Two days in a free agency, most big names are off the board. This does not include Bogdan Bogdanovich, which is interesting because on Monday it seemed that he would not really hit the market.
To move my day 1 forward, here are seven thoughts about the next day:
Another big deal in LA
Serge Ibaka joins MLE to join Karj Leonard (Two years, 19 19 million) is probably the most diverse move that no claimant has made. Conflicts with the Montreal Herald are inevitable, so let’s get to the point: they’re both bargaining at this (same) paycheck, but Ibaka sits better off with the Los Angeles Clippers. Ibaka would have fit even better with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On the second unit Lou Lou had beautiful chemistry with Lou Williams, and he could develop something similar with Dennis Schroeder. Opponents in the playoffs will attack him defensively on Schroeder, however, like him and Williams they went. The 31-year-old version of the Ibaka is not a vertical spacer like the Herald, nor is it a similar threat with a ball in his hand. However, he is by far the best defender, and his shooting is literally a game-changer.
Ibaka allows the Clippers to play five-on-five like Jamichal Green, without giving them size and rim protection. He has not blurred the dominant shots in his thunder days, but his skills and realization have improved since then. While he doesn’t need to replace Ivica Zubek as a starter, he will definitely close out some playoff games. Ibaka and Mark Gasol had a similar platoon system with the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors won the championship in 2019 and remained resilient after Kavi is one reason they didn’t need to play anyone who couldn’t shoot 3s or control themselves on defense. The Clippers aren’t quite there, but now in the playoff setting they are more versatile and less sensitive to the place of Ibaka Harel.
The other side of the Hayward story
I’m not going to glean over Charlotte Hornets to overpay Gordon Hayward. My colleague Sam Quinn has already set them on fire, and you probably don’t need to explain to me why the team at his position shouldn’t spend $ 120 million on a 30-year-old group with a history of their injuries. Take the price from it for a minute, or imagine if Charlotte gives him season 9 million instead of season 30 million.
Purely in terms of the team’s need, Hayward helps the Hornets. Lots of front office fees and by head coach – and name change! – This is a franchise that has spent the last several decades exploring most of the wing player with its set of skills. Remember the fall of Lance Stephenson? How about a complete revelation that seems to have happened before Nicholas Batum was paid? Hayward can make shots and make room for the floor, so protection must always be there for him. Even more than his scoring, his passing will help Lamelo Ball, Miles Bridge and PJ Washington.
Hayward would not have left Boston, however, just to be the guy who makes the crime more systematic. The Celtics initially named Hayward as their best player, coming in a season with a consumption rate of 26.9 percent, slightly higher than last season’s Camba Vaker tax. He turned into a 20 percent consumer without any flaws. Every once in a while, he had a big scoring night, but that wasn’t his job. While going to Charlotte isn’t like going back to the Utah Jazz four years ago, when he gets a chance to show that he can still fill.
Let’s see it.
(One caveat: As currently designed, the Hornets don’t really have much room to pull Hayward himself. I believe the roster doesn’t include Hayward, Ball, Devonte ‘Graham and Terry Rosier when the season starts.)
Heat pull it
Strictly speaking, the hit is not running it back, as they have replaced Moe Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. with Moe Harkless (one year, 3. 3.6 million) and Avery Bradley (two years, .6 11.6 million, with a team option). . However, Miami has done what it has to do: retain Goran Dredic (two years, 37.4..4 million, with one team option) and remain a contender without sacrificing its 2021 flexibility.
Heat can also improve. The heat defense was as versatile as last season, yet they never did anything to distract the point guards at the attacking spot. Now they have Bradley, the best feature of which is the same. In the Miami system, it will also get part of its layout as a cutter.
One of the luxuries of having an elite coach is that you can trust that he will blend in and match his lineups as needed in the playoff series. Bradley gives him another type of defensive weapon, which can be decisive against the stars.
The Spoilestra will also need to deploy the Harclays selectively, as it is a less ready and less accurate shooter than the Croder. Opponents ignored him on the perimeter when he was with the Portland Trail Blazers, and Jones rarely played in the play for the same reason. The Hercules came much cheaper than the Crowder, and its length and leg speed made it a defensive upgrade in some matchups.
There are 15 players under contract in Miami, but that won’t happen. With the exception of a trade of .5..5 million dollars, which is a low enough figure to avoid the luxury tax. 6 3.6 million bi-annual exceptions are still available, however, Heat should decide to split MLE between Bradley and Hercules. And since most of their players are effectively at the end of the contract, they will have the opportunity to add reinforcements to the trading deadline.
Win-Now Sons will strike again
The Crowder went to the Phoenix Suns on three years, a million 30 million deals, and when its product was sold in a variety of different brands. There are also different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different different. Phoenix was under the radar for months between its hot start and its bubble, but ran a beautiful, heat-esque offensive system the whole time. It’s Croder’s favorite atmosphere, and his presence will give the Sun a mix of more Miami-like veterans and young players.
Hours after Croder added, Phoenix agreed with another tough customer: Javon Carter would sign again for three years and .5 11.5 million, if his 42.5 percent 3-point shooting wasn’t pure. It’s impossible not to love Carter’s defense, and the 6-foot-1 guard is tough enough that the Sons will be able to play him next to Christ Paul, just as the Raptors use Kyle Lori and Fred Vanville. If Carter, Cameron Payne and the yet-to-be-signed banned free agent Dario Ceric click this season as they were in Land Rlando, Phoenix could be one of the league’s best other units, with Crowder or Cameron Johnson’s Stretch 4.
Brooklyn has long filled the hole
For a team that used Quincy AC, Trevor Booker, Lewis Scola, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Nicholson, Justin Hamilton, Danti Cunningham, Timofe Mozgov and Tyler Zeller as stretch 5s in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, the Brooklyn net Deprived. (Yes, I promise you, Mozgov and Zeller were encouraged to shoot 3s in Brooklyn. I was there.)
When backup center Ed Davis was injured in the 2019 playoffs against the Philadelphia Ers 76, Jared Dudley and Ronde landed to play Hollis-Jefferson Small 5, but Dudley only provided a marginal pull and Hollis-Jefferson provided nothing. Was. This past season, the Nets did not plotted Jarrett Allen and Deandre Jordan in the middle, and skinny Rodins Kurcus was in charge of the backup center when Jordan was out of the bubble. In addition to the reunion with Kevin Durant, this is the reason why Brooklyn’s P te-min deal with Jeff Green is significant.
The 34-year-old Green Jazz couldn’t find his place last season, but it became a crucial part of the rotation after landing with the Houston Rockets. In Houston, Green realized the end of his career as a centerpiece, switching and shooting more frequently than before the 3s.
If both Jordan and Allen are still around, the Nets will not ask Green to play almost as much center this season. He gives them Option To play a five-out, though, and his role wouldn’t be so different, if he stays in the front corner. Leela’s work with the Rockets showed exactly how she could play Durant, Carrie Irving and any other Brooklyn plays.
There have been many voices about Brooklyn trying to trade for a third superstar. Like the other team linked with James Harden, however, the Nets do not need to be a blockbuster to succeed in their se fisson. Like Leela, newcomers Landry Schwartz and Bruce Brown have games made by Taylor to support the stars. And while he may have looked like a convicted felon, he is also to be congratulated for keeping Har Har Har Ris (four years, million 1 million).
In praise of Grizzlies
Memphis is sneaky. The front office fee, which steals good players in the draft, has also retained its young players on favorable terms. Dinthony Melton’s four-year, 35 35 million deal is probably my favorite of this whole off-fee ason, and keeping John Concher at 9 9 million in four years could be a bigger theft. (It is not yet clear whether there are any options or guaranteed years on Konchar’s contract.)
Melton, a 6-8 winged 6-2k com mbo guard, prepares for his shaky shooting with a stiffening defense, reliable passing and ridiculous rebounding for his franchise. Conch, a 6-7 wing, is only a fraction of Melton’s NBA experience, but he’s as much a darling of analytics. Clutches like “winning player” and “glue guy” don’t get the conch experience, but they do apply: he’s always hustling and always making good decisions, and he’ll make it without focusing on plays on both sides. Them. Don’t be shocked if this seemingly anonymous player finds a place in the rotation of the grizzlies and establishes himself as a high-level role player.
Concher and Melton were both banned free agents. I wonder if these agreements were enough to prevent them from signing offer fur sheets elsewhere.
Drowning or swimming in Atlanta
After adding Danilo Galinari (three years, .56.5 million) on the first day of free agency, the Hawks have signed Chris Dunn (two years, 10 million with player options), Rajan Rondo (two years, 15 15 million) and are still pending. Approximately 20 million cap space.
The Hawks could theoretically add Bogdanovic and / or move John Collins to the wing, or they could be more or less finished. Regardless, it looks like it will be time to sink or swim for their young wings.
While Kevin Hutter should remain steady in Atlanta rotation, there will now be fewer backcourt minutes available around Rondo and Dunn. As far as Cam Reddish and D’Andre Hunter are concerned, the free playing time of the lottery picks on the re-playing building team should be a thing of the past, and they will probably compete directly with each other.
Ideally, this will be healthy for their development, as expectations and the experience of playing in meaningful games will be enhanced. When people like me urge teams like the Huxs to be more patient, things like this often remain ineffective.
For more on the free player movement: CBS Sports Free-Agent Tracker.
