Ronnie Brewer Joins Chicago (aka Utah East)

After Orlando matched their offer to J.J. Redick, the Chicago Bulls quickly turned to Ronnie Brewer (number 18 on the Big Board) to fill their shooting guard needs, giving him a 3 year, $12.5 million deal. Brewer joins former Jazz teammates Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver to help form Utah East. He was the starting two guard for the Jazz before being inexplicably sold to Memphis for a future first round pick. He is an incredible athlete, a potential lock down defender, and a guy who finishes strong on the break. He is not a good shooter but he is someone who understands his limitations and rarely tries to do too much. Basically, you can't depend on Brewer to be one of your main sources of offense but as a role player on a team that already has plenty of offensive output, he can be very productive. To get him for $12.5 million is an absolute steal. In a year that saw Amir Johnson get a full Mid Level Exception deal, I thought for sure Brewer, a much better, more accomplished player than Johnson, would get a similar deal. He seemed the be the forgotten man, though, and the Bulls end up with a great deal. Redick would have helped that team spread the floor a lot better than Brewer will, but Brewer's defense will fit in perfectly with what they've done over the last few years. Great pickup for the Bulls.

Grade: A-

JJ Redick Forced to Stay in Orlando

Just like they did last year with the matching of a Maverick offer to Marcin Gortat at the last minute, the Orlando Magic have retained shooter J.J. Redick (number 20 on the Big Board) by matching the offer he received from Chicago. The contract will be for 4 years, $19 million. Being the hardcore Duke fan that I am, I love JJ Redick and love the game he has developed for himself. He's always been known as a shooter but over the last year he developed the ability to shoot on the move and turned himself into a gritty defender. But there are two parts to this deal. On the one hand, Redick's price tag makes him very valuable. I was a bit surprised that he didn't get more than $19 million in the first place. So you can understand why Orlando would jump at the chance to keep him around at that price. On the other hand, though, the Magic have now made it quite a habit to pay a lot of money for players who don't get much playing time from head coach Stan Van Gundy. The Magic have now given Redick $19 million, Brandon Bass $16 million, Gortat $35 million, and Chris Duhon $16 million. Redick played 22 minutes per game last year and that was much higher than either Bass or Gortat. Duhon seems likely to fall into the same 15-18 minutes per game range. So while they still don't have a starting power forward to pair with Dwight Howard, nor a defensive stopper on the perimeter (since they seem content to let Matt Barnes walk away), they've got $86 million tied up in four guys who don't get much burn. I just don't understand the strategy. It should be noted, too, that Bass and Gortat were extremely displeased with their playing time last year and you can bet Redick will be in the same boat as he would have been the starter in Chicago. All of these guys are nice players but the mentality just doesn't make sense.

Grade: B-

Luis Scola Stays with Houston

After a well-timed breakout season last year, Luis Scolar (number 14 on the Big Board) decided to re-up with the Houston Rockets, signing a 5 year, $47 million contract. Scola has always been a hard working, gritty power forward but last year he displayed an improved offensive repertoire that allowed him to take a huge step forward as a player. His improvement will be a boon to Yao Ming this year as he returns from injury to play with a guy who can legitimately take some of the low post pressure away from him. When the Mavs played Houston for the first time last year I was shocked at how much better Scola was from the year before. He has a nice mid range game but it is footwork and array of moves in the post that makes him so valuable. He is not very athletic but he's such a strong, hard-nosed defender who makes up for any lack of natural talent. To get Scola back for approximately the same amount of money as Charlotte gave Tyrus Thomas is a great signing for Houston. Plus, he looks like Sloth from "The Goonies" which is always what you want in your power forward.

Grade: A-

Big Board Update

Here's an updated look at where the top 100 free agents in the NBA have ended up and who is still available.

1. Lebron James - SIGNED: 6 yr/$110 million - Miami
2. Dwyane Wade - RESIGNED: 6 yr/$107 million - Miami
3. Dirk Nowitzki - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$80 million - Dallas
4. Chris Bosh - SIGNED: 6 yr/$110 million - Miami
5. Amare Stoudemire - SIGNED: 5 yr/$100 million - New York
6. Joe Johnson - RESIGNED: 6 yr/$120 million - Atlanta
7. Paul Pierce - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$60 million - Boston
8. Carlos Boozer - SIGNED: 5 yr/$80 million - Chicago
9. David Lee - SIGNED: 6 yr/$80 million - Golden State
10. Rudy Gay - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$82 million - Memphis
11. Ray Allen - RESIGNED: 2 yr/$20 million - Boston
12. John Salmons - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$39 million - Milwaukee
13. Mike Miller - SIGNED: 5 yr/$25 million - Miami
14. Luis Scola (R) - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$47 million - Houston
15. Raymond Felton - SIGNED: terms undisclosed - New York
16. Brendan Haywood - RESIGNED: 6 yr/$55 million - Dallas
17. Tyrus Thomas (R) - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$40 million - Charlotte
18. Ronnie Brewer - SIGNED: 3 yr/$12.5 million - Chicago
19. Josh Childress (R) - SIGNED: 5 yr/$34 million - Phoenix
20. JJ Redick (R) - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$20 million - Orlando
21. Udonis Haslem - RESIGNED: undisclosed - Miami
22. Shaquille O’neal
23. Travis Outlaw - SIGNED: 5 yr/$35 million - New Jersey
24. Brad Miller
25. Jermaine O’neal - SIGNED: 2 yr/$12 million - Boston
26. Channing Frye - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$30 million - Phoenix
27. Derek Fisher - RESIGNED: 3 yr/unknown - LA Lakers
28. Nate Robinson
29. Al Harrington - SIGNED: 5 yr/$35 million - Denver
30. Randy Foye (R) - SIGNED: terms not disclosed - LA Clippers
31. Richard Jefferson
32. Tracy McGrady
33. Kyle Lowry (R) - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$24 million - Houston
34. Luke Ridnour - SIGNED: 4 yr/$16 million - Minnesota
35. Drew Gooden - SIGNED: 5 yr/$32 mil - Milwaukee
36. Allen Iverson
37. Josh Howard
38. Matt Barnes
39. Wes Matthews (R) - SIGNED: 5 yr/$34 million - Portland
40. Ryan Gomes - SIGNED: 3 yr/$12 million - LA Clippers
41. Darko Milicic - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$20 mil - Minnesota
42. Steve Blake - SIGNED: 4 yr/$16 million - Lakers
43. Anthony Morrow (R) - SIGNED: 3 yr/$12 million - New Jersey
44. Kyle Korver - SIGNED: 3 yr/$15 million - Chicago
45. Raja Bell - SIGNED: 3 yr/$10 million - Utah
46. Quentin Richardson - SIGNED: unknown - Orlando
47. Craig Smith
48. Will Bynum (R)
49. Zydrunas Illguaskas
50. Rasual Butler
51. Shannon Brown
52. Kris Humphries
53. Jerry Stackhouse
54. Tony Allen - SIGNED: 3 yr/$9.7 million - Memphis
55. Amir Johnson (R) - RESIGNED: 5 yr/$34 million - Toronto
56. Ronald Murray
57. Larry Hughes
58. Sergio Rodriguez - SIGNED: Real Madrid
59. Joel Pryzbilla
60. Hakim Warrick - SIGNED: 4 yr/$16 million - Phoenix
61. Jordan Farmar - SIGNED: 3 yr/$12 million - New Jersey
62. Chris Duhon - SIGNED: 4 yr/$16 million - Orlando
63. CJ Watson (R)
64. Chuck Hayes
65. Juwan Howard
66. Marquis Daniels
67. Eddie House
68. Dorell Wright - SIGNED: 3 yr/$11 million - Golden State
69. Louis Amundson
70. Antoine Wright
71. Kurt Thomas
72. Ben Wallace - RESIGNED: 2 yr/unknown - Detroit
73. Roger Mason
74. Damien Wilkins
75. Carlos Arroyo
76. Jannero Pargo
77. Joel Anthony
78. Anthony Tolliver (R)
79. Jawad Williams (R)
80. Anthony Carter - RESIGNED: 1 yr/minimum - Denver
81. Shaun Livingston - SIGNED: 2 yr/$7 million - Charlotte
82. Theo Ratliff
83. Luther Head - Deal renegged by New Orleans
84. Tim Thomas
85. Devean George
86. Matt Bonner - RESIGNED: 4 yr/$15 million - San Antonio
87. Ian Mahinmi - SIGNED: 2 yr/$3.6 million - Dallas
88. DJ Mbenga
89. Shelden Williams - SIGNED: 1 yr/minimum - Denver90. Earl Boykins
91. Joey Graham
92. Bobby Simmons
93. Johan Petro - SIGNED: 3 yr/$10 million - New Jersey
94. Rafer Alston
95. Fabricio Oberto
96. Kwame Brown
97. Ike Diogu
98. Keith Bogans
99. Trenton Hassell
100. Devin Brown

Kyle Lowry

The Houston Rockets retained the services of point guard Kyle Lowry (number 33 on the Big Board) yesterday, matching the 4 year, $24 million contract the Cleveland Cavs had offered him. Lowry will continue to join Aaron Brooks in an explosive 1-2 punch at the point guard position, a combo that was very successful for Houston last year. Here's where this whole grading thing gets tricky. I love Kyle Lowry. He is a fearless little guy who can get you 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists a night without even trying. He attacks the rim with reckless abandon and he's strong enough to take on much bigger opponents. His stats are impactful, too, which is something a lot of role players don't give you. He's the type of guy that could score 8 points in a game but you really feel those 8 points if you're the other team. All that said, however, $6 million a year is a lot of money for a backup who can't shoot. I can appreciate that Houston wants to keep their core intact and maybe they're the same as the Mavericks, a team that will always be over the salary cap so it doesn't really matter if they overpay their players. And clearly $6 million was the established market for Lowry. I just think if Lowry hit the free agent market next year, he'd probably get $4 million. Everyone is overpaying, though, so I guess it makes sense for the Rockets to join in. I'm happy for Lowry who scraps and works for every single thing he gets in this league; I'm just not sure he's worth this much.

Grade: B

4 y, 24 m

Shaun Livingston Signs with Charlotte

Since they don't have a single point guard on the roster and recently turned down an opportunity to pick up Jose Calderon, the Charlotte Bobcats signed Shaun Livingston (number 81 on the Big Board) to a 2 year, $7 million contract. Livingston will legitimately have the opportunity to be the starter in Charlotte. Very few players in NBA history have deserved a second chance more than Shaun Livingston. A string-bean of a kid with true point guard skills in a 6-7 frame, Livingston came straight to the NBA from high school. Just as he was getting his NBA legs, so to speak, he suffered one of the worst sports injuries I'm ever seen and has spent the last 4 years trying to complete a comeback. He's bounced from team to team but was never able to crack a rotation or show the promise he once had until the end of last year. In 26 games with the sad-sack Washington Wizards, he averaged 9 points and 4 assists in 25 minutes per game and shot 53% from the floor. That certainly doesn't quite measure up to the potential he had coming into the league but it's a good start. While Charlotte looks like they're headed straight back down into the basement of the Eastern Conference, Livingston might just get that second chance he's been working toward.

Grade: B

Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter Sign with Denver

Looking to fill out their roster, the Denver Nuggets brought back Anthony Carter (number 80 on the Big Board) and picked up Shelden Williams (number 89). Both contracts appear to be of the one year, veteran's minimum variety, which will mean around $1.4 million for Carter and $1 million for Williams. Carter has been with the Nuggets for four seasons as a valuable if flawed backup point guard before being displaced in favor of rookie Ty Lawson. As far as third stringers go, Carter is a solid player. Shelden Williams has had one of the most disappointing careers of anyone to come in the league in the last few years. A top 5 pick in 2006, Williams seemed like a guy who would never be a star but could be a quality, valuable big man for a long time. He's a bit undersized for the center position but he's always had great footwork and a knack for picking up rebounds even when he's overmatched. But it just hasn't worked out for the guy. At each stop I wonder if he'll get a chance to show what he's got but I'm definitely coming around to the fact that he probably doesn't have much to show. Still, he's a good locker room guy and great end-of-the-bench towel waiver and maybe he has something left to display. (BTW, Williams has averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds for his career projected over 36 minutes a game. I'm not a huge fan of deep stats but I think that shows that there's at least a possibility that he's got something to offer if he ever gets a chance.)

Carter Grade: B
Williams Grade: B

Al Harrington Joins Denver

Spurning an offer from the Dallas Mavericks, Al Harrington (number 29 on the Big Board) has signed a 5 year, $34 million contract with the Denver Nuggets. Harrington has jumped around a bit in his career as a solid scorer who does surprisingly little else. He spent the last year and a half in New York where he put up great numbers, albeit in a stat-inflating system. He projects to be the first big off the bench in Denver, but given the injury history of Kenyon Martin and Nene, he could be a start by mid season. Harrington is a versatile guy who can play all three forward positions and provides another offensive weapon for the Nuggets, something that they can't ever seem to get enough of. I think this is a lot to pay for an aging scorer but Harrington probably has some gas left in the tank. He can be a frustrating guy, though, because he's got a great NBA body but doesn't seem to like contact much. He's much more likely to attempt 10 threes in a game than he is to attempt 10 free throws. And he only makes an impact on defense and the glass when he wants them to, which isn't very often. Still, as a complimentary player, you can do a lot worse than Al Harrington.

Grade: B

Wesley Matthews Headed to Portland

Last week the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to terms with Wesley Matthews (number 39 on the Big Board) on a 5 year, $35 million contract. Matthews was a restricted free agent, meaning his former team (the Utah Jazz) had the right to match any offer he might get. With Utah signing Raja Bell, however, Matthews is cleared to join the Blazers. This is a huge deal for Matthews and probably an overpayment for Portland. Matthews was undrafted out of Marquette last year, caught on with the Jazz in training camp, and did so well that Utah felt justified in trading their starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer for a future draft pick, clearing the way for Matthews. He is an outstanding perimeter defender who finishes aggressively at the rim and can even shoot a little. He was great in the playoffs, putting up 13 points, 4 rebounds, and almost 2 steals. He's got a great story and I'm happy for him. On the flip side, I think Portland overpaid for his services. Matthews is a backup to Brandon Roy and while his defense will keep him on the court, the offensive aptitudes of some of the rest of his new teammates will make it difficult to keep everyone happy. If Matthews continues to improve and turns into a consistent 15, 4, 3, 2 kind of guy, this is a solid signing. But if he's maxed out his potential (I think he has) then this is a lot of money for a backup.

Grade: B

Raja Bell Back to Utah

Despite being pursued by Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, guard Raja Bell (number 45 on the Big Board) signed a 3 year, $10 million contract to return to the Utah Jazz. Bell spent a couple of years in Utah before reaching his peak with Phoenix. This is an excellent signing for the Jazz and a smart use of fiscal resources. Instead of matching a monster contract offer from the Portland Trail Blazers to Wesley Matthews, the Jazz picked up Raja Bell at a fraction of the cost. Matthews is a guy I really like but he's a younger version of Bell. So while Portland will be paying Matthews $35 million over 5 years, the Jazz obtain Bell, a better shooter and a more respected player, for $25 million less. Bell will plug right into a revamped Utah lineup and provide an edge the team has missed over the last few years. I'm still not sure how Utah scores enough points to contend for a title, but they can definitely run with the big boys. Great fit.

Grade: A-

Mavericks Make a Move/Make Me Angry

You'll have to forgive me if I seem a bit distracted in this post. I'm standing on the ledge of a high building as we speak, contemplating whether or it would be worse to jump and end my Dallas Mavericks fandom or switch allegiances to the LA Lakers.

After failing to acquire any of the big free agents and getting beat to the punch on Al Jefferson, the Dallas Mavericks finally traded in the expiring contract of Erick Dampier. Damp, along with worst-player-in-the-league Matt Carroll and Eduardo Najera will be sent to Charlotte in exchange for centers Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca. Dampier can be cut anytime between now and the first game of the season with no cost to the Bobcats. Chandler's contract expires after this season so he has a bit more value than what he brings to the court alone.

Let's just be open and honest: as a lifelong Maverick fan, I am pissed. The Mavs front office has talked up the Dampier contract and the way it was structured for the last two years. While we all knew that moving him for a premier superstar like Lebron or Wade was a longshot at best, I think all of us believed we could get something of value, something that put us close to the top. That's all I'm asking for; a chance to contend, make a playoff run, and maybe get lucky. That's all. This trade doesn't do it. I like Tyson Chandler. When he can stay healthy (which isn't often) he's an exciting player with a lot of energy and an aptitude for big dunks and blocked shots. I like that. What I don't like is cashing in what was billed to be a major trade chip in exchange for a backup who is completely redundant to what you already have on the roster.

If you're going to acquire Tyson Chandler then don't resign Brendan Haywood. If you're going to resign Brendan Haywood then don't trade for Tyson Chadler. They do they EXACT SAME THING. Both are solid defenders, both rebound well, and both are next to worthless on the offensive end. You can't run set plays for either of these guys and expect to get easy buckets. Chandler is more athletic, Haywood more durable but they are, for all intents and purposes, the same player. Adding a second no-offense center doesn't address any of the team's many needs. The Mavs still don't have a suitable backup for Dirk. They still don't have an actual backup point guard behind a 38 year old Jason Kidd. They still have two small forwards and no starting shooting guards. They still have a rapidly declining Jason Terry filling a role as a primary scoring option. And most importantly, they still can't score.

Since Steve Nash left the Mavs in 2004 the team has had only one significantly better-than-average offensive weapon and that was Josh Howard before he crashed and burned. I love love love Jason Kidd but his inability to get his own shot limits his offensive impact. Jason Terry is a third or fourth option who has been masquerading as a Number Two for years. Caron Butler might be a Number Two but not in this system and not while playing out of position as a shooting guard. Year after year the Mavericks get bounced in the playoffs and talk about making big changes and then in the end they get the old band back together and give it a go with a few minor tweaks. In doing so they have wasted the majority of Dirk Nowitzki's prime. Get the guy some freaking help. Batman needs a Robin. Jason Terry isn't Robin, Caron Butler isn't Robin, Rodrique Beaubois isn't ready to be Robin, and Tyson Chandler DEFINITELY isn't Robin. Without adding a legitimate offensive player, a guy who can get you easy baskets and get his own shot, it will take incredible luck to get a shot at a championship.

In the Mavs defense getting something for nothing is a plus. Tyson Chandler can definitely play a little bit and what the Mavs paid to get him is chump change. Just getting rid of Matt Carroll and his contract makes them a better team if for no other reason than it opens a roster spot for someone who gives a crap. What the Bobcats are thinking here is totally unclear to me or anyone else with a pulse. Dampier is instant cap space so you can see the benefit in that. But I could seriously make a case for Matt Carroll's contract being the worst in the league. Sure, it's not huge money (around $4 million a year for the next three years) but Carroll is at best a 12th man, meaning you're now paying $4 million to a guy who will never see the court for three more years. Najera's contract is also not great. So somehow the Bobcats have managed to lose money in a money-saving deal. Take it a step further and consider that just yesterday the Bobcats had agreed to trade Chandler and Boris Diaw to Toronto for Jose Calderon and other considerations before backing out at the last minute. Calderon isn't a superstar but he's a quality NBA point guard, something the Cats really need. So what's the deal here? How do you go from adding a potential franchise cornerstone to taking on bad contracts and getting nothing in return? The Bobcats can't seem to figure out if they're going to try to build on last season's playoff berth or start over. Crap or get off the pot, so to speak.

In the end, the Mavs took the Bobcats to the cleaners with this deal. It's ridiculous how unbalanced this trade is in favor of Dallas. For that I have to give them some credit. But cashing this trade chip, a chip that has been talked about among Maverick fans for two years, on a backup who can't score is infuriating.

Dallas Grade: C
Charlotte Grade: F

Jazz Acquire Al Jefferson from Minnesota

After losing Carlos Boozer to the Bulls, the Utah Jazz made short order of replacing him, acquiring forward/center Al Jefferson from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for two first round picks. The Jazz also sent the trade exception they got from the Bulls in the Boozer signing. The draft picks the Wolves obtained are Utah's 2011 pick and a Memphis pick in either 2011 or 2012.

I love this move for Utah. For all his short comings, Boozer was the best scorer the Jazz had and Jefferson easily replaces that. In fact, Jefferson and Boozer are quite similar in their statistical impact. Boozer is a better mid range shooter but Jefferson has more moved in the post and is a slightly better defender. The Jazz will have to change their game plan, though, because you can't run the high pick-and-roll with Jefferson like they did with Boozer. But Deron Williams will instantly make Jefferson a better player. I really expect we're going to see the best Jefferson has to offer, and don't forget that he was considered one of the best young big men in the league before an injury two years ago. To acquire him without giving up any roster-based assets is a coup.

For every winner there is a gigantic loser, however, and as always, the loser in this case is a sad, sad Timberwolf franchise. Look I agree, Jefferson and Kevin Love don't fit together. If you're concerned about money then Love is the guy you keep. Fine, whatever. But GM David Kahn did such a magnificently boneheaded job of making it clear that the team was desperate to get rid of Jefferson that the team lost all leverage in actually acquiring meaningful assets. Seriously, the best way to insure that you get next to nothing for the best player on your team is to broadcast it to anyone who will listen (and a number of people who are trying desperately not to listen) that you want to get rid of him and save money. Idiot. The Memphis pick might have some value given how poorly that franchise is running these days but that doesn't change the fact Minnesota now has a roster full of role players and guys who are too green to contribute much. They could easily be the most inept offensive team in the league next year. Terrible.

Utah Grade: A
Minnesota Grade: D

Luke Ridnour Joins Minnesota

In his continuing efforts to provoke my criticism, Minnesota GM/president David Kahn has signed Luke Ridnour (number 34 on the Big Board) to a 4 year, $16 million contract. To be clear here, the signing of Ridnour in and of itself is not a bad signing. He is an extremely strong backup point guard that I would love to have on my team. And considering that he signed for the same amount of money as Chris Duhon, a player he is far superior to, this would be a great deal for, say, Dallas, Detroit, or any team that doesn't already have an overabundance of point guards.

And there's the rub. Beginning with the 2009 draft, the Timberwolves have:
-Drafted point guard Ricky Rubio with the number 5 pick;
-Drafted point guard Johnny Flynn with the number 6 pick;
- Drafted point guard Ty Lawson with the number 18 pick (traded to Denver);
- Signed point guard Ramon Sessions to a 4 year, $16 million deal.

Granted, Rubio stayed in Spain (mostly because Kahn drafted ANOTHER POINT GUARD RIGHT AFTER HIM!!!) and Lawson was traded. But seriously, what's this guy's deal? Do you need to pay real money to 3 point guards? No. This is in addition to the fact that on draft day this year he drafted or traded for 3 small forwards and so far this off season has overpaid two centers while giving away the best player on his team, Al Jefferson, for pennies on the dollar. Idiot. Absolute idiot.This dude is highly unqualified for the position he's found himself in and he's now just shooting from the hip and ticking everyone off in the process. If the Wolves weren't already a terrible franchise he'd be running that thing into the ground. I feel genuinely bad for Minnesota fans and hope, for their sake, that the David Kahn Reign of Terror ends sooner rather than later.

Grade: C-

Raymond Felton to New York

I still don't have an exact figure on this deal but I've waited long enough. Over the weekend the New York Knicks signed Raymond Felton (number 15 on the Big Board) to a 2 year deal worth approximately $15 million. Felton has been with Charlotte for his entire 5 year career, averaging 13 points and 6 assists over that time. Felton is a solid contributor across the board. He scores a little bit, puts up good assist numbers, and even rebounds and defends well enough. He is not a very good shooter but those percentages saw a steady increase this season. Felton doesn't have a lot of potential in terms of what he could develop into but what he is now is what he will probably be for the next 8 years. In the right system, with the right players around him, he could average 15 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds and put up a couple of triple doubles. Does he fit Mike D'antoni's fast-paced system, though? Honestly, I'm not sure. Felton is closer to a combo guard than he is a true point guard and that makes this move a bit riskier than it looks on paper. He is much more talented than Chris Duhon, the last point guard to make an attempt at D'antoni's system, so he will have more success than Duhon. But I'm not sure it necessarily translates to many more wins. This style of play calls for a point guard with great court vision and awareness and I wouldn't say those are Felton's skills. So while the Knicks will undoubtedly surround him with streak shooters and run pick-and-roll between he and Amare Stoudemire, his ability to find the open man will be the question. Still, $7 million a year is a bargain for a player of this talent for this team and to get it done without a long term commitment is a nice bonus. I think the Knicks are still going to be a mediocre team but at least with Stoudemire and Felton, they've got a chance.

Grade: B

Suns, Raptors Swap Barbosa, Turkoglu

This still isn't completely official yet because of some third team complications but we're going to assume it's going through no matter what. The Phoenix Suns continue to completely revamp their roster by sending guard Leandro Barbosa to the Toronto Raptors for forward Hedo Turkoglu. The Suns also sent part of the trade exception they received for Amare Stoudemire to get the deal done. Barbosa has been a bit up and down since his breakout season a few years back and has struggled to find his place in the rotation. Turkoglu is a very interesting case. He had a tremendous playoff run with the Magic in 2009 and turned that into big money. Unfortunately, however, he spurned the Trail Blazers at the eleventh hour and opted to sign in Toronto. The Blazers would have been a great fit for Turkoglu whereas the Raptors were never really thrilled to have him on board but had to do something with their cap space to keep Chris Bosh happy. (We see how that turned out.)

Anyway, the Raptors were looking to get rid of Turkoglu almost immediately and the feeling seemed to be mutual. In Barbosa the Raptors get a solid combo guard who is as fast as anyone in the league and can fill it up when he gets hot. And more importantly, they clear Turkoglu (and his $55 million) off the cap and get a fresh start. The Suns on the other hand get a seriously talented guy who can handle the ball, shoot a little, and play multiple positions, all of which make him highly valuable for the Suns. However, they also get to deal with his inflated contract and are now stuck playing super small ball yet again, a system to fail in the playoffs. I don't know how a starting lineup consisting of Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, Josh Childress, Turkoglu, and Channing Frye expects to guard ANYONE and there's not a single guy in that lineup that you can count on to average 20 points a game. Plus, Turkoglu and Childress are a bit redundant. This is the problem with the Suns. They don't want to commit the money to make a real run at building a contender and yet because of Steve Nash, they're unwilling to start the rebuilding process. They can probably win 45 games but it won't translate to postseason success so I'm not sure what the point is here.

Raptors Grade: B+
Suns Grade: B-

Quentin Richardson Headed to Orlando

Resigning themselves to the loss of JJ Redick, the Orlando Magic turned to Quentin Richardson (number 46 on the Big Board) with a 3 year deal worth (approximately) $10 million. Richardson, for his part, continues his pursuit of having every team in the league own his rights at one point or another. This will be Richardson's 7th team in 10 years. Yay for him. Seriously though, you can do a lot worse than Quentin Richardson. He hasn't lived up to the talent he had coming out of college and has lost all desire to ever enter the paint or drive to the rim. But he's a quality shooter with good court vision and a strong post game when he so chooses to utilize it. He will fit in well in the Orlando system and will benefit greatly from having Dwight Howard to work off of.

Grade: B

Ian Mahinmi Heads to Dallas

With Brendan Haywood in the fold and Erick Dampier on his way out, the Dallas Mavericks looked to Ian Mahinmi (number 87 on the Big Board) to add a little depth to their front court, signing the young center to a 2 year, $3.6 million contract. Mahinmi is a French national who spent the last couple of years down south with the Spurs. He is a project type of guy but he does have some talent that conceivably could provide some value to the Mavs. I've seen Mahinmi play a few times and must admit that while he's far from a finished product (or an overly impressive one), you can see the potential. He's got a great NBA body and decent foot work but he's still quite raw. He's no worse than, say, DJ Mbenga has been for the Lakers over the last couple of years and he's not a big risk. Some seasoning and a little playing time here and there will help him out. This is about what you expect to pay for a third string, young big man so no real complaint from me, other than the fact that we're 12 days into free agency and this is the only addition the Mavs have made. Frustrating.

Grade: B-

Derek Fisher Sticks with Lakers

After flirting with the Axis of Evil in Miami, Derek Fisher (number 27 on the Big Board) decided to return home to the Lakers with a 3 year deal worth around $10 million. Fisher will be after the 6th ring of his underrated, remarkable career. Let's put all our cards on the table here: I hate Derek Fisher. Hate him. This may come as a surprise given my appreciation of little players and guys who come from small schools but I always make an exception for Derek Fisher. It's not because of the ridiculous number of big time, clutch shots he hit over the course of his career nor just the simple fact that he plays for the Lakers (both valid reasons for not liking someone). I hate Derek Fisher because he is a cheap, borderline dirty player and yet he seems like a nice guy so everyone gives him a pass. Let me tell you something: you can be a hecka nice dude off the court and still be a toolbag on it. Fisher takes cheap shots whenever he can, complains to the refs with reckless abandon, and is one of the league's preeminent floppers. You can respect his work ethic and appreciate the absurdity that a guy of his size, athletic ability, and skill level has managed to stay relevant in the NBA for 15 years and still recognize that he a cheapshot artist. I'm sure I'd love to have him on my team but I hate the pass he gets from every single member of the media. Anyway, this is another good signing for the Lakers who seem to always make the right move. Fisher will probably have a lesser role this year with the signing of Steve Blake, but all that really means is he'll be fresh for the playoffs when he will inevitably have another great year. So frustrating.

Grade: A-

Udonis Haslem Stays with Miami

Udonis Haslem (number 21 on the Big Board) agreed to 5 year, $20 million contract with the Miami Heat, turning down more lucrative offers from other teams. The Heat is the only team Haslem has ever played for and it's likely that his career will end there at this point. This one hurts. When the offseason began, I targeted Haslem as a guy I wanted on the Mavs. He's a perfect fit for the Mavericks, a banger who knows his role, rebounds, plays incredible defense, and can hit a 16 foot jumper. When news arrived earlier this week that the Mavs were actually pursuing Haslem, I was ecstatic. They were actually doing what I wanted them to do! What a glorious day. And then Haslem takes less money to resign with Miami. Blerg. Obviously I can't fault the guy for staying home and displaying his loyalty. This is a great signing for the Heat. Haslem can be a backup for Chris Bosh or the starting center next to him, depending on who else they bring in to fill out their roster. He's the ultimate role player and an outstanding teammate and only continues to deepen my NBA off season depression.

Grade: A

Childress Signed and Traded to Suns

With the departure of Amare Stoudemire to the New York Knicks, the Phonix Suns appear to be returning to their old small ball formula with their recent acquisitions. Within a matter of hours they initiated a trade for Hedo Turkoglu (more on that to come once the deal is finalized) and agreed to terms on a sign and trade for Josh Childress (number 19 on the Big Board). Phoenix will send Atlanta a 2012 second round pick and part of the trade exception they received for Amare as compensation. Childress was a lottery pick in 2004 and played 4 seasons for the Hawks before spending the last 2 years in Greece. He's got great size and all around talent which probably translates to success in Phoenix. I've never been a big fan of his game compared to how he is valued. He doesn't score or shoot a lot and isn't a strong defender. He's also a surprisingly inefficient passer, at least in terms of his assist production. He contributes a little across the board and is an excellent glue guy, a good role player. Again, in the Phoenix system, he's probably more valuable than he would be on another team but I'm not super impressed with his overall impact. More to come on this when we get to the Turkoglu trade.

Grade: B

Tony Allen to Join Memphis

Fresh off a strong playoff run with the Boston Celtics, Tony Allen (number 54 on the Big Board) has agreed to terms on a 3 year, $9.7 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Allen will add more athleticism to an already athletically-rich team as a backup for OJ Mayo. I really like Tony Allen on a good team. He's a very solid 7th or 8th man who brings energy, defense, and a penchant for big dunks. On a young team like the Grizzlies, though, I'm not so sure. Allen has one of the worst looking jumpshots in the game and has at times displayed an inability to recognize his role. This year he accepted who he was with Boston and he excelled. Put him with a group of younger guys who don't have the strong voices that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen have and you could be in some trouble. Only time will tell. This is a good price for a player of Allen's talent but if he feels equal to his new teammates, you could see the old Allen return, broken jumper and all.

Grade: B

Jordan Farmar Joins Rush to New Jersey

The New Jersey Nets continued their frenzied acquisitions of mediocre players by signing point guard Jordan Farmar (number 61 on the Big Board) to a 3 year, $12 million deal. Farmar will take his annoying brand of ball hogging to the East Coast as Devin Harris' backup. I've got a good friend who is a Laker fan (hey, none of us are perfect) who contends that if the Lakers replaced Jordan Farmar with a cream cheese covered bagel they would be improving. While that's an exaggeration in my opinion, it's not a big stretch. Farmar is one of the more frustrating players to watch because he's clearly got some skills and a healthy amount of athleticism so you think he should be a good player. And yet he has no idea how to play the team game known as basketball. Farmar seems stuck in 2005 when he was The Man for a mediocre UCLA team and plays the game accordingly. When he steps into the game you know the ball is only leaving his hand when he shoots it. He overdribbles and overshoots and that's when he's on the same team as Kobe Bryant, the most demanding superstar in the league. I can't imagine how much more these characteristics are going to come out in New Jersey. On the plus side, Farmar is, as stated, a talented guy who can win you a game when he gets hot. It's just a matter of how many games he loses for you when he isn't hot.

Grade: C+

James, Wade, Bosh Head to South Beach

By now everyone who has ever watched a TV knows that Lebron James (number 1 on the Big Board) and Chris Bosh (number 4) joined Dwyane Wade (number 2) in Miami to form a potential super team. James and Bosh signed 6 year, $110 million deal and Wade got 6 years, $107 million. I'm not going to waste my time here. Obviously if you can sign two of the four best players in the league in addition to a top 15 guy (Bosh), you do it. That's an A+ and a total coup for Miami. At the same time, though, they have no money left and eight players under contract, including Mike Miller and their three second round picks. Now the Heat will be looking for seven (or more) guys who are willing to play for nothing. That's a tall order. Plus, Miami will be the most hated team in the league by just about everyone involved with the NBA. Fans, owners, scouts, players, whatever. "The Decision" special on ESPN has brought about a severe backlash against Lebron James and his self-indulgence and his image as a superior basketball player will now take a tremendous hit. Hope it works out. Actually, I don't. I hope this is the biggest disaster in the history of basketball and wish nothing but failure upon Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Pat Riley, and the entire Heat franchise. The way Lebron handled this is fitting considering he's now signed on with Pat Riley, the most narcissistic, back stabbing tool who has ever walked an NBA sideline. Have fun with that.

Grade: A+

Petro, Cook, Head all Sign

A few quick hits on some of the lesser signings of the last couple of days:

New Jersey continues its slue of low-rent signings by picking up center Johan Petro (number 93 on the Big Board) for 3 years and $10 million. I like this signing a lot less than Anthony Morrow and Travis Outlaw. Petro is the definition of a stiff. He's a body that belongs in the bottom fourth of the rotation. That's it. I really like the quiet moves the Nets have made thus far but this is a worthless signing. Petro probably could have been had for the minimum instead of $3 million a year.

Grade: C

Looking to fill out their roster with low-rent players, the New Orleans Hornets agreed to terms with Luther Head (number 83 on the Big Board) on a 2 year, $2.3 million deal. Head came into the league with Houston and had a couple of good years before his career hit a wall in 2008-09. He had a decent year with Indiana last season, averaging 7 points as a deep bench guy. Head is another one trick pony kind of guy who can shoot a little but doesn't do much else. He's too small to be a shooting guard (6'3) but can't seem to figure out how to improve his point guard skills. Still, he is a guy who can catch fire quickly and for what essentially amounts to a minimum value contract, you can do a lot worse than Luther Head.

Grade: B

Proving that if you're tall and have the ability to stand up straight you can get a spot in the NBA, Brian Cook (unranked because I didn't know he was still alive) signed a 2 year contract with the LA Clippers. Cook was drafted out of Illinois in 2003 by the Lakers and has kicked around the league ever since, almost exclusively as a 12th man. Cook is a big man who only seems to know how to shoot when he's outside of 22 feet and even then, it's quite an adventure. He also doesn't care so much about rebounding, defense, or working hard. It's hard to stick holes in any team signing anyone to a minimum contract, but Brian Cook sucks. He had one good year with the Lakers 5 years ago and has been living off of it ever since. He's a bum and it drives me nuts that he's made it in this league for 7 years while so many more talented players have busted out. Again, it's almost no cost for the Clips but I still can't stand this guy.

Grade: C

Dorell Wright Heads to Golden State

With all of Miami's money tied up in their three superstars, former Heater Dorell Wright (number 68 on the Big Board) signed a 3 year, $11 million deal with the Golden State Warriors. Wright came straight to the NBA from high school in 2004 and has never found his stride in the league. Really, the biggest problem is that he was injured for the bulk of his time in Miami. Still, he's got a lot of raw talent and the tools to be a very good NBA player. Wright will fit in well in Golden State's up-tempo game plan and he's the type of guy coach Don Nelson loves: long, athletic, versatile. A couple of years with the Warriors could turn Wright into a point-forward type of player, if he can just stay on the court.

Grade: B

Matt Bonner Resigns with San Antonio

Because every team needs a Ginger, the San Antonio Spurs agreed to a 4 year, (approximately) $14 million contract with shooter Matt Bonner (number Who Cares on the Big Board). I'm not going to waste much time here. As a Mavericks fan I am THRILLED that the Spurs resigned Bonner for two reasons: 1.) I get to see him attempt to guard Dirk Nowitzki 16 times over the next four years. 2.) There was talk that the Mavericks would be interested in Bonner and this will hopefully prevent me from living the nightmare that would be seeing Bonner in a Mavs uniform. Seriously, though, $14 million for a 6-7 would-be center, one trick pony who isn't really that good at his trick? For $2 million more the Spurs could have signed Kyle Korver who is a much better shooter. Bonner fits into the Spurs system and Coach Popovich seems to like him so I guess there's chemistry to consider. But that's a lot of money for a guy who should be a 10th man on a good team.

Grade: C

Kyle Korver Joins Boozer in Chicago

Because he loved playing with Carlos Boozer so much, Kyle Korver (number 44 on the Big Board) has rejoined his former teammate, signing a 3 year, $15 million deal with the Chicago Bulls. I'm torn here. I strongly dislike Kyle Korver and consider him to be one of the more overvalued players in the league. There's no question that he is a GREAT shooter. My problem is he that he contributes nothing else to your team. He can't defend, rebound, pass, dribble, run, jump, or anything else that a basketball player might need to be able to do. His gift for shooting is almost useless a lot of times because he's not athletic enough to get open, even when he runs off of numerous screens. At the same time, however, the Bulls have a great nucleus to work with and are lacking guys who can shoot. Adding Korver gives them at least one guy on the court that you absolutely can't help off of and that will make everyone else around him better. He's not costing them a whole lot and he's a good fit for the Bulls. I just want my shooters to be able to help even a little in something else than just standing outside the 3-point line, waiting for the ball. For less money Chicago could have picked up Anthony Morrow who is just as deadly and gives you a little something across the board.

Grade: B

Anthony Morrow Headed to New Jersey

Continuing their value shopping, the New Jersey Nets signed swingman Anthony Morrow (number 43 on the Big Board) to a 3 year, $12 million contract. Morrow is a lights out shooter (46% on 3s last year) whose stats were probably inflated in Golden State. He's young and fairly athletic and provides New Jersey with yet another nice piece to work with. I personally love the offseason the Nets are having so far. They struck out on the big names but the truth is, they need perhaps 4 or 5 players, not one. (I'm not suggesting getting Outlaw and Morrow is better than getting Lebron. I'm just saying there were a lot of holes to fill.) By spreading out their cap space, they're going to get a few guys who can play and are quietly putting together a solid core of players around Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. A nice little signing here that will go unnoticed until Morrow starts raining 3s.

Grade: B+

Mike Miller Also Joining Miami

Being that it's now the cool thing to do, Mike Miller (number 13 on the Big Board) has joined Lebron and Bosh and will be heading to Miami with a 5 year, $25 million contract. This is the first of many, many signings by the Heat to fill out the bench. I have two thoughts on this. 1.) I've never understood the obsession people around this league seem to have with Mike Miller. He's a very nice player that I would love to have on my team, for sure. But he's a 6th man type of guy, not the potential All-Star everyone makes him out to be. In a role, he's fine, but as a top 3 or 4 player on your roster, no. 2.) All that said, this is a steal for Miami. With the exception of playing time (which I'm not sure how he gets any), this is a great fit for Miller. He can absolutely feed off of Lebron and Wade and at the same time provide them some protection in terms of making it difficult for other teams to help on Lebron/Wade. The Heat got a tremendous steal here considering how much they're paying. There is reason to suggest that Miller could have gotten double this amount from New York or another team like them. I'm not sure this whole Super Friends thing is going to work out or how easily they'll be able to fill out the roster, but this is a heck of a start.

Grade: A

Bobcats Commit to Tyrus Thomas

The Charlotte Bobcats have come to terms with Tyrus Thomas (number 17 on the Big Board) on a 5 year, $40 million contract. Thomas, who was acquired for next to nothing from Chicago at mid-season, received great attention from New Jersey but ultimately decided to stay with the team that revived his career. Thomas is loaded with potential but has never quite put it altogether. His short run with Charlotte last year, however, brought the best out of the super athletic power forward, and he apparently loves playing for Larry Brown. This is an overpayment for a guy who at best averages 12 points and 7 rebounds a game. But, there's something to be said for paying a guy who fits well with your team and who has chemistry in the locker room. The problem with Thomas has always been his work ethic and maturity. If he's with a coach he really respects and playing a role that he can embrace, then it stands to reason that his actual ability could catch up to his potential, making this a really good contract.

Grade: B

Michael Beasley Traded to Minnesota

In order to clean out room for their Super Douche Bag Team, the Miami Heat sent former number two pick in the draft Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a future second round pick. Beasley is perhaps the league's biggest pariah/enigma. He is both uber-talented and uber-immature, has had a couple of run-ins with the law, and spent some time in rehab last year. He doesn't seem to care much but when he does, he looks like he could be a superstar. Yet, in a league chock full of talented-but-troubled players, no one seems to want to take a chance on a guy who was considered a can't-miss prospect two short years ago. That's weird for a young player of his talent to lose interest across the league so quickly. The Heat have been trying to give him away for two months with no takers. Finally they find a buyer in Minnesota but they got nothing in return.

Look, it's hard to say Miami made the wrong choice in selling Beasley away for nothing. Obviously acquiring Lebron James and Chris Bosh to add to Dwyane Wade is a no-brainer. Still, they're getting nothing for Beasley and that's rough considering where he was drafted. On the flip side, Beasley doesn't really fit with Minnesota's already jam-packed with forwards. But, he's an incredible talent and they're getting him for nothing. Chances are Al Jefferson and maybe another player or two will be moved before the season begins and Beasley will get a chance to show his talent for a team that doesn't need him to help them win games as much as it just needs him to improve and refine his skills. This is a great second chance for Beasley, but will he be able to make the most of it?

Minnesota Grade: A-
Miami Grade: A-

Ryan Gomes Headed to the Clippers

After being traded from Minnesota to Portland on draft day and later being cut by Portland, Ryan Gomes (number 40 on the Big Board) signed a 3 year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. I never want to praise the Clippers if possible but this is a very smart, under the radar move. Gomes is a very nice role player who can easily put up 12 points and 5 rebounds while shooting a solid percentage and never straying from his role. He will be a great spot-starter type of guy to take that small forward spot until Al Farouq-Aminu (the Clippers first round pick) is ready to step in. This is an even better move considering the money. When Travis Outlaw and Amir Johnson are getting $7 mil a year, picking up Gomes for $4 mil is a great signing. If Blake Griffin is what everyone thinks he will be, the Clippers could actually...well, if they weren't the Clippers they could actually be a playoff contending team. Since they are the Clippers, though, this will surely crash and burn.

Grade: B+

David Lee Traded to Golden State

The New York Knicks have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with David Lee (number 9 on the Big Board) that will send him to the Golden State Warriors on a 6 year, $80 million contract. The Knicks will receive Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, and Kelenna Azubuike in return. Lee now goes from one crappy team where he can put up good numbers to another crappy team where he can put up good numbers. Yeah for him. I like David Lee but I think he's getting overpaid here. His stats are inflated from playing in Mike D'antoni's fast paced system for a team that had no one else who could score and he's not really what I would call a "winner." Heading off to play for Golden State somewhat affirms my thoughts on him. I understand wanting to get paid but if I'm a young NBA player and potential All-Star and I've just spent 5 years with a crap team like the Knicks, I'm not signing up for a long term deal with an equally dysfunctional team like the Warriors. I think I'd want to have a chance to win some games. Still, he's a Don Nelson wet dream and he'll put up good stats for Golden State. How many wins they'll get along the way is the tricky part.

On the flip side, I actually, for the first time in YEARS, think the Knicks made a smart move here. They're not winning anything with Lee and Amare Stoudemire paired together so why not get some cap space for next year (Carmelo Anthony) and pick up two talented players in Randolph and Azubuike? Randolph is one of the more coveted potential-laden players in the league who will play for D'antoni. And Azubuike could be a 15 point, 5 rebound, 4 assist guy in New York. Good trade for the Knicks, questionable for the Warriors, weak for Lee.

Warriors Grade: B-
Knicks Grade: A-

Dallas Retains Brendan Haywood

As seems to be the case almost every season, the Dallas Mavericks continued their long-standing tradition of signing a center to a lucrative contract. This year, the deal goes to Brendan Haywood (number 16 on the Big Board) in the form of a 6 year, $55 million contract. Haywood came over in a mid-season trade with Washington and was a bit unpredictable, mostly due to coach Rick Carlisle who never seemed to figure out how to best use the enigmatic center. With a big contract and a full year to work with, however, the idea is he'll be a much more valued player. A lot of the critics have joked about the Mavericks overpaying Haywood to which I have two counterpoints:

1.) $55 million, at least $11 of which is not guaranteed (meaning this is really a 5 year, $44 million deal), is not much of an overpay for top 10 center. And that is what Haywood is. Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut, Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum when he's healthy, and possibly Al Horford and Nene (not really centers) are the only guys you can definitely say are better than Haywood at this point.
2.) When a team like the Mavericks, the Lakers, the Celtics, etc. spend loads to money to wrap up their own free agents, the money doesn't matter. The Mavs will never be under the salary cap in the Dirk era. Ever. They will always be trying to add pieces to contend and therefore will never be in a position to sign the big name free agents outright. So it doesn't matter to Dallas to give Haywood this much money the way it would to Detroit, Toronto, etc.

Haywood is already the best center in the history of the Dallas franchise, which is a sad thing to admit. He's not the offensive weapon that the Mavs really need to pair with Dirk Nowitzki, but he is an incredible rim-defender and a guy with a great motor who runs the floor pretty well. For the Mavs, this is a start. There are still more moves to come, I believe, as they try to shore up another run at contention, but this combined with the Dirk signing is a great start.

Grade: B+

Jermaine O'neal Heads to Boston

With Rasheed Wallace headed down that old dusty trail of retirement, the Boston Celtics added another round of ammunition by signing Jermaine O'neal (number 25 on the Big Board) to a 2 year, $12 million contract. O'neal was an All-Star and maybe even an MVP candidate in Indiana a few years ago before injuries started to set in. He spent last year in Miami, putting up 13 points and 7 rebounds a game. I love this signing for Boston. Love it. In fact, I love everything that Boston is doing these days. Danny Ainge is the most underrated GM in the NBA. They know their window is closing but until it's closed, they have just as much chance of winning a title as anyone. O'neal is a perfect fit in Boston. If Kendrick Perkins has trouble recovering from his injury in the playoffs, O'neal can start and fill the center position admirably. When Perkins is back, O'neal transitions back to the 6th man role and gives you instant credibility off the bench. He had a down year in Miami but he can still pour in 12 points a game for a good team, as well as rebounding, and contributing on defense, where he is an underrated talent. Best of all, in an offseason that has brought out some seriously ridiculous money, O'neal at $6 million is a great deal.

Grade: A

Travis Outlaw Headed to New Jersey

After losing out in the Lebron sweepstakes, the New Jersey Nets turned to the next best thing: Travis Outlaw (number 23 on the Big Board). Outlaw and the Nets agreed to a 5 year, $35 million contract. I have always been a big fan of Outlaw's game. He is silky smooth, extremely athletic, and very versatile. When you're looking for an All-Star, you want a guy who excels at one or two things and doesn't kill you across the board. When you're looking for a role player, though, an ideal guy is one who does a little bit of everything and contributes in a number of ways. That's Outlaw. He can shoot a little, drive a little, get you a few rebounds, and play some defense. He's not great at anything statistically but he provides help all over the place. And he's one of the rare role players who steps up his game in the clutch. Outlaw has hit some big time, game winning shots and has a reputation as a cool player in tight situations. The money is a bit over what he's worth. I think Outlaw would be great at 5 years, $25 mil instead of 35. Still, though, he's an excellent player to pair with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez and since he came out straight out of high school, he's still a young guy despite having been in the league for 7 years.

Grade: B

Linas Kleiza Back to the NBA with Toronto

In their continuing desire to sign every decent, role-playing small forward in all of basketball, the Toronto Raptors agreed to a 4 year, $20 million contract with former Nugget Linas Kleiza (not on the Big Board). Kleiza played a few year with Denver and was a very nice energy role player off the bench. He spent last year in Greece and appeared ready to stay there this year until the Raptors jumped in with a big contract. Kleiza is a guy I really like on a good team. He shoots, he brings energy, and he is fearless. He's a nice player and $5 million a year isn't just terrible. But it is just another fairly long term contract with a guy who isn't going to sell tickets or win you games for a team that is already jam packed with guys who fit that exact same mould. I think Toronto is in for a very long, rough couple of years.

Grade: B

Ray Allen to Stay in Boston

After a fairly disastrous Finals series agains the Lakers, Ray Allen (number 11 on the Big Board) may have cost himself some leverage and ultimately some money. Still, though, he was able to re-up with the Boston Celtics for a 2 year, $20 million deal. Allen is and always has been one of the best shooters in the league and a guy who fits the Celtics perfectly. Without him, their perimeter attack is questionable. With him, they've got two more years to try to win another title before he and Garnett both hobble off into the sunshine. The Finals series in which he went off in Game 2 and then did almost nothing afterward was an abberation as Allen has usually been extremely consistent in his time with Boston. Here's hoping that Allen and the Celtics can squelch the stink coming out of Miami.

Grade: A

Kevin Durant Signs Extension with Thunder

In the wake of all the free agent craziness of the last few days, the Oklahoma City Thunder quietly signed MVP-in-the-making Kevin Durant to a 5 year, $80 million contract extension. Durant didn't even ask for an opt out in his contract (which is what has allowed Lebron, Wade, and Bosh to become free agents this year). This is a HUGE deal for the Thunder. As a team that is quickly on the rise and still has a little bit of cap space, Oklahoma needed to have Durant under a long term contract before they could really start making moves to improve their roster. With that done, they've got an incredibly bright future ahead of them. Durant, meanwhile, handled this entire thing with class and efficiency, announcing the signing of his deal with a simple Twitter message. This is quite a refreshing thing for this writer, as the idea of the hour long "Where Will Lebron Go?" special that is on tap for tomorrow makes me want to vomit on a puppy. Great deal all around and congratulations to Durant for doing this the right way.

Grade: A+

Boozer to Chicago

After being spurned by Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Chicago Bulls turned to Carlos Boozer (number 8 on the Big Board) with a 5 year, $80 million contract. Boozer will now join forces with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah as the basis for a formidable attack, while Chicago still maintains enough financial flexibility to sign another player. Like, say, Lebron James. Boozer is a tricky guy to figure out. He's a serious banger on offense with ridiculous strength and deadly range out to 18 feet. He's also a very good rebounder. On the flip side of that, he's a poor defender who doesn't really seem to put much effort into that side of the game. He's also someone who you don't ever depend on for big plays or clutch moments. Still, he's a great fit in Chicago and gives them the first legitimate, consistent offensive threat they've had in the Derrick Rose era and he will take a significant amount of pressure off of the young point guard. If new Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau can get Boozer to buy in defensively, this could be a real contender. He's definitely getting overpaid here compared to what he actually does for a team but he was going to get overpaid somewhere, it might as well be for a team he fits in with. I also think Utah isn't that sorry to see him go, especially at this price, as his replacement, Paul Millsap, is a more well-rounded player at half the cost.

Grade: B+

Del Negro to Coach Clippers

After an extensive coaching search during which the team only really interviewed two guys, the LA Clippers today hired Vinny Del Negro as their head coach. Del Negro follows a long line of successful coaches like Mike Dunleavy, Chris Ford, Bob Weiss, and Mike Schuler. I'm going to try to keep my sarcasm to a minimum here. Someday, I think Vinny Del Negro will be a quality NBA coach. That day, however, is not today. He was one of the most under qualified coaches in the league last year with Chicago and will be once again this year with the Clippers. He had no control over the Bulls, no idea how to manage his players or rotations, and displayed very little X's-and-O's knowledge. He even got into a fight with GM John Paxton. Truthfully, Del Negro just isn't ready to be a head coach. He needs more seasoning, more time on the bench of a veteran coach. So...

OF COURSE THE CLIPPERS PICKED HIM!!!

Are you kidding me?! What better way for the laughing stock of the entire American sporting community to continue their long standing tradition of sucking than to bring in a coach who has no business being a head coach?! It's like owner Donald Sterling gets off on the suffering of his team's fanbase the way Emporer Palpatine feeds off the anger of Luke Skywalker. I feel genuine sorrow for the Clipper fans. Every single time they start to find a reason to get excited about their team, something awful happens to knock them back down to reality. And Sterling loves it! A volatile team, led by a volatile star in Baron Davis, will turn on Del Negro by December. And like almost all Clipper coaches, Del Negro will back on the job market within two years.

Grade: D

Chris Duhon Signs with Orlando

In dire need of a backup point guard, the Orlando Magic today agreed to terms with Chris Duhon (number 62 on the Big Board) to a 4 year, $16 million contract. Duhon spent last season buried on the bench in New York after failing to grasp the Mike D'antoni system. If you take the money out of this deal, Orlando made a smart move. They really needed a backup point guard badly and Duhon is just that, a solid backup. When asked to be a long term starter, there were problems, but behind Jameer Nelson, he should be pretty good. The money, though, is bad. Duhon had an abysmal turn in New York which should have forced his value to plummet. I think Orlando bid against themselves here and ended up signing Duhon for perhaps twice what he would have gotten elsewhere. Further more, this signing marks a trend in Orlando; that being, signing end of the rotation guys for big money. Last year the Magic signed Brandon Bass to a deal similar to Duhon's and followed that up by matching the Maverick's offer of 5 years, $34 million dollar offer to bakcup center Marcin Gortat. Gortat played 13 minutes per game last year while Bass played in only 50 games total with dozens of DNP-CD (did not play - coaches decision) to his credit. So now the Magic will be paying $66 million to three back of the rotation guys who can't get off the bench. Awesome.

Grade: C+

Amare Officially Signs with New York

After apparently being shunned by Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, the New York Knicks are attempting to save face by signing Amare Stoudemire (number 5 on the Big Board) to a 5 year, $100 million contract. I’m trying not to gloat here but… It makes me incredibly happy to see the Knicks, who have done absolutely nothing to make their team decent over the last 5 years, completely strike out on the franchise players this free agent class had to offer. I despise the way they have conducted business and how they put all their eggs into the Lebron basket. So now, desperate and backed into a corner, they’ve turned to Stoudemire with a deal that I guarantee they will regret. Don’t get me wrong, Stoudemire is a good player, an incredibly talented player, and a player coming off a career half season. What Stoudemire is not, however, is a franchise player or a guy you can build your team around. He can be your first scoring option but he feeds off of other players (like, say, Steve Nash) and doesn’t do ANYTHING to make his teammates better. He’s one of the laziest players in the league on defense, has a sketchy history with injury, and perhaps worst of all, he’s stopped improving. He’s not doing anything now that he wasn’t doing three years ago and in fact you could definitely make the case that since his knee injury, he’s not nearly as intimidating as he once was.

Now he’ll be paid as a franchise player in the harshest market in the league and his teammates will, for the most part, be substandard. Even if the Knicks manage to get another second tier star like Joe Johnson, this team is likely headed to the lottery, or at the very least, an early playoff exit. Stoudemire will give Knick fans something to get excited about but in the end he’s not going to be much better than David Lee, whom the Knicks let go in order to secure the cap space to go after Lebron. This isn’t quite spending money for the sake of spending money, Stoudemire just isn’t the type of guy who can lead a team to much of anything and they’ll now be paying him like he is. It’s a shame to see the way one of the NBA’s premiere franchises has gone down the crapper over the last decade. I seriously feel bad for Knick fans.

Grade: B-