General Free Agency

[evildallas]

Latest reports I have seen have Orlando matching Redick (unconfirmed) and Matt Barnes considering the Celtics and Heat. I just hope that if we do go the cheaper route and trade for Shaq (rather than just signing him) that we do it quick enough to sign someone like Matt Barnes before they settle for the minimum to play for a direct competitor.

[HMFFL]

Latest reports I have seen have Orlando matching Redick (unconfirmed) and Matt Barnes considering the Celtics and Heat. I just hope that if we do go the cheaper route and trade for Shaq (rather than just signing him) that we do it quick enough to sign someone like Matt Barnes before they settle for the minimum to play for a direct competitor.

I think Matt Barnes can be had if we reach a deal and pay him over the minimum. Boston is probably just in the discussion, but I expect him to sign with Miami, and mainly because his income won't be taxed.

He continues to settle for minimum pay for some reason.

[evildallas]

Ronnie Brewer signs in Chicago. It's a bad offensive fit in my opinion, but it was economical. 3 years/12.5M. Supposedly the Celtics had a similar offer according to the post, but that's impossible under cap rules I thought.

[HMFFL]

The Heat have reportedly re-signed center Joel Anthony to a five-year, $18 million contract. Jonathan Givony (Twitter)

Very interesting that they gave him this much money.

[evildallas]

The Heat have reportedly re-signed center Joel Anthony to a five-year, $18 million contract. Jonathan Givony (Twitter)

Very interesting that they gave him this much money.

I'm still trying to figure out the math on all the Miami contracts. I would assume that after this one they now only have veteran minimum deals to offer. As for the amount all bigs are coming at a premium this year (like Drew Gooden, Darko Milicic, and Johan Petro), but Joel Anthony's not that big. I guess with the rest of players in that lineup having a shot blocker that knows his role is a solid investment.

[RussellandFlow]

It's insane that a guy who average 2.7 ppg and 3.1 rpg got a 5yr/18 million dollar contract. Anthony is listed at 6'9 245 pounds and really is not a banger, although he did average 1.4 bpg in 16 mins of action. One would think the Heat could have found some D league big man to put up similar or better numbers for much less. I'd expect the rest of the roster will be filled with vet minimum guys (pg and defensive wing).

[HMFFL]

On the Bulls radar

Bulls have had discussions with representatives for Josh Howard, Shannon Brown, Rasual Butler and even Tracy McGrady

Shannon Brown worries me the most if he joins Chicago.

___________________

More beef will arrive over the weekend, with Cleveland Cavaliers free-agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to finalize his two-year, $2.4 million contract and center Jamaal Magloire to take a third year with the team at the veteran's minimum.

[evildallas]

Brad Miller signs 3yr/15M with Houston (3rd year not guaranteed).

[HMFFL]

James Jones passed on $6 million from the Spurs to stay with Miami for 1-year vet minimum.

[evildallas]

James Jones passed on $6 million from the Spurs to stay with Miami for one year.

I'm beginning to think that David Stern needs to keep an eye on the Miami situation for alternative payment streams and cap circumventing promises. A player accepting a buyout of a 3 year contract turning down more money elsewhere to come back and sign a 1 year deal with the same team is fishy. Miami freed up 3M in cap space with that buyout. All they could pay him now if the vet minimum. If he winds up with a new deal next year using an exception (provided they still exist) it will look even fishier.

Big Z accepting the minimum to hang with his buddy is believable. A guy in the middle of his career giving up guaranteed money to play for a team that bought him out of his previous deal makes me think winking was involved.

[evildallas]

The Bucks sign Keyon Dooling and got Jon Brockman in a S&T. Brockman is a 2nd year undersized PF rebounding machine off the bench (look at the per 36 min numbers of 11.7). The kind of inexpensive player that a lot of teams in league seem to locate and get great mileage out of (Boston, San Antonio, Houston, Utah) and that we ignore every year.

[killbuckner]

Jones will have full bird rights with the heat next season so I think he is likely counting on being able to cash in next offseason when the team can go over the cap to resign him.

[evildallas]

Jones will have full bird rights with the heat next season so I think he is likely counting on being able to cash in next offseason when the team can go over the cap to resign him.

This smacks of the Joe Smith debacle that the Timberwolves got busted on. I'm sure Miami has been careful not to document anything that could burn them, but when a player takes a buyout, resigns for a 1 year minimum and then can cash in using bird rights after a year it seems like straight forward salary cap circumventing. Turning down substantially more cash now indicates a belief that he'll be "taken care of" in the future.

[HMFFL]

The Lakers have signed Theo Ratliff for one year, $1.3 million.

[HMFFL]

The Rockets are reportedly set to trade center David Andersen to the Raptors for a second-round pick. Link