Free NBA Agency – The Best, the Worst, and the Most Surprising



[ad_1]

Which teams have improved the earliest in the free NBA agency, and what remains to be done?

Team Analysis of Major and Minor Transactions:

Note: Updates on each transaction will be posted here throughout the day. Among the latest additions: Trevor Ariza joining the Phoenix Suns and DeAndre Jordan joining the Dallas Mavericks.


1. Agreed to a $ 4.4 million contract with the Ed Davis Center

2. Agreed to a $ 16 million contract dollars with Joe Harris

The Nets agreed to a pair of early Sunday morning transactions that they should be able to sign after using their ceiling space to complete the Charlotte trade with Hornets that they agreed in advance on the NBA project.

Because he played the last two seasons on a minimum wage contract, Harris's hat guard is for the veteran's minimum. It will do much more than that on a two year contract to come back, which was somewhat surprising given that it will cut into the Brooklyn ceiling space for the summer of 2019.

Harris flourished in a key contributor in Kenny Atkinson's system. the screenings have ranked among the top 30 free players of the year. Despite that, I would have been tempted to see if Atkinson could repeat the trick with another opponent rather than pay Harris as a reserve of quality.

On the plus side, the Nets can now add potential additions to the chance to follow Harris "

Brooklyn seemed to have better value with Davis, one of the league's best big players during his three years in Portland. Davis was probably expecting a tightening of the market for the centers, which would lead to a one – year deal that would probably come out of the mid – level exception of the Nets.

Davis should be a solid contributor to Brooklyn, but not enough to block Jarrett Allen continues the start work for his second season. And at this price, Davis could get a small return to the trading deadline if the Nets want to move him to a competitor.


An $ 11 million deal with the Aron Baynes Center

The Celtics scored better than Baynes, who played a key role in the league's best defense. . With Baynes on the field, Boston allowed only 97.0 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA Advanced Stats, compared with a 104.3 defensive rating with Baynes on the bench.

As the playoffs are highlighted sometimes, there are limits to Baynes'. game even now that he became an occasional threat of 3 points (shooting 11-of-23 beyond the bow in the playoffs). There was a reason why the Celtics were able to pocket it with the exception of $ 4.3 million last summer after using their cap on Gordon Hayward.

In addition, the center market is even worse this year than in 2017. So, I might have held the line on the player option that Baynes would have kept for 2019- 2020, an apparent concession to the fact that it was the most Boston could pay Baynes using its non-Bird rights and keeping the exemption of middle-class taxpayers free to use


Dallas Mavericks

1. Accepted a one-year contract with the center DeAndre Jordan

Whether through trade or as a free agent, there has been a growing sense over the past week that Jordan went to Dallas three years later pushing back an agreement with the Mavericks to sign back with the LA Clippers in the summer of 2015.

The most interesting news is so the one year duration of this Contract – "Approaching" the Player's Value of $ 24.1 Million The Jordan option declined on Friday, by Marc Stein of the New York Times . I am a bit puzzled that both teams can not agree on a trade that would have allowed Jordan to opt for the ecu in the capitalization area of ​​Dallas, a decision that would seem better for both parties. The Mavericks would have gotten Jordan 's full rights in the event that they stay above the ceiling next summer, while the Clippers would have created a $ 24 million trade exception to use the. next year.

Here is another thrilling summer NBA:

News, buzz and rumors
• Evaluation of each movement up to now
• Trade tracker: notes and details
• Details on each new contract
• LeBron's Summer: Decision 3.0
• World of Woj: Latest News | Transactions

This little accounting aside, this deal makes sense for Dallas. Jordan's ability as a finisher over the rim in the pick-and-roll remains as good for the Mavericks' attack now as in 2015. Jordan averaged 1.3 points per game. match when he pulled on the pick-and-roll. roll last season, tying it to seventh place among players with at least 100 shooting attempts of this type, according to the Second Spectrum tracking. In contrast, the big men of Dallas earned an average of 1.1 points per game in these situations – just around the league average.

Although Jordan's offensive value was somewhat uncertain, his defense fluctuated throughout his career. slowdown in this regard. Jordan's blocking rate dropped by almost half to 2.4% of the opponent's 2-point attempts, which is far worse than the average of the centers (3.5%).

Blocks are an imperfect measure of the rim. advanced metrics were not solid either. 63.9% of opponents fired at less than five feet when Jordan was the lead defenseman, putting it at only 31 of the 36 players who defended at least 300 of those shots, per second Spectrum pursuit on advanced stats of the NBA

. -Only in the center, it's not worth more than $ 20 million, especially since it's moving in its 30s. Fortunately, the Dallas show is limited due to the one – year deal.

By spending most of their ceiling space on Jordan, the Mavericks are giving up the opportunity to sign other free agents to favorable long-term contracts. the other teams have more than the exception of non-taxpayer middle level to spend. However, I'm not sure that the young free agents would have been a good long-term fit alongside the Dallas Younger Dennis Smith Jr. and the overall No. 3 Luka Doncic choice, so I'm thinking of waiting for the # Next summer – when the Mavericks could create more than $ 50 million in ceiling space – is a reasonable decision.


1. Agreed to a $ 54 million contract with guard Will Barton

2. Agreement for a $ 148 million contract with the Nikola Center Jokic

The Nuggets quickly occupied their business with two of their free agents, recruiting Barton and Jokic

. The Jokic case, something of a fait accompli after Denver decided to deny his 2018-19 team option and made Jokic a restricted free agent.

1 Hardcover

At that time, the only real question was what kind of concession the Nuggets would ask in exchange for paying Jokic much more than the $ 1.6 million, it was planned to do this season: a slight pause on the max option or no player on the contract. The two sides apparently agreed on the latter option, with Jokic getting a maximum of five years, which means that he will not become a free player without restriction until 2023, date to which he will reach the age of 28 years.

Denver pushes back the luxury tax after bringing Barton back to an agreement that seems more lucrative than the four-year $ 42-million extension (the maximum the Nuggets could offer at the time) he refused during the season. Assuming that the deal covers $ 54 million, as ESPN's Chris Haynes reports, and that it features standard increases of 8%, Barton will make about $ 12 million in 2018- 19, which will bring Denver's payroll to $ 22 million online for 14 contract players (including first-round pick Michael Porter Jr., who has not yet signed officially).

The biggest problem is to trade the expired contracts of Darrell Arthur ($ 7.5 million) and Kenneth Faried ($ 13.8 million)) will no longer be enough for the Nuggets to dodge the tax after the have replaced on the list. Locking Barton for at least three years – he has also managed to get a player option on last season, a shot in a market where few free agents will get as much money guaranteed – could encourage Denver to negotiate with the start in mind Wilson Chandler, earning $ 12.8 million in the final season of his contract

Marc Stein of the New York Times also reported that the Nuggets might consider moving the center of save Mason Plumlee. However, since Plumlee's contract expands until 2019-2020, I suspect that it would be more difficult to negotiate than Faried or Arthur despite the fact that it offers more value on field.

In addition to erasing wages, Denver's remaining remaining goal this summer is likely to sign a backup point guard with veteran Devin Harris a free agent. Otherwise, the rotation is largely settled with the return of Barton and Jokic.


1. Granted a two-year report, $ 61.5 million with striker Kevin Durant

Casual chatter about the possibility that Durant could leave the two defending champions was quickly disproved since he became one of the first players to accept a new contract 2018-19. The only drama here was how long a contract Durant would sign, and in turn how much he would do.

Due to the salary cut that he took last season to help the Warriors manage their luxury tax bill while re-signing Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, Durant was limited to a salary starting $ 30 million on the kind of one-plus-one agreement that he finally accepted. To unlock his full maximum of $ 35.7 million, Durant would have had to sign a contract for at least two full years using Early Bird rights. So he gave priority to the flexibility of returning to the free agency in the summer of 2019 – and potentially then signing up to a maximum of five years at Golden State, having achieved Bird's full rights by playing three years with the team

significant for the warriors, who remain deeply in the luxury tax. Coincidentally, the amount of money that Durant ($ 5.7 million) will waive is similar to the amount of the middle-tier taxpayer exception that Golden State may use in free agency ($ 5.4 million). dollars). The possibility for the Warriors to use this money to enrich the list – in a summer where $ 5.4 million could go far because of the free agents' free market – could have helped convince Durant to go in that direction.


1. Has accepted a $ 160 million four-year contract with guard Chris Paul

2. Accepted from a $ 2.4 million contract dollars for a year with Gerald Green

The Rockets and Paul should be able to find reasons to feel good about this business, making a firm compromise. Paul gets his maximum salary, joining his teammates Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook as the three players are expected to spend more than $ 35 million in 2018-1919. (A certain LeBron James should soon join them when he accepts a new contract.)

Meanwhile, Houston held the line on a fifth year of this deal that would have paid Paul $ 47 million at age 37. Really, it will be difficult for Paul to earn his salary at any time in this contract given his age and his tendency to suffer muscle injuries. I project its value at about $ 80 million over the next three seasons, while it will make $ 115 million. But that's the price tag for the Rockets, who competed in an NBA finals game after adding Paul to the time a year ago.

Houston has also re-signed Green for a significant one-year contract to manage the team's tax bill. Since Green has played in Mike's system at Antoni, and that's a local product, getting it back at this price is a huge win.

Nevertheless, the big story of the night for the Rockets starts small before Trevor Ariza ship jumping for a one-year, $ 15 million contract – a huge blow to their chances of competing with the Warriors. Ariza's start is breathtaking given his close relationship with Houston stars Paul and James Harden and the pivotal role played by the Rockets in their starting lineup.

Almost as much as PJ Tucker's ability to defend centers, Ariza slides down. small queues achievable. And Ariza was the Rockets' first option against top scorers, including Durant in the Western Conference finals.

That Ariza does not think that he could get such a good deal out of Houston could be a signal that new owner Tilman Fertitta was not going to be in the business. I'm not ready to pay an exorbitant luxury tax bill to bring the list back intact. General Manager Daryl Morey will have a hard time replacing Ariza by the mid-level exception of taxpayers to offer in a short market of 3-D players who can defend one or the other spot to l & # 39; advance. I am fascinated to see how the Rockets react.


1. $ 22 million deal with striker Doug McDermott

As a combo before reaching his peak (he turned 26 in January), McDermott fits the main lines of what the Pacers should add to one of the most surprising teams of last season. This is the specific player who does not fit as well.

In theory, McDermott can defend one or the other place ahead. In practice, this means especially that it is a liability to one or the other position. Last season was the first time in four NBA seasons that McDermott's defensive rating in the real-plus ESPN was better than three points per 100 possessions – worse than the league average; Thanks to his shot (40% career starting from 3) and his ability to move without a ball, McDermott is a useful offensive player. But useful is not enough to offset his weak defense and make him a neutral global contributor. McDermott is ill-equipped to defend quality scorers head-to-head and rarely provides flights or blocks.

Indiana may point to Bojan Bogdanovic last season as an example of a player's transformation with a defensive track record in RPM – even worse than McDermott – in a decent contributor. (Bogdanovic even served as the Pacers' primary defensive option on LeBron James in the playoffs.) If McDermott can make similar progress, this contract could end up being a good one. This is simply not enough to justify making McDermott a priority when there are so few other teams out there with ceiling space.


Accepted from a one-year agreement with striker Omri Casspi

When Casspi signed for the minimum with the Warriors a year ago, he was unanimously saluted (including in these parts) as an ideal signature. Instead, Casspi did not even get to the play-offs with Golden State, who released him to make way for Quinn Cook on the playoffs' playoff lineup.

This result aside, Casspi remains a flyer for a team that needs combo Help me. He could end up replacing Chandler Parsons when Parsons will not be able to play due to injury or rest, which the Grizzlies must plan regularly. And Casspi is surely cheap after his unhappy season with the Warriors.


Granted a three-year report, $ 21 million with striker Ersan Ilyasova

As much as any report reported in the early hours of Sunday morning, Ilyasova at the Bucks was a surprise. Perhaps this should not have been the case, given its history with the organization. It was Ilyasova's third tour of duty in Milwaukee, the most recent one having been assigned to a different front office and coaching staff. Yet there is a level of familiarity on both sides

. During the three years since the Bucks traded her to Detroit, Ilyasova did a good job of keeping her value at the start of her thirties. Her ability to stretch the floor remains a constant, and Ilyasova fights defensively. According to research from NBAMiner.com, he is one of the most prolific shooters in the NBA, earning second place in the league by drawing 26 of them last season.

Returning to Milwaukee, Ilyasova will play Mirza Teletovic. play before a recurrence of blood clots set him apart and eventually led to his release. Ilyasova enjoyed an interesting development last season as the Philadelphia 76ers' play center in the absence of Joel Embiid, and Ilyasova-Giannis Antetokounmpo can be very offensive.

Ilyasova's great concern is to know whether he will drop a point in his mid-30s. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the last season of the contract Ilyasova's is not guaranteed, providing coverage of the Bucks.

Now the question becomes what happens with Jabari Parker, the restricted free agent of Milwaukee. Ilyasova could be Parker's replacement, and immerse himself in the non-taxable version of the mid-level exception to signify that he caps Bucks at about $ 130 million in salary. In practice, it is unlikely that Milwaukee will pay the tax, which means a de facto limit of $ 123.7 million. The addition of Ilyasova places the Bucks at around $ 110 million for 13 players, which means that a big bid for Parker is no longer available

It's possible that Parker can come back if he accepts his $ 4.3 million qualified offer. But it's becoming clear that Parker is not part of Milwaukee's long-term plans.


Accepted from a minimum one-year contract with guard Derrick Rose

Since the Timberwolves were the most motivated (and perhaps the only) suitor for Rose when it was waived by Utah Jazz. it is not surprising that he is coming back to Minnesota with a similar contract.

Rose played pretty well for the Timberwolves in the playoffs, shattering Houston's changes to score one-on-one. It did not hurt that Rose shot 7-of-10 out of 3 in those four games, which Minnesota can not hope to continue.

The biggest risk to re-sign Rose is that he cuts in minutes for the upper. Tyus Jones replacing Jeff Teague. But Rose played the majority of his regular season minutes alongside Jones (72 out of 119, by NBA Advanced Stats), so this concern could be somewhat overestimated.


1. Accepted for a $ 137 million contract with Paul George

You can read my complete analysis of the next step for the Thunder here


Phoenix Suns

1. Granted a year-long report, $ 15 million with attacker Trevor Ariza

The Suns seem to ask the question, "And if we were doing the team whole of small attackers? "

Having drafted a small forward with the No. 4 pick of the 2017 draft (Josh Jackson), signed one to one extension last fall (TJ Warren) and traded for the rights of # 10 a draft # 10 this year (Mikal Bridges), Phoenix The good news is that if there is a position where the most is almost always better, it's a small striker, the only one in the world. most versatile place in defense. I suppose Ariza will start to power by pushing the big Suns players (Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss) out of the lineup after starting half of the games last season. But he could also begin to take the lead, pushing Devin Booker to the point.

The big story here for me is that Phoenix used his space to sign a playmaker, leaving the position in Brandon's hands. Knight (coming back from a torn LCA) and No. 31 choose Elie Okobo. Unless an exchange, this seems to mean using Booker as the main ball player with Jackson in a supporting role – an interesting bet that could enhance Booker's value.

More likely, I suspect the lack of play the last 10 of the NBA despite their upgrades elsewhere. And I do not think that the addition of Ariza and Bridges will be enough to help the league 's worst defensive of last year, not with rookie Deandre Ayton getting anchored. things in the middle.

Phoenix obviously wants to get a spot in the playoffs season, which is probably the reason for being signing a free agent of 33 years for a one – year contract. But there is a big difference between wanting to make the playoffs and actually doing it, as the Suns have found out over and over again during their eight-year lottery run.

On the plus side, Ariza should attract commercial interest Phoenix does not fall from the playoff race. In addition, the one-year agreement protects the ceiling space of the Suns in 2019, when they could get in the mix for a maximum free agent if they keep an extension for Booker for take advantage of its relatively low cap.

That said, I think Phoenix would probably have done better to use its ceiling space now to recruit a younger player for a long-term contract that would have aged well as the cap would increase.


Accepted a $ 10 million one-year contract with attacker Rudy Gay

2. $ 12 million agreement with guard Marco Belinelli

The two agreements that San Antonio would have accepted Sunday morning do not really correspond to the idea that the Spurs are rebuilding with young talents acquired in exchange for Kawhi Leonard. Instead, San Antonio seems to want to win now – with or without Leonard.

Gay, who declined a $ 8.8 player option on the second season of the contract that he signed with the Spurs last summer, surely got the maximum possible – – 20% – in using non-bird rights. That would put his contract at $ 10.1 million, a very good result for Gay considering the limited market of free agents this summer. Gay and Kyle Anderson has teamed up to replace Leonard a little before last season, and I'm expecting a similar arrangement in the future, assuming that Anderson comes back as a player autonomous with restrictions.

Leonard to be part of the team next season, Gregg Popovich can return to the original plan to use Gay and Leonard together as part of smaller queues, as Spurs have rarely used in recent years.

Belinelli returns to the site of his greatest NBA heights. The best real shot percentage of Belinelli's career (.605) came in 2013-14 as part of the last Spurs championship team; the second best (.582) was last season, which he split between former San Antonio assistants Mike Budenholzer (in Atlanta) and Brett Brown (in Philadelphia). The question is how long Belinelli can maintain this level of performance, given that he will be 34 years old at the end of this contract. A one – year contract for Belinelli would have been more cautious.

[ad_2]
Source link