NBA News Summary

Not much has happened in the NBA in the past couple of days, but I thought I’d do a quick summary on the few deals that have been agreed.

In one of the earlier moves of the free agency period, point guard Darren Collison opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Instead, he decided to join the Sacramento Kings on a $16 million contract which will acquire Collison’s services for 3 years. He will be a loss for the Clippers, especially as he’s just come off his best season yet, averaging 11.4 points per game in just under 26 minutes per game. However, he is easily replaceable and the cap space he has freed up could be key in trying to get Paul Pierce. How successful this deal was for the Kings, all depends on the decision of free agent Isaiah Thomas. If he decides to stay, then Collison will provide great back up from the bench, but if he leaves then Collison may struggle as a starting point guard.

The Clippers then instantly splashed the cash on Spencer Hawes, a center who recently left the Cleveland Cavaliers. He signed a 4 year deal worth $23 million and is joining a franchise that could be serious contenders next year with the additions they’ve made in the free agency. This is a great move by the Clippers and is being widely lauded by fans and the media. It provides them with better back up at the center position than they had last year (no disrespect to Ryan Hollins) and allows them to add another three-point shooter to their side, alongside J.J. Redick.

Another team who were after Hawes were the Portland Trail Blazers. When it became obvious they weren’t going to get him, Portland turned their attention to Chris Kaman, a center who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumours of a signing were confirmed on Kaman’s twitter account. Details of the contract haven’t been released yet, although he is expected to sign a 2 year deal for $10 million. Kaman is expected to back up Robin Lopez at the center, with young prospect Meyers Leonard hoping to learn from the seasoned veteran.

In one of only a few deals to be completed in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks added Swiss shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha. The Hawks are currently in the market for a small forward and Sefolosha could easily fill that role due to his versatility. But with the Hawks still actively going after other small forwards, such as Carmelo Anthony and Luol Deng, Sefolosha may be forced to drop to the bench, maybe as a 6th man. At $12 million for 3 years, Atlanta haven’t over-spent on him, leaving cap space for another big signing, if they’re able to make one.

There was no surprise in Dallas as Dirk Nowitzki added another 3 years to his contract, signing a $10 million a year extension. He took a pay cut, losing nearly 50% of his salary in the process. This is reportedly to allow the Mavericks to put some pieces around him to create a stronger side. A very selfless move that epitomises his illustrious career.

Another predictable move came out of Brooklyn in the eighth coaching change made this off season, as Lionel Hollins became head coach just four days after Jason Kidd left the team. Hollins’ last job was in Memphis where he took a Grizzlies side to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. He gained respect from the NBA world and only ended his tenure due to “philosophical differences” with the new management at the club.

The San Antonio Spurs have been on a high recently, after winning the 2014 NBA championship and securing two solid draft picks in Kyle Anderson and Nemanja Dangubic. However, they were brought back down to Earth with a bang recently as it was revealed that backup point guard Patty Mills was required to have surgery on his right shoulder. An official return date hasn’t been released, but he is expected to miss 7-9 months. And the bad news kept on coming when Manu Ginobili was told that he had a stress fracture in his leg. This could keep him out for two months. Both stars are likely to miss the FIBA World Cup which starts in late August.

Best (or is that Worst?) Draft Day Trades

Draft Day is known for it's trades. If a team picks a player they don't necessarily need, or want, they can try to do business with the other franchises. Most of the time, it is mutually beneficial for both sides, but sometimes it can go horribly, horribly wrong.

5 - Kevin Love Grizzlies to Timberwolves

Kevin Love is one of my favourite players and in 2008, he was involved in a big eight-player trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Along with the main event of Love and O.J Mayo switching teams, Memphis traded Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. Making the opposite journey were Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric and Antonie Walker.

Since then Love has gone on to establish himself as one of the best big men in the game, showing Memphis what they missed out on. At the minute, we have to watch Love's talents being wasted on a below par T'Wolves, when we could have seen him teaming with Marc Gasol in the frontcourt.

4 - Scottie Pippen Sonics to Bulls

Before setting up one of the biggest "Big Threes" of all time, Scottie Pippen was a member of the now obsolete Seattle Supersonics.

The small forward was then moved out to Chicago, with the centre Olden Polynice going in the other direction. Polynice averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in his playing days, a solid career, but nothing to write home about.

Pippen, on the other hand, formed a dynasty with Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, and went on to win 6 rings. Without Pippen, it's likely that Jordan wouldn't have won his titles, and wouldn't be considered as one of the greats. Funny how things work out, isn't it ?


3 - Dirk Nowitzki Bucks to Mavericks

The best Mavericks player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki, started his career as a Milwaukee Buck. However, he was soon switching conferences to join a Dallas side who were stuck in a rut.

Since then, he has lead the Mavs to 12 post-season campaigns, with one of them resulting in a ring, in 2011. Individually, he has won an MVP award, 12 All-Star Appearances and a place in the 50-40-90 club.

In the other direction went Robert Traylor, who was touted to be the best big man in the draft. However, he struggled with injury problems and obesity in his respectable, but not sparkling career.

2 - Kobe Bryant Hornets to Lakers
Kobe entered the draft in 1996, as a fresh-faced 17 year-old straight out of high school. He was selected 13th by the Charlotte Hornets. However, Bryant wanted to play for one team, and one team only.

The Los Angeles Lakers.

Amazingly, the Hornets managed to work out a trade for the unproven "kid" of the NBA to his dream side. Centre Vlade Divac was sacrificed from the Lakers roster, despite being a good player for them and being on the back of his best season ever.

Looking back, the Lakers did a very good bit of business. Divac played a couple of seasons in Charlotte before moving out to Sacramento to lead their play-off run.

As for Kobe ? Well, you know the rest...

1 - Bill Russell St.Louis Hawks to Celtics

One of basketball's biggest risks ended up being a brilliant move by the Celtics head coach, Red Auberbach.

In the 1956 draft, Bill Russell was selected second by the St.Louis Hawks. Auberbach was so keen on the 6'10" centre, he was prepared to trade away Ed McCauley, the team's best player.

Although his plan seemed radical at the time, it panned out to be one of the best trades of all time. As well as acquiring Russell, the Celtics drafted Tom Heinsohn and K.C Jones on that night, two more staple parts in the most successful dynasty of all time.

McCauley still had a very successful career, picking up numerous All-Star appearances, and even a ring in a Hall of Fame career. But his success was no match for Russell who went on to win 11 rings in 13 years, as well as 5 MVP championships and 12 All-Star games. He is now considered one of the greatest centres, if not players, of all time.

If Russell didn't trade teams on that night, we could be sat here talking about the dynasty of the St.Louis Hawks.