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2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 16 Updates
New York Knicks sign SF Metta World Peace to a 2-year, $3.2 million deal World Peace wanted to end up in New York and that’s where he lands after being amnestied by the Lakers. He provides some toughness and defensive prowess on the wing that certainly has been a missing link for the Knicks the past couple of seasons. There is little risk with the formerly angry Ron Artest, but the potential for a whole lot of reward is there if he can become a solid role player on a team aiming to dethrone the Miami Heat from the top of the Eastern Conference mountain.
Grade: A
Los Angeles Lakers sign G/F Wesley Johnson to a 1-year deal worth the league minimum With the Lakers using their amnesty clause on Metta World Peace, there were minutes available at the small forward position. Though Johnson has been rather underwhelming during his NBA career, he could very well start at small forward for the Lakers. (Yikes)! He will add athleticism and defense on the wing, and is a solid acquisition for the league minimum.
Grade: B+
Atlanta Hawks sign PF Elton Brand to a 1-year, $4 million deal Brand is a shell of the player he was prior to his injuries, but he can still be a solid role player off the bench like he proved last year in Dallas. I think $4 million a year is a bit steep for Brand at this point of his career, but Atlanta had cap space to burn, so why not. He will add needed depth up front behind Al Horford and the recently signed Paul Millsap.
Grade: B-
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 14 Updates
Atlanta Hawks match 4-year, $32 million offer sheet for PG Jeff Teague It was presumed that the Hawks were not going to match the contract the Milwaukee Bucks gave to the restricted free agent, but Atlanta did just that. Letting Teague walk would have created a hole at the point guard position and with no real replacement left on the open market, matching the deal was a was move. There were rumors of the two teams swapping point guards with Brandon Jennings going to Atlanta, but the Hawks must prefer the developing Teague.
It will be interesting to see how Milwaukee tries to do damage control and repair their relationship with Jennings whom they clearly are not married to on a long-term basis. They can try trading him but the market seems to be extremely thin for teams looking for a point guard.
Grade: B+
Dallas Mavericks sign G Monta Ellis to 3-year deal worth at least $25 million Plan B for the Mavericks continues as they land their new starting shooting guard in Monta Ellis for a 3-year deal worth a reported $25-30 million. I don’t mind the signing length or amount, and the acquisition definitely fills a need for a scoring two guard especially since the Devin Harris deal has been put on hold due to a dislocated toe found during his physical.
What bothers me is how the Mavs are handling this offseason. They have now committed approximately $17 million per year for the next three seasons to ultimately have Ellis and Jose Calderon as their starting backcourt. That pretty much ensures that they will be a borderline playoff team and cuts into their potential cap space in what will be a critical 2014 offseason when Dirk Nowitzki becomes a free agent and several big names hit the market.
Grade: D+
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 12 Updates
Milwaukee Bucks sign PG Jeff Teague to a 4-year, $32 million offer sheet and acquire PG Luke Ridnour from the Minnesota Timberwolves This has been one of my favorite storylines of the NBA offseason. Atlanta has been hesitant to sign restricted free agent Jeff Teague to an extension, while the Bucks have the same feeling about their restricted free agent point guard, Brandon Jennings. So what does Milwaukee do … sign Teague to an offer sheet that the Hawks have three days to match.
There has been talk about working out a sign-and-trade that might send Jennings or unrestricted free agent Monta Ellis to Atlanta for Teague, but reports say the Hawks aren’t interested in either Jennings or Ellis. If I were the Bucks, I’d rather pay Teague $8 million per year rather than sign Jennings to an extension worth around $11 million per season, so it is understandable why they would want to move on from the Jennings era.
What will get really interesting is if Atlanta doesn’t match Milwaukee’s offer to Teague and then has the former Wake Forest floor general and a certainly unhappy Jennings on the roster. Jennings will become expendable but there hasn’t been much interest in teams yearning to sign him to a multi-year deal, so his trade value probably wouldn’t be that high unless some team is willing to take a 1-year flyer on him and then let him walk next offseason.
As for Ridnour, he was acquired as part of a three-team trade that included the sign-and-trade of Kevin Martin from Oklahoma City to Minnesota. Ridnour returns to Milwaukee and adds depth and shooting at guard. Assuming Teague is a Buck next season, the Ridnour acquisition only strengthens the likelihood that Jennings has played his last game in a Milwaukee uniform.
Grade: B
Brooklyn Nets sign F Andrei Kirilenko to a 2-year, $6.2 million deal Kirilenko turned down his player option with the Timberwolves that would have paid him more than $10 million this season to sign a deal with the Nets that will only earn him $3.1 million. That has to sting some, right? There is a player option for the second year of this deal, so Kirilenko can always opt out after next season and once again test the market.
Brooklyn is clearly going all-in for next season and this signing is an absolute slam dunk as the Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov adds a Russian star. Kirilenko brings versatility to the forward spot and a needed upgrade to the Nets bench as he could easily be a starter in the league with some other team.
Grade: A+
Los Angeles Lakers amnesty SF Metta World Peace and sign SG Nick Young to a 1-year deal for the league minimum I’m a bit surprised the Lakers used their amnesty option on World Peace since he was in the final year of his deal that paid him about $7.7 million. Then again, he is certainly past his prime and will help Los Angeles lessen its salary cap total and help the team come close to avoiding having to pay a massive amount as part of the luxury tax.
The Young signing at the league minimum is a terrific get for the Lakers as they need some athleticism and scoring on the wing. He will provide insurance at the two until Kobe Bryant returns from injury (or should I say, IF Kobe returns from his injury.) Young also has the size to play the three and replace some of the minutes left behind by World Peace. Young is a bit of a one-dimensional, offensive-minded player but a solid acquisition at this point of the free agency period.
Grade: A-
Detroit Pistons sign G Chauncey Billups to a 2-year, $5 million deal Billups returns to Detroit where he spent the prime of his career. Only the first year of his contract is guaranteed, which is smart on the Pistons’ part since Billups will turn 37 by the start of the season and has been banged up the last two years with Clippers, only playing in 42 games. If healthy, Billups will provide depth at either guard position and solidify a backcourt that already features returning players Brandon Knight, Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, and first-round pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Billups is still a fan favorite in Detroit but does he have anything left in the tank to help the Pistons get back to the playoffs?
Grade: C+
Minnesota Timberwolves sign C Ronny Turiaf to a 2-year, $3.2 million deal With the Timberwolves supposedly coming closer to a long-term extension with their restricted free agent, starting center Nikola Pekovic, Turiaf’s signing adds more depth in the middle along with first-round pick, Gorgui Dieng. However, Turiaf is nothing more than a few-minutes-a-night type of player and don’t see him being a major factor in Minnesota.
Grade: D+
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 11 Updates
Cleveland Cavaliers sign C Andrew Bynum to a 2-year, $24.5 million contract After missing all of last season due to injury and his health still in question, it is easy to see why teams were hesitant to sign Bynum to a long-term deal. This contract reportedly comes with several caveats. Only $6 million is guaranteed in the first year and the Cavaliers hold a team option for the second year of the deal worth about $12.5 million in case Bynum can’t stay healthy.
With cap space to burn and Cleveland being mighty aggressive this offseason as the team tries try to move into the playoff picture, there is more reward than risk with this signing. The worst-case scenario is Bynum has a repeat performance of last season, never seeing the floor, and the two sides part ways after the season. The best-case scenario is Bynum returns to being a dominant low-post scoring threat and adds insurance at the center spot. The Cavaliers already have one other center, Anderson Varejao, who cannot seem to stay healthy. Plus, Cleveland still has Tyler Zeller, so the team now has plenty of bodies down low to plug in at the five in case the Bynum signing is a bust.
Grade: B+
Minnesota Timberwolves sign SF Corey Brewer to a 3-year, $15 million deal The Timberwolves continue their upgrade of talent on the wing by bringing Brewer back to Minnesota where he played the first three years of his career. With the signings of Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, and Corey Brewer, Flip Saunders has solidified his team’s depth at the two and three. Unlike Martin and Budinger, Brewer brings some defensive prowess to the floor and will certainly help the franchise as it makes a push to be a Western Conference playoff team.
Grade: A-
New Orleans Pelicans sign C Greg Stiemsma to a 1-year, $2.7 million deal After being released by Minnesota just a few days ago, Stiemsma lands on his feet in New Orleans. The Pelicans dealt starting center Robin Lopez in the Tyreke Evans trade, so they needed the big body down low that Stiemsma provides. He is a solid rebounder and shot blocker, but adds little else to the floor and is, at best, a 10-12 minute per night sort of player who brings some physicality and six fouls to the floor.
Grade: C-
Los Angeles Lakers sign PG Jordan Farmar to a 1-year deal worth at the league minimum Farmer spent last season playing overseas in Turkey and returns to the NBA as the Lakers try to find low-value veterans to fill out their roster. Farmar will battle with Steve Blake as the backup point guard to Steve Nash and adds insurance in case Nash can’t stay healthy.
Grade: B-
Houston Rockets sign G/F Reggie Williams to a 2-year deal worth the league minimum With the Rockets trying to round out their roster with role players, Williams adds some bench scoring to the roster and needed depth at the two behind James Harden. The second year of this deal has a team option, so it is more than likely just a 1-year rental for Houston unless Williams becomes a valuable role player.
Grade: C+
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 10 Updates
Miami Heat re-sign C Chris Andersen to 1-year deal Andersen once again revived his career, this time in South Beach, where he was a critical bench player during the Heat’s run to a second straight NBA title. Miami is lacking a true big man and while Andersen doesn’t necessarily fit that mold, he is active inside. I really like this is only a 1-year deal since there is always the fear of him suffering some sort of relapse, so any type of multi-year contract would certainly be risky.
Grade: A
Toronto Raptors sign PF Tyler Hansbrough to 2-year deal After rescinding their qualifying offer to Hansbrough, thus making him an unrestricted free agent, he lands north of the border. Hansbrough will add some depth at power forward alongside Amir Johnson, helping to replace Andrea Bargnani, who was dealt to the Knicks last week. Terms of Hansbrough’s deal have not been leaked yet, but I’d guess he’ll earn around $3 million dollars per year. While Hansbrough brings some toughness inside, he doesn’t add much versatility to the frontcourt, which the Raptors could use.
Grade: D+
Dallas Mavericks sign SG Wayne Ellington to 2-year, $5-plus million deal Operation fill the roster continues for the Mavericks after they whiffed on the marquee free agents on the market. With Vince Carter the only real shooting guard on the roster, Ellington provides some needed depth at the two, though recently signed Devin Harris can also play the off guard position if needed. This is another short-term solution for Dallas and doesn’t add too much to the roster
Grade: C-
Golden State Warriors sign C Jermaine O’Neal to 1-year deal and PG Toney Douglas to 1-year, $1.6-million deal A day after inking Marreese Speights to a multi-year deal, the Warriors add more depth inside by signing Jermaine O’Neal for the league minimum. He is well past his prime, but still has an effective mid-range jumper and is not a bad option as the fourth post player on a roster. Douglas will help Golden State replace the loss of last year’s backup Jarrett Jack, who signed a 4-year deal with the Cavaliers a few days ago.
Grade: B+
New Orleans Pelicans sign SG Anthony Morrow to a 2-year contract at league minimum This signing adds scoring depth on the wing for the Pelicans but also acts an insurance policy in case Austin Rivers doesn’t make strides with his game and become a more relevant reserve. There is a player option on the second year of Morrow’s deal and he is a nice get for the league minimum.
Grade: B+
Detroit Pistons sign PF Luigi Datome to 2-year, $3.75 million deal Datome was named Italian League MVP this past season and is a stretch four who will add depth and versatility to Detroit’s crowded frontcourt that now features newly signed Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond, Jonas Jerebko, Charlie Villanueva, and Vyacheslav Kravtsov. The biggest question will be how Datome transitions to the NBA game, something foreign product Kravtsov failed to do last year.
Grade: C+
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 9 Updates
Los Angeles Lakers sign C Chris Kaman to 1-year deal Who needs Dwight Howard when you have Chris Kaman? (That sound you hear is a Lakers fan repeatedly slamming their head in a car door.) The Lake Show had to make some sort of move to fill the void in the middle left by Howard and had to do so on the cheap. Kaman returns to Los Angeles after spending the first eight years of his career with the Clippers and will earn the team’s mini mid-level exception which figures to be near three million dollars. He is on the downward side of his career, but is at least a serviceable option alongside Pau Gasol in the Lakers’ frontcourt for the next year.
Grade: A-
Denver Nuggets sign SG Randy Foye to 3-year, $9 million deal Foye will technically arrive in Denver as part of a three-team trade that will include Andre Iguodala going to Golden State and the previously reported deal of Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, and draft picks going to the Jazz; Foye’s former team. Foye is a serviceable wing scorer, and the Nuggets have holes to fill there since Iguodala’s departure and because Corey Brewer is still a free agent. Foye figures to compete with Wilson Chandler and Evan Fournier to minutes at the two and might actually end up as the starter.
Grade: B-
Golden State Warriors sign PF Marreese Speights to 3-year deal With the Warriors trading Andris Biedrins and Festus Ezeli expected to miss at least the first half of next season, they needed some depth inside which Speights will help provide. The salary for Speights has yet to be released so it’s hard to give a true grade for this deal but I’ll be okay with anything in the $3-4 million dollar per year range. Anything more than that would be a bit rich for my blood even though Speights averaged about 10 points and five boards per night after he was dealt to Cleveland prior to the trade deadline this past season.
Grade: Inc.
Detroit Pistons re-sign PG Will Bynum to 2-year, $5.75 million deal Bynum was productive as the Pistons backup point guard last season and with a new contract, that’s the role he will resume for the next two years behind Brandon Knight. Since Detroit lost Jose Calderon via free agency, they needed to find a backup point guard and for the price, Bynum is as good as anyone else available.
Grade: B
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 8 Updates
Denver Nuggets sign PF/C J.J. Hickson to 3-year, $15 million deal Five million a year for a 24-year-old who posted 40 double-doubles last year? This has to be one of the more under the radar signings of the offseason. Think about it, the Bucks paid Zaza Pachulia more over three years than Denver did for J.J. Hickson.
Hickson will add some toughness inside and likely serve as the top post reserve to JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. The Nuggets needed another frontcourt player and Hickson provides an upgrade over guys like Anthony Randolph and Darrell Arthur, and restricted free agent Timofey Mozgov.
Grade: A
Cleveland Cavaliers sign PG Jarrett Jack to 4-year, $25 million deal The Cavs are being aggressive with their cap space and clearly feel they are in a position to make a playoff run in the Eastern Conference. Jack was an integral piece of the Warriors’ bench last season and provides Cleveland with a major upgrade in the backcourt as a third guard and backup to Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. I’m a bit surprised by the length and amount of this deal but love the Cavaliers willingness to find improved bench play via free agency.
Grade: B
Sacramento Kings sign PF Carl Landry to 4-year, $27 million deal This signing clearly says something about the new direction Kings’ management is taking otherwise there is no way Landry would agree to play in Sacramento. He could very well be the starting power forward alongside DeMarcus Cousins with Patrick Patterson as his only real competition. I’m not crazy about giving Landry nearly seven million a year but he provides an upgrade at the four.
Grade: B-
Dallas Mavericks sign G Devin Harris to 3-year deal worth approximately $9 million Once viewed as a franchise point guard, Harris is now joining his fourth team in four seasons by returning to Dallas where he spent the first four years of his NBA career. With the Mavs losing their entire backcourt in free agency, Harris fills a void and might actually start at the two alongside newly signed point guard Jose Calderon. If Dallas ends up adding a true shooting guard, Harris will be a valuable reserve at a fairly affordable $3 million per year.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Clippers sign PG Darren Collison to 2-year, $3.8 million deal What a steal. Collison was a starter last year in Dallas and the Clippers get him for a bargain. Since trading Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles needed a backup for Chris Paul and Collison is a more than adequate replacement. This is yet another move for the Clippers in their push for an NBA title.
Grade: A+
Milwaukee Bucks sign C Zaza Pachulia to 3-year, $15.6 million deal and SF Carlos Delfino to 3-year, $10 million deal Zaza Pachulia: This is easily the worst offseason move of the summer. More than $5 million a year for a career backup center? Why? Where was the competition to sign Pachulia to this sort of deal? Wouldn’t it have been easier finding some veteran for the league minimum to back up Larry Sanders? The Bucks are screwing the pooch this summer with their cap space and epitomizing the “tanking” philosophy of this offseason.
Carlos Delfino: The Bucks are getting the band back together, huh? First Pachulia, now Delfino. After spending one year in Houston, Delfino returns to Milwaukee where he spent three seasons as a starter. The 30-year-old will come off the bench and is capable of playing either shooting guard or small forward. The Bucks needed scoring depth on the wing and slightly more than $3 million per season for Delfino is a reasonable rate. Milwaukee will hold a team option on the third and final year of his contract which makes the length not terrible either.
Pachulia Grade: F
Delfino Grade: B-
Portland Trail Blazers sign PG Earl Watson to 1-year, $1.4 million deal Watson is the experienced point guard the Blazers need to help back up and develop Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. He also adds to the bench makeover the Blazers have been making this summer and arrives for the league minimum.
Grade: B
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 7 Updates
Detroit Pistons sign F Josh Smith to 4-year, $56 million deal After Dwight Howard signed with Houston, there were rumors that the next play for the Rockets was to try and acquire Josh Smith via a sign and trade. I guess that option didn’t work out as Smith will be heading to Detroit.
The Pistons entered the off-season with a ton of cap flexibility and were hoping to make a big spalsh. Signing J Smoove does just that. Detroit’s frontcourt now features Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond meaning all three could start with Smith playing the three or they can play Smith at the four and bring Drummond off the bench.
I’m not a huge Smith fan because I think he is a bit of a headcase but this signing certainly makes Detroit a better team and increases their likelihood of becoming a playoff team in a weak Eastern Conference.
Grade: B+
Milwaukee Bucks sign SG O.J. Mayo to 3-year, $24 million deal With all their cap space and a gaping hole at shooting guard, the Bucks had to do something and finalize a deal with Mayo. I like Mayo, I just don’t like he and Brandon Jennings being the lead guards and best two players on the same team. This fills a void and really was the best realistic option for Milwaukee but keeps them a less than a erage Eastern Conference team.
Grade: D+
Indiana Pacers sign F Chris Copeland to 2-year, $6.1 million deal Copeland came from nowhere to be a solid role player for the Knicks last season and earns a well-deserved guaranteed deal with Indy. He will provide depth at both forward positions and as the roster looks now, be the primary backup to David West at power forward which would give Indy a smaller, more athletic lineup. His signing could also increase the possibility of Danny Granger getting dealt.
Grade: A
Dallas Mavericks sign PG Jose Calderon to 4-year $29 miilion deal For the second straight off-season Mark Cuban struck out on the major free agent prizes and has to change course by filling out the roster. Dallas needed a point guard and Calderon immediately becomes their starter and comes at a reasonable $7 million per year. What I don’t like about the deal is the length of it. This means Dallas is pretty much tied to Calderon as their lead guard for the next few years and I’m not sure that was entice any future free agents to Dallas.
Grade: C+
Pelicans re-sign SF Al-Farouq Aminu to 1-year, $3.7 million deal Aminu had his best season as a pro last year in New Orleans as their starting small forward. He likely returns in a backup role to the newly acquired Tyreke Evans which is the best fit for Aminu since he really isn’t a starting caliber small forward in the league.
Grade: B-
Atlanta Hawks sign PF Paul Milsap to 2-year, $19 million deal and F
DeMarre Carroll to 2-year, $5 million deal With the dream of Dwight Howard returning home now extinct, the Hawks start turning towards a Plan B. Milsap is a quality acquisition and more than likely a replacement for free agent Josh Smith since it seems his days in Atlanta are over. Carroll is a nice energy player to add off the bench but really nothing more than that. The Hawks had the cap space to make some moves and while they missed out on the big prizes, these deals strengthen the roster without breaking the bank.
Grade: B-
Portland Trail Blazers sign SF Dorrel Wright to 2-year, $6 million deal As I’ve written numerous times this off-season, the Blazers had the worst bench in the NBA last year and have made a few minor to moves to upgrade their depth including adding Wright. He will add some three-point shooting off the bench and allow Portland to use a smaller frontcourt at times with he, Nicolas Batum, and LeMarcus Aldridge.
Grade: A-
Rockets re-sign SF Francisco Garcia to 2-year, $2.6 million deal Now comes the part of the off-season where Houston tries to add veteran players for the league minimum and add depth to their new star tandem of Dwight Howard and Jeremy Lin. Garcia was a pesky defender/almost enforcer-like role player in the post-season series against OKC and figures to provide that same type of play next year.
Grade: B-
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 6 Updates
Houston Rockets sign C Dwight Howard to 4-year, $87.6 million deal I’m just glad the Dwight Howard drama is over and that he didn’t drag it out that long. Look, I don’t think at this stage of his career that Howard is a max-contract player but I also realize that the only way to land his services is to offer him the whole enchilada. For a Houston Rocket team that appears to be on the rise, this is undoubtedly a huge splash just like the one they made prior to last season when they acquired James Harden from the Thunder.
Howard and Harden suddenly give the Rockets the type of one-two punch that can allow them to possibly contend in the Western Conference as long as they can bring a few more pieces to round out the rotation. For the Rockets to lure him away from the storied Lakers franchise is a tremendous victory and the type of boost the franchise needed to move forward.
It will be interesting to see what the next domino will be for Houston. Omer Asik becomes expendable and will likely be moved to add another piece or two and Jeremy Lin’s name will definitely be floated around in more trade rumors. The target could be free agent Josh Smith since he and Howard have been good friends since their AAU days, and the Rockets do need another forward alongside Chandler Parsons. The Rockets would have to work out a sign-and-trade with Smith and the Atlanta Hawks since they don’t have the cap space to outright sign him.
Grade: B
Golden State Warriors sign G/F Andre Iguodala to 4-year, $48 million deal By dumping the contracts of Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, and Brandon Rush, the Warriors freed up enough cap space to sign Iguodala who took less money to make a potential run at a ring with Golden State compared to the reported offers he had from Denver and Sacramento. It’s hard not to like when a guy does that.
Iguodala adds versatility and experience to a young wing that currently features the likes of Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green. His ability to defend will also be a plus for Golden State since it is lacking in its perimeter defense. This signing gives head coach Mark Jackson a ton of flexibility with his line-ups as well. Iguadola will likely start alongside Stephen Curry and Thompson on the wing meaning Barnes instantly becomes one of the better bench scorers in the league. The Warriors can also go small by playing Barnes or Green at the four.
This is a major statement for the Warriors in that they are trying to contend for a push at the NBA Finals right now. Even if they don’t land Dwight Howard, Golden State will be a better team next season and could be a real factor in the Western Conference if Andrew Bogut and David Lee stay healthy.
Grade: A
Los Angeles Clippers re-sign SF Matt Barnes to 3-year deal worth $11-12 million Since the Clippers traded Caron Butler, they really had no small forward on their roster and lacked the financial flexibility to find one in free agency so re-signing Barnes became a necessity. He was an extremely valuable asset off their bench last season but I wouldn’t be surprised if Barnes ends up starting for L.A. this year. His versatility and ability to defend makes him a terrific role player and it’s hard not to like this signing when it only costs the Clips about four million per year.
Grade: A
Charlotte Hornets re-sign PF Josh McRoberts to 2-year, $6 million deal You know what excites me about this signing? Nothing. Nevertheless, McRoberts played well during his brief time in Charlotte last season averaging about nine points and seven rebounds per game. He helps solidify a frontcourt of the recently signed Al Jefferson, first-round pick Cody Zeller, Bismack Biyombo, and Brendan Haywood. Still, it’s hard to get fired up about re-signing Josh McRoberts.
Grade: C
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 5 Updates
Charlotte Hornets sign C Al Jefferson to 3-year, $40.5 million deal For a team that has struggled to become relevant and seemed destined for an eternity of basketball purgatory, this is a major splash landing one of the top free agents on the market and not having to totally break the bank to do so. Charlotte declined to give Byron Mullens his qualifying offer which made him a free agent and opened up a hole in the middle. Jefferson is the low post scorer the �Cats have been missing and provides a major upgrade to a frontcourt consisting of Cody Zeller, Bismack Biyombo, and Brendan Haywood.
To be honest, I’m surprised Big Al joined up in Charlotte when it seemed like other teams like Dallas, maybe Houston if they don’t land Dwight Howard would be interested and possibly provide him with a better chance of winning. Even with this signing and a likely very weak Eastern Conference, I don’t see this signing being enough to get the Bobcats into the playoff picture.
In order to make this deak work, Charlotte had to amnesty Tyrus Thomas and the remaining 2-years on his contract worth $18 million. That was a no-brainer decision.
Grade: B+
San Antonio Spurs re-sign G/F Manu Ginobli to 2-year, $14 million deal No surprise here as there wasn’t any doubt of Manu leaving San Antonio. The Spurs retain one piece of their “Big 3” for a reasonable rate even though he is definitely on the down side of his career.
Grade: A
San Antonio Spurs sign SG Marco Belinelli to 2-year, $5.6 million deal Since the Spurs are likely losing backup two-guard and restricted free agent Gary Neal who is reportedly receiving contract offers more expensive than San Antonio is willing to pay, Belinelli ultimately serves as his replacement. He will provide the same sort of offensive firepower off the bench but is a liability on the defensive end which makes this signing a bit surprising.
Grade: C
New York Knicks re-sign SG J.R. Smith to 4-year, $24.7 million deal and PG Pablo Prigioni to 3-year deal Re-signing the league’s reigning sixth man of the year is a huge deal for a Knicks team that didn’t have the cap space to find a suitable replacement in free agency. While some people are worried about the length of his contract, getting Smith for a tad more than $6 million per year is a bargain since he is a proven scoring threat off the bench. Keeping Prigioni helps fill the void left by the retired Jason Kidd and he figures to be the main backup to Raymond Felton.
Grade: B+
Atlanta Hawks re-sign G/F Kyle Korver to 4-year, $24 million deal Because of his ability to stroke it from outside, Korver was a hot commodity on the market with Brooklyn and Milwaukee making serious runs at him. In the end, Korver decided to stick in Atlanta on a rebuilding team. With holes at pretty much every position, the Hawks keep a proven and experienced scorer at a reasonable rate.
Grade: A-
Cleveland Cavaliers sign F Earl Clark to 2-year, $9 million deal After a relatively lackluster first three years in the league, Clark had a bit of a breakout season for Lakers last season but I don’t think he did enough to earn $4.5 million per year. What’s interesting about this signing is that the Cavs just drafted Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick and have Tristan Thompson already at the power forward position. Clark can play the three but seems better suited to play the four. Plus, he is not a real threat as an outside shooter which is what Cleveland needed.
Grade: D
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 3 Updates
Indiana Pacers re-sign PF David West to a 3-year, $36-million deal West was an integral part of the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals, so re-signing him was priority No. 1 for them this offseason. His leadership and experience is needed on a still relatively young, sometimes immature Indiana team and there weren’t many other options available on the market to serve as a suitable replacement. Though I think the Pacers overpaid a tad to keep him, it was a no-brainer decision.
Grade: B+
San Antonio Spurs re-sign PF/C Tiago Splitter to a 4-year, $36-million deal Perhaps no team in the NBA does a better job at retaining the players who develop than the Spurs and that continues with their investment in Splitter. With Tim Duncan getting up their age, Splitter is a vital piece to San Antonio’s future and hopes of continuing its dynasty run. $9 million per year seems a bit aggressive for someone who averaged just six points and three boards a night during the Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals, but with other teams trying to pry him away, San Antonio had to open up its checkbooks to keep him around.
Grade: B
Memphis Grizzlies re-sign SG Tony Allen to a 4-year, $20-million deal and re-sign PF Jon Leuer to a 3-year, $3-million deal Allen was coveted by a number of teams this offseason because of his ability to defend the heck out of the basketball. Had Memphis lost him to another team, there would have been a major void at shooting guard without a real opportunity to properly replace him, so re-signing Allen is a huge win for a team that thrives on the defensive end. To do so at a very reasonable five million dollars per year makes the deal even that much sweeter. Re-signing Leuer; whatever.
Grade: A-
Washington Wizards re-sign SF Martell Webster to a 4-year, $22-million deal While Webster exceeded expectations this past season, he hasn’t shown the consistency during his 8-year career to warrant this long or pricy an extension. He is only 26 years old, but Washington did just select Otto Porter with the third-overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. At the very worst, Webster should be a bench scorer, but I just don’t see the hurry to invest this sort of money in someone with his track record.
Grade: D+
Minnesota Timberwolves sign SG Kevin Martin to a 4-year, $28-$30-million deal and re-sign SF Chase Budinger to a 3-year, $16-million deal I see what Minnesota did here in addressing its need for shooters on the wing, I just don’t think Martin/Budinger is the combination you are looking for to really help your team take the next step to becoming a playoff contender, especially when you are locking them each up for the next three years, or in Martin’s case, four years.
I like Chase Budinger. I’m just not sure I like Chase Budinger for five-plus million a year. All of my friends who are Timberwolves fans love the deal since he played well for Minnesota last season before getting hurt and because he fits with head coach Rick Adelman. There were several teams hard after Budinger so his value continued to climb as the hours ticked by, so that’s what drove his cost up. He certainly fits the need for a shooter on the wing and should start at small forward with Kirilenko opting out of his contract.
Martin comes to Minnesota after his 1-year stint in Oklahoma City where he served as the Thunder’s sixth man. He will return to the starting lineup for the Timberwolves and also gets reunited with Adelman, who was his coach in Houston. Martin is a proven scorer, which is why he was coveted by Minnesota this offseason.
Both guys should get plenty of open looks from the outside and benefit from Ricky Rubio’s ability to see the floor and create for his teammates. However, neither Martin nor Budinger is known for their defensive prowess on the wing which is a concern. The mission though was to get wing scorers and with these two signings, the Timberwolves can cross that off their to-do list.
Grade: B-
Chicago Bulls re-sign C Nazr Mohammad to a 1-year deal The NBA journeyman is really nothing more than a big body who can play 8-12 minutes a night and give Joakim Noah a blow. Chicago didn’t really have a true backup center and the cap space to find much of an upgrade, so why not bring Nazr back.
Grade: B
2013 NBA Free Agent Signings: July 2 Updates
Los Angeles Clippers agree to 5-year, $107-million contract with PG Chris Paul Once the Clippers got Doc Rivers as their head coach, it was pretty much a guarantee that Paul was going to re-sign. Of all the potential suitors out there, L.A. gives him the best chance of making a run at a championship, and though he comes with a hefty price tag, the Clippers had to pay him or else risk taking a big step back as a franchise.
Grade: A
Chicago Bulls agree to 2-year, $6 million deal with SF Mike Dunleavy The Bulls needed to add some outside shooting on the wing and the veteran Dunleavy definitely fills that void. The team now have a lot of size at the two and three with Dunleavy, Luol Deng, Jimmy Butler, and first-round pick Tony Snell; all stand at least 6-7. Deng and Dunleavy will likely split time at the three with Butler, Kirk Hinrich, and Snell playing the two. In a pinch, Dunleavy might be able to play some two alongside Deng. Whatever the case is, the former Buck will certainly be the beneficiary of some wide-open three point looks via Derrick Rose drive and kicks.
Grade: B
Brooklyn Nets re-sign PF/C Andray Blatche to a 1-year, $1.4 million contract $1.4 million for a backup who averaged 10 points and 5 boards a game last year? Hard to argue with that. It will be interesting to see how the Blatche/Kevin Garnett relationship goes since both guys are… ummm… intense. Still, the Nets now have a starting frontcourt of Garnett and Brook Lopez with Blatche, Reggie Evans, and first-round pick Mason Plumlee coming off the bench. That’s definitely upgrading from last year.
Grade: B+
Indiana Pacers agree to 2-year deal with PG C.J. Watson Watson will go from backing up Deron Williams in Brooklyn to playing behind George Hill in Indiana. D.J. Augustin served that role this past season but did nothing to entice the Pacers to re-sign him. Watson will provide more offensive ability behind Hill and comes at a cheap price (terms of the deal have not yet been leaked, but it is reportedly slightly above the league minimum.)
Grade: B
Washington Wizards agree to multi-year deal with PG Eric Maynor The Wizards were lacking a true backup to John Wall last season, so signing Maynor not only solves that problem but also gives Washington an option to play both guys in the same backcourt. Terms of the deal have not been released, but reports say Washington will use its bi-annual exception that should net Maynor about two million bucks per year. Maynor battled injury last season before getting dealt to Portland at the trade deadline. He played well there in a reserve role and has the makings of being a quality backup point guard if he can stay healty.
Grade: B+
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Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
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