2011 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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2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis – Dec. 22


Chicago Bulls sign PG Derrick Rose to 5-year, $94.8 million extension
This is easily the best signing of the offseason. Rose is obviously the face of the franchise in Chicago, the hometown kid, reigning league MVP, and at only 23 years old, he will only get better and better. I also like the fact that under the new CBA, MVPs in their rookie contract are allowed to sign a larger than the max deal. That actually makes a ton of sense. See, something good did come out of the NBA lockout.



New Jersey Nets re-sign PF Kris Humphries to one-year, $8 million contract
The Nets were on the verge of entering the regular season with Shelden Williams as their starting power forward, and either rookie Jordan Williams or Dennis Horner as the main reserve. Ish. Humphries is coming off a breakout season with the Nets in which he averaged a double-double and is definitely an upgrade from Shelden Williams who will return to his more suited role of coming off the bench. He was seeking a multi-year deal, but instead will get another year to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke and that he is deserving of a long-term contract. (See what I did there… I made through an entire analysis of Humphries’ signing without mentioning the disaster that was his brief marriage to Kim Kardashian.)

Houston Rockets sign C Samuel Dalembert to 2-year, $13.7 million contract
Dalembert patiently waited his turn as the center dominoes fell with bigger names like Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol and Nene finding their landing spots first. Hasheem Thabeet was the only true big man on a Rockets’ roster with five power forwards, so Dalembert brings some needed size, experience, defense and shot-blocking abilities which the Rockets were obviously coveting based on their interest in trying to acquire Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in the Chris Paul trade proposal.



Los Angeles Clippers sign PF Reggie Evans to one-year worth league minimum
Considering the Clips were entering the regular season with Brian Cook and Trey Thompkins as their main backups for Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, they sorely needed to add depth up front. He will add physicality, toughness and rebounding inside, as he averaged 11.5 boards in 30 games for the Raptors last season. This is a great deal for the Clippers and a steal at the league minimum.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
2011 NBA Offseason Winners - 12/23
2011 NBA Offseason Losers - 12/23
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/22
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/20
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/16
Chris Paul Trade Analysis - 12/15
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/14
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/10
2011 NBA Free Agency Signings Analysis - 12/9
Five Players Likely to Be Traded After NBA Lockout - 7/7
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southwest Division - 7/6
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Northwest Division - 7/5
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Pacific Division - 7/3
Cavaliers-Kings Trade Recap - 7/1
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Atlantic Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Central Division - 6/30
2011 NBA Free Agency: Allan Houston Rule - Southeast Division - 6/29
2011 NBA Draft Trade Recaps - 6/25
2011 NBA Draft: Bobcats-Kings-Bucks Three-Way Trade - 6/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: How Kyrie Irving Compares to John Wall and Derrick Rose - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Kyrie Irving Ready to be a Franchise Point Guard - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kemba Walker is the Most Undervalued Player in the Draft - 6/23
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Is Derrick Williams a Power Forward or Small Forward? - 6/22
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Wait, Kansas' Marcus and Markieff Morris are Twins??? - 6/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Jordan Hamilton Using Yoga to Help His NBA Draft Stock - 6/18
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Tristan Thompson Benefits from Weak Draft Class - 6/17
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kawhi Leonard's Versatility is His Biggest Asset - 6/14
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Chris Singleton is a Lottery Sleeper - 6/13
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Where Does JaJuan Johnson Fit in the NBA? - 6/11
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins Made Right Decision in Entering NBA Draft - 6/10
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Should a Marijuana Arrest Affect NBA Draft Stock? - 6/9
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Nolan Smith Has Different Identity On and Off Court - 6/7
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Wall Mentoring Darius Morris - 6/5
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Brandon Knight Worth Third Overall Pick? - 6/2
Rumor: Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons Discussing 3-Way Trade - 5/29
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Josh Selby Putting Kansas Behind Him - 5/28
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Marshon Brooks Rising Up Draft Boards - 5/26
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Alec Burks Connected to Bobcats - 5/24
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Combine Measurements - 5/21
Thunder Really Likes Kyle Singler? - 5/21
2011 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Day 1 - 5/20
2011 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/16
2011 NBA Free Agents - 5/3
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