While much of today’s NBA talk was unsurprisingly centered upon LeBron James and imminent decision, it was also a relatively busy day on the free agency front. Here is a look at today’s moves:
Steve Blake Returns To Portland
For the third time in his eleven-year NBA career, point guard Steve Blake has agreed to sign with the Portland Trailblazers.
Blake will sign for the Blazers’ biannual exception, a deal which will pay him $4 million over 2 years.
Blake, who is 34-years-old, spent the 2005-06 season with the Trailblazers before returning to play almost three more seasons for the team from 2007-10. He started last season with the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in February.
For his career, Blake has averaged 6.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Raptors Sign James Johnson
The Toronto Raptors have agreed to terms with free agent James Johnson on a two-year contract worth about $5 million.
It isn’t Johnson’s first stop in Toronto, as he had previously spent two seasons with the Raptors from 2011-13. He played in 52 games for the Memphis Grizzlies last year, averaging 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks per contest.
While it definitely isn’t a signing anyone is talking about, Johnson is much-improved since he last played for Toronto, and his defense fills a tremendous need on the roster.
P.J. Tucker Resigns With Suns
The Phoenix Suns will bring back key contributor and veteran small forward P.J. Tucker on a three-year, $16.5 million deal.
While the 29-year-old Tucker’s younger days are behind him, he proved his value as an all-around solid player last season, averaging 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 31 minutes per game.
With a salary of $5.5 million for the first two years of the deal and only a partially guaranteed third season, the Suns are getting Tucker at a huge discount, as his ability to defend and stretch the floor on offense would have likely earned him a much more lucrative deal on the open market.
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