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2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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2012 NBA Offseason Losers - July 21

Houston Rockets
Basically, everything general manager Daryl Morey has done this offseason revolved around the longshot of landing Dwight Howard via trade from Orlando, even though Houston is not one of Howard's desired destinations and there is no guarantee he would sign a long-term extension with the team. The Rockets even amnestied their best player, Luis Scola, rather than trying to trade him for some assets, simply so the team could clear about $30 million in cap space over the next three years.

On top of that, Houston gave a 3-year, $25 million contract to Omer Asik, who has career averages of 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Morey also bought into Linsanity - literally - by signing Jeremy Lin to a 3-year deal that will net him $14.8 million in 2014-15.

I didn't really love the Rockets' draft either. I'm not sold on Jeremy Lamb and picking Royce White and Terrence Jones now gives the team about five combo forwards on its roster. Houston has set itself up to have a ton of cap space for next summer and, potentially, three first-round draft picks, including the one landed from Toronto in exchange for Kyle Lowry.

Glass-half empty though; Morey doesn't exactly have a great track record recently with acquiring young assets. So now, the Rockets enter next season with a likely starting five of Asik, Patrick Patterson, Chandler Parsons, Kevin Martin and Lin, and is a massive loser in the offseason.

Indiana Pacers
Larry Bird's regime in Indiana was predicated around building the franchise through smart decisions, not overpaying free agents, and drafting wisely. Bird left, Kevin Pritchard took over as general manager, and that blueprint flew right out the window.

I understand the Pacers were backed into a corner and pretty much had to match the max offer sheet that the Blazers threw at Roy Hibbert. An amount of $58 million is a lot to give him for the next four seasons, but big men are constantly overpaid in the NBA - see: Omer Asik.

What didn't make any sense to me was trading a starting-caliber point guard, Darren Collison, to Dallas in a sign-and-trade deal for another center, Ian Mahinmi, just days after Indiania wasted its first-round pick on Miles Plumlee. That deal will net Mahinmi, who has averaged 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game during his four year career, $16 million over the next four years. The Pacers did also add some smaller pieces to improve their depth in the backcourt, but I can't look past the moves they made to "bolster" their frontcourt.

Milwaukee Bucks
Perhaps nobody reaped the benefits of having a career year during his free agent season than Ersan Ilyasova. He had a terrific performance in 2011-12 and parlayed that into a 5-year, $45 million deal this summer.

That's a lot to pay Ilyasova, especially when just days before the Bucks drafted another power forward, John Henson. Ilyasova does give Milwaukee an effective stretch four, but now the team has a logjam at power forward which includes its lottery pick, who likely won't crack the rotation.

The Bucks also didn't do anything to improve the small forward position even though Carlos Delfino is a free agent. Therefore, they enter next season with some sort of rotation between Luc Richard Mbah a Moute - another defensive minded, offensively challenged, long forward -, Mike Dunleavy and second-year player Tobias Harris, who didn't show much during his rookie season.

With Monta Ellis holding a player option on the final year of his deal next summer and Brandon Jennings becoming a restricted free agent, Milwaukee needed to add better pieces around its explosive guard duo; I can't say the Bucks succeeded in improving as a basketball team. They did get a great second-round value in Doron Lamb, though and actually added a true center in Samuel Dalembert.

rossfelhofer 12-16-2011 01:16 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.43 (total posts: 1)

the clippers are not done in free agency yet, they are going to have to sign another big man

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?

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2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

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