This off-season for some NBA players is about as tough to stomach money-wise as some of the signings in the last baseball off-season.
Rashard Lewis, fun guy to watch head to the basket and a great scorer, but does he look like someone you give a max contract to in a sign-and-trade for $110 million on six years? Yes, he scored 22 points a game on average last year, but he doesn’t do a lot on the defensive end, and there’s no other major on-court skill he gives you other than his scoring. So, that means Dwight Howard is still going to be the only one hitting the boards for Orlando, and Jameer Nelson will have to figure out how to distribute the ball between these two. I have faith in Stan Van Jeremy as a coach, but this may drive him nuts. (At least the Magic locked up Dwight Howard.)
Does Darko Milicic merit $6-7 million over 3 years? Obviously, doing anything in Orlando over riding pine in Detroit meant an improvement in numbers and game for him, but going to the black hole that is Memphis won’t exactly give him anything resembling a better record (unless Mike Conley, Jr. really is the next big thing.)
There was really no other option for the Pistons; they had to re-sign Chauncey Billups or face irrelevance. Dumars drafted Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo for the backcourt down the road, but losing the point guard that’s defined the recent Detroit playoff and title runs would have been foolish.
Gerald Williams and Jason Richardson in Charlotte makes that team look competitive on paper. Of course, many have said that in advance of a prior season or two.
I really hope the Suns don’t actually hope Grant Hill will put them over the top. At least it’s an inexpensive deal, but can he get through at least, well, maybe 3/4 of a season?
Wasn’t Derek Fisher just getting out of his Jazz contract to spend more time with his daughter while she went through eye cancer, and now he may be signing with a Western Conference competitor and former team to play next season?
I really, really wish the Nuggets had made a run at Jason Kapono. I know re-signing Steve Blake is the priority, but the team desperately needs some form of consistent three-point shooting or SOME form of outside shooting. Now, the Raptors have the UCLA product for the next few years.
Someone’s going to sign Steve Francis now, but is there really a team he would fit in well with right now? (Say the Clippers and we’ll metaphorically cut you.) The combo guard isn’t quite as in demand as it used to be, plus, his rep isn’t exactly on the high side lately.
(Photo: AP/John Raoux)
Filed under: NBA, free agency | Tagged: Charlotte Bobcats
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Lots of good stuff… Lewis was a horrific deal. He’s good, but that is overpaying to the extreme.
I liked the Darko deal for Memphis… moderate risk, high reward. If he actually tries all the time, he can be really good. If he doesn’t progress much (though he is only like 22) it’s still not even an awful deal. $7 million isn’t too much for an NBA big man these days.
I really liked the Grant Hill signing… his minutes will be down which should reduce the injury risk, and he’ll be a nice role player off the bench.