Though the official period for teams to acquire unsigned players started only Wednesday, the NBA’s first batch of free agent signings is already fresh out of the oven.
Let’s examine what each change of address means to each team.
Elton Brand—Philadelphia 76ers
The acquisition of Elton Brand transforms the Sixers into legit challengers to Detroit and Boston in the Eastern Conference.
Whereas the Sixers suffered from a profound lack of interior scoring last season (and overcame it by playing exceptionally hard and smart on both ends of the court), they now have a bona fide bull under the basket who’ll tromp single coverage, is an adequate passer and mid range shooter, a relentless rebounder, and an earnest defender.
In fact, Brand is probably the most accomplished raw scorer from the low post in the NBA aside from Tim Duncan, and his presence will be a boon to his teammates.
Samuel Dalembert no longer has to masquerade as a post player, and can now settle for being a 14-foot jump shooter. Andre Iguodala doesn’t have to be Superman. Willie Green, Thaddeus Young, and Louis Williams no longer have to play under the pressure that they must produce to compensate for the Sixers’ lack of firepower.
Reggie Evans can go back to being a rampaging rebounder off the bench, a place that suits his exuberant, yet reckless personality the best. And Andre Miller gets a brand new toy to play with.
All the team lacks is a dead-eye three-point shooter to provide spacing, some depth at the wings, a jumper for Andre Iguodala, and one more accomplished defender. Still, even with those voids, the Sixers have vaulted above Cleveland and gained considerable ground on Detroit in the Eastern Conference pecking order.
Grade: A+
Baron Davis—Los Angeles Clippers
Despite a magical half a season in 2007, Davis’ fatal flaws resurfaced for Golden State in 2008.
In fact, his habits of demanding the ball on every possession, passing only as a last resort (and only when an assist will register on his stat sheet), taking bad shots, and of playing lazy defense resulted in Don Nelson’s desperate but necessary benching of Davis during a Warriors late-season loss to the Phoenix Suns.
If even Don Nelson becomes fed up with you, what coach can you play for? Expect the in-over-his-head Mike Dunleavy to lose control of Davis, and lose his head on the chopping block.
Given Los Angeles’ dearth of backcourt playmaking for the last generation, the Clippers and their fans will welcome Davis’ talent with open arms. But without Elton Brand, without Corey Maggette, and with a roster barren of experienced talent, the Clippers don’t have the talent for Davis to try and lead into the playoffs.
Nor does Davis have the kind of attitude to nurture the Clippers’ collection of young talent (Al Thornton) and mediocre veterans (Chris Kaman, Cuttino Mobley) into overachieving and earning a playoff spot.
Expect Davis to dominate the ball once again while the Clippers finish in limbo—not good enough to make the playoffs, not bad enough to earn a high-level lottery pick.
Grade: C
Corey Maggette—Golden State Warriors
Maggette’s always been a powerful scorer, though much better at driving his way to the cup than shooting. Given how Golden State loves the three-ball, can Maggette duplicate the 38 percent three-point shooting he registered last season, or will his lack of range be a liability?
Either way, expect Golden State’s super-spaced offense to create plenty of open driving lanes for Maggette to bum rush into.
Since Maggette doubles as a strong defender, he and Stephen Jackson have the potential to lock down opposing wings when Jackson’s chops are sufficiently aroused.
Grade: A-
Chris Duhon—New York Knicks
Duhon is a good handler with good athleticism and above-average defensive skills. By default, he’s an upgrade over Stephon Marbury.
However, he lacks the court vision to be a good starter at this level. His jumper is explosive, but streaky, and he’s proven to be immature and irresponsible off the court, most notably by getting himself suspended for a playoff game two years ago by partying too hard the night before a film session.
Considering the Knicks’ starving need for professionalism, Duhon is not the right direction.
Grade: C-
Mickael Pietrus—Orlando Magic
Though reckless and erratic, Pietrus is a long, explosive athlete with big-time length and shooting ability. Orlando loves to space the floor using high screen/rolls with Dwight Howard and three three-point shooters manning the wings. Pietrus’ ability to plug the three-balls and explode into gaps off the dribble make him a versatile and valuable addition to Orlando’s rotation.
Grade: B+
James Jones—Miami Heat
Jones is a premium three-point shooter and a quality defender who becomes Miami’s ace forward off the bench. The Heat need to restock their roster with professional-caliber talent, and Jones is a smart start.
Grade: A
Gerald Green—Dallas Mavericks
A superb athlete, the neophytic Green has a terrible basketball IQ, even though Boston and Minnesota gave him ample playing time to hone his awareness.
Dallas will hope to catch lightning in a bottle, but the most realistic scenario has the Mavericks stashing Green on the bench or the D-League and hoping for an epiphany. Since Green’s only 22, there are worse players to fill a 12th-man spot.
Grade: C+
Dasagna Diop—Dallas Mavericks
Diop is big, strong, a terrific post defender, screen-setter, and rebounder. He’ll either provide valuable insurance for the foul prone Erick Dampier, or do a bang-up job banging around opposing starting centers. In truth, the Mavericks should never have let him go.
Grade: A
Brent Barry—Houston Rockets
Barry remains a marksman from behind the arc, and an excellent passer with great court vision. He’ll foster more ball movement than Luther Head, and should thrive with all the attention defenses are forced to pay to Tracy McGrady’s high screen/rolls at the top of the key.
If he’s never had the foot speed to be a capable defender, he knows how funnel and help, being in the Spurs’ system the last four years.
Grade: B+
Roger Mason—San Antonio Spurs
Mason is a streaky scorer with range out to the three-point line. If the Spurs can get him to play elite-level defense, he’ll find himself as a much needed young spark off the Spurs bench.
If not, he’ll be a back-of-the-rotation player called upon to provide offense when the Spurs are struggling. Most importantly of all, Mason gives the Spurs some much needed young athleticism.
Grade: B-
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2 months ago
Reasonable assessment, I'd just slightly tweek things. Brand can be an A+ but his injury problems are the 400lb gorilla in the room and his contract locks up money for a long time, I'd say A-. Davis himself is a strong B, but the repercussions of his signing bring him below the passing grade. His contract consequences were losing Maggette, Brand, and most certainly a young talent in Livingston. I agree with Maggette, he'll light it up on the W's, I think you've over-rated his and Jackson's defense and a few of those extra dollars may hurt them in resigning all the youngsters down the line, but in the end of the season, he'll put up the biggest numbers of all the Free agents. Duhon, a back-up point on a non playoff team goes to be point on a non playoff team. If this is the start of a deconstruction of NY then it could be a nice sign, but essentially, ineffectual. Pietrus is a mess of a player, flashes of brilliance and the most erratic play I've seen in years. The Magic will love him when he gets them into the top tier of the playoffs, they'll hate him when he steps out of bounds with :16 left in game 7; C-. Hard to get excited about a mediocre player going to a really bad team, still, Jones shooting will help any team. Just can't see giving an A to the worst team in the league adding a bench player; B+. Green, young, talented, untested, Dallas has room for him to grow up; Grade- Incomplete. Diop, A? really? For resigning a back up center who was on the team during this monumental downfall. The Blazers are pushing a team out of the Playoffs this year, look for it to be Dallas; C. Barry, old, shoots good. Rockets do pick and roll or post and kick. Good fit. Good call; B+. Mason, 9 pts, 1.6rbs, 1.7 ass; an old team that is showing it's age needs more than this in a stacked west; C-.
2 months ago
Thanks!
Maggette and Jackson certainly CAN play great defense, but I think you've also noticed how each has tended to slack off and take the easy way out---for Maggette, the last few years, for Jackson, his entire career. But since Maggette is escaping purgatory in Clipperville, I have a feeling he'll be motivated enough to play up to his full potential at both ends of the court.
Brand does have injury issues, but Philadelphia needs a player of his caliber to become an elite team. Most of Philly's talent is young, and they already have two elite players so the financial situation won't be too crippling. Assuming Brand's injury troubles don't turn chronic and Philly is wise enough to sign smart role players, then the Sixers made themselves an elite team simply by his signing.
I respect your concerns though, and can see why you'd give the Brand signing an A-.
About some of the lesser players, just because they aren't Hall of Famers, doesn't mean their signings should be marginalized. Diop, for example, was integral to Dallas' Western Conference Championship a few years ago by being the only tough player in Dallas' rotation who wasn't in perpetual foul trouble. He can stymie even the biggest of opposing centers, has great footwork, and frees up teammates by setting massive-sized screens. If Dallas has had problems the last few years, Diop hasn't been one of them.
2 months ago
Great breakdown, I can't disagree with anything you said.
2 months ago
It was good, but don't count Louis Williams and Igoudala back on the sixers just yet. While they may be trying hard to lock both players up, neither of them are a done deal yet, so you can't include them in the talk just yet...
Also you have to mention Pietrus' defense. I agree with everything else you said about him, but he is a good, fast, and long defender in the mold of Bruce Bowen. Good signing by the Magic.
2 months ago
Yep, Michael, you're right about Pietrus' ability to be a useful defender, especially because of his long arms. Sometimes his defense becomes reckless (he'll needlessly pressure a skilled ball handler 30 feet from the basket and get blown by), but he's definitely a versatile player.
Even though Iguodala is a Restricted Free Agent, I'd be stunned if the Sixers don't match whatever any team offers him. And if a team offers the max to AI, they'd have acquired a wing with an erratic jumper, and foolish decisions like that doom a franchise. I'm certain the Sixers resign both Iguodala and Williams.
2 months ago
If Diop is as good as you say he is then why is it only a c? I think the Mavs signing Diop is a B+, he is a terriffic defender and blocker, and is filling the whole that Damp cannot fill. Good article Erick.
from 2 months ago
I gave the Diop signing an A. Grades are below the player.
from 2 months ago
That makes more sense then, thanks erick, Great Article.
2 months ago
Pretty good article, I only disagreed with a few small things. I completely agree Diop is a very key part to the Mavs. I also believe Green is either incomplete as Don said or a higher grade, like you said he is a very good athlete with a low basketball IQ, its a low-risk high-reward situation for the Mavs as they are already an established team that won't be relying on such a young player.
Based on this article and the previous one you wrote, I expect to see an article breaking down issues still to be resolved. Has the Heat acquired a PG yet, if not, why?
from 2 months ago
Interesting, I'll probably use my next article to address a few issues some teams have around the league. Thanks for the comment!
2 months ago
Oh yeah, I've never thought of Maggette as a defender. For some reason, I feel you have it backwards. Jackson did win a title with San Antonio, they usually don't take well to guys who don't play defense in San Antonio.
2 months ago
I can see where you're coming from Erick, and you could convince me of most of your arguments. I think we just have a different grading scale, you on a curve and me on a point system. Diop is a good player who does make a difference, but I gave harder grades to players who can't break the starting line up. Brand, Davis, Maggette will all start, so in my opinion, deserve more props then the others.
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