves but I don't see the Nets as a playoff team next year. So this is all about 2021 and does anyone think Kyrie is gonna be cool with sucking til then? (Yikes! I'm not at all sure the Nets made the right moves here!)
Nuggets: exercised team option on Paul Millsap (1yr/$30m), Jamal Murray (extension of 5yrs/$170m)
Kinda surprise but I like it! This actually sets them up nicely to have money to spend next summer and would not have given them much to spend this year anyway, so after a career of getting underpaid because the timing just wasn't right, Millsap is gonna get a fat paycheck because of a weird glitch. Good for him! And good for the Nuggets. And I love extending Murray, this is his team, pay him and let him lead. Hey, man, standing pat looks pretty good for them in the West.
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon (4yrs/$85m; sign and trade?), Jeremy Lamb (3yrs/$31.5m)
They lost Bogdanovic but Brogdon is a smart young player and Lamb has his moments (offensively, anyway) and I think they'll mesh well with Oladipo. I'm not sure these are home run moves but they're still at the plate.
Pelicans: JJ Reddick (2yrs/$26m), Niccolo Melli (2yrs/$8m), (traded for Derrick Favors)
Another day, another Dukie. Reddick gives them a hungry, reliable vet to shepherd the youngsters and adding Favors is a good move for developing the youth, too. (You know, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a hard-working defensive specialist that might fit nicely in this roster, too) Don't know Melli but he scored a ton in Europe, he probably doesn't suck. The Pelicans are all about the youth movement so its hard to project them as a playoff team next season but they'll be fun to watch and they're moving in the right direction.
Pistons: Derrick Rose (2yrs/$15m)
I'm fine with this but this just means it'll be two more years before D-Rose gets to the 3-on-3 league, which is where his best game lies.
Rockets: Gerald Green (1yr/?), Danuel House (3yrs/$11.1m)
*Yawn*
Sixers: Tobias Harris (5yrs/$180m), Mike Scott (2yrs/$9.8m), Al Horford (4yrs/$109m), Josh Richardson (trade with Heat)
Horford is quite possibly the best move by any team all night long, luring him away from the Celtics is a dagger to one of their closest rivals. Great get!
Watching the Sixers during the regular season I really liked the Harris-Simmons combo but once they got into the playoffs it was the Butler-Embiid that brought them success, so I find it a little strange that they ended up shuttling out Butler and giving Harris a shit ton of money. But I guess adding Richardson gives them so defensive toughness and Horford will keep the offense moving, so it should still work.
I like Mike Scott, thought he fit this team pretty good actually.
(If they let TJ McConnell go, they're gonna regret it!)
Spurs: Rudy Gay (2yrs/$32m), Demarre Carroll (2yrs/$13m)
Gay is an established Popovic soldier and Carroll looks like he could be, too. I'm okay with these moves.
Suns: Ricky Rubio (3yrs/$51m)
The first real surprise of the night--hadn't heard anyone pairing Rubio and Phoenix. I dunno, I guess it works, Rubio will keep the ball moving, he won't take away shots from anyone, he could be a great foil for Josh Jackson, he's a decent defender and he's an adult. I like the move, I like Rubio. The Suns still suck but, you know, this is okay.
Thunder: Nerlens Noel (?/?--uhhh, maybe not), Mike Muscala (?/?)
Seemed like Nerlens was perfect for the new-look Lakers, but Twitter says OKC is keeping him. But then Twitter said they weren't. And since Twitter never lies, I'm in a quandary.
Mike Muscala seems like a nice guy.
Warriors: Klay Thompson (5yrs/$190m), D'Angelo Russell (4yrs/$117m; sign and trade)
Well the Warriors say goodbye to Durant and hello to an exciting young PG to fill in while Klay is out. Considering everyone thought KD was leaving anyway, I'd say this is a great night for the Warriors! Without Klay (and Durant) the Warriors will obviously take a step back next year but not as far back as we thought. With Steph, Draymond and Iguodala, I'd say they're still in the mix--we'll see if those Lakers are still there in the post-season and what the Rockets do to get better (I haven't seen any upgrades yet).
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (3yrs/$25m)
Oh, man, the Wizards are built to suck for years to come (at least the Hornets will have cap space next summer). I don't see how this changes anything for them.
Still out there:
Kawhi Leonard, Demarcus Cousins, Kelly Oubre, Willie Cauley-Stein, Patrick Beverley, Jabari Parker, Enes Kanter, Wesley Matthews, Austin Rivers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Iman Shumpert, Alec Burks, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Rajon Rondo, the Morris twins, Corey Joseph, Wayne Ellington, Dragan Bender, Justin Holiday, Kyle O'Quinn, Emmanual Mudiay, Frank Kaminsky, Stanley Johnson, Trey Lyles, Tomas Satoransky, Sam Dekker, Seth Curry, Elfrid Peyton, Delon Wright, Reggie Bullock, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyus Jones, Amir Johnson, Raymond Felton, Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford, Jonas Jerebko, Greg Monroe, Kevon Looney, TJ McConnell, Richaun Holmes, Deyonta Davis, Ivaca Zubac, Rodney McGruder, David Nwaba, Jordan Bell, Khem Birch, among others.
Anyone still want: Kenneth Faried, Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Marcin Gortat, Zach Randolph, Dwight Howard, Anthony Tolliver, Ben McLemore, Ish Smith, Lance Stephenson, Thabo Sefalosha, Kosta Koufos, Marquesse Chris, Justin Patton, Jeff Green, Luol Deng, JaVale McGee?
Listen: we have this notion that the rich bosses don't want to share their money with workers but that is not the case. When a guy like Lillard, a guy that gets the job done, comes along, the bosses can't wait to give that guy more money--don't you think the Pelicans would've gladly given Anthony Davis more money? Great move for the Blazers, the kind of move that doesn't matter if it bites them in the long run--they've already gotten enough out of Lillard to make this deal work. This town belongs to Dame and the two are a good match.
I kinda thought the Pelicans would make a run at Hood just to fill out their roster with Blue Devils (and, yes, they got Reddick instead, but I thought they'd go for both!). Hood is a nice player and this is a reasonable deal for the Blazers. Good move.
Hezonja is worth another look, especially in a rotation that already has strong guard play. Not expensive, worth a try, good move.
Bucks: Brook Lopez (4yrs/$52m), Khris Middleton (5yrs/$178m), George Hill (3yrs/$29m), Robin Lopez (?/?)
Okay, they lost Brogdon but brought back Lopez, Middleton and Hill (and got an extra Lopez for their troubles), good move? Hard to tell. Here's the deal with the Bucks: retaining all these guys doesn't make them better, but then again losing them doesn't make them better either. Now they're running back the same squad (minus Brogdon) at a wildly higher price point. This team is all about Giannis, so it doesn't really matter, I guess, but this was gonna be a tough night for the Bucks no matter what happened. The Bucks are still looking good for next season and that's what's important, I reckon, but man they just sent out a bunch of money for a team that's not quite as good as the one that lost last year and that hurts.
Bulls: Thaddeus Young (3yrs/$41m)
Sure, why not?
Celtics: Kemba Walker (4yrs/$141m)
Great pick up! I think Kemba is the perfect palette cleanser after the tumultuous Kyrie period. Kemba has a similar game but just seems like a much nicer guy and has more to play for. Seems to me that Tatum, Hayward, Brown and even Williams are set to be better and I think Kemba brings a sunny disposition on the upswing rather than Kyrie's gloomy selfishness. Great move by the Celtics (tough to lose Horford, though).
Grizzlies: Jonas Valenciunas (3yrs/$45m), traded for Andre Iguodala
I always like Valenciunas, I think he fits the Grizz and this is a reasonable contract for the team. Good move. Iguodala, too, is a Grizz kinda guy (though I'm guessing he'll get moved at the trade deadline).
Heat: sign and trade for Jimmy Butler (4yrs/$142m)
(Hmmmm....still figuring out who went out the door to make room for Jimmy Butler, making me wonder if perhaps this doesn't get voided and/or re-worked--avs are holding out for Justise Winslow?)
Does this make the Heat any better? I dunno, maybe. But we won't find out til next summer's free agent moves anyway.
Hornets: Terry Rozier (3yrs/$58m)
*ugh* Hornets are in a bad way and this deal doesn't do anything to decrease that feeling. Rozier is getting paid, good for him, but I don't otherwise see how this positively impacts his career.
Jazz: Bojan Bogdanovic (4yrs/$73m), Ed Davis (2yrs/$10m), (traded away Derrick Favors)
Bogdanovic started in the NBA as a good shooter but not otherwise noteworthy to a dude that was bodying up Lebron in the playoffs 2 years ago. That's a transformation! If he keeps busting his ass, then this is a great pickup for the Jazz. He gives them a perimeter shooter that plays smart and hard.
I always liked Ed Davis and since Favors is now on the way out, they'll need his rebounding down low. Very good deal for the Jazz.
Kings: Trevor Ariza (2yrs/$25m), Dwayne Dedmon (3yrs/$41m), Harrison Barnes (4yrs/$85m)
I loved the Barnes trade last season and re-upping him was the top priority and I like that they got it done. And to that end bringing in Ariza and Dedmon to help Barnes be the 'adults' to watch over the kids strikes me as good moves, too. (Though Al Horford would've been better) I like where the Kings stand in the West, this team is getting better and these moves push them in the right direction.
Knicks: Julius Randle (3yrs/$63m), Taj Gibson (2yrs/$20m), Bobby Portis (2yrs/$31m)
They wanted Zion...and they got Julius Randle. I like Randle, I think he's actually had a pretty good career so far but his presence did not work for Lebron or for Zion so he keeps getting moved--which should give the Knicks fans hope that someone else will soon push him out again (remember Steve DeBerg? Randle is having a DeBerg-ish career so far).
Portis still has upside but for the Knicks I can't help thinking he does nothing for them and they do nothing for him.
I like Taj, thought he'd fit better on a veteran team that's playing for something instead of a young team going nowhere. The fact that he's not getting paid more or at least on a better squad (where were the Celtics?) is kind of a shame.
I like all three of these guys but they're not enough to make any difference in the East. And the fact that these guys are walking into a situation where everyone has impossible expectations and they have virtually no chance of the post-season just sets them up for failure and that's disappointing. The Knicks gonna Knick.
Magic: Terrence Ross (4yrs/$54m), Al-Farouq Aminu (3yrs/$29m), Nikola Vucevic (4yrs/$100m)
The Magic gave raises to two important vets that got them into the playoffs last year and added another reliable defensive presence on a reasonable deal in Aminu. This doesn't really make them better but at least they're smart moves. It's all about Fultz now...
Mavs: Kristaps Porzingis (5yrs/$158m), Dwight Powell (3yrs/$33m)
Okay, Mavs ready to roll. (Kinda bummed the Dragic trade didn't work out, I think he'd be a great addition off the bench; that trade is still up in the air, we'll see if the Mavs can put the screws to Pat Riley one more time)
Nets: Kevin Durant (4yrs/$164m), Kyrie Irving (4yrs/$141m), Garret Temple (2yrs/$10m), Deandre Jordan (?/?)
The big moves of the night...but do the actually make the Nets better next season? I kinda doubt it. They had to cast off D'Angelo Russell, Ed Davis, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Demarre Caroll and Jared Dudley--all guys who played significant minutes for a playoff team last year--which leaves a bunch of nice youngsters to go with Kyrie. Durant won't play next season, Deandre will be backing up Jarrett Allen and Temple will be backing up Dinwiddie, so for next season they basically gutted their roster...for Kyrie and nothing else. Hmmmmm, that doesn't seem nearly as sexy as ya thought, right? There's still time to make moves but I don't see the Nets as a playoff team next year. So this is all about 2021 and does anyone think Kyrie is gonna be cool with sucking til then? (Yikes! I'm not at all sure the Nets made the right moves here!)
Nuggets: exercised team option on Paul Millsap (1yr/$30m), Jamal Murray (extension of 5yrs/$170m)
Kinda surprise but I like it! This actually sets them up nicely to have money to spend next summer and would not have given them much to spend this year anyway, so after a career of getting underpaid because the timing just wasn't right, Millsap is gonna get a fat paycheck because of a weird glitch. Good for him! And good for the Nuggets. And I love extending Murray, this is his team, pay him and let him lead. Hey, man, standing pat looks pretty good for them in the West.
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon (4yrs/$85m; sign and trade?), Jeremy Lamb (3yrs/$31.5m)
They lost Bogdanovic but Brogdon is a smart young player and Lamb has his moments (offensively, anyway) and I think they'll mesh well with Oladipo. I'm not sure these are home run moves but they're still at the plate.
Pelicans: JJ Reddick (2yrs/$26m), Niccolo Melli (2yrs/$8m), (traded for Derrick Favors)
Another day, another Dukie. Reddick gives them a hungry, reliable vet to shepherd the youngsters and adding Favors is a good move for developing the youth, too. (You know, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a hard-working defensive specialist that might fit nicely in this roster, too) Don't know Melli but he scored a ton in Europe, he probably doesn't suck. The Pelicans are all about the youth movement so its hard to project them as a playoff team next season but they'll be fun to watch and they're moving in the right direction.
Pistons: Derrick Rose (2yrs/$15m)
I'm fine with this but this just means it'll be two more years before D-Rose gets to the 3-on-3 league, which is where his best game lies.
Rockets: Gerald Green (1yr/?), Danuel House (3yrs/$11.1m)
*Yawn*
Sixers: Tobias Harris (5yrs/$180m), Mike Scott (2yrs/$9.8m), Al Horford (4yrs/$109m), Josh Richardson (trade with Heat)
Horford is quite possibly the best move by any team all night long, luring him away from the Celtics is a dagger to one of their closest rivals. Great get!
Watching the Sixers during the regular season I really liked the Harris-Simmons combo but once they got into the playoffs it was the Butler-Embiid that brought them success, so I find it a little strange that they ended up shuttling out Butler and giving Harris a shit ton of money. But I guess adding Richardson gives them so defensive toughness and Horford will keep the offense moving, so it should still work.
I like Mike Scott, thought he fit this team pretty good actually.
(If they let TJ McConnell go, they're gonna regret it!)
Spurs: Rudy Gay (2yrs/$32m), Demarre Carroll (2yrs/$13m)
Gay is an established Popovic soldier and Carroll looks like he could be, too. I'm okay with these moves.
Suns: Ricky Rubio (3yrs/$51m)
The first real surprise of the night--hadn't heard anyone pairing Rubio and Phoenix. I dunno, I guess it works, Rubio will keep the ball moving, he won't take away shots from anyone, he could be a great foil for Josh Jackson, he's a decent defender and he's an adult. I like the move, I like Rubio. The Suns still suck but, you know, this is okay.
Thunder: Nerlens Noel (?/?--uhhh, maybe not), Mike Muscala (?/?)
Seemed like Nerlens was perfect for the new-look Lakers, but Twitter says OKC is keeping him. But then Twitter said they weren't. And since Twitter never lies, I'm in a quandary.
Mike Muscala seems like a nice guy.
Warriors: Klay Thompson (5yrs/$190m), D'Angelo Russell (4yrs/$117m; sign and trade)
Well the Warriors say goodbye to Durant and hello to an exciting young PG to fill in while Klay is out. Considering everyone thought KD was leaving anyway, I'd say this is a great night for the Warriors! Without Klay (and Durant) the Warriors will obviously take a step back next year but not as far back as we thought. With Steph, Draymond and Iguodala, I'd say they're still in the mix--we'll see if those Lakers are still there in the post-season and what the Rockets do to get better (I haven't seen any upgrades yet).
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (3yrs/$25m)
Oh, man, the Wizards are built to suck for years to come (at least the Hornets will have cap space next summer). I don't see how this changes anything for them.
Still out there:
Kawhi Leonard, Demarcus Cousins, Kelly Oubre, Willie Cauley-Stein, Patrick Beverley, Jabari Parker, Enes Kanter, Wesley Matthews, Austin Rivers, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Iman Shumpert, Alec Burks, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Rajon Rondo, the Morris twins, Corey Joseph, Wayne Ellington, Dragan Bender, Justin Holiday, Kyle O'Quinn, Emmanual Mudiay, Frank Kaminsky, Stanley Johnson, Trey Lyles, Tomas Satoransky, Sam Dekker, Seth Curry, Elfrid Peyton, Delon Wright, Reggie Bullock, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyus Jones, Amir Johnson, Raymond Felton, Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford, Jonas Jerebko, Greg Monroe, Kevon Looney, TJ McConnell, Richaun Holmes, Deyonta Davis, Ivaca Zubac, Rodney McGruder, David Nwaba, Jordan Bell, Khem Birch, among others.
Anyone still want: Kenneth Faried, Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Marcin Gortat, Zach Randolph, Dwight Howard, Anthony Tolliver, Ben McLemore, Ish Smith, Lance Stephenson, Thabo Sefalosha, Kosta Koufos, Marquesse Chris, Justin Patton, Jeff Green, Luol Deng, JaVale McGee?
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