It was a busy day one in NBA free agency, here are some of the latest deals.
Marcin Gortat Staying in Washington on $60 Million Deal
Just one day in to free agency, the Washington Wizards have already achieved what was perhaps their biggest goal of the offseason by reaching a verbal agreement to keep center Marcin Gortat in town for at least five more seasons. The deal is reportedly worth $60 million over five years, and will keep Gortat a Wizard through the remainder of his prime, as he will be 35 when this contract is up.
A key component to the Wizard’s unexpected return to relevancy last season, the 30-year-old Polish big man averaged 13.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while proving his durability by playing in 81 of 82 games. Washington qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and upset the higher-seeded Chicago Bulls in five games in the first round. They were eventually knocked out in the second round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers, who took the series 4-2.
The Wizards wasted no time in locking Gortat up, as both the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks were reported to be interested in signing him.
Shaun Livingston Agrees to Three-Year Deal with the Warriors
The Golden State Warrior have agreed to terms on a three year contract with former Brooklyn Net and free agent point guard Shaun Livingston. With a deal worth just $16 million over the next three seasons, it is undoubtedly a bargain for the Warriors.
Livingston, who averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field in Brooklyn last year, fills a key need at backup point guard for Golden State. He also serves as a legitimate insurance policy at shooting guard in the very unlikely event that Klay Thompson is traded for Kevin Love, as has been rumored.
Pistons Sign Jodie Meeks to Three-Year, $19 Million Deal
The Detroit Pistons pulled off perhaps the biggest surprise yet on Tuesday, when they gave former Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks a three-year, $19.5 million deal.
While that is definitely more than he was expected to fetch on the open market, Meeks was the one bright spot on a terrible Lakers team last season. Starting 70 games, and playing 33 minutes per game, Meeks averaged 15.7 points per contest and shot 46.3 percent from the field. He is also a tremendous three point shooter, as he shot 40.2 percent from beyond the arc last season.
Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy likes to maximize the three-point shot, and he found the perfect man to help him do it in Jodie Meeks.
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