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Last year we had released a Winners and Losers edition for Week 1 of the NBA Free Agency but this year Day 1 had so many deals going down that we had to release a Winners and Losers edition for just Day 1. Although Day 2 did have big and surprising deals going down, it didn't and couldn't compete with all that went down on Day 1. Nonetheless, despite it being a duller affair Day 2 had its deal to show for and we are here to present to you an analysis on them.Here is the analysis of all deals from Day 2 of NBA Free Agency:You can also find out what happened on the opening day here:
#7 Ed Davis agrees to deal with Portland
The Portland Trailblazers have made a smart move signing forward Ed Davis with them. It gives them a flexibility of having a deep and strong front line if LaMarcus Aldridge returns and if he doesn’t this deal gives them a player at power forward who can be big on the boards. The deal both parties have agreed to is a 3 year 20 million dollar deal.
The franchise has a 5 million dollar team option available on Chris Kaman that they could use to clear some cap space. Signing Davis continues the teams rebuilding process to go young that have added young center Mason Plumlee from the Brooklyn Nets, forward Noah Vonleh and guard Gerald Henderson in a trade from Charlotte Hornets for Nicolas Batum. Including Al-Farouq Aminu who the franchise agreed to a deal with yesterday, the team looks good with a corner stone in Damin Lillard to build around.
Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis averaged 8.3 points, a career high 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 79 games played. He was selected 13th overall in the 2010 Draft by the Toronto Raptors and has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies. Portland can’t officially sign Davis till July 9th, when the Free Agency moratorium ends.
#6 Suns trade three players to the Detroit Pistons
The Phoenix Suns became serious frontrunners to land Aldridge after they signed center Tyson Chandler to a 4 year 52 million dollar deal. However, they still need to make more cap space available if they wanted a legitimate shot at signing the 30 year old former Trailblazers forward.
So in a move that send 3 players to the Detroit Pistons for draft picks, the Suns have successfully dumped quite a bit of salary to keep them as realistic contenders for Aldridge. The trade includes Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger being shipped to Detroit in exchange for a 2020 second round Draft pick. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the move helps the Suns clear up to 20 million dollars in cap space.
Although the trade might seem too helpful to the Pistons, this could be a game changed if it spurs Aldridge to sign with them (No pun intended). However, you can’t help but think what if they don’t? They traded away a key player in Morris and possible veteran experience in Granger for 20 million in cap room that they have no clue who to use on.
#5 Wizards trade picks for Jared Dudley
On the last day before free agency, Jared Dudley opted in to his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks to stay with the franchise and earn 4.25 million. The Bucks on the other hand, three day after have traded Dudley for a future second Draft pick to the Washington Wizards who have absorbed Dudley’s salary with an existing trade exception. The deal is expected to be completed by July 9th.
Dudely referring to the trade, tweets:
Washington can take Dudley’s salary without sending any players back, courtesy the mid-level trade exception they received during the trade deadline deal that sent Andre Miller to Sacramento in exchange for Ramon Sessions.
The Wizards look to Dudley to fill the hole Paul Pierce left them with, after he agreed to a 3 year 10.6 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton also believes that Dudley will be a huge part of the Wizards’ small ball line-ups alongside Otto Porter Jr. which they used quite a bit in the Playoffs last season.
#4 Arron Afflalo to sign with the New York Knicks for 2 years
After no activity on Day 1, New York Knicks offered Arron Afflalo an offer he could not resist. The player and the franchise have agreed to a deal worth 16 million over 2 years. The deal is expected to have opt out clause for the second year. Even after this deal, the Knicks have close to 20 million in cap space for free agency.
Knicks were ranked 15th in three point efficiency last season and Afflalo with his career average of 38.5% from long range should only help the club improve. While defense might be an issue with him, signing him gives Carmelo Anthony a reliable second option that he can look to for instant offense. Afflalo averaged 18 points on 42.7% 3-point shooting with Orlando Magic during the 2013-14 seaons, which clearly given good playing time he can deliver much needed offense for the team.
His arrival also means the Knicks can use Langston Galloway and rookie Jerian Grant as reserves in the backcourt instead of being forced to play them against the league’s elite guards. All in all, he might not singlehandedly transform the Knicks, but signing Afflalo is a step in the right direction for a club that finished with only 17 wins last season.
#3 Milwaukee Bucks and Greg Monroe agree to max contract
Fomer Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe chose the Milwaukee Bucks over the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks as his destination for the next three years. The deal that he has agreed on with the Bucks is close to a max contract worth 50 million dollars and includes a player option for the third and final year.
The 25 year old Monroe joins a young core in Milwaukee comprising of Jabari Parker (20), Giannis Antetokounmpo(20), Khris Middleton (23) and Michael Carter Williams (23). He adds offense, rebounding and more importantly imposing size in the paing for the Bucks, remember he is only one among five players in the league (Pau Gasol, DeMarcus Cousins, Zach Randolph and Anthony Davis) to average 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
David Falk, Monroe’s agent said all four teams (Bucks, Lakers, Knicks and Trailblazers) that he met with offered max contracts but Monroe chose Milwaukee because they have the best chance of making to the Playoffs immediately. Monroe’s departure was no surprise after the team struggled to manage both him and Andre Drummond at the same time. The Bucks can’t officially sign him until July 9th, when the free agency moriatorium ends.
#2 Monta Ellis agess to contract with the Indiana Pacers
Larry Bird, President of Basketball Operations loved the idea of having Paul George and Monta Ellis. After a dinner Wednesday night, the idea is very much reality after Ellis and the franchise agreed to a four year 44 million dollar deal which includes a player option before the final year.Under Head Coach Frank Vogel, the Pacers played defense that was worthy to be among the league’s best but their problems really began at the offensive end. Losing Lance Stephenson was huge but landing Ellis is one of the best things that could have happened to the Pacers this summer.
This man can shoot tha ball, drive to hole, take tough shots when the shot clock is running down. He is a very streaky player on offense, can score in bunches and really fits the needs of the Pacers.Ellis and George go on to become a combo that teams will have a tough time guarding. We know George is a player who will make the right move for the team, no matter what it is and if it includes giving the ball to Ellis when he is hot, so be it.
While the fans can rejoice on the agreement with Ellis, Indiana still have deal with a void that forward David West has left. West has opted out of his contract and has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to return to Indiana because he didn’t like the way Bird handled the Roy Hibbert and many more such reasons.
#1 Dwyane Wade will stay in Miami after agreeing to contract
Dwyane Wade’s been in Miami for over 12 years and when he opted out of his contract this summer that would give 16.1 million per year, not many paid attention to it expecting him to re-sign. However it took a lot of meetings with Pat Riley and owner Micky Arison to convince him to remain in Miami, which has been his home since he was drafted by the franchise back in 2003.
Both parties have agreed to a one year 20 million dollar deal which means for the third year running Wade will become a free agent in the summer.
"Sitting down with Nick, sitting down with Micky and having conversations with them that I've never had, that was big for me," Wade told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I've never had a business conversation with one of them. ... They got to show me how much they really wanted me to be here, how important it was for them that I continue to wear one jersey."
There were so many stories about Wade and the Lakers having mutual interes, Wade might join friend LeBron James in Cleveland. There was a lot of fear in Miami but looks like the smart front office of the Heat have once again come through for the team and the fans. Despite injuries and a lot of Playoff miles on his body, Wade remains an essential piece to any team averaging 21.5 points last season.
Guess the Lakers players!
