Solemn Sunday – No, neither Chris Paul nor Dwight Howard were involved in trades Sunday, despite their recent requests. Rumors and innuendo did not rule the day, something reintroduced to NBA fans since teams and players resumed contact last Monday. Nonetheless, read further for some interesting nuggets this the third day of NBA free agency.
The oldest player in the NBA may not garner too many headlines anymore, but the signing Sunday of center Kurt Thomas, 39, with the Trail Blazers to a two-year contract reveals eerie parallels with the NBA's previous lockout in 1998-99. Thomas was previously teammates with Portland's Marcus Camby, 37, for only one season in their distinguished careers: 1999. You may remember that the two big men teamed with Patrick Ewing for a formidable frontcourt with the New York Knicks, who were the only eight-seed in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals. In the Eastern Finals that year against Indiana, Ewing tore an Achilles tendon during the second game of that series, creating the assumption that the Knicks had no chance without anyone to guard the indomitable Rik Smits. Of course, the Knicks galvanized behind Allen Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Larry Johnson, and the current Trail Blazers' centers to reach the Finals before losing to San Antonio in five games. The preceding events led premier basketball geek and ESPN personality Bill Simmons to cunningly coin the Ewing Theory, in which a much-hyped but ring-less star suffers a major injury, the media leaves his team for dead, and the remnants of that team proceed to overachieve in fans' eyes, as the Knicks did in 1999.
Portland's squad in 2011-12 could repeat history. Brandon Roy's sudden retirement due to degenerative knees Friday is not likely to produce an equally amazing season, especially considering that the combined age of their top two centers is now 76. But distractions, from Roy's knee concerns to the Greg Oden saga, are seemingly eliminated. The Blazers have strictly defined roles now, with set starters of Ray Felton, Wesley Matthews, Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Camby. Nicolas Batum and Thomas will provide support off the bench for Portland, which has confidence rookie guard Nolan Smith can contribute quickly. With established powers like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Spurs set to decline, a team like the Blazers free of distractions may embody the Ewing Theory and surprise the basketball world in what all die-hard basketball fans expect to be a long, strange trip in 2011-12.
David West agreed to deal with Indiana – After discussions of a sign-and-trade deal fell through between the Celtics and the Hornets, the power forward agreed to a two-year, $20 million dollar contract with the Pacers Sunday. West could be a tremendous lift to the core of a young playoff team attempting to move into the upper-echelon of the Eastern Conference, and was a prime target in free agency for Pacers president Larry Bird and GM David Morway. West is fully recovered from ACL surgery in the spring and can practice immediately with the Pacers this week. The Celtics tried to exchange center Jermaine O'Neal and marginal players for West, but the Hornets were not willing to accept the Celtics big man. When no team was willing to take on O'Neal to help facilitate the trade, West ultimately chose a bigger annual salary than the Celtics' offer of $24 million over three years. If West, who averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Hornets in 2010-11, shows he is similar to the player he was before the knee injury, he should earn the Pacers' starting power forward spot over Tyler Hansbrough.
DeAndre Jordan signed an offer sheet with Golden State – The Warriors signed the Clippers center to a four-year, $43 million dollar offer sheet Sunday. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the Clippers now have three days to match the deal for Jordan, a restricted free agent. While the Clippers had offered Jordan, 23, a five-year, $40 million extension at the beginning of free agency, Golden State's offer will be difficult for the Clippers to pass on as Jordan provides solid rebounding and above-average block numbers.
Houston is working to sign Marc Gasol to an offer sheet – The Rockets are first attempting to execute a sign-and-trade for the Grizzlies' center, who has averaged 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds in three NBA seasons. If that fails, Houston plans to sign Gasol, 26, to a four-year, $55 million offer sheet, which Memphis will have three days to match or risk losing him. The seven-footer has developed into one of the NBA's best forwards and helped lead the Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals in 2010-11. Memphis has said they will match any offer that Gasol receives, though the team has hardly engaged in discussions with his reps. Interestingly enough, Houston flirted with obtaining Gasol's brother, Pau, this offseason in the voided, three-team blockbuster trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. No matter where Gasol signs, he will still have plenty of fantasy value due to steady all-around production.
The Lakers acquire first round pick from Dallas for Odom – The Lakers acquired the Mavericks' first round selection in the 2012 NBA Draft and a trade exception in exchange for Lamar Odom and the Lakers 2012 second round pick. The trade resulted from the since rejected blockbuster that would have sent Odom to New Orleans, Pau Gasol to Houston, and the big prize, Chris Paul, to Los Angeles. Odom's feelings were hurt and he requested a trade, to which the Lakers quickly obliged. In 519 career games (382 starts) with the Lakers, Odom averaged 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists. With the Mavericks, he should come close to those numbers in a similar role backing up Dirk Nowitzki with the occasional start at small forward.