So we're finally here, free-agency for all the world to see. And ESPN, of course, decided to take it to the next level with covering people running in and out of buildings into unmarked cars like the NBA players are into some sort of a mob movie. Whatever.
To start with, Rudy Gay is staying in Memphis. And that's good to see. He's been one of the faces of the franchise - a franchise that continues to make some sound decisions.
The surprise of the day though is that the Hawks offered Joe Johnson a $124 million dollar contract. Really? That's a lot of money. And even though Johnson was one of the best free-agents in this year's class, I don't know that he should've been one of the max contract guys. But it's all about the money, isn't it? At least it is if you ask the players honestly.
The stunner isn't that Johnson will probably jump at the cash. The surprise is that Atlanta offered it in the first place. Signing Johnson again doesn't make you a better team. It makes them the same team that they've been for the last couple of years. It's the same team that couldn't beat Orlando or Boston. Either way you look at it, Orlando will come back strong next year and so will Boston. But either Miami or Chicago is getting primed to be the next real force in the NBA with their potential pickups.
Should Atlanta keep it's super-star? Yes. But are they going to win a title with what they have? No. It's kind of a Catch 22. Don't sign him and lose. Or sign him and get knocked out in the playoffs every year by a superior team. Tough spot to be in. Atlanta has Josh Smith and Al Horford - but it's not enough. Either way, Atlanta will be seen, I think, as a 2010 off-season loser. And it's really not their fault. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. But hey, at least it's not Mike Vick making headlines in your city anymore, right?
Aside from that, it's been the ESPN hype machine in overdrive and a lot of non-news. This is just a good filler until they start reporting more non-news about Brett Favre's possible return to the NFL.
3 comments:
My heart sank when I found out that the Bucks gave Drew Gooden a 5/$32 contract. My favorite team has finally escaped 4 years of salary cap hell and now they've fallen back on their old habits. I thought that the Bucks would attempt to resign key players like John Salmons and Luke Ridnour (maybe Stackhouse too!), but instead, they blew all of their spare change on a journeyman PF with a pony tail. Can anyone talk me off of the ledge?
Stackhouse guy will talk you off the ledge. First off trust your GM. He has done very well since in charge. Probably high $$ for Gooden but you get a solid rebounder/defender in the post. Ridnour doesn't defend and will continue to lose minutes to Jennings. Salmons always puts up numbers but eventually wears out his welcome everywhere he has been. Have faith!!!
With all the hype of this free agency period, there's a perceived necessity to sign players that put up ok or solid numbers instead of the RIGHT guy. I've never really thought much of Gooden as a player. He does some nice things, but I don't think $32 million is a smart investment. Joe Johnson is a nice player too that could be a great piece for a lot of teams, but is he going to be worth the money later on in that contract. More importantly, what's the Hawks' salary cap going to be like in a few years.
With all the great players out there this year, there is a lot of opportunity for a franchise to improve themselves. There is also a very distinct possibility that a number of teams will get burned with exorbitant contract and salary cap issues down the road.
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