George Hill G – Pacers
The Pacers re-signed Hill to a five-year deal, leaving many Pacers thinking they overpaid, but the Indianapolis native is only going to get better and can play both guard spots. There’s a pretty decent chance he could start over Darren Collison on opening night, which would obviously give his fantasy value a boost.
Corey Maggette SF – Pistons
Maggette is an injury waiting to happen and will now hobble around for the Pistons after he was traded for Ben Gordon. He can still play and get to the line, and will be worth late look in most drafts. But if your goal is to land healthy players on draft night, Maggette’s probably not your guy.
Ben Gordon SG – Bobcats
Gordon’s disastrous run in Detroit is over and he’ll aim for a fresh start in Charlotte. Luckily, Gordon is accustomed to coming off the bench, which is what his role will likely be, playing behind Gerald Henderson.
Lou Williams SG - Free Agent
We don't know where Williams is going to sign, but he won't be back in Philadelphia. He was a great scorer off the bench for the Sixers last season, but until we find out where he's going, it's tough to tell if he'll be worth drafting again this year. The Suns look like a viable option for Sweet Lou.
Chris Kaman C – Free Agent
The Blazers will be giving Kaman a close look, but don’t be surprised if they end up throwing rookie Meyers Leonard into the fire and letting him learn on the fly as a rookie. Kaman will be worth owning if he can stay healthy (points, boards, blocks), but is now officially on the downside of his career.
JaVale McGee C – Free Agent
McGee should now get a lot of attention from Denver and the Blazers after they missed out on Roy Hibbert. He’s an athletic freak with the basketball IQ of a pineapple, but I still love watching (and owning) him.
Raymond Felton PG – Free Agent
Felton looked like he was headed to the Knicks but the Jason Kidd deal shot that deal in the foot. We haven’t heard much about where Felton might be heading, but with Houston and Dallas hurting at PG, either one is possible.
Marcus Camby C – Free Agent
Camby has been rumored to be in a sign-and-trade to the Knicks, and the latest report from Adrian Wojnarowski is that it’s all but a done deal. He’ll backup both Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire, which is probably good news for his knees, but bad news for his fantasy value. Even though he won’t be worth using a high pick on, the blocked shots he’ll likely post will make him worth a look in deeper, two-center leagues.
Quick Hits
Aaron Brooks PG - Rockets? – The Rockets are interested in Brooks and he could be a sleeper if he starts in Houston, who lost Dragic and Lowry.
Emeka Okafor PF/C – Wizards – Okafor says he’ll be healthy, but he’ll have to share time with Nene, and he’s simply no longer trustworthy.
Trevor Ariza SF – Wizards – Ariza should start at SF for the Wizards, but his shaky shooting will remain a concern. However, if he ever gets his shot to fall consistently, he does enough of everything to be a very nice value pick late.
Jameer Nelson PG – Magic – Nelson re-upped with the Magic, but it remains to be seen whom exactly he’ll be passing the ball to.
J.J. Redick SG – Magic – Redick opted in with the Magic and could (finally) start at SG. If he does, he’ll hit a ton of threes.
Jeff Green SF – Celtics – Green is ready to resume his career with the Celtics, but I want to see the final roster and how he looks in training camp before getting excited. He’ll back up Paul Pierce, either way.
Nick Young SG – Sixers – Young will replace Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks in Philly, while I suspect Evan Turner will play a lot of minutes at both point guard and shooting guard.
Marvin Williams SF – Jazz – If he can hit a 15-footer consistently, combined with a new start in Utah, Williams could have his best season ever, but still probably isn’t worth drafting until the later rounds.
Ersan Ilyasova PF – Bucks – He’ll be back with the Bucks, where power forwards are usually timeshared into oblivion.
Spencer Hawes C – Sixers – He re-signed with the Sixers and should start at center if his Achilles problems are behind him. He got off to a great start last season and should be considered a sleeper.
Antawn Jamison PF – Bobcats, Warriors? – There are rumors about him signing with both teams, but he is officially starting to run out of gas.
Rashard Lewis SF – Free Agent – Being targeted by the Heat and would be another great get if Miami can pull it off.
Jason Thompson – Kings – The Kings re-signed the big man, which is interesting because they drafted Thomas Robinson, and still have DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes.
Injury Update
Dwyane Wade – Knee Surgery – Wade will miss the Olympics, but should be ready for the new season.
Tony Parker – Eye Injury – He’s been cleared to play in the Olympics, thus a disaster has been avoided.
Joakim Noah – Ankle Injury – Will miss Olympics and the injury could linger into training camp.
Josh Smith - Trade Request – He has a standing trade request with the Hawks, but unless Dwight Howard is involved, he doesn’t appear to be going anywhere – yet.
It’s been a wild free agency period and we still lack clarity on where Dwight Howard will be playing. All indications as of Monday afternoon are that he will be traded to the Nets (in a potential 14-player deal), but no deal has been made yet. Here’s a quick look at the big names in the free agent market, and where they landed or might be headed. Most of these deals cannot become official until Wednesday, but chances are that most, if not all, will smoothly become 'done deals'.
Follow me on Twitter!
Dwight Howard C – Nets?
The latest reports are that a four-team deal that would send Howard to the Nets is getting closer and closer to being finalized. The list of players that could potentially be moved in this deal is extensive, and includes Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks, among others. It’s probably not worth going into all the details until it actually goes down, as it is sure to be one of the more complex trades in NBA history if and when it happens. It’s also important to note that Howard is coming off back surgery, and exactly when he’ll be ready to play at 100 percent is still an unknown.
Deron Williams PG – Nets
Williams re-signed with the Nets and will be there for the foreseeable future. A potential core of Williams, Joe Johnson and Dwight Howard has Nets fans very excited, but we’ll have to wait and see what other puzzle pieces will be left in Brooklyn once the dust settles on the Howard deal. As usual, Williams should be a dominant fantasy point guard.
Steve Nash PG – Lakers
Nash shocked most of the world by going to the Lakers where he’ll provide Kobe Bryant with the first great point guard he’s ever played with. It looks like Grant Hill could follow Nash to L.A., where a potential starting five of Nash, Kobe, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum has Laker fans thinking championship again. Nash is old as dirt (38), but still has plenty left in the tank, and he’s already talked to coach Mike Brown about calling plays and running the offense. I don’t know how he and Kobe will work together at sharing the ball, but something tells me the Lakers are going to be just fine. As usual, Nash should be a very good fantasy point guard again this season, but beware of those turnovers.
Joe Johnson SG – Nets
Johnson and his massive contract were traded to the Nets and he should be an excellent fit in Brooklyn. If Dwight joins the Nets, Johnson will no longer be the focal point of his team’s offense, which should be a good thing. Johnson won’t score as much as he did for the Hawks or have as much fantasy value as he once had, but he should still be a solid shooting guard option available after the early rounds.
Eric Gordon SG – Hornets
Eric Gordon said his heart is no longer in New Orleans, but the Hornets will match the Suns' offer for him, despite his appearance in just nine games last season due to knee issues. Gordon is also unhappy that the Hornets drafted Austin Rivers, but will have to get over it pretty quickly. The bigger question is how long will it take Hornets fans to forgive him? As for Gordon’s fantasy value, it will be high, but only if he can stay healthy. And thus far in his short career, he hasn’t been able to prove he can do that.
Roy Hibbert C – Pacers
The Pacers will match the Blazers’ max-offer for Hibbert, which I think is a good move. Hibbert is young and talented, and counting on Chris Kaman or JaVale McGee (if they would have let Hibbert go), could have been a much bigger mistake than paying Hibbert. The Blazers will now likely give both Kaman and McGee a hard look.
Nicolas Batum SF – Blazers
Batum actually met with the Blazers and personally asked them not to match the offer he received from the Timberwolves. Much like Gordon, Batum says his heart’s not in Portland and he’ll have to mend fences and put up with boo birds once the season starts. But he’s got all the fantasy tools necessary to be a stud, if the Blazers will finally turn him loose.
Elton Brand PF/C – Free Agent
The Sixers used the amnesty clause on Brand and it sounds like the Mavericks are going to try to snag him off waivers. And if they do, it’s very possible he could play heavy minutes at center in Dallas, making him worth a mid-round fantasy pick this Fall.
Goran Dragic PG – Suns
Dragic wanted to go someplace where he could be a starter and he will do just that for the Suns. Rookie Kendall Marshall will now have to take a big backseat to Dragic, who will be a highly coveted fantasy point guard this year. Hopefully he can live up to the hype after averaging 18 points, eight assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in 28 starts for the Rockets. I look forward to owning Dragic in a few leagues this year.
Mo Williams PG – Jazz
Williams agreed to opt-in with the Clippers clearing the way for him to be traded to the Jazz. With Devin Harris now in Atlanta, the roadway has been cleared for Williams to return to a starting point guard role. I’m guessing he’ll be a value pick in the middle rounds of most drafts, although a decline in his skills may be coming now that he’s 30.
Lamar Odom F – Clippers
Odom is returning to Los Angeles, which has to be considered a good thing after watching him meltdown after being traded to Dallas last year. It’s hard to say what his role will be with his new team, but you have to think things will go better than they did in Dallas. He’s likely headed for a stint off the bench, and he will not be a guy I’m targeting on draft day, unless he’s available very late.
Jason Kidd & Jeremy Lin PG – Knicks
Kidd shocked the Mavericks and chose the Knicks at the last minute, leaving the Mavericks without a point guard. He’ll mentor Jeremy Lin, who will have his offer from the Rockets matched by the Knicks, but my guess is Lin will still get the starting job. We’ll have to see how training camp goes, but the fact remains that the timeshare coming is going to be bad news for both point guards. And for the record, Kidd, who will turn 40 in March, is 15 years older than Lin.
Jamal Crawford SG – Clippers
The Clippers decided to go with Crawford over Ray Allen and he’ll replace Nick Young, who is joining the Sixers. Crawford has the ability to score in bunches and drain 3-pointers, and the starting lineup of Chris Paul, Crawford, Caron Butler/Lamar Odom, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should win a lot of games.
Ray Allen SG – Heat
Allen spurned the Celtics, angering fans in Boston along the way, to sign with LeBron and D-Wade in Miami. He’ll likely come off the bench, since Wade plays his position, but will be a much more reliable 3-point threat off the bench than Mike Miller and James Jones were last season. Allen’s fantasy value is on the way down, but he’ll still be worth owning for all the 3-pointers he should hit in Miami.
Jason Terry SG – Celtics
The Celtics will fill the hole left by Allen’s departure with Terry, who said he’d be back in Dallas if the Mavs would have come after him as strongly as the Celtics did. Terry going to Boston is especially important since Avery Bradley had more shoulder surgery recently, and Ray Allen won’t be back. Bradley won’t be ready until December and Terry’s value could see a boost since it looks like he’ll be starting for the Celtics. Boston is also said to be targeting another shooting guard – Courtney Lee – which would be a nice get for them. However, even if it happens, it looks like Terry will be the favorite to start in Boston.
Brandon Roy SG – Timberwolves
David Kahn strikes again, giving Roy a two-year guaranteed deal after he retired last season with chronic knee problems. The overwhelming sentiment is that Roy won’t be able to handle heavy minutes and will see a backup role in limited minutes off the bench. I also don’t think it will take much for his knee issues to come back into play, and I’m staying away from him this year.
Ryan Anderson F – Hornets
Anderson was shipped to the Hornets for Gustavo Ayon, who should see some decent minutes in Orlando, once the Dwightmare is over. As for Anderson with the Hornets, it will be very interesting to see if he still gets all those open looks from downtown without Howard in the mix. And it will also be interesting to see how the Hornets decide to divvy up minutes between Anderson and No. 1 draft pick, rookie Anthony Davis. I don’t know if Anderson, who is 6’10” can play small forward, but if he can, that would be a nice bonus for the Hornets. In any case, don’t expect Anderson to repeat last season’s surprising numbers, and don’t expect to see Davis coming off the bench.
Kyle Lowry PG - Raptors
After missing out on Steve Nash the Raptors did well to recover and get Lowry from the Rockets. The Raptors will have to trade or amnesty Jose Calderon in order to make Lowry a fantasy stud, but indications are that’s what the plan is. Lowry averaged nearly 15 points, seven assists, five boards, two steals and two 3-pointers prior to the All-Star break last year, but missed much of rest of the season with a freakish abdominal injury that eventually required surgery. All indications are that he is on track to come back strong, and he’s helped by the fact Dwane Casey, Toronto’s coach, loves him.
Kirk Hinrich G – Bulls
Hinrich can play both guard spots and should be in line for a ton of minutes in Chicago. Derrick Rose should miss most of the season as he recovers from knee surgery, while C.J. Watson is on his way out of town, meaning Hinrich will likely start at point guard for the Bulls on opening night. And after Richard Hamilton’s injury disaster last season, Hinrich could find himself at shooting guard on many nights, as well. He’s not going to be a fantasy stud, but should have a nice role and make for a solid value pick later in fantasy drafts.
Devin Harris PG – Hawks
Harris is now in Atlanta after being traded for Marvin Williams and should share point guard duties with Jeff Teague. Harris has shown that he has the potential to be a fantasy beast when healthy, but he’s been hurt a lot in the last few seasons, and a timeshare with Teague isn’t going to do him any favors.
Ramon Sessions PG – Mavericks?
Sessions opted to leave the Lakers and now wants a starting job. Dallas and Houston have the most glaring need there, and it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see him start for the Mavs on opening night. He’s got potential to be a very good fantasy point guard, but hasn’t really proven himself as a starter. Therefore, expectations should be tempered for now – especially until we see where he lands.
Andre Miller PG – Nuggets
Miller was re-signed by the Nuggets, much to the chagrin of Ty Lawson owners in dynasty leagues. The two will share time at point guard again, as well as in the backcourt together, and we’d all be more excited about Lawson if Miller wasn’t still around.
George Hill G – Pacers
The Pacers re-signed Hill to a five-year deal, leaving many Pacers thinking they overpaid, but the Indianapolis native is only going to get better and can play both guard spots. There’s a pretty decent chance he could start over Darren Collison on opening night, which would obviously give his fantasy value a boost.
Corey Maggette SF – Pistons
Maggette is an injury waiting to happen and will now hobble around for the Pistons after he was traded for Ben Gordon. He can still play and get to the line, and will be worth late look in most drafts. But if your goal is to land healthy players on draft night, Maggette’s probably not your guy.
Ben Gordon SG – Bobcats
Gordon’s disastrous run in Detroit is over and he’ll aim for a fresh start in Charlotte. Luckily, Gordon is accustomed to coming off the bench, which is what his role will likely be, playing behind Gerald Henderson.
Lou Williams SG - Free Agent
We don't know where Williams is going to sign, but he won't be back in Philadelphia. He was a great scorer off the bench for the Sixers last season, but until we find out where he's going, it's tough to tell if he'll be worth drafting again this year. The Suns look like a viable option for Sweet Lou.
Chris Kaman C – Free Agent
The Blazers will be giving Kaman a close look, but don’t be surprised if they end up throwing rookie Meyers Leonard into the fire and letting him learn on the fly as a rookie. Kaman will be worth owning if he can stay healthy (points, boards, blocks), but is now officially on the downside of his career.
JaVale McGee C – Free Agent
McGee should now get a lot of attention from Denver and the Blazers after they missed out on Roy Hibbert. He’s an athletic freak with the basketball IQ of a pineapple, but I still love watching (and owning) him.
Raymond Felton PG – Free Agent
Felton looked like he was headed to the Knicks but the Jason Kidd deal shot that deal in the foot. We haven’t heard much about where Felton might be heading, but with Houston and Dallas hurting at PG, either one is possible.
Marcus Camby C – Free Agent
Camby has been rumored to be in a sign-and-trade to the Knicks, and the latest report from Adrian Wojnarowski is that it’s all but a done deal. He’ll backup both Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire, which is probably good news for his knees, but bad news for his fantasy value. Even though he won’t be worth using a high pick on, the blocked shots he’ll likely post will make him worth a look in deeper, two-center leagues.
Quick Hits
Aaron Brooks PG - Rockets? – The Rockets are interested in Brooks and he could be a sleeper if he starts in Houston, who lost Dragic and Lowry.
Emeka Okafor PF/C – Wizards – Okafor says he’ll be healthy, but he’ll have to share time with Nene, and he’s simply no longer trustworthy.
Trevor Ariza SF – Wizards – Ariza should start at SF for the Wizards, but his shaky shooting will remain a concern. However, if he ever gets his shot to fall consistently, he does enough of everything to be a very nice value pick late.
Jameer Nelson PG – Magic – Nelson re-upped with the Magic, but it remains to be seen whom exactly he’ll be passing the ball to.
J.J. Redick SG – Magic – Redick opted in with the Magic and could (finally) start at SG. If he does, he’ll hit a ton of threes.
Jeff Green SF – Celtics – Green is ready to resume his career with the Celtics, but I want to see the final roster and how he looks in training camp before getting excited. He’ll back up Paul Pierce, either way.
Nick Young SG – Sixers – Young will replace Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks in Philly, while I suspect Evan Turner will play a lot of minutes at both point guard and shooting guard.
Marvin Williams SF – Jazz – If he can hit a 15-footer consistently, combined with a new start in Utah, Williams could have his best season ever, but still probably isn’t worth drafting until the later rounds.
Ersan Ilyasova PF – Bucks – He’ll be back with the Bucks, where power forwards are usually timeshared into oblivion.
Spencer Hawes C – Sixers – He re-signed with the Sixers and should start at center if his Achilles problems are behind him. He got off to a great start last season and should be considered a sleeper.
Antawn Jamison PF – Bobcats, Warriors? – There are rumors about him signing with both teams, but he is officially starting to run out of gas.
Rashard Lewis SF – Free Agent – Being targeted by the Heat and would be another great get if Miami can pull it off.
Jason Thompson – Kings – The Kings re-signed the big man, which is interesting because they drafted Thomas Robinson, and still have DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes.
Injury Update
Dwyane Wade – Knee Surgery – Wade will miss the Olympics, but should be ready for the new season.
Tony Parker – Eye Injury – He’s been cleared to play in the Olympics, thus a disaster has been avoided.
Joakim Noah – Ankle Injury – Will miss Olympics and the injury could linger into training camp.
Josh Smith - Trade Request – He has a standing trade request with the Hawks, but unless Dwight Howard is involved, he doesn’t appear to be going anywhere – yet.