Good morning, NBA free agency is off to a spendy start
Take it away, Jodie Meeks and Marcin Gortat! Here’s Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
THE FIRST DOMINO FALLS! And the first deal of the 2014 NBA free agency is ... Jodie Meeks to the Pistons for $19 million over three years. If that’s representative of what Stan Van Gundy’s going to do in Detroit, well ... yeah ... alright then. (The Pistons also quickly signed Cartier Martin. SVG’s got places to be, y’all.)
THE 5-YEAR HAMMER: The actual first big domino: Marcin Gortat is staying in Washington ... for five years (!) ... to the tune of $60 million. Gortat is already 30, which leads Mark Deeks to write that this deal could be painful down the road for the Wizards. At least we know how The Hammer convinced Washington to give him that fifth year; the NRA’s tentacles are long.
SHAUN OF THE LIVING: Shaun Livingston signs his first big free agent deal ever, picking up a three-year, $16 million deal with the Warriors. Kudos to him for getting paid and to the Warriors for shoring up a weakness.
By the way, we’re maintaining a list of all free agent signings, rookie deal extensions and trades from this offseason. It will be especially useful in October when we’re like “who’s that guy getting all the touches on the Pistons?”
THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Paul Flannery on the Cavaliers, who finally look to be heading in the right direction.
MELODRAMA II HAS AN ACTION SCENE: So part of Carmelo Anthony’s big meeting in Chicago was a viewing party for Derrick Rose’s workout. Yes, a free agent watched the team’s oft-injured star exercise. This is not weird at all.
HEAT AND SMOKE: The Heatians remain totally mysterious about this free agency thing, but based on what Miami says it can offer other free agents, it appears that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are prepared to take massive pay cuts.
FROM THE ANNALS OF BAD TIMING: Patty Mills, a free agent coming off of a splendid championship run, is out seven months with a shoulder injury. Australia’s FIBA World Cup team will be suffering as well. But it does look like the Spurs will still re-sign Mills.
BY LUCIFER’S BEARD: Robin Lopez’s life is a paean to Sideshow Bob.
HELLO LIONEL: It does not appear the Nets will interview anyone but Lionel Hollins for their new head coach opening.
WHAT A SURPRISE! The Celtics are pursuing RFA Gordon Hayward, who played under Boston coach Brad Stevens in college.
A WARMING THOUGHT: The interim head of the players’ union tells free agents to structure contracts in preparation of a 2017 work stoppage.
THE SNACK MAMBA: Wait, did Kobe get, uh, heavy?
THE DRAFT FASHION REVIEW: A key document. Wesley Morris’ comments on T.J. Warren are awful kind, though.
Happy Wednesday. See you next time.
