2012 NBA Off-Season Thread

[Guest]

I guess Luis Scola is gone.

I think so. I heard this morning that if the Mavs lose out on Brand, they'll go after either Scola or Calderon from Toronto.

[FedEx227]

Scola is definitely gone, Dallas looks like #1 landing spot.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

The Bobcats officially signed PG Ramon Sessions on Friday.

The deal is reported to be for two years and $5 million each year. Sessions has said he only wanted to sign with a team where he would start at PG, but early reports have said that Kemba Walker would be the starter. Sessions has been a very solid fantasy contributor when on bad teams, so he is someone to keep an eye on.

The Pacers have officially signed D.J. Augustin to what is believed to be a one-year contract.

Augustin seems enthusiastic about joining a playoff contender, even though he'll likely come off the bench behind George Hill. He's a great distributor and can shoot well from downtown (37.4 percent for his career), but as long as Hill is healthy his fantasy value will be capped.

The Sixers and free agent Kwame Brown have agreed on a two-year deal worth approximately $6 million.

The second year is a player option. As per a previous report, the Sixers seem likely to start Kwame at center and make Spencer Hawes their starting PF, with Lavoy Allen and Nikola Vucevic coming off the bench.

The Sixers officially re-signed Spencer Hawes on Friday.

Although the team policy states that terms were undisclosed, sources say that it is a two-year, $13 million contract. With Friday's signing of C Kwame Brown, the Sixers are probably going to move Hawes to start at PF. Hawes started out last year very strong, but suffered a serious Achilles' strain only 12 games into the season and was never quite the same. If Hawes is truly healthy, he can certainly improve upon his 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game averages from last season.

Pending a passed physical, Kyle Korver has been traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

The details are still coming out, but it is believed to be as part of a sign-and-trade deal involving Kirk Hinrich, whom the Bulls were planning to sign this week. By trading Korver to Atlanta, the Bulls won't have to pay him $500,000 had they waived his $5 million non-guaranteed contract. As soon as the final terms of the trade become available, we will be sure to pass them along.

According to league sources, Chris Wilcox has agreed to a one-year deal with the Celtics.

The deal is likely for the league minimum which, for Wilcox, is $1.35 million. A heart ailment cut Wilcox's season short last year, but he has been medically cleared for a full return. Wilcox appeared in 28 games last season for the Celtics, averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds over 17.2 minutes per game. He will return to his reserve role and hold very minimal fantasy value.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, a league source has confirmed that the Dallas Mavericks successfully claimed Elton Brand off amnesty waivers on Friday.

Details are coming in that the winning bid for Brand was $2.1 million, which is much lower than expected. In addition to officially grabbing Brand, the Mavericks are said to be on the verge of also signing free agent center Chris Kaman. If Kaman does, in fact, sign with Dallas, Brand will back up both Dirk Nowitzki and Kaman in the Mavericks' front court. Brand will also be a nice insurance policy if Dallas somehow ends up not being able to get the Kaman deal done. Brand will need some minutes to open up for him to be fantasy-relevant next season.

A league source has confirmed that the Timberwolves waived G/F Martell Webster on Friday.

Webster started 26 of 47 games last season for Minnesota, but only averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. To think that the Blazers traded out of the third pick in the 2005 draft with Deron Williams and Chris Paul still on the board to move down to sixth to select Webster may be one of the worst draft-day trades in NBA history. Webster has been a bust in his NBA career so far, but has shown glimpses of scoring potential. He will be off the fantasy radar next season.

Brad Miller has been traded to the Hornets, along with two future second round picks, for a future conditional second round pick.

Miller is expected to retire, but this move frees up some additional cap space for the Timberwolves so they can officially extend their offer sheet to Nicolas Batum.

[Argath]

Mavs upgraded the front court this season. Kaman/brand > Haywood/Mahinmi

[ralaw]

Mavs upgraded the front court this season. Kaman/brand > Haywood/Mahinmi

Upgraded the PG spot too, but they'll miss Terry.

[Guest]

Kwame Brown still in the league? I guess it's the height factor?

[Argath]

Javale mcgee was offered 5 year $50 million deal by the nuggets and he declined citing that he wanted a max contract like hibbert and lopez.



Lolwut does this guy know he won't get more than $20 million on the FA market?




Also wizards shopping andray blatche but apparently there's no market for him. I don't understand why the wizards don't just amnesty the fag and let him go sign with the heat

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

The Bobcats claimed Brendan Haywood off waivers on Saturday.

In order to salvage salary cap space and avoid luxury taxes, the Mavs ate the final three years and guaranteed $27.2 million remaining on Haywood's contract. That number is diminished only by the salary Charlotte agreed to pay him, which is probably the vet's minimum. Haywood will probably battle DeSagana Diop for minutes behind starting center Bismack Biyombo.

The Pistons officially signed Ukrainian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov on Saturday.

Kravtsov, whose first name can be conveniently shortened to 'Slava,' is believed to have signed a multi-year contract, though the exact terms haven't been disclosed. At 7'0", 260 lbs, he gives Detroit another project center to develop alongside Andre Drummond.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

The Nets and C.J. Watson have agreed on a two-year contract for the veteran's minimum.

Watson cleared waivers on Friday and this is a nice addition for the Nets, who are slowly filling out their bench with cost-effective veteran backups. They've definitely benefited during free agency from the lure of being in Brooklyn, with a new arena, a deep-pocketed owner, and an All-Star point guard running the show.

[Point Blank]

Mavs need to a sign a decent SG now to somewhat replace Terry. I believe Courtney Lee is still out there..

[Argath]

Mavs need to a sign a decent SG now to somewhat replace Terry. I believe Courtney Lee is still out there..

Aren't they really high on beabois or whatever his name is?

[Palooza]

The Magic have whittled their list of head coach candidates down to three names -- Michael Curry, Lindsey Hunter and Jacque Vaughn.
Vaughn has been rumored to be the frontrunner, and it's beginning to feel like a decision will be announced in the next few days.

Didn't Lindsey Hunter and Jacque Vaughn JUST retire like a year or two ago and the Magic are considering them for a head coaching gig? That is fucking wild.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

Avery Johnson retired after the 2003-04 season, took over the Mavs coaching job in 2004-05, then won coach of the year the next season. (and was fired 2 years later lol)

[Palooza]

Avery Johnson retired after the 2003-04 season, took over the Mavs coaching job in 2004-05, then won coach of the year the next season. (and was fired 2 years later lol)

I always considered him the exception, but now it's turning into a thing. To be fair, he was an assistant first, and was supposed to be getting groomed to take over eventually. He took over the job a few months later after Don Nelson resigned. He wasn't a head coaching candidate on the scale of Vaughn or Hunter and had experience with the team/system, etc. The Vaughn/Hunter shit seems forced.

Looking back on it, I didn't realize that all happened so quickly for Avery either.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

Kings acquire F James Johnson.

Johnson was traded to the Kings from the Raptors for a future second-round pick. Though the owners are believed to be broke (and therefore impotent during free agency), they're doing pretty darn well this offseason. Thomas Robinson fell in their lap and now they'll have a versatile guy in Johnson that plays good defense and fills a need. He'll be hands off in fantasy leagues because of the log-jams all around him, and we're going to keep one eye on how or why he came so cheap. Johnson has a history of foot issues and was basically banished down the stretch due to an undisclosed altercation in Toronto.

The Kings and free agent Aaron Brooks have agreed on a contract worth approximately $6.6 million over two years, with the second year a player option.

There has been some chatter that Brooks could start, but that's not likely for a guy who couldn't hold off Zabian Dowdell in Phoenix for No. 2 duties. Starter Isaiah Thomas played at a top-15 level last season at the point guard position, and deserves a full 35-plus minutes per game as his arrow points up. Unfortunately, Keith Smart has a history of benching guys (Stephen Curry) and until the Kings come out and dispel the nonsense, IT's fantasy owners are on red alert. Brooks' signing also seriously complicates Jimmer Fredette's role next season in a log-jammed backcourt.