Its almost impossible to be productive in 90 plus degree weather, but alas, in this case, the NBA don't care. And with a hefty amount of new free agency information to deliver, here I am.
I guess I'll start by saying goodbye to CJ Watson, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver. With the bench mob heading to the Brooklyn Nets, possibly the New York Knicks, and the Atlanta Hawks, prospectively, the Chicago Bulls are left with a little room, and money. Making a knock against the front office, I'm not expecting great acquisitions by the time October rolls around, but as long as Derrick Rose is healed, I won't complain.
Moving on, we have Jeremy Lin heading to the Houston Rockets. I'm really not sure what the Knicks are thinking with this one...making Sportscenter headlines day after day after day with Lin, but hes off to Texas on a $25.1 million, 3 year contract. He himself stated "honestly, I preferred New York" but as long as he keeps his head in the game, I think Lin will be fine no matter where hes at.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been making moves, looking to add both Antwan Jamison and a personal favorite of mine, Jermaine O'Neal to their roster. No word yet on how close and/or for how much the O'Neal deal is, but it has been reported that Jamison will sign the minimum on a 1 year deal. Oh what a random group of men in gold this will be...
Speaking of favorites, this time from childhood, Grant Hill is off to another California team: the Los Angeles Clippers. Hill has just signed a 2 year contract after being approached by the Lakers as well. I don't know how much more he has in him, but I see the Clippers being a decent fit. Especially now that Odom is back.
Another big signing was OJ Mayo to the Dallas Mavericks (who have also added Darren Collison, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Dahntay Jones, the last of who I find horrific), announced by way of his own Twitter Monday evening. Of course, Mark Cuban just had to reply "welcome to the family OJ. We are fired up!!", but I can't hate on the move. Despite his bad behavior, I've always found him to be solid talent. In fact, I even daydreamed of him in a red jersey, walking down Michigan Avenue. It'll certainly be interesting to see this new Mavs squad. It seems as though the ex-champs are starting fresh.
Its back to the Knicks for Raymond Felton, who just signed a 3 year, $10 million contract. Although coming off a miserable season with the Portland Trailblazers, people think he will make a good pair with Jason Kidd, and will able to keep the offense going, especially with Lin now shipped off. I'm skeptical, and continue to feel for Melo who thought all of his dreams would come true in New York, but I'll admit, I've been wrong before. Rarely.
Oh Ramon Sessions, how you've fallen...although moving from Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan would seem like a step up, when Jordan is attached to the Charlotte Bobcats and not the Chicago Bulls, thats not the case. Rumor is that Sessions will make $10 million on a 2 year deal, but officially nothing is disclosed.
I may be the only basketball fan, hell person, on earth to still like Kwame Brown, but there, I said it. And it seems like someone on the Philadelphia 76ers staff may be as crazy as me. Making $6 million in 2 years, Brown will be the starting center. Which only means one thing...I'll have to start watching more Sixer games.
And who said summer isn't busy?
U have a great talent for writing, some brilliant insight.
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