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2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - Dec. 9

Los Angeles Clippers sign SF Caron Butler to 3-year, $24 million contract
It was no secret that the Clippers were looking for an upgrade at small forward, and they found their man in Butler. He ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee and is coming off major surgery, but that happened nearly a year ago, so he should be back to full strength. Butler will provide Los Angeles with another perimeter to scorer to complement Eric Gordon on the wing and Blake Griffin inside.

Miami Heat sign SF Shane Battier
This is a huge addition for a Miami team needing to upgrade their talent off the bench and find players willing to succeed in their complementary roles to LeBron, Wade and Bosh. Battier is the consummate glue guy and will provide the Heat with a defender, winner, three-point shooter and terrific locker-room presence. Miami's goal is to win the NBA Title this season and signing Battier takes them one step closer to accomplishing that feat.

Detroit Pistons re-sign SF Tayshaun Prince to 4-year, $27 million contract
I thought for sure Prince was going to move on in his career and not want to return to a Pistons team that seems to be in rebuilding mode. Financially, this was probably the best deal he was going to get as other teams were reportedly offering him a shorter deal. Prince must be happy in Detroit; otherwise he wouldn't have signed this deal rather than taking less money from a contender.

Detroit Pistons re-sign F Jonas Jerebko to 4-year, $16 million contract
Jerebko missed all of last season with injury but showed enough in his rookie season to warrant this type of contract extension. He is an energy player who can do multiple things on the floor and is worth the investment for Detroit.

Phoenix Suns sign SG Shannon Brown to 1-year, $3.5 million contract
The Suns were looking for a shooting guard since declining the option on Vince Carter's contract and found a cheap, 1-year deal with Brown. Brown will compete for playing time with Josh Childress and Mickael Pietrus and could end up winning a starting spot. With Aaron Brooks trapped in China, Brown will also be able to serve as the backup point guard to Steve Nash.

Portland Blazers re-sign C Greg Oden to 1-year, $8.9 million contract
This is Oden ultimately opting to accept the qualifying offer on the final year of his rookie contract, and is not surprising at all. It was doubtful that any team was going to try and steal him away with a long-term deal since the big man has been riddled with injury since arriving in the league. Oden now has one year to prove he is healthy and be a contributor in Portland.

Atlanta Hawks sign G/F Tracy McGrady to 1-year deal worth league minimum
For a Hawks team that is massively over the cap and losing their sixth man, Jamal Crawford, this deal makes a lot of sense. McGrady had a rejuvenation of his career last season, showing he was healthy and still had some gas left in the tank. He will ultimately replace Crawford as the team's top reserve on the wing and comes at a cheap rate.

Milwaukee Bucks sign SF Mike Dunleavy to 2-year, $7.5 million contract
In trading Corey Maggette and having Chris Douglas-Roberts and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute as free agents, the Bucks were searching for a veteran small forward. Dunleavy is still a serviceable player at this point of his career, but injuries are always a concern, since he has only played more than 70 games once in the past five seasons. Dunleavy will likely serve as Carlos Delfino's backup until first-round pick Tobias Harris is ready to be a contributor at the NBA level.

A Chris Paul Fan 12-16-2011 12:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.216 (total posts: 1)

Chris Paul is a great player, I think he's the best PG in the NBA and capable of making any team into an instant playoff team. That said the Clippers gave up way to much for a player with bad knees who may leave in a two years.

If they'd been able to keep Gordon or the draft pick then i'd like the deal a lot more. If Paul stays healthy and long term it'll make it a lot less lopsided. As of now i'd say it's a big win for the Hornets considering that Paul was leaving anyways and this was the best deal they could have gotten.

Of course if Eric Gordon realizes that New Orleans is a crappy basketball market and leaves as soon as possible it'll make it much worse for the Hornets.

David 12-10-2011 09:40 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2)

Glen Davis was traded to the Magic... Bass was on the Magic and got traded to Boston

Yung Rapist Killa 07-09-2011 10:59 am xxx.xxx.xxx.189 (total posts: 1)

Lebron James trade?

John L. 07-07-2011 01:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2)

"I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it?"

So that they don't have to pay the luxury tax for that player. Which is eight figures for the likes of Walton/Haywood/Arenas.

John L. 07-07-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2)

You forgot the most likely - Pau Gasol. The Lakers know they need to make a move, and Gasol wants out. Don't be shocked when he's sent to an Eastern Conference team like Atlanta or Orlando.

Dave 07-07-2011 09:23 am xxx.xxx.xxx.159 (total posts: 2)

I don't quite completely understand. If the team cuts a player, and still has to pay the player's salary, what's the point of it?

nycsportzfan 07-07-2011 05:44 am xxx.xxx.xxx.134 (total posts: 1)

I think it would be wise for the knicks to look into trying to obtain Chris Kaman, and going way of hte Mavericks and builidng like that.. Give em Landry Fields and toney douglas, and then u got Melo, Amare, Kaman, Billups, Shumpert, re-sign Shawne Williams, Turiaf, harrelson, re-sign ant carter, sign Deshawn Stevenson, rautins, and re-sign bill walker..THen u have more money after the season as well..

Kaman
Amare
Melo
Shumpert
Billups

Shawne Williams(re-signed
Turiaf
Deshawn Stevenson(sign)
Harrelson
Ant Carter(re-sign)
Rautins
Bill Walker(re-sign)

jgardner12 07-02-2011 01:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2)

Ahh did not know that part of the rule, thanks for clearing that up for me.

David Kay 07-01-2011 04:51 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.17 (total posts: 1)

@jgardner12 The rule in 2005 stated a team cannot re-sign the player they cut... which is why I would be hesitant to cut Johnson especially with Crawford a free agent, suddenly you have no shooting guard.

@waltair I believe the fifth year has an option on it, so I should have stated three-years, $21 million guaranteed

waltair 06-30-2011 02:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT

waltair 06-30-2011 02:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.199 (total posts: 3)

outlaw has 4 year 28 mil on his contract

jgardner12 06-30-2011 01:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.37 (total posts: 2)

While I understand staying loyal to your star, the hawks should defiantly use it on Johnson. JJ is a wonderful player and they want him in ATL but seriously the dude isn't worth it. I mean the money he has left is close to the amount that Wade took to stay in Miami.. Again while I understand the predicament a JJ led team isn't going to win anything so might as well admit your mistake of signing him and sign him if possible to a more in line contract..

Walter 06-30-2011 01:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.88 (total posts: 10)

@Dave - Now I do. The only Allen error was in the header, hence it was an editing mistake on my part. David spelled Allan correctly everywhere else.

Dave 06-29-2011 04:59 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.25 (total posts: 1)

You do know it's spelled A-L-L-A-N, right?

Mile High 06-25-2011 11:20 am xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1)

the reason the Nuggets dealt Felton was because he wants to be a starter, which he will never be in Denver. Ty Lawson is the Franchise guard, and keeping Felton impedes his progress. Therefore, they traded Felton, a rising star with high value, for Miller, who will accept coming off the bench, plus they picked up Hamilton who they were targeting.

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2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2011 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

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