Official 2010 NBA Free Agency Thread

[DrumNFeather]

Knicks and Nets set to make their pitches to Lebron.

Dirk on his way back to Dallas from Germany.

Rudy Gay and David Lee visiting Minnesota.

[Surfah]

Richard Jefferson opted out. The Spurs have to be thankful.

[DrumNFeather]

Richard Jefferson opted out. The Spurs have to be thankful.

Would you classify Jefferson as a bust? He seems like he's kind of underperformed in his last few cities.

[Surfah]

Would you classify Jefferson as a bust? He seems like he's kind of underperformed in his last few cities.

He's not a bust. He had a fine career in NJ. He's not a superstar, but he's a good option to have. He just didn't fit well with the Spurs. I think his opting out reflects mutual frustration there. I think it also hints that he must have offers to turn down guaranteed money. I bet NY or maybe even a return to NJ is possible.

[DrumNFeather]

Drew Gooden agrees to a 5 year 32 Million dollar deal with the Bucks.


Huh?

[Surfah]

Drew Gooden agrees to a 5 year 32 Million dollar deal with the Bucks.


Huh?

Best time in the history of the league to be a FA. Guys are going to get way overpaid.

[Sizzle]

Richard Jefferson opted out. The Spurs have to be thankful.

What a terrible decision. Wasn't he set to make $16 mil plus? Can he command more than $10 mil per right now?

[Surfah]

What a terrible decision. Wasn't he set to make $16 mil plus? Can he command more than $10 mil per right now?

Something like that. That's why I think he has to an offer already to turn that down and why the Spurs have to be grateful.

[DrumNFeather]

Rumblings of Shaq to Dallas.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Rumblings of Shaq to Dallas.

Please let it be. Maybe then Haywood becomes more serious about looking elsewhere for the mid-level exception.

Though I think what it most likely signals is that Cuban is definitely ready to use Dampier's contract in a S&T, meaning Shaq and Haywood would be their centers.

[MartyFunkhouser]

What a terrible decision. Wasn't he set to make $16 mil plus? Can he command more than $10 mil per right now?

It all depends on how long of a contract that he can get now. He isn't going to make 16 million per year on a new contract. But if he can get a 4-year deal for around 10 million per year, it makes sense to opt out.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

It all depends on how long of a contract that he can get now. He isn't going to make 16 million per year on a new contract. But if he can get a 4-year deal for around 10 million per year, it makes sense to opt out.

But if he played out at $16 M, all he'd have to get is 3 years at $8 M/year to equal that 4/$40, except it would also be equivalent to having it very heavily front loaded.

It almost always makes sense to get a long term deal in a league with guaranteed money, but turning down $16 M in one season to do it? I don't know.

The Spurs seriously lucked out on that one.

[Sizzle]

It all depends on how long of a contract that he can get now. He isn't going to make 16 million per year on a new contract. But if he can get a 4-year deal for around 10 million per year, it makes sense to opt out.

Would you sign Jefferson to a 4-year $40 mil deal? I wouldn't, especially with the uncertainty of the new CBA. He will not be the second best player on a Championship team. Even being the third best is a stretch.

The only place I could see him heading is Phoenix given his ties to the area. But not at $10 mil per.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

John Hollinger lists the kind of teammates Bosh/James/Wade would have if they teamed up in Miami. These are all players that signed for the minimum salary last year:

G - Anthony Carter
G - CJ Watson
G - Devin Brown
G - Quinton Ross
F - Rodney Carney
F - Joey Graham
F - Josh Powell
F - Joe Smith
C - DJ Mbenga
C - Theo Ratliff

But as Hollinger points out, that is really a worst case scenario. Miami can spend its full midlevel exception and the smaller exception (which is greater than the NBA minimum salary for most players). So maybe they bring back Udonis Haslem or Mike Miller for the midlevel, then try to get someone like Raja Bell to take the smaller exception. They'll also have Varnado and Ebanks, their 2nd round picks, on the team.

[MartyFunkhouser]

But if he played out at $16 M, all he'd have to get is 3 years at $8 M/year to equal that 4/$40, except it would also be equivalent to having it very heavily front loaded.

It almost always makes sense to get a long term deal in a league with guaranteed money, but turning down $16 M in one season to do it? I don't know.

The Spurs seriously lucked out on that one.

I'm not saying he made the right decision, just that his thinking must be that he can get a long term deal to make up opting out. I would absolutely not give a 4/$40 contract to Jefferson. I also wouldn't have given a 5/$50 contract to Hedo last year but he got it. There are a lot of teams with cap money and when players start getting signed, they may be desperate and throw a bad deal at Jefferson.