Free agency started today, and the basketball fans have not been let down. Many of the top free agents have already made a decision on where they will be playing for the next few years. Let us take a look at the free agent signings that have happened on day one of free agency.
*Full Articles on Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler have already been done. They will not be in this article. Click the links to read those articles.
Mike Dunleavy: Dunleavy will stay with the Chicago Bulls on a 3 year, $14.4 million deal. The Cleveland Cavaliers were pushing for Dunleavy to consider joining them, but he loves the future of the Bulls. He feels that the team will thrive under Fred Hoiberg.
Khris Middleton: It was anticipated that Middleton would get big time money in the offseason, and he did. He will stay with the Milwaukee Bucks on a 5 year, $70 million deal. Middleton is one of the top young players who made great strides throughout the year. It was smart for the Bucks to lock him up early considering he would receive high interest from other teams. The Bucks have a young core and the future is bright.
Goran Dragic: I am a little iffy about this one. Dragic will stay with the Miami Heat on a 5-year, $90 million deal. Dragic is a great player, but he should have been smart and taken some sort of pay cut. The Heat still have to focus on signing Dwyane Wade, who is seeking a max deal. For someone who asked Pat Riley how to help make sure they re-sign Wade, Dragic did not make the right move in taking so much money. But it is what he wanted, and the Heat were smart to make sure they keep him.
Al-Farouq Aminu: Aminu is one of the few players that have left their team so far in free agency. He has left the Dallas Mavericks and will sign with the Portland Trail Blazers on a 4 year, $30 million deal. Aminu had a great year with the Mavericks and was looking for a better situation with more money involved. This contract reminds me a lot of Jodie Meeks situation last year. Let us just hope that Aminu actually lives up to his expectations.
Brook Lopez: This is another move I am iffy about. Lopez will stay with the Brooklyn Nets on a 3 year, $60 million deal. The future of the Nets is up in the air. Many of the players are aging, and they have not lived up to expectations. For the first time in a while, Lopez was able to stay healthy and we were able to see how productive he can be when healthy. He should have looked to sign with a better team.
Thaddeus Young: Young is also going to be staying in Brooklyn. He agreed to a 4 year, $50 million deal, and expectations will be high. He really seemed to enjoy his time in Brooklyn after being traded by Minnesota. He is a solid player who just needs to be in the right situation.
Danny Green: Green is staying with the team who gave him a chance when no one else would. He will be staying with the San Antonio Spurs on a 4 year, $45 million deal. He actually felt that he might end up leaving, but could not pass up the situation he has been in. Green is very valuable to the Spurs on both offense and defense. And quite frankly, I would not want to leave a team who has a high chance of adding LaMarcus Aldridge to the mix. This is without a doubt one of the better stories in the NBA.
DeMarre Carroll: Here was our first big surprise of the day. Carroll will leave the Atlanta Hawks and sign with the Toronto Raptors on a 4 year, $60 million deal. Carroll is one of the better two-way players who has a great passion for the game. The Raptors desperately needed a strong power forward, and they were able to acquire one. I really like this move by the Raptors. Maybe Drake convinced him by telling him he would give him a shout out in one of his songs.
Alexis Ajinca: Ajinca will stay with the New Orleans Pelicans on a 4 year, $20 million deal. Ajinca was great off the bench last year, and will look to build off of that.
Tyson Chandler: Chandler will leave the Dallas Mavericks and sign with the Phoenix Suns on a 4 year, $52 million deal. It may be a little over-priced, but it was a great move by the Suns. Chandler provides great energy on the floor and brings an edge to the team. The acquisition of Chandler has actually made the Suns a contender to land LaMarcus Aldridge. I really like what the Suns are trying to do.
Amir Johnson: Johnson will leave the Toronto Raptors and sign with the Boston Celtics on a 2 year, $24 million deal. The Raptors were desperately trying to trade Johnson throughout year. It was smart for him to move on. His defense will really help a young Celtics team. I am a little surprised to see him get paid $12 million a year, though.
Kyle Singler: This is a move I really like. Singler will stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder on a 5 year, $25 million deal. This is a great contract for a bench player. Singler has the potential to be a great role player. He never really fit with the Detroit Pistons and played better once he was traded to the Thunder.
Jonas Jerekbo: Here is another player that did better after being traded from the Pistons. Jerekbo will stay with the Boston Celtics on a 2 year, $10 million deal. Jerekbo really enjoys being in Boston. He is a solid three-point shooter who is making strides in his game. Good move by the Celtics.
Paul Pierce: We get to see more of The Truth. Pierce will leave the Washington Wizards and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers on a 3 year, $10 million deal. I did not think he could last three more years in the league, but it is great to see him reunited with Doc Rivers. This is a great move by the Clippers. He will play great alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. If the Clippers are able to keep DeAndre Jordan, this team can finally reach the conference finals. With Pierce on the Clippers, the Clippers/Warriors games are going to be even better now.
Brandan Wright: This was a steal. Wright will leave the Phoenix Suns and sign with the Memphis Grizzlies on a 3 year $18 million deal. Wright is a solid big man who finishes really well at the rim. His length and ability to finish is a perfect fit with the Grizzlies.
Paul Millsap: Millsap will stay with the Hawks on a 3 year, $59 million deal. Although I think he could have ended up with a better team, I like that he chose to stay with the Hawks. They are coming off their best season as a franchise and are looking to build off of that. The frontcourt of Millsap, Al Horford, and Tiago Splitter could do very well.
Iman Shumpert: Smart move by Shumpert. He will be staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a 4 year, $40 million deal. Shumpert was key to the Cavs throughout their playoff run. He could have played a lot better if it were not for that nagging shoulder injury. He is a great defensive player who takes pressure off of LeBron James on that side of the ball.
Other Free Agency Rumors:
LaMarcus Aldridge was not impressed with the Lakers pitch and will not sign with them. The favorites to acquire him are the Spurs, Suns, and Rockets.
Wesley Matthews has met with the Mavericks and Raptors. The Mavericks are the favorite to sign him.
DeAndre Jordan met with the Mavericks again for almost five hours. It seems that he will choose between the Mavericks and Clippers.
Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors have broken off contract talks. Green will meet with other teams immediately.
Monta Ellis is close to signing a deal with the Indiana Pacers. He is meeting with Larry Bird and things seem to be going well.
