The Best Deals
Every year a team pulls off a signing that makes their GM look like a genius, and there’s bound to be another this season. It could be a star player changing teams or a Bismack Biyombo-like value signing. These are some potential examples.
The Superstar
- Kevin Durant: 2 years, $54.5 million with the Warriors
- 2016-17 salary: $26,540,100
- Max contract 30% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 35.8 minutes, 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .505/.387/.898
Kevin Durant might be criticized for ring chasing, but for the Warriors this is the biggest free agent win since LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami. They are coming off a season in which they broke the all time wins record and all time three-point shooting record, came within a game of repeating as champions, and they got even better.
Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, and bounced back tremendously from another foot surgery that ended his 2014-15 season. The Warriors will have huge expectations to win the title.
The only downside: Durant signed the patented one-and-one deal making him a free agent in the same summer as Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. Curry is a shoo-in to return, but Durant’s inevitable max salary could cost them the extremely valuable Iguodala.
The Hometown Discount
- Nicolas Batum: 5 years, $120 million with the Hornets
- 2016-17 salary: $20,869,566
- About 22% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 35.0 minutes, 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.9 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .426/.348/.849
https://youtu.be/-HFgbiD32rk
Nicolas Batum could have received $153 million from the Hornets on a max contract. Instead, he gave them a fortunate $33 million discount and they were able to comfortably able to re-sign Marvin Williams for 4-years and $54.5 million.
Batum stepped up in the absence of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and was essential to the Hornets’ success. He played good defense, led the team in assists, and finished second in scoring.
Re-signing Batum was the Hornets’ No. 1 priority and they finished the job.
The Franchise-Changer
- Al Horford: 4 years, $113 million with the Celtics
- 2016-17 salary: $26,540,100
- Max contract 30% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 32.1 minutes, 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .505/.344/.798
The Celtics have been looking for a star player for years. They found that guy with Al Horford. It was a huge victory for Boston as they were able to lock Horford up long-term and they didn’t need to give up any of their valuable Brooklyn Nets draft picks via trade.
Horford runs the floor well, a great benefit for Boston as they like to get out in transition. Additionally, he is coming off one of his best seasons shooting the three. If he can give the Celtics anything from beyond the arc it will be a plus. Their issues from downtown have been well-documented.
Horford isn’t a superstar but he instantly makes the Celtics a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Isaiah Thomas/Horford pick and roll will give defenses fits.
Linsanity Part 2
- Jeremy Lin: 3 years, $36 million with the Nets
- 2016-17 salary: $11,483,254
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 26.3 minutes, 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .412/.336/.815
Jeremy Lin is much more than a point guard to the lowly Brooklyn Nets, he’s a marketing dream. The former star of Linsanity is coming back to where it all began and the Nets may actually sell some tickets because of it.
Lin had a bounce-back season in Charlotte after a nightmare stint with the Lakers and likely could’ve cashed in for a little more dough somewhere else. It was his loyalty to Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, a Knicks assistant during Linsanity, that swayed Lin to Brooklyn. All three years are guaranteed without any options, meaning Lin and the Nets are committed to each other for the future.
The deal is of great value for a starter in this market, especially when you consider what the Nets received from the position last season.
The Wing Defender
- Courtney Lee: 4 years, $50 million with the Knicks
- 2016-17 salary: $11,242,000
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 29.5 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .454/.378/.839
https://youtu.be/smXDjQz0zus
Courtney Lee solved a lot of problems for the New York Knicks. He gives them a new starting shooting guard, some defensive help on the wing, and a knock down three-point shooter.
The contract is great value. Lee could have made more money somewhere else, but wanted to be a Knick. He will make less in 2016-17 than last season’s disappointing starter at shooting guard, Arron Afflalo.
The Veteran Scorer
- Joe Johnson: 2 years, $22 million with the Jazz
- 2016-17 salary: $11,000,000
- About 12% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 33.4 minutes, 12.2 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .439/.383/.831
https://youtu.be/Zwo8edsYDC4
The Utah Jazz are one of the most well-run front offices in the NBA. Being that they aren’t a popular destination for free agents, so they build their team through the draft.
As one of the league’s youngest teams they were in need of a veteran voice in the locker room, and after ranking 25th in bench scoring last season they needed some punch from their second unit in 2016-17. Joe Johnson gives them both.
Johnson rejuvenated his career after signing with the Heat for the second half of last season. He went from an aging player on his last leg to an underrated commodity on the free agent market.
The Sixers Signed A Free Agent
- Jerryd Bayless: 3 years, $27 million with the 76ers
- 2016-17 salary: $9,424,084
- About 10% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 28.9 minutes, 10.4 points, 3.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals
- 2015-16 slash line: .423/.437/.778
https://youtu.be/MCGH0gv_d_8
The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t had a rotation player like Jerryd Bayless in a long time. By that I mean a veteran player who has proven to be a contributor on a team. Bayless is coming off the best shooting season of his career, finishing fourth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage.
Bayless’ deal was a firm message by new general manager Bryan Colangelo that he is going to operate in a different way than his predecessor did. After years of Sam Hinkie cultivating assets, the Sixers are ready to have a reliable veteran in the lineup.
The Raptors Did It Again
- Jared Sullinger: 1 year, $6 million with the Raptors
- 2016-17 salary: $5,628,000
- About 6% of the cap
- 2015-16 averages: 23.6 minutes, 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 blocks
- 2015-16 slash line: .435/.282/.640
The Raptors pulled off a steal last summer when they got Bismack Biyombo at the bargain price of $3 million. He parlayed an excellent 2015-16 campaign into a 4-year, $70 million contract with the Magic. The Raptors couldn’t afford to bring him back, so they went to the bargain bin again and returned with another promising option.
Jared Sullinger wore out his welcome in Boston and needed a fresh start. He isn’t a star player, but like Biyombo he will be able to make a difference even if it’s in a different way. As bad as Sullinger is from behind the three-point line, he’s a career 42.2 percent shooter on 2-point FGAs from greater than 16-feet.
The issue surrounding Sullinger was that team’s were reluctant to commit to him long-term because of his conditioning. The Raptors avoided that issue entirely by keeping him contained to a one-year deal.
