HOOPSWORLD Week In Review
Ranking The 2013 NBA Free Agents
By Stephen Brotherston
A lot can change between now and next summer, but teams are already looking at next year’s free agent crop and some of them are even structuring this year’s contracts to be able to get in on the action. Free agents come in the preferred unrestricted (UFA) availability, restricted (RFA), and to be determined early termination option (ETO), player (PO) or team option (TO).
The full force of the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) comes into effect next summer and luxury tax teams will be facing the punishing costs of the new system and new restrictions in their attempts to acquire free agents, but like the surprising number of RFA acquired this year using back-loaded contracts, we will not know the full effect of these changes until owners and general managers show what they are willing to do.
One unexpected impact of the new CBA has been a reluctance of pending free agents to discuss extensions in order to keep the possibility of a maximum five-year contract available. It is even harder than usual to get a read on if players will re-sign with their current team.
There are a number of highly desirable players expected to be available in free agency, including:
Roy Excited To Resume Career In Minnesota
By Alex Kennedy
After retiring last December and sitting out the 2011-12 season, former All-Star shooting guard Brandon Roy is back. The 28-year-old will play for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season after inking a two-year deal with the team earlier this month, and he can’t wait to continue his NBA career.
“I’m excited to be back in the NBA and be a part of this organization,” Roy said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. “It was a tough season to sit out but after thinking about it, I wanted to start preparing myself to make a comeback. I didn’t want it to be an overnight decision so I decided to start working out for about two months before I would make my official decision to come back. After two months of pushing myself, my body felt really great. It responded really well.”
Roy met with a number of teams in Seattle, and ultimately narrowed down his list to the Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors. After much deliberation, he decided to sign with Minnesota.
Point/Counterpoint: A Rule Against Trade Demands?
By Joel Brigham and Lang Greene
In the NBA, players are not permitted to demand a trade in the press. It’s a fineable offense, but that hasn’t stopped upcoming free agents from holding their team hostage and dictating where they’re going to land by refusing to commit long-term to certain teams. Even though the information isn’t coming directly from the player, the message is sent by an agent or “source close to the player.”
Is it time for the NBA to put some kind of “Dwight Howard-Carmelo Anthony” rule in place to head off what’s been happening around the league? Players are killing their own trade value and we get year-long soap operas as a result. What should the NBA do? Is a new rule needed? Is NBA commissioner David Stern right about the fact the rumors drive interest and are therefor a good thing?
HOOPSWORLD’s Lang Greene and Joel Brigham break it down:
Coach: Don’t Rush To Change Rosters
By Anthony Macri
No Moves Can Be Good Moves
As the offseason drags on, the only thing saving NBA fans from a relatively consistent chorus of complaints from fans of teams that haven’t changed their roster is the Olympics. In most summers, the single biggest theme is anxiety over a lack of movement for one team or another.
In times like these, however, it is critical not to confuse activity for achievement. Change for change’s sake is rarely successful, and often detrimental to the overall health of an organization. Fans (and many an analyst alike) beg for changes, and will sometimes applaud them and say things like, “At least my team is doing something.”
This attitude is certainly not related to success, and might be dangerous in that it encourages this kind of decision making in the future.
In reality, making roster moves should be about doing one of two things: (1) putting a team in contention for a championship in the short-term or (2) managing assets for the future.
2012 NBA Free Agency: Best Of Who’s Left
By Derek Page
We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty in terms of talent on the free agent market but there’s still value to be had late this summer. While the most accomplished and talented ballers are long gone, there are still players available who are capable of making an impact with a prospective suitor.
Obviously, we’re getting down to the bottom of the barrel. These names aren’t going to wow anybody but there are some quality names on this list that are proficient enough to make an NBA roster and might be savvy enough to make an impact.
Without further ado, here’s the best of what’s left in 2012 NBA free agency:
Loading ...
