A few days after the Rockets put Chris Paul alongside James Harden, another West team added a star player to its core. The Thunder, never rumored as a factor, won the Paul George sweepstakes! It cost OKC just Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. It results in Russell Westbrook and Paul George teaming up to attempt to chop down the Rockets, Spurs, and -- yes -- the Golden State Warriors.
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It’s an insanely bold move for Oklahoma City, especially given that Westbrook and George can both become free agents and flee in 2018 -- one year from now. Perhaps the Thunder has won assurance from Westbrook that he will sign an extension this summer and pitch P.G. (a fellow L.A. native) on sticking with the Thunder and building a true rival to Golden State. Regardless of what happens in a year, it’s going to be an insanely fun combination of players.
The Pacers, meanwhile ... not a great return, especially if the Celtics were offering a pick swap involving the Brooklyn choice (!) in February. Oladipo is on a huge contract (20 percent of the cap), and Sabonis shot under 40 percent as an older rookie big man last season. It could work out long-term for Indiana, but you’d have thought the return package would be better.
We’ve gotten CP3-Harden, Russ-P.G., and KAT-Butler. Any more super-duos out there this summer? Isaiah-Hayward, anyone? [feels the icy cold stares from Salt Lake] Sorry, sorry ... Hassan-Hayward, anyone?
We’re keeping a running tracker with all the free agent signings right here. We’re also keeping a running tracker with all the big rumors! We like running trackers.
The Warriors signed their point guards quickly: Stephen Curry on the biggest contract in NBA history (five years, $201 million without any options or a no-trade clause) and Shaun Livingston on a manageable three-year deal.
The Clippers sewed up Blake Griffin to a five-year max deal for $173 million. Doc Rivers does not rebuild.
Just before free agency hit, the Jazz used their 2016-17 cap space and a 2018 first-round pick to pull off a trade for Ricky Rubio. That allowed the Timberwolves to sign their free agent point guard of choice: Jeff Teague, who lined up a three-year, $57 million deal. All of this also means that Utah is not bringing back George Hill.
The Pelicans’ best option going into free agency was to overpay Jrue Holiday, for whom they had Bird rights. That’s just what New Orleans did, giving him five years and $126 million.
A few more important early deals: the Spurs keep Patty Mills for a reasonable four years, $50 million; Tony Snell locks up a 4-year, $44 million deal in Milwaukee; the Bulls keep the exciting Cristiano Felicio for back-up center money; Nene sticks with the Rockets on a bargain.
Given that Paul George ended up somewhere other than Boston, the knives came out for Danny Ainge. But reports suggest the Celtics had multiple far superior offers than what the Pacers eventually took. You can’t blame the Celtics for not offering enough this time.
Klay Thompson had a magical tour through China. He capped it off with a new $80 million contract with Anta.
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