Tag: NBA free agency (Page 21 of 22)

The Nuggets re-sign J.R. Smith to three-year deal worth $16.5 million

August 23, 2008 / John Paulsen

I estimated his value to be $6.5-$7.5 million per season, but the Denver Nuggets locked up J.R. Smith for a little bit less, signing him to a deal averaging $5.5 million per season.

Smith has a history of being a little unruly, so that was probably the reason for the discount.

ESPN’s John Hollinger calculates Smith’s PER to be 18.15, which is the #14 amongst shooting guards, ahead of guys like Joe Johnson, Ben Gordon, Ray Allen and Mike Miller. Smith is a terrific scorer, but his defensive intensity has always been a question mark.

This is a good signing for the Nuggets, because even if they can’t get Smith on board defensively, his contract is very movable.

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Denver Nuggets J.R. Smith NBA free agency

Darius Miles resurfaces in Boston

August 22, 2008 / John Paulsen

The Celtics have signed oft-injured forward Darius Miles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Darius … has impressed us with his progress, health, and attitude,” Ainge said. “Darius will have the next couple of months to prove to myself and Coach [Doc] Rivers that he can help us win.”
Miles, who was drafted out of East St. Louis High School, has posted career averages of 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.15 blocks in 412 NBA games.
“I’ve watched the Boston Celtics play a lot last year and loved what I saw in their teamwork and chemistry on the court, and it’s the team that I want to try to resume my career with,” Miles said in the team’s statement. “I am excited about having an opportunity to play on a team that I feel my personality fits with and a team that can have great success on the court.”

Miles has a reputation for being poisonous to a team’s chemistry, but I doubt he’ll have an adverse effect on what the Celtics have going. This is a low risk move that could reap solid rewards for the C’s. Miles has always been a talented player, so if he’s turned a corner with his work ethic, he could have a positive impact in Boston.

Fantasy Basketball, NBA

Boston Celtics Darius Miles NBA free agency

Sixers/Iguodala reportedly agree to six-years, $80 million

August 12, 2008 / John Paulsen

I estimated that Andre Iguodala’s value was $12-$13 million per season. Sources are saying that the Philadelphia 76ers locked Iggy up to a deal worth $13.3 million per season.

The athletic and exciting 6-6 forward/guard has improved his scoring average in each of his first four seasons, and promises to be a mainstay on a Sixers team that recently signed former Clipper big man Elton Brand to an estimated $82 million free agent contract.
If the Sixers had not been able to sign Iguodala, the 24-year-old could have played this season for them after signing a qualifying offer, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent next summer. In that scenario, the Sixers could have lost their most exciting young star without any compensation.
Iguodala and the team had an opportunity to work out a contract extension last summer but could not come to an agreement. Talks this offseason moved slowly until the last 24 hours, when, sources say, the team significantly increased their offer.

Maybe the Sixers saw my estimate and decided to up their offer. A guy can dream, can’t he?

Good signing for the Sixers. Iggy is a talented player, but he’s probably a better fit as a sidekick than being “The Man.” Now that Elton Brand is in Philly to be “The Man,” Iguodala should thrive alongside him.

Last year at this time, who would have thought that the Sixers would be coming off a solid playoff performance and a ballsy signing like the Brand acquisition? Very nice job thus far by new GM Ed Stefanski.

Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

Andre Iguoldala Elton Brand NBA free agency Philadelphia 76ers

Hawks match Grizzlies’ offer to Josh Smith

August 9, 2008 / John Paulsen

In what looks like a very easy decision, the Atlanta Hawks elected to match the Memphis Grizzlies’ offer to Josh Smith. The deal “is believed” to be for five years and $58 million.

I estimated Smith’s value to be $13-$14 million per season, so if the Grizzlies’ offer was indeed for that reported length and total compensation, they did the Hawks a favor by enabling them to lock Smith up for less than $12 million per season without having to go through the rigmarole of a contract negotiation.

Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

Atlanta Hawks Josh Smith Memphis Grizzlies NBA free agency

Grizzlies open up wallet, offer $58 million to Josh Smith?

August 8, 2008 / John Paulsen

The Memphis Edge (blog) is reporting that, according to NBA sources, the Memphis Grizzlies have sent Josh Smith an offer sheet worth $58 million.

As the only team left with significant room under the salary cap, the Griz have shifted out of a summer holding pattern and targeted the versatile 6-9, 235-pound forward.
Atlanta has seven days to match, per league rules, once Smith receives the offer sheet.
The Hawks have said they would match any contract offer to the 22-year-old Smith, but are on the hook next season with big contracts for Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson.
Should the Griz land Smith he is expected to play power forward alongside Rudy Gay at small forward, O.J. Mayo at shooting guard and Mike Conley at point guard.

The length of the contract is unkown, but that sounds like a four-year deal to me. If it were five years in length, it would average less than $12 million per season, and the Hawks are likely to match that. In a recent post, What Are These Guys Worth?, I estimated J-Smoov’s value to be $13.0-$14.0 million per season. On a four-year deal, that would total $52-$56 million.

That Conley-Mayo-Gay-Smith lineup has some serious potential, that’s for sure. The Grizzlies should be congratulated for at least making a move on Smith. It was about time that they tried to spend some of that cap space.

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