2010 Free Agency Discussion Thread

[Murat]

Yah... I still remember 1997-2004 Golden Age of Timberwolves

[Andrew]

Not exactly a fan, but they are my favourite Western team.

There you go. One and a half.

Meanwhile, Mike Miller has officially joined the Heat with a five year deal.

[shadowgrin]

“That’s my college roommate,” Haslem said earlier this week. “Our relationship is a lot deeper than just basketball. He’s like Dwyane is to me, except we’re just different colors. I would say Dwyane is my brother and I would say Mike (Miller) is brother. Different backgrounds, obviously different races, but that’s my brother.”

Udonis, racist?

[benji]

That almost doesn't make any sense, but "Mike is my brother too" would fix it.

I don't see it as racist, he's able to get beyond race to name someone his brother, but since he went to the University of Florida he thinks he has to identify people by their race somewhat primarily.

[Andrew]

Apparently Dampier is open to remaining with the Bobcats - at a much lower salary - if they have any interest in keeping him after wiping his non-guaranteed contract from the books.

[puttincomputers]

wouldnt dampier be a nice pickup for the bulls?

[Andrew]

If he's willing to accept the veteran minimum, sure, why not.

[Lamrock]

I hope His Dampness ends up with Portland. Love that guy.

[jonthefon]

Why, because he made Mark Cuban the punchline of every stupid contract signer joke ever?

/lights self on fire.

[benji]

Because he was almost the ideal center for a contender with high-usage players at the other spots, the fact that he was grossly overpaid didn't make him terrible, just overpaid.

[jonthefon]

I would've taken the 9.2/8.5 he put up his first year in Dallas...in hindsight.

Always the same though: Nash not being resigned at that price made sense, but then blew the savings by overpaying Dampier.

[Lamrock]

His Dampness was overpaid, but Nash was a bad fit on that team. Had they kept Nash, I doubt they would've ever beaten the Spurs.

[Axel The Great]

Rockets signed Brad Miller to a 3-year contract.

[Lamrock]

Decent acquisition. Miller's past his prime but is still good defensively.

[Axel The Great]

Any back-up for Yao is fine with me at this point.

[Martti.]

I thought he wouldn't get more then the vets minimum, but damn, nice job cashing in.

[Martti.]

James Jones will re-join the Heat.

A league source says that the Miami Heat have convinced forward James Jones -- who they just bought out two weeks ago to clear additional cap space for LeBron James and Chris Bosh -- to return to the Heat next season. Terms of the new deal were not immediately available.

Miami bought out the final three years of Jones's five-year, $23 million deal, paying approximately $1.8 million to Jones this year to get out of the rest of his old deal, which would have paid him $4.65 million next season. The savings gave the Heat enough cap space to convince James and Bosh to take less than maximum deals to join Dwyane Wade next season. The 29-year-old Jones had played his last two seasons in Miami but was injured for large stretches of the last two seasons.

When healthy, Jones has been a strong 3-point shooter, including a career-high 44 percent from behind the arc in 2007-08 with Portland. He would provide Miami with a solid role player who could relieve either Wade or James at either wing position.

After using the team's remaining cap space to sign free agent Mike Miller and re-sign forward Udonis Haslem, Miami can only offer veteran minimum contracts to other players as it fills out its roster. A seven-year veteran like Jones would be eligible for a minimum of $1.146 million next season. The Heat signed former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to a two-year, $2.8 million deal earlier this week, with a player option for the second year, and agreed to terms with veteran center Joel Anthony, who had opted out of his old contract before the July 1 start of free agency.

[Andrew]

Decent enough move, I guess. No big risk at the very least.

[jonthefon]

The Warriors sign Jeremy Lin for PR reasons, mostly. This is as disappointed as I will ever get about losing out on a future solid backup PG.

[rise]

Apparently a 37-year-old Juwan Howard is signing with Miami as well.

[Sauru]

not a bad move. they need anyone they can get and he has experience

[rise]

Shaun Livingston, a 6'7 Point Guard signed with the Bobcats for $7 million over two years.

[Lamrock]

The Lolcats seem hellbent on irrelevance

[Oznogrd]

Shaun Livingston, a 6'7 Point Guard signed with the Bobcats for $7 million over two years.

Do you really not know who he was? He was an up and comer a few years ago before getting the most gruesome knee injury ive seen in a basketball game. hope he has a resurgence.

[Lamrock]

To be fair, he was shaping up to be a draft bust before he completely ruined his leg. Yet another bad move this Summer for the Bobcats.