Post by 20/20/20/20 on Sept 27, 2010 14:46:53 GMT -5
You know the drill. Breakdown of what everyone did in free agency and how I think they did.
Boston Celtics:
Sign SG Matt Barnes for $38,679,419 over 5 years.
Sign PF Marc Jackson for $10,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign C Brad Miller for $778,350 over one year.
Grade: B-
Not much action for the Celts as they are trying to stay under the cap. The Barnes deal didn't look as pretty after a disappointing training camp, but they were able to trade that contract to the Nets already. Marc Jackson is a steal and Brad Miller fills out their roster for less than a mil. Quiet FA period for the Celtics, but they did well for themselves and should be a contender this year.
Miami Heat:
Sign SG Ray Allen for $39,720,000 over 3 years.
Sign PF Raef LaFrentz for $44,078,125 over 3 years.
Sign PG Paccelis Morlende for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign SF Morris Peterson for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign PG Troy Hudson for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Heat are ready to win now, and these signings will help them do so. Raef and Ray are top tier players in this league, and make the Heat a team that opponents have to worry about seeing on their schedule. My only complaint with their offseason is that they didn't grab a better PG to lead their team, but now with the Ray Allen PG experiment in effect and his success passing the ball in preseason, that may no longer be an issue. Good job by the Heat.
New Jersey Nets:
No signings
Grade: N/A
The Nets already had 15 players heading into free agency. For a team that now appears like it might be trying to contend, they may have been better off cutting some of the dead weight and trying to sign a few upgrades. Next offseason will be big for New Jersey as they will attempt to resign Yao.
New York Knicks:
Sign PG Brevin Knight for $11,000,000 over one year.
Sign C Scot Pollard for $8,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Ruben Patterson for $7,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Larry Hughes for $778,350 over one year.
Sign PF Bo Outlaw for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Aaron McKie for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SF Richard Jefferson for $590,850 over one year.
Sign PG Alvin Williams for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: A
I love what the Knicks did bringing in players with a defensive focus. The Knicks problem in past years has always been too many scorers, not enough defense. They addressed their needs perfectly in this offseason by grabbing Pollard, Knight and Patterson. Patterson is one of the best wing defenders in the league, he didn't get the nickname "Kobe Stopper" for nothing. Brevin Knight is the perfect PG for teams with other stars around him. He will put up a great assist to turnover ratio while playing good defense as well. The only reason I didn't give the Knicks an A+ is that they only signed all these guys to 1 year deals. It's good that they didn't trap themselves in the cap hell that other teams got themselves into, but it would have been nice if they could have locked up Knight or Patterson for 2-3 years. All the bench guys the Knicks signed are great defenders as well. Should be a different looking team in New York this year.
Orlando Magic:
Sign SG Gilbert Arenas for $93,750,000 over 6 years.
Sign PF Kwame Brown for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Sign PF Christian Laettner for $9,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign PF Michael Ruffin for $715,850 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Magic had a pretty good free agent period. After having the league's worst record a season ago and nabbing stud in the making Deron Williams in the draft, the Magic felt ready to restock their roster and try to contend. In what can only be described as a shocker, Gilbert Arenas decided to hop on board in Orlando. This is a fantastic signing, Gilbert was my #1 rated free agent and he definitely deserves a max. The Kwame Brown deal may have been a little much, but the Magic needed a big man badly and they grabbed a young one with potential who fits age wise with the rest of their core. Ruffin was a solid pickup also. Arenas deal = A+, Kwame Deal = C+, overall I'll give them a B+, but they have to be incredibly happy to steal Gilbert Arenas.
Philadelphia 76ers:
Sign PG Jason Kidd for $131,250,000 over 6 years.
Sign SF Grant Hill for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Sign PF Antonio McDyess for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Grade: F
Three max guys? Probably a bad idea. Three max guys when they are 31, 32, and 33 years old respectively? Awful idea. The Sixers locked themselves into salary cap hell for the next 7 years and the GM may ultimately pay the price. None of these guys were worth a full 6 or 7 year max in my opinion. Even though they are all studs, the Sixers should have looked to sign them for 2-4 years each. There isn't too much that needs to be said about this one. The Sixers mortgaged their future to grab some aging stars and they better hope they win in the next 3 seasons because this team's future is screwed more than anyone else in the league.
Washington Wizards:
Sign PG Frank Williams for $4,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Orien Greene for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign C Marcin Gortat for $2,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SF Ersan Ilyasova for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Xue Yuyang for $3,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign C Victor Wachter for $2,000,000 over one year.
Sign C D.J. Mbenga for $5,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: C
I found it tough to grade the Wizards signings. They obviously were taking a different approach than everyone else in the league. They are trying to tank this season in hopes of landing the top pick in the draft. I have to say they accomplished their goals and executed their plan to perfection, so well done for that. But then again, the guys they signed are not any good and in the end this league is about winning so I can't exactly say they had a successful offseason. At least they left themselves sitting pretty with regards to the salary cap.
Atlanta Hawks:
Sign SF Predrag Stojakovic for $27,000,000 over 3 years.
Sign C Marcus Camby for $49,500,000 over 3 years.
Grade: B-
The Hawks seem to be trying to contend but trying to go young at the same time. The Stojakovic deals doesn't look bad in a vaccuum, but it's a head scratcher when you consider they turned down Antawn Jamison (who I would take over Stojakovic) for 55 million over 5 years. Camby is a great center and only giving him 3 years was a wise move (take note 76ers). Overall, they managed their cap well and got two guys who will help them win, but I don't think they are a contender this year and it leaves me wondering why they didn't bring Jamison back for that steal of a price.
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www.shaqdvds.com/images/logos/Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets.gif[/img] Charlotte Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets:
Sign PF Kenyon Martin for $44,757,614 over 5 years.
Sign SG Gerald Wallace for $9,067,538 over 4 years.
Sign SG Derek Anderson for $7,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG A.J. Guyton for $11,697,901 over 4 years.
Sign PG Speedy Claxton for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign C Adonal Foyle for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: B-
With two MAX guys already in tow, the Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets strategy was to go after the 2nd tier guys and try to lock them up for multiple years at a cheap price. They did okay with their signings. Kenyon Martin's deal looked a lot better when he had "A" potential. After a disappointing training camp where his potential dropped to C and he didn't improve at all, that deal no longer looks like a steal. They missed out on their top PG target Brevin Knight, but they were able to make out okay by grabbing Guyton, Claxton, and Derek Anderson for friendly deals. No cap draining deals, and grabbed 2 starters for a contending team. Could have been better, could have been worse.
Chicago Bulls:
Sign SF Darius Miles for $12,925,250 over 3 years.
Grade: B
Bulls grabbed a good backup SF/PF in Miles for relatively low money over 3 years. Not a major signing, but he should help. They made their big splash when they traded for Michael Redd, but that is for another article. Left themselves in a good spot to resign Butler and Nene after the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
No signings.
Grade: N/A
The Cavs didn't have any cap space left after resiging their guys to big deals and buying out the albatross of a contract that was Glenn Robinson. This year will be tough, but after that they will be in a better position cap wise.
Detroit Pistons:
Sign PF Tim Duncan for $144,375,000 over 7 years.
Sign PG Ronald Curry for $14,186,250 over 3 years.
Grade: A-
Really like both of these deals. Curry was a steal who flew under the radar since he is just entering the league. Duncan is obviously worth a max. Not sure if I would have given him that 7th year, but the Pistons clearly wanted to make sure they got their guy. Overall, one of the best free agency periods in the league.
Indiana Pacers:
No Signings
Grade: N/A
The new Pacers GM did not sign anyone during Free Agency. Not the worst thing in the world as he could have screwed himself for the future if he signed some bad deals.
Milwaukee Bucks:
Sign SF Tim Thomas for $10,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign PF Robert Traylor for $6,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A-
Bucks entered without much cap space so they were only going after their own guys. He grabbed both of these guys for below what they are worth in my opinion. They are obviously disappointed they didn't get Shaq, but I actually think it was a positive that they showed restraint and didn't offer Shaq the massive franchise killing 7 year contract. Great job by Milwaukee.
Toronto Raptors:
Sign SF Antawn Jamison for $43,101,250 over 4 years.
Sign C Tyson Chandler for $81,622,954 over 6 years.
Sign PG Nick Van Exel for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PF Brian Cardinal for $26,481,000 over 3 years.
Grade: A+
The Raptors had the best signings in the league in my opinion. The Jamison deal is amazing, Chandler was one of the most highly sought after players in the league. Both deals are great money wise. Kobe Bryant has to be salivating at the thought of having other big time players around him. If the Raptors were able to earn the 3 seed with Kobe and a bunch of nobodies, the East should look out this year because the Raptors have reloaded. Raptors roster looks the best it has since the Championship season and they didn't even put themselves in too bad of a position salary cap wise to do so. They probably gave Cardinal a little too much money, but he is a solid role player for the team.
Dallas Mavericks:
Sign PF Brian Grant for $9,000,000 over 3 years.
Grade: B
Everyone likes to give GM dumptime crap, but he did well this offseason. Entering free agency with only 3 million in cap space, they didn't have much wiggle room. But he showed he is maturing as a GM, grabbing solid PF Brian Grant for a good price over 3 years. Grant will give the Mavs solid minutes off the bench and dumptime didn't mess up his cap for the future. Good player for only having 3 mil in cap.
Denver Nuggets:
Sign C Shaquille O'Neal for $131,250,000 over 6 years.
Sign PG Stephen Jackson for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Sign SF Zachary Randolph for $42,187,500 over 3 years.
Sign SF Ron Artest for $20,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Courtney Alexander for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: D-
Shaq is one of the best players in the league, but will he be in 6 years? Also, since he has lots of experience, his max deal is much higher than the younger guys. The Nuggets grabbed some good players, but they put themselves into salary cap hell for the future. This team will constantly be fighting the battle to stay under the hard cap in a few years, and might have not left themselves enough money to sign young guys like Al Jefferson and Andrew Bogut. The Artest deal was a silly mistake, but one that should have been easily prevented. Stephen Jackson is the worst contract signed this offseason. He should be on a Corey Maggette type deal of 18-20 million over 5 years. At least they grabbed a lot of talent, but wow did it cost them.
Houston Rockets:
Sign SF Shane Battier for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Grade: B-
Kept their guy in Battier, and I initially was surprised that he was given a MAX, but it does seem like there was a lot of competiton for Shane so I can't fault the Rockets too much. Still think they might regret some of that money in a few years, but the Rockets are trying to win now. Speaking of that, I am surprised they didn't try to improve their roster more. The Rockets seem to be sticking with the same roster despite not having success in the postseason. Their team is consistently one of the top in the West, but they haven't been able to win anything. I thought the Rockets would go out and try to improve, but instead they sat tight, happy to only resign their own guy.
Minnesota Fighting Kahns:
Sign C Alonzo Mourning for $37,187,500 over 2 years.
Sign PG Darrell Armstrong for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PG Eric Snow for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign PF Mehmet Okur for $590,850 over one year.
Sign SF Vladimir Radmanovic for $590,850 over one year.
Sign PF Wayne Simien for $332,817 over one year.
Grade: B
The Wolves grabbed some quality vets for short term contracts. They got their stud center back in Alonzo Mourning, and even though he makes a ton per year, they wisely kept the deal to a reasonable 2 years. Had to be disappointing for the Wolves to lose out on T-Mac who went to the Grizzlies. Overall, their signings were good but I think their team might be a little worse than last year due to the McGrady departure.
San Antonio Spurs:
Sign C Kevin Garnett for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Sign SF Antonio Gates for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Sign PF Julius Peppers for $9,644,700 over 3 years.
Sign PG Sam Cassell for $10,192,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
Garnett was one of the best players available on the free agent market so it is a little surprising that he is the one bringing down the Spurs grade. The Spurs obviously felt that Garnett was too important to them to let him walk, but damn his contract is monstrous. He will be a stud player for years to come, but is he worth that much money? His deal is nearly double that of other star PFs like Chris Webber and Rasheed Wallace. I loved the Gates and Peppers signings for low $ over multiple years. If those guys develop, they will be steals. Cassell brings a veteran presence and a PG who can score, and the Spurs locked him up for a low price. Liked all the players they got, but the Garnett contract is a monster and may limit what they can do in the future.
Utah Jazz:
Sign SG Cuttino Mobley for $6,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG Travis Best for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SF Glenn Robinson for $4,600,000 over one year.
Sign SF Corey Maggette for $16,000,000 over 5 years.
Sign C Greg Ostertag for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Clarence Weatherspoon for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Jazz struck out on all their targets in days 1-4, and were understandably worried heading into the final day of free agency. Well, on Day 5 they struck gold, signing multiple targets to deals. Corey Maggette deal is fantastic. 5 years at low money is extremely valuable at this point in the league. Travis Best signing for $1,000,000 is crazy compared to the $12,000,000 he got last year. Glenn Robinson's deal is very low compared to what he got last year as well. The Jazz were bargain shoppers this year and it ended up paying off. They may have not grabbed the cream of the crop guys, but every deal they made was fiscally responsible and they are in a great spot moving forward.
Memphis Grizzlies:
Sign SF Tracy McGrady for $112,500,000 over 6 years.
Sign PF Shawn Kemp for $5,000,000 over one year.
Sign C DeSagana Diop for $5,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B
The Grizzlies went into free agency looking to make a splash. This rebuilding franchise has been an afterthought the past couple seasons and they wanted to be a talked about team again. Well, they got their star in Tracy McGrady. Grabbing T-Mac to lead a team of youngsters was a good move, and with only 1 max guy, they can handle his contract even though it is big. The Diop signing was a great one, but I have to think they could have benefited even more if they signed him to multiple years. The Grizzlies should be much improved this season, but I still don't see them cracking the playoffs out West.
Golden State Warriors:
No Signings
Grade: N/A
Warriors didn't sign anyone in free agency, opting simply to bring back their own guys in the resigning period. Their 1st round draft pick Francisco Garcia blew up in training camp so that is a welcome surprise.
Los Angeles Clippers:
No Signings
Grade: N/A
For the second straight year, the Clippers did not sign anyone in free agency. For a team that fancies itself a contender, this is surprising. They could definitely have grabbed that missing piece to put them over the top. Losing Camby might hurt.
Los Angeles Lakers:
Sign PG Derek Fisher for $16,074,500 over 3 years.
Sign SG Ricky Davis for $26,639,658 over 4 years.
Sign PF Chris Andersen for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Sign SG Jason Richardson for $32,487,000 over 4 years.
Sign PG Omar Cook for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Grade: B+
I really love what the Lakers did because they signed lots of quality players and did not break the bank on any of their deals. All of these players will help them win, but they didn't have to mortgage their future for any of them. Jason Richardson is the only signing I didn't like as I feel they gave him a little too much money. The Davis and Andersen signings are fantastic, and Derek Fisher makes his return to LA for a reasonable deal. An added bonus is that all of these deals are tradeable contracts so if the Lakers want to use these guys as trade bait they should have no trouble finding a taker.
Phoenix Suns:
Sign PG Steve Francis for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Sign PG Andre Miller for $28,675,968 over 4 years.
Sign C Eddy Curry for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Sign PG Jamal Crawford for $23,734,375 over 3 years.
Sign C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje for $14,000,000 over 4 years.
Sign SF Antoine Walker for $14,840,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
The Suns spent a ton of money this offseason and 3 of their guys were at the same position. With that said, they actually did a pretty good job. The Crawford deal was a bad one without having signed two other PGs, but combined with their other signings it simply doesn't make any sense. They obviously did not expect all these guys to sign when they sent out their offers. Luckily, they were able to find a taker for Crawford in what can only be described as a steal of a trade. That deal also gave them enough leeway next year to attempt to resign stud PF Amare Stoudemire. The Francis and Miller deals are very low for players of their quality. Great signings. Eddy Curry was one of the most wanted free agents so giving a young guy like him the max is understandable. Overall, pretty good considering how disastrous signing 3 PGs could have been.
Portland Trailblazers:
Sign C Michael Bradley for $16,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Bonzi Wells for $6,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG Tony Parker for $21,422,800 over 3 years.
Sign PG Jason Williams for $5,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG David Wesley for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Joe Smith for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B-
They lost out on Gilbert, and didn't sign any stars, but this was still a good haul for the Blazers. Without their next few 1st rounders, the Blazers should be looking to contend, and they hope that some of these guys will help them do just that. The Bonzi Wells deal is an especially good one, and Michael Bradley will help even if he is slightly overpaid. If Tony Parker ever starts playing up to his potential, he could be a steal. Overall, the Blazers grabbed themselves a lot of quality guys while not giving out any awful contracts. You have to consider that a success even if their roster now lacks real star power.
Sacramento Kings:
Sign PG Mike Bibby for $144,375,000 over 7 years.
Sign SG Latrell Sprewell for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PG Ed Cota for $798,667 over 2 years.
Sign SF Andrei Kirilenko for $590,850 over one year.
Sign SF Jason Capel for $332,817 over one year.
Sign PF Samaki Walker for $965,850 over one year.
Sign C Shawn Bradley for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B-
Not a big fan of the Bibby deal. I know he is a very good player and the Kings felt they needed to bring him back, but that is just too much money. I don't think he is a max-level player. If I am going to downgrade the Spurs for a 7 year 168 million dollar deal for Garnett, the Kings need to be downgraded for giving Bibby 7 years and 144 million. I really like their other signings of Sprewell and Kirilenko though. It seems like those guys slipped through the cracks. After signing Bibby, the Kings didn't have any more cap space but they were very creative using their exceptions and vet mins to bring in a lot of quality players. Overall, good job by the Kings but I don't like the Bibby deal.
Seattle Supersonics:
Sign C Lorenzen Wright for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign C Jeff Foster for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
After bringing back their studs Dirk, Chauncey and Mash in the resigning period, the Sonics didn't have any cap room. But they realized they still had some weaknesses, and they went out and improved their team by using their exceptions on Wright and Foster. Both of these deals are short and reasonable, and it helps the Sonics win now which has to be their goal.
Boston Celtics:Sign SG Matt Barnes for $38,679,419 over 5 years.
Sign PF Marc Jackson for $10,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign C Brad Miller for $778,350 over one year.
Grade: B-
Not much action for the Celts as they are trying to stay under the cap. The Barnes deal didn't look as pretty after a disappointing training camp, but they were able to trade that contract to the Nets already. Marc Jackson is a steal and Brad Miller fills out their roster for less than a mil. Quiet FA period for the Celtics, but they did well for themselves and should be a contender this year.
Miami Heat:Sign SG Ray Allen for $39,720,000 over 3 years.
Sign PF Raef LaFrentz for $44,078,125 over 3 years.
Sign PG Paccelis Morlende for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign SF Morris Peterson for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign PG Troy Hudson for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Heat are ready to win now, and these signings will help them do so. Raef and Ray are top tier players in this league, and make the Heat a team that opponents have to worry about seeing on their schedule. My only complaint with their offseason is that they didn't grab a better PG to lead their team, but now with the Ray Allen PG experiment in effect and his success passing the ball in preseason, that may no longer be an issue. Good job by the Heat.
New Jersey Nets:No signings
Grade: N/A
The Nets already had 15 players heading into free agency. For a team that now appears like it might be trying to contend, they may have been better off cutting some of the dead weight and trying to sign a few upgrades. Next offseason will be big for New Jersey as they will attempt to resign Yao.
New York Knicks:Sign PG Brevin Knight for $11,000,000 over one year.
Sign C Scot Pollard for $8,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Ruben Patterson for $7,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Larry Hughes for $778,350 over one year.
Sign PF Bo Outlaw for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG Aaron McKie for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SF Richard Jefferson for $590,850 over one year.
Sign PG Alvin Williams for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: A
I love what the Knicks did bringing in players with a defensive focus. The Knicks problem in past years has always been too many scorers, not enough defense. They addressed their needs perfectly in this offseason by grabbing Pollard, Knight and Patterson. Patterson is one of the best wing defenders in the league, he didn't get the nickname "Kobe Stopper" for nothing. Brevin Knight is the perfect PG for teams with other stars around him. He will put up a great assist to turnover ratio while playing good defense as well. The only reason I didn't give the Knicks an A+ is that they only signed all these guys to 1 year deals. It's good that they didn't trap themselves in the cap hell that other teams got themselves into, but it would have been nice if they could have locked up Knight or Patterson for 2-3 years. All the bench guys the Knicks signed are great defenders as well. Should be a different looking team in New York this year.
Orlando Magic:Sign SG Gilbert Arenas for $93,750,000 over 6 years.
Sign PF Kwame Brown for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Sign PF Christian Laettner for $9,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign PF Michael Ruffin for $715,850 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Magic had a pretty good free agent period. After having the league's worst record a season ago and nabbing stud in the making Deron Williams in the draft, the Magic felt ready to restock their roster and try to contend. In what can only be described as a shocker, Gilbert Arenas decided to hop on board in Orlando. This is a fantastic signing, Gilbert was my #1 rated free agent and he definitely deserves a max. The Kwame Brown deal may have been a little much, but the Magic needed a big man badly and they grabbed a young one with potential who fits age wise with the rest of their core. Ruffin was a solid pickup also. Arenas deal = A+, Kwame Deal = C+, overall I'll give them a B+, but they have to be incredibly happy to steal Gilbert Arenas.
Philadelphia 76ers:Sign PG Jason Kidd for $131,250,000 over 6 years.
Sign SF Grant Hill for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Sign PF Antonio McDyess for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Grade: F
Three max guys? Probably a bad idea. Three max guys when they are 31, 32, and 33 years old respectively? Awful idea. The Sixers locked themselves into salary cap hell for the next 7 years and the GM may ultimately pay the price. None of these guys were worth a full 6 or 7 year max in my opinion. Even though they are all studs, the Sixers should have looked to sign them for 2-4 years each. There isn't too much that needs to be said about this one. The Sixers mortgaged their future to grab some aging stars and they better hope they win in the next 3 seasons because this team's future is screwed more than anyone else in the league.
Washington Wizards:Sign PG Frank Williams for $4,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Orien Greene for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign C Marcin Gortat for $2,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SF Ersan Ilyasova for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Xue Yuyang for $3,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign C Victor Wachter for $2,000,000 over one year.
Sign C D.J. Mbenga for $5,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: C
I found it tough to grade the Wizards signings. They obviously were taking a different approach than everyone else in the league. They are trying to tank this season in hopes of landing the top pick in the draft. I have to say they accomplished their goals and executed their plan to perfection, so well done for that. But then again, the guys they signed are not any good and in the end this league is about winning so I can't exactly say they had a successful offseason. At least they left themselves sitting pretty with regards to the salary cap.
Atlanta Hawks:Sign SF Predrag Stojakovic for $27,000,000 over 3 years.
Sign C Marcus Camby for $49,500,000 over 3 years.
Grade: B-
The Hawks seem to be trying to contend but trying to go young at the same time. The Stojakovic deals doesn't look bad in a vaccuum, but it's a head scratcher when you consider they turned down Antawn Jamison (who I would take over Stojakovic) for 55 million over 5 years. Camby is a great center and only giving him 3 years was a wise move (take note 76ers). Overall, they managed their cap well and got two guys who will help them win, but I don't think they are a contender this year and it leaves me wondering why they didn't bring Jamison back for that steal of a price.
Sign PF Kenyon Martin for $44,757,614 over 5 years.
Sign SG Gerald Wallace for $9,067,538 over 4 years.
Sign SG Derek Anderson for $7,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG A.J. Guyton for $11,697,901 over 4 years.
Sign PG Speedy Claxton for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign C Adonal Foyle for $840,850 over one year.
Grade: B-
With two MAX guys already in tow, the Eastern Conference Powerhouse Hornets strategy was to go after the 2nd tier guys and try to lock them up for multiple years at a cheap price. They did okay with their signings. Kenyon Martin's deal looked a lot better when he had "A" potential. After a disappointing training camp where his potential dropped to C and he didn't improve at all, that deal no longer looks like a steal. They missed out on their top PG target Brevin Knight, but they were able to make out okay by grabbing Guyton, Claxton, and Derek Anderson for friendly deals. No cap draining deals, and grabbed 2 starters for a contending team. Could have been better, could have been worse.
Chicago Bulls:Sign SF Darius Miles for $12,925,250 over 3 years.
Grade: B
Bulls grabbed a good backup SF/PF in Miles for relatively low money over 3 years. Not a major signing, but he should help. They made their big splash when they traded for Michael Redd, but that is for another article. Left themselves in a good spot to resign Butler and Nene after the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers:No signings.
Grade: N/A
The Cavs didn't have any cap space left after resiging their guys to big deals and buying out the albatross of a contract that was Glenn Robinson. This year will be tough, but after that they will be in a better position cap wise.
Detroit Pistons:Sign PF Tim Duncan for $144,375,000 over 7 years.
Sign PG Ronald Curry for $14,186,250 over 3 years.
Grade: A-
Really like both of these deals. Curry was a steal who flew under the radar since he is just entering the league. Duncan is obviously worth a max. Not sure if I would have given him that 7th year, but the Pistons clearly wanted to make sure they got their guy. Overall, one of the best free agency periods in the league.
Indiana Pacers:No Signings
Grade: N/A
The new Pacers GM did not sign anyone during Free Agency. Not the worst thing in the world as he could have screwed himself for the future if he signed some bad deals.
Milwaukee Bucks:Sign SF Tim Thomas for $10,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign PF Robert Traylor for $6,000,000 over 2 years.
Grade: A-
Bucks entered without much cap space so they were only going after their own guys. He grabbed both of these guys for below what they are worth in my opinion. They are obviously disappointed they didn't get Shaq, but I actually think it was a positive that they showed restraint and didn't offer Shaq the massive franchise killing 7 year contract. Great job by Milwaukee.
Toronto Raptors:Sign SF Antawn Jamison for $43,101,250 over 4 years.
Sign C Tyson Chandler for $81,622,954 over 6 years.
Sign PG Nick Van Exel for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PF Brian Cardinal for $26,481,000 over 3 years.
Grade: A+
The Raptors had the best signings in the league in my opinion. The Jamison deal is amazing, Chandler was one of the most highly sought after players in the league. Both deals are great money wise. Kobe Bryant has to be salivating at the thought of having other big time players around him. If the Raptors were able to earn the 3 seed with Kobe and a bunch of nobodies, the East should look out this year because the Raptors have reloaded. Raptors roster looks the best it has since the Championship season and they didn't even put themselves in too bad of a position salary cap wise to do so. They probably gave Cardinal a little too much money, but he is a solid role player for the team.
Dallas Mavericks:Sign PF Brian Grant for $9,000,000 over 3 years.
Grade: B
Everyone likes to give GM dumptime crap, but he did well this offseason. Entering free agency with only 3 million in cap space, they didn't have much wiggle room. But he showed he is maturing as a GM, grabbing solid PF Brian Grant for a good price over 3 years. Grant will give the Mavs solid minutes off the bench and dumptime didn't mess up his cap for the future. Good player for only having 3 mil in cap.
Denver Nuggets:Sign C Shaquille O'Neal for $131,250,000 over 6 years.
Sign PG Stephen Jackson for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Sign SF Zachary Randolph for $42,187,500 over 3 years.
Sign SF Ron Artest for $20,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Courtney Alexander for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: D-
Shaq is one of the best players in the league, but will he be in 6 years? Also, since he has lots of experience, his max deal is much higher than the younger guys. The Nuggets grabbed some good players, but they put themselves into salary cap hell for the future. This team will constantly be fighting the battle to stay under the hard cap in a few years, and might have not left themselves enough money to sign young guys like Al Jefferson and Andrew Bogut. The Artest deal was a silly mistake, but one that should have been easily prevented. Stephen Jackson is the worst contract signed this offseason. He should be on a Corey Maggette type deal of 18-20 million over 5 years. At least they grabbed a lot of talent, but wow did it cost them.
Houston Rockets:Sign SF Shane Battier for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Grade: B-
Kept their guy in Battier, and I initially was surprised that he was given a MAX, but it does seem like there was a lot of competiton for Shane so I can't fault the Rockets too much. Still think they might regret some of that money in a few years, but the Rockets are trying to win now. Speaking of that, I am surprised they didn't try to improve their roster more. The Rockets seem to be sticking with the same roster despite not having success in the postseason. Their team is consistently one of the top in the West, but they haven't been able to win anything. I thought the Rockets would go out and try to improve, but instead they sat tight, happy to only resign their own guy.
Minnesota Fighting Kahns:Sign C Alonzo Mourning for $37,187,500 over 2 years.
Sign PG Darrell Armstrong for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PG Eric Snow for $1,200,000 over one year.
Sign PF Mehmet Okur for $590,850 over one year.
Sign SF Vladimir Radmanovic for $590,850 over one year.
Sign PF Wayne Simien for $332,817 over one year.
Grade: B
The Wolves grabbed some quality vets for short term contracts. They got their stud center back in Alonzo Mourning, and even though he makes a ton per year, they wisely kept the deal to a reasonable 2 years. Had to be disappointing for the Wolves to lose out on T-Mac who went to the Grizzlies. Overall, their signings were good but I think their team might be a little worse than last year due to the McGrady departure.
San Antonio Spurs:Sign C Kevin Garnett for $168,437,500 over 7 years.
Sign SF Antonio Gates for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Sign PF Julius Peppers for $9,644,700 over 3 years.
Sign PG Sam Cassell for $10,192,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
Garnett was one of the best players available on the free agent market so it is a little surprising that he is the one bringing down the Spurs grade. The Spurs obviously felt that Garnett was too important to them to let him walk, but damn his contract is monstrous. He will be a stud player for years to come, but is he worth that much money? His deal is nearly double that of other star PFs like Chris Webber and Rasheed Wallace. I loved the Gates and Peppers signings for low $ over multiple years. If those guys develop, they will be steals. Cassell brings a veteran presence and a PG who can score, and the Spurs locked him up for a low price. Liked all the players they got, but the Garnett contract is a monster and may limit what they can do in the future.
Utah Jazz:Sign SG Cuttino Mobley for $6,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG Travis Best for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign SF Glenn Robinson for $4,600,000 over one year.
Sign SF Corey Maggette for $16,000,000 over 5 years.
Sign C Greg Ostertag for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Clarence Weatherspoon for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
The Jazz struck out on all their targets in days 1-4, and were understandably worried heading into the final day of free agency. Well, on Day 5 they struck gold, signing multiple targets to deals. Corey Maggette deal is fantastic. 5 years at low money is extremely valuable at this point in the league. Travis Best signing for $1,000,000 is crazy compared to the $12,000,000 he got last year. Glenn Robinson's deal is very low compared to what he got last year as well. The Jazz were bargain shoppers this year and it ended up paying off. They may have not grabbed the cream of the crop guys, but every deal they made was fiscally responsible and they are in a great spot moving forward.
Memphis Grizzlies:Sign SF Tracy McGrady for $112,500,000 over 6 years.
Sign PF Shawn Kemp for $5,000,000 over one year.
Sign C DeSagana Diop for $5,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B
The Grizzlies went into free agency looking to make a splash. This rebuilding franchise has been an afterthought the past couple seasons and they wanted to be a talked about team again. Well, they got their star in Tracy McGrady. Grabbing T-Mac to lead a team of youngsters was a good move, and with only 1 max guy, they can handle his contract even though it is big. The Diop signing was a great one, but I have to think they could have benefited even more if they signed him to multiple years. The Grizzlies should be much improved this season, but I still don't see them cracking the playoffs out West.
Golden State Warriors:No Signings
Grade: N/A
Warriors didn't sign anyone in free agency, opting simply to bring back their own guys in the resigning period. Their 1st round draft pick Francisco Garcia blew up in training camp so that is a welcome surprise.
Los Angeles Clippers:No Signings
Grade: N/A
For the second straight year, the Clippers did not sign anyone in free agency. For a team that fancies itself a contender, this is surprising. They could definitely have grabbed that missing piece to put them over the top. Losing Camby might hurt.
Los Angeles Lakers:Sign PG Derek Fisher for $16,074,500 over 3 years.
Sign SG Ricky Davis for $26,639,658 over 4 years.
Sign PF Chris Andersen for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Sign SG Jason Richardson for $32,487,000 over 4 years.
Sign PG Omar Cook for $11,252,150 over 3 years.
Grade: B+
I really love what the Lakers did because they signed lots of quality players and did not break the bank on any of their deals. All of these players will help them win, but they didn't have to mortgage their future for any of them. Jason Richardson is the only signing I didn't like as I feel they gave him a little too much money. The Davis and Andersen signings are fantastic, and Derek Fisher makes his return to LA for a reasonable deal. An added bonus is that all of these deals are tradeable contracts so if the Lakers want to use these guys as trade bait they should have no trouble finding a taker.
Phoenix Suns:Sign PG Steve Francis for $57,500,000 over 4 years.
Sign PG Andre Miller for $28,675,968 over 4 years.
Sign C Eddy Curry for $120,312,500 over 7 years.
Sign PG Jamal Crawford for $23,734,375 over 3 years.
Sign C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje for $14,000,000 over 4 years.
Sign SF Antoine Walker for $14,840,000 over 2 years.
Grade: B
The Suns spent a ton of money this offseason and 3 of their guys were at the same position. With that said, they actually did a pretty good job. The Crawford deal was a bad one without having signed two other PGs, but combined with their other signings it simply doesn't make any sense. They obviously did not expect all these guys to sign when they sent out their offers. Luckily, they were able to find a taker for Crawford in what can only be described as a steal of a trade. That deal also gave them enough leeway next year to attempt to resign stud PF Amare Stoudemire. The Francis and Miller deals are very low for players of their quality. Great signings. Eddy Curry was one of the most wanted free agents so giving a young guy like him the max is understandable. Overall, pretty good considering how disastrous signing 3 PGs could have been.
Portland Trailblazers:Sign C Michael Bradley for $16,000,000 over 2 years.
Sign SG Bonzi Wells for $6,000,000 over one year.
Sign PG Tony Parker for $21,422,800 over 3 years.
Sign PG Jason Williams for $5,000,000 over one year.
Sign SG David Wesley for $1,000,000 over one year.
Sign PF Joe Smith for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B-
They lost out on Gilbert, and didn't sign any stars, but this was still a good haul for the Blazers. Without their next few 1st rounders, the Blazers should be looking to contend, and they hope that some of these guys will help them do just that. The Bonzi Wells deal is an especially good one, and Michael Bradley will help even if he is slightly overpaid. If Tony Parker ever starts playing up to his potential, he could be a steal. Overall, the Blazers grabbed themselves a lot of quality guys while not giving out any awful contracts. You have to consider that a success even if their roster now lacks real star power.
Sacramento Kings:Sign PG Mike Bibby for $144,375,000 over 7 years.
Sign SG Latrell Sprewell for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign PG Ed Cota for $798,667 over 2 years.
Sign SF Andrei Kirilenko for $590,850 over one year.
Sign SF Jason Capel for $332,817 over one year.
Sign PF Samaki Walker for $965,850 over one year.
Sign C Shawn Bradley for $1,000,000 over one year.
Grade: B-
Not a big fan of the Bibby deal. I know he is a very good player and the Kings felt they needed to bring him back, but that is just too much money. I don't think he is a max-level player. If I am going to downgrade the Spurs for a 7 year 168 million dollar deal for Garnett, the Kings need to be downgraded for giving Bibby 7 years and 144 million. I really like their other signings of Sprewell and Kirilenko though. It seems like those guys slipped through the cracks. After signing Bibby, the Kings didn't have any more cap space but they were very creative using their exceptions and vet mins to bring in a lot of quality players. Overall, good job by the Kings but I don't like the Bibby deal.
Seattle Supersonics:Sign C Lorenzen Wright for $4,500,000 over one year.
Sign C Jeff Foster for $1,200,000 over one year.
Grade: B+
After bringing back their studs Dirk, Chauncey and Mash in the resigning period, the Sonics didn't have any cap room. But they realized they still had some weaknesses, and they went out and improved their team by using their exceptions on Wright and Foster. Both of these deals are short and reasonable, and it helps the Sonics win now which has to be their goal.
