2012 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.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com



2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - July 2


Nets re-sign Gerald Wallace to 4-year, $40 million deal

The Nets paid a hefty price to acquire Gerald Wallace from the Blazers this past season, ultimately giving up the sixth-overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. It was a roll of the dice since Wallace had a player option on his contract for next season. As expected, he opted out of his deal, only to re-sign with the Nets.

The signing ensures that Brooklyn will at least keep one of its top players with Deron Williams and Kris Humphries both free agents as well. It does increase the chance of Williams staying with the Nets since the franchise was able to keep another marquee name.





Philadelphia 76ers re-sign PF Lavoy Allen to 2-year, $6 million deal

A second-round pick a year ago, Allen became a solid role player for the Sixers last season, even making 15 starts. The Pennsylvania native brought energy, toughness, and a knack for rebounding to the floor. $3 million a year is a rather fair deal for both parties, especially Philadelphia, which could be losing free agent center Spencer Hawes.



Is Asik Staying in Chicago?

With restricted free agent Omer Asik signing a 3-year, $25.1 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, the Chicago Bulls have a major decision to make in the up-coming days: pay their back-up center more than eight million dollars per year, or let him walk. The solution is rather simple; wave good-bye to Asik.

In his two years in Chicago, Asik has been solid, playing behind Joakim Noah and allowing the Bulls to have quality depth in their frontcourt. However, it seems insane that the Rockets are willing to spend $8 million-plus per year on a guy who has averaged 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in his career.

Houston does have a huge hole to fill at center since Marcus Camby is a free agent and the team dealt Samuel Dalembert to the Bucks. With capable big men in such demand in the NBA, teams are always willing to pay more for size. Just look at the fact that the Blazers offered a max contract to Pacers center Roy Hibbert.

The Bulls should laugh at the thought of matching Asik's deal with the Rockets. Simply put, Chicago cannot afford to pay him that much. Noah and Carlos Boozer are on the books for more than $97 million, and Taj Gibson will become a restricted free agent next summer meaning, he will be due for a massive pay raise. Gibson is more versatile and skilled than Asik, so Taj should be the priority of the two.

The Bulls also have more pressing needs in trying to upgrade their talent on the wing. Re-signing Asik as well as finding better talent on the perimeter would likely vault the team past the luxury tax, which be even more costly.

Chicago will have until Wednesday to formally make a decision. Let me spare you the expense though: Omer Asik's brief tenure with the Bulls is OVA!



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   Mike 07-10-2012 09:58 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.150 (total posts: 1) 15     10 No mention of Ray Ray to the Heat??? SunsFan 07-06-2012 02:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.183 (total posts: 1) 12     51 Why the MOTHERF U C KING LAKERS!!!!!NASH WHY!!!! CJ 07-05-2012 07:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 79     30 Again Banks is clueless, claiming Eric Gordon has already re-signed with New Orleans. Also the 'Clippers' weren't involved in the Marvin Williams/Devin Harris trade. Does this guy even proof read anything he writes? Atrocious. abe 07-05-2012 08:39 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.87 (total posts: 1) 20     13 walt eric gordon is signing with the suns not the hornets Ben Wallace 07-04-2012 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1) 27     72 To be totally honest, Henson and Zeller wouldn't be any better than Meyers Leonard. They are all going to bust. C-3PO 07-04-2012 05:27 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 1) 21     9 Eric Gordon signed an offer sheet with the Suns dumb @ss, New Orleans has yet to match that offer, so he didn't resign like you said. Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2) 27     11 The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen. A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams. Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2) 13     10 The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen. A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams. @CJ 07-03-2012 04:33 am xxx.xxx.xxx.104 (total posts: 1) 17     122 So basically you're asking Walt to fire one "clueless" dumbass for another? lol Whats the point? Rise Above CJ 06-30-2012 04:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 214     108 Paul Banks, yet again showing how clueless he is. Almost every other draft analyst has the Rockets' with a positive ranking. This clown does understand that the Rockets are likely to make trades, with all the assets they've compiled? I agree that Meyers Leonard is probably going to be a bust, but you can't call Portland a 'loser' for stealing the 6th pick from the Nets. How about a 'loser' ranking for the Cavs for reaching so much for Dion Waiters? Or trading all their other picks for another likely bust in Tyler Zeller? But Banks has a 'man crush' (not that there's anything wrong with that) on Waiters, so he'd never mark the Cavs down. Fire this guy Walt, I'll work for free! Ben 06-25-2012 09:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.254 (total posts: 1) 11     23 So....Henson is overrated because he has trouble keeping and putting on weight and strength. And you stated that size and strength is everything in the nba for a big. But....isn't Davis just as if not more lanky and undersized than Henson....? And Henson is only one year older and both have similar wingspans? Just a thought.. @Live 06-22-2012 10:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.15 (total posts: 1) 12     9 You are an idiot, you apparently don't know how basketball trades work, its all about salary dumping. IN the NBA you are either rebuilding, championship contender, or youar e going to stay consistently medicore. They were never going ot win a championship with Okafor and Ariza taking up that much money on their books. Live 06-22-2012 04:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.80 (total posts: 1) 9     70 Washington - B Hornets - Big fat F Sure the Hornets is going to waive Lewis and relieve cap space to sign Gordon to a longer deal and draft Anthony Davis but so what! They let go a great defensive guy that can hit 3s here and there. They got NOTHING in return for Ariza and Okafor but a 2nd rounder. I didn't like what the Hornets got in return and it was a bad deal IMO. Vince 06-19-2012 04:03 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.99 (total posts: 1) 42     9 It was a play on words, not a pun. More importantly, know who else couldn't bench press 185 pounds at the NBA Combine? This one player called Kevin Durant. Ben 04-15-2012 09:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.65 (total posts: 1) 29     21 I like how only one of these players actually got traded Pages: 1 2 34 5 6 7

2013 NBA Mock Draft - June 12

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





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2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16


2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 11


2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


NFL Picks - Feb. 3