林書豪 Jeremy Lin"s Offense & Defense Highlights 2016-05-02 Playoffs R1G7 Hornets VS Heat
As free agency madness approaches, don"t forget about Jeremy Lin.
The star of a brief state of NBA euphoria known as "Linsanity, Lin opted out of his contract with the Charlotte Hornets, according to the Charlotte Observer, forgoing a $2.2 million player option to explore unrestricted free agency.
It was an anticipated move that could net Lin an eight-figure deal because the NBA salary cap expanded by a third and the point guard market isn"t particularly deep. He may be able to get as much as $12 million to up his career earnings beyond $40 million.
Lin will hold meetings in Palo Alto, Calif., with three clubs, according to ESPN"s Chris Broussard.
Last season Lin averaged 11.7 points on 41.2 percent shooting, 33.6 from beyond the arc, and chipped in three assists per game as a reserve for the Hornets.
Among the suitors could be the New York Knicks, with whom Lin broke onto the NBA scene in dramatic fashion.
"It"s not looking likely, because they just traded for Derrick Rose," Lin said at the World Economic Forum in China. "But I will say, ever since I left I"ve been open to going back, and I still am. Never say never. That"s the one thing in the NBA: Never say never. So I"ve always been open. But right now, I"m not sure it"s the best timing. But if it happens, it happens."
The deal: Four years, $98 million with the Miami Heat
The analysis: Whitesides remarkable transformation from castoff to max player is officially complete. Hewas going to get a max offer this summer, and within hours of free agency beginning the big manhad two: one from the Heat, and another from the Dallas Mavericks.
After sleeping on it, Whiteside agreedto a four-year deal to stay on South Beach with the team that rescued him from the NBA scrap heap last season.
The grade: B+
Signing Whiteside to this kind of deal certainly comes with some risk. Theres a reason he bounced around the world before eventually finding a home with the Heat, and it had nothing to do with his massive frame or talent. Still, the thought was Whiteside would wind up working out if he stayed with a an organizationlike the Heat, with plenty of infrastructure around him. By agreeing to remain in Miami, hes assured that will happen.
One other thing that brings this grade up a hair: Whiteside, per multiple reports, is willing to be flexible to help bring Kevin Durant to Miami. That could help the Heat quite a bit.
Jeremy Lin
The deal: Three years, $36 million (including player option for the third season)
The analysis: This was one deal that made too much sense not to happen. The Nets were in desperate need of a starting point guard, and Lin was said to be intent on finding a starting job. Combine the fact he can be a marketing sensation for a Nets team in need of attention and Lins longstanding relationship and affection for new Coach Kenny Atkinson, and this had to happen.
The grade: A
Just like the marriage itself, this deal is a great one for both sides. The Nets got a steal getting Lin to come to them at about $12 million per season, given hes arguably the second-best point guard available and they so badly needed a starter. But Lin getting a player option after the second year will allow him to get back into the market at 29 if he so choosesmaking this a good deal on his end, too.
Bradley Beal
The deal: Five years, $128 million
The analysis: This deal was always going to happen. When Beal and the Wizards didnt come to an agreement on a max contract extension last fall, the expectation was theyd get one done once free agency began, as that would net the Wizards an extra several million dollars in salary cap space. So it came as no surprise when, early on the first day of free agency, the two sides hammered out an agreement for a full max contract for the 23-year-old shooting guard.
The grade: B
For the reasons stated above, this deal was always going to happen. The Wizards did well to not give Beal any kind of option on the end of the deal, so presuming hes healthy theyll have him locked up all the way through his mid-20s the ideal time to have a player under contract. Because it comes with some risk, though (Beal has only played 70 or more games once in his four year career) this cant get a top grade, though.
Andre Drummond
The deal: Five years, $128 million (early termination option on the fifth year)
The analysis: Like Beal, this was always going to happen. Drummond, an all-star center and one of the best young big men in the game, is the centerpiece of Detroits rebuilding project under Coach Stan Van Gundy, and has a close relationship with owner Tom Gores. This was just a matter of getting the deal done.
The grade: A
The only thing that could take this down from an A grade, given Drummonds age and stature within the league, is the early termination option. But the Pistons gained about $15 million in space to improve the roster around him by waiting from the fall until now, making that trade off worth it. Now well see how Detroit uses the extra money at its disposal.
Nicolas Batum
The deal: Five years, $120 million with the Charlotte Hornets
The analysis: For the past month, the recurring word about Batums free agency was he was going to eventually agree to a five-year deal to return to the Hornets, who had traded for him a year ago and watched him lead them into the playoffs.
It had seemed Batum might be more interested in surveying the market after agreeing to meet with the Mavericks and phone conversations with a couple of teams Friday morning, including the Washington Wizards. But Batum and the Hornets eventually cameto an agreement on a five-year contract and took the French guard off the market before sunrise.
The grade: A
This deal couldnt have gone better for Charlotte. Everyone knew the Hornets needed to hang onto Batum after they dealt away a former lottery pick in Noah Vonleh to get him from the Portland Trail Blazers last June. But not only did the Hornets hang onto one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, they also convinced him to take about $30 million less than themaximum over the life of the contract. Those savings could help the Hornets keep Marvin Williams and Courtney Lee, their two best free agents theyre likely able to keep. Charlotte would love to keep Jeremy Lin, but hed like a starting job something he cant get with the Hornets. That combination of getting a must-do deal done and saving money at the same time makes this an easy grade.
[NBA free agency guide: The latest updates, rumors and analysis]
Jordan Clarkson
The deal: Four years, $50 million with the Los Angeles Lakers
The analysis: Clarkson was one of several restricted free agents who was never expected to leave his current team. And, just a few hours after the start of free agency, the Lakers made sure he stuck around locking up Clarkson to a four-year deal to keep one of their young core pieces in place for years to come.
Clarkson may become a Jamal Crawford-like presence off the bench in Los Angeles as a scoring guard, but hes been a home run of a selection as the No. 46 pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Along with DAngelo Russell, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 pick in this years draft, Clarkson is part of what Los Angeles hopes will become an attractive core to free agents next summer and beyond.
The grade: B-
This contract is fine, and right about what Clarkson was supposed to get if he got a back-loaded offer sheet in free agency. If the Lakers had allowed him to receive one of those offer sheets, they wouldve had Clarkson locked in at an artificially low contract this year and next, giving them more salary cap space to spend. But the per-year rate wont be terrible on this deal, and the Lakers wont have to deal with a massive salary cap spike in the back half of the deal now, either.
The deal: Five years, $139 million with the Toronto Raptors
The analysis: Toronto gets its man. DeRozan will now be in position to shatter just about every franchise record after agreeing to return to the team hes spent his entire career with since being the No. 9 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
DeRozan has his flaws. Hes not a great shooter, and hes not really capable of guarding small forwards. But hes excellent at getting to the foul line, is a good midrange shooter and is a leader of this Raptors team alongside Kyle Lowry. After Toronto put together the best three-year stretch infranchise history, bringing back DeRozan is a sign the Raptors will carry the success theyve had into the next few years.
The grade: B+
Five years for DeRozan isnt ideal, but hes now locked up for his age27-31 seasons basically covering the rest of his prime. And because he gave Toronto a bit of a discount, to the tune of about $13 million over the life of the deal, the Raptors mayfind a way to also bring back their other prominent free agent, Bismack Biyombo. Considering this was expected to be a five-year max, though, the Raptors did well to get him for less.
[Sources: Bradley Beal, Wizards closing in on five-year, $128 million max deal]
Timofey Mozgov
The deal: Four years, $64 million with the Los Angeles Lakers
The analysis: The Lakers wanted a meeting with Kevin Durant, but couldnt get one. The Lakers wanted a meeting with Hassan Whiteside, but couldnt get one. So they wentafter Mozgov, locking him up within an hour of free agency beginning early Friday morning.
Mozgov never got on track last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers after struggling to recover from offseason knee surgery. He spent much of the postseason on the bench as theCavaliers won Clevelandsfirst championship in more than50 years. But instead of his market value taking a hit, he wound up with a similar deal to the one he wouldve likely nabbed if hed been a free agent a year agoafter helping to carryCleveland to within two wins of a title despite missing Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving with injuries.
The grade: C-
The Lakers got their man, and Mozgov will likely wind up being a better deal than, say, the contract Joakim Noah is closing in on with the Knicks for the same number of years and more money despite him being two years older. But even in the inflated cap environment the NBA finds itself in, this feels like an overpay. After mostly striking out the past couple of years in free agency, its understandable why the Lakers would need to overpay to get someone they want. And if Mozgov canregain his form from the 2014-15 season and postseason, this deal will look all right.
More on NBA free agency:
Clippers reportedly want to sell Kevin Durant on Big Four plan
Thunder hopes to sign Al Horford, reuniting him with college coach Billy Donovan
Joakim Noah expected to sign with New York Knicks
LeBron James opts out of Cavs contract, as expected
