In the crowded top of the Western Conference, there is little to no wiggle room regarding potential loss or gain of personnel. The Rockets recently were dealt a gut punch when, the surprisingly stalwart Josh Smith headed further west to the sun and fun of beautiful Los Angeles. With the bulk of free agency’s standouts having put pen to contract elsewhere, coupled with Houston’s minimal cap space, the Rockets looked firmly planted in the “take a step back” position. That’s when the greatest swindler in the NBA pulled away from the pack, shifting into full sprint and discarding his rivals, the dastardly, devious, diabolical Daryl Morey has struck again.

Ty Lawson made no allusions to his preference of employment for this season, more rather, he had no preference, just anywhere but Denver. The Nuggets have long, too long, been a team of pieces that, if accompanying a talented figurehead, would take the leap and jump into contention. It hasn’t happened, a few of the pieces have come and gone and now the team is in full blown mirror facing mode, when is it time to give in an rebuild? The Nuggets appear to have chosen wisely in the draft, Emmanuel Mudiay has star potential and looks like he could be a mainstay in their rotation for years to come. Then Ty Lawson picks up another DWI, not the brightest move by a long shot. Lawson enters rehab and the news of his availability reverberates throughout NBA front offices nation wide. Reportedly, only the Lakers and Rockets threw their hats into contention for the underrated point guard’s services. Obviously the Nuggets presented the better package, begging the question, “Did the Lakers actually put up a worse offer than the one the Nuggets chose from Houston?”

Slack could be cut for Denver, they had a valuable asset, marred by a personal problem that would devalue him in any trade scenario. They chose to act swiftly and remove themselves from the potentially problematic equation. This may come back to bite them. Had they waited for Lawson to rejoin the team, showcase his talents and wait until closer to the deadline, a greater offer would assuredly be made. But that’s not Daryl Morey’s problem! Houston’s gm mastermind, saw a weakness and exploited it, as he is want to do. The Rockets have added a solid contributor to their roster, that will prove very valuable in their hopeful return into deep Playoff territory.

Yes the Rockets do already possess a starting point guard, they resigned Patrick Beverley to a four year deal, so what does this mean? Don’t be surprised if Beverley’s name is bandied about once the trade restriction is lifted for players who’ve signed new contracts. Let this serve as fair warning, GMs of the NBA, tread lightly when trading with the one they call “Daryl,” you are in dangerous ground and a predator lays in wait.

 

The bulk of the free agent maneuvers have taken place, the movers and shakers of the NBA have exhausted their cap space, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t significant roster additions and subtractions that can still take place. One such maneuver was the Los Angeles Clippers quietly attaining the services of power forward Josh Smith, signing him to a one year veterans minimum contract. On it’s face, quite the coup for Balmer’s baby, but let’s not forget that Smith, having been waived by the Pistons, is provided the luxury of signing such a diminished deal, due to Detroits subsidization of his salary. Smith’s selection of Los Angeles as his workplace grants the Clippers a far more advantageous standpoint to begin the season, at the same time relegating that of his former team and Clippers eliminator, Houston Rockets. Detroit’s casting off of the mercurial forward belies the robustness of Smith’s contribution to Houston’s Western Conference Finals trip this past season. Inarguably, Smith was a key piece of Houston’s charge through the Playoffs, going so far as to rank second in usage, in the Rocket’s Harden-dominated offense. Smith’s departure drastically effects Houston’s chances and leaves them lacking the much needed veteran depth to progress to the Playoffs latter rounds. For the Clippers on the other hand, well they go deeper than Laurence Fishburne in 1992.

For the entirety of the Clippers 2015 Playoff run, they primarily employed a six man rotation. There’s no question, benches shorten in the big games, but six runs the risk of wearing your players thinner than Manut Bol in a swimming pool. This offseason, problem solved. LA pulled off it’s most critical operation in snatching back Deandre Jordan from the clutches of Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, traded for Lance Stephenson and signing, Doc Rivers favorite and all around assassin, Paul Pierce. Now, with Smith in the mix the Clippers actually possess a legitimate, experienced lineup that will prove to be a valid threat in the powerhouse Western Conference. Los Angeles was able to add the aforementioned pieces while only parting ways with rarely used center Spencer Hawes and starter Matt Barnes, whom, while a solid player, has always been accurately perceived as the weakness of the Clippers starting five. Throw in a little Chris Paul, some Blake Griffin and a J.J. Redick and the Clippers should be sitting pretty. It remains to be seen what the team will chose to do with premier sixth man Jamal Crawford, a player whose shipping out would be a disastrous decision, scoring off the bench is as valuable as it gets.

Nevertheless, with Smith the Clippers now have what they sorely missed in their far too brief Playoff run, a solid bench of veterans to blend into their stellar starting core. The Clippers have long been a contender, but never a true threat to win it all. Well, times have changed. Much of the offseason discussion has revolved around the revamped Spurs, their ability to retain their key players while adding star power forward Lamarcus Aldridge. With the best coach in the league, they’ll be terrific. The Warriors have somehow been able to fly completely under the radar and managed to be he-who-shall-not-be-named in regards to championship defense. Assuredly, the Clippers are now in line with the two preeminent Western teams and whoever tops the depleted East. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, JJ Redick, Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford, that a championship contender does make.

It’s hard to believe, not long ago, there was a time when Deron Williams and Chris Paul were regarded as the definitive top of the NBA heap at the point guard position. Also of note, many had Deron ahead of Paul. Earlier in their careers Deron appeared to possess greater court vision and mid range game, those skills coupled with his superior size and physicality, formed what seemed to be the point guard of the future. A few years have now passed, as have coach disagreements, trades, injuries and the signing of one massively overvalued contract. The Brooklyn Nets, Williams’ recently former team are hemorrhaging money, making the decision to buyout Williams a fiscally sound maneuver. The organization went all in on a short window, with aged and injury prone players, sacrificing many of their first round picks as they mortgaged their future, coming up empty handed. The Nets have little hope of getting better in the short term, which is likely why team owner Mikhail Prokhorov, rather publicly put the team up for sale. Surprise, surprise there were no buyers. Sure, Brooklyn is one of the more emerging markets in the country, with a new stadium and the lure of New York City, the Nets are a sought after franchise. Just not in it’s current state. Hopelessly over the salary cap, knee deep in luxury tax, the Nets finally decided to cut bait on their most bloated, underperforming fish and a mutual agreement on buyout terms was agreed to with uncommon rapidity.

Deron Williams wasted no time in signing a two year $10 million deal with none other than his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks. This is a deal that should prove beneficial for both sides involved. Deron’s salary is essentially subsidized by the buyout portion of his former Nets contract and he is able to return to his roots, while playing for a team in dire need of a point guard. Dallas, as previously stated, having just come off of the failed Rondo experiment, viewed the filling of their point guard void as rightfully, mandatory. It doesn’t hurt that in an offseason chock full of startlingly high dollars being thrown around, they were able to attain Williams on what is essentially a “show me” contract.

Deron will slot right into the starting rotation along side fellow newcomer Wes Matthews and Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs will be an interesting team, but nowhere near as interesting as if they had landed Deandre Jordan. Unfortunately for Dallas fans Dirk Nowitzki just isn’t the MVP he once was and is incapable of leading this team onto any sustained playoff march (No one really expects him to right?). As presently constituted, the Mavericks have the look of a one-and-done Playoff appearance team, but who knows a trade here a reemergence of a former allstar there and they could be right back in the thick of things. Deron Williams is still only 31 and the story of his resurfacing in Dallas with renewed passion and intensity is not an impossible one to be told. The question with Deron always remains, can he stay healthy? With Wes Matthews returning from an achilles tear and Nowitzki employing near negative foot speed, the Mavs will be a team to at least pay attention to. Their season goes in two directions, one prosperous and one not-so-prosperous, however, far more likely than the other. Which way they go, we’ll just have to watch and see.

Lamarcus Aldridge held off making a decision as long as he could, likely buying the Spurs time to free up cap space in one of the most tumultuous free agency openings ever. The 6’11 Dallas native heads close to home, signing a reported four year deal worth more than $80 million. The Spurs are adding the power forward to an already stacked lineup, that should open the season as favorites, even ahead of the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. Having already resigned Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Manu Ginobili and most recently signing David West, Aldridge will enter as a core piece of San Antonio’s offense and big man rotation, especially if Tim Duncan opts to return. With such overwhelming talent, Gregg Popvoch, the consensus best coach in the NBA, will have his team right back where it belongs, at least the Wester Conference Finals.

The duo of Aldridge and Duncan will harken back to the late 90’s when David Robinson roamed the paint as a part of San Antonio’s twin towers. The game has changed and post play may not be as vital as it once was, but rest assured, the Spurs will force teams to adjust to them, not the other way around. With superlative perimeter shooting from Danny Green, pick and roll play from Tony Parker and the continued emergence of Kawhi Leonard as one of the best players in the NBA, the Spurs will have a buffet of weapons at their disposal. This is as much a coup for San Antonio as it is for Aldridge. When the opportunity arose to play for the best coach in the NBA, within one if it’s best organizations, whose system will feature your strengths, Aldridge was left with no choice. The basketball decision was obvious, nevertheless Aldridge’s departure leaves the Portland Trailblazers decimated. The team began shipping out role players and held fast to it’s last remaining commodity, resigning a very good Damian Lillard to a massive contract. Portland must now begin the rebuild process with little of value, other than the young point guard from Oakland.

Aldridge was considered one of the most “gettable” free agents on the market. But was he really ever? The Lakers attempted to lure in the biggest fish in the sea, but Aldridge was reportedly not impressed with the “basketball” portion of LA’s sales pitch. Lamarcus already has a home in LA, he’s got that covered. When it came to selecting a team, the one offering an aged Kobe Bryant as it’s number one attribute, never had a chance. With the Spurs, Aldridge is presented the possibility of jumpstarting his career on the fly, landing feet first into a dream scenario for one of the league’s most underrated players. The NBA is on notice, the already strong West just got that much stronger.

July first, an ominous tone cries out as the clock strikes midnight and a deafening silence softly falls upon the anxious. Who wants who and with what priority? Just as the pressure cooker that is free agency begins it’ slow boil, the telephone rings, calling out and offering the promise of brighter horizons. What interloper beckons, likely presenting prepared persuasion, promising premier possibilities. Is the investigator friend or foe? The only certainty is that the landscape has begun it’s unstoppable shift. Free agency is under way and, alas, we have only just begun.

Much unlike recent off seasons, where a small handful of players have held the league hostage as they selected their preferred destination, the 2015 free agency window has opened with a bang. Deals have been made, extensions have been signed and boy have salaries raised. Let’s break down the key signings thus far, their implications and the big movers and shakers still on the board. (In no particular order of course, we keep it loose here at Off Court Issues.)

Lamarcus Aldridge: The top of the heap of the 2015 free agent class. A terrific low post scorer, rebounder and perimeter shooter, all wrapped up in a 6’11 frame, ready to help your franchise compete for a championship. Every team with cap space would love a meeting with the Dallas native and many have actually achieved confirmation. Don’t hold your breath. Despite meeting with the Lakers first out of the gate, there is little chance that Lamarcus will not be taking his talents to the Alamo city. Once the Spurs traded Tiago Splitter to the Hawks, Aldridge’s signing was all but assured. Get ready San Antonio, you’re competing for another championship starting now.

Kawhi Leaonard: The Spurs wasted no time in resigning their best player to a five year $90 million deal. Clearly, the parties involved were mutually interested and there was little to discuss. Good for Kawhi, remaining the centerpiece of the best organization in the league.

Danny Green: The Spurs were also able to retain three and “d” specialist Danny Green on a four year, $45 million dollar deal. The Spurs were able to sign Green for below market value. With the best coach in the NBA, the Spurs can offer stability and greater potential success, than all of their contemporaries.

Tim Duncan: Nope, nothing breaking here, he hasn’t signed yet. However, with the retention of Leonard and Green, the blatant, welcomed courtship of Aldridge and Duncan’s existence as the absolute rock solid face of the franchise, he ain’t goin’ anywhere. Despite his recent financial issues, look for Timmy to take a team friendly deal. The arguable best power forward ever, just wants another ring and to go out a champion.

Jimmy Butler: The Chicago Bulls forced Butler’s hand by extended him a max deal early on, giving him little to no leverage in the open market. The Chicago shooting guard agreed to a five $95 million deal, that is good for both sides. Butler is a superstar in the making and Chicago will be fortunate to have him. It’s important to note that Butler rejected an extension to begin the season, betting on himself. A bet that absolutely paid worthwhile dividends.

Kevin Love: The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to retain the 6’10 UCLA product for five years and $100 million. Cleveland would have been crazy to not offer Love the max. What’s surprising is that the power forward was willing to remain on a team with such a crowded front court and play third fiddle to Lebron and Kyrie. It was widely speculated that Love would opt to sync his contract with Lebron’s, not wanting to remain in Cleveland longer than the all time great. Love will have to wait and see if he has chosen wisely, or if he will be left stranded in one of the least desirable NBA markets.

Tristan Thompson: The marquis player in the aforementioned crowded Cleveland front court. Rumors are circulating that Tristan will be resigning with the Cavs, no surprise since he is a favorite and client of de facto gm Lebron  James. Thompson had a stellar finals, leaving fans nationwide questioning the difficulty of offensive rebounding, Cleveland would be foolish to lose him.

Iman Shumpert: Whoooh, Dan Gilbert is spending that Quicken Loans cash! Shumpert signed a four year $40 million deal to keep the shooting guard in Cleveland. On it’s face, this looks like a drastic overpay, but with the looming salary cap raise, it’s difficult to differentiate a good deal from a terrible one. For a team that will easily be over the cap, this is the type of deal Cleveland is better off making, rather than risking losing the player completely. (Look for the Cavs to overpay J.R. Smith as well.)

Lebron James: Maybe you’ve hear of this guy, he’s decent at basketball. Lebron falls so far down on the list of relevance for one reason alone. We all know he’s staying in Cleveland. His brand would never survive the catastrophic assault brought about by abandoning his home state for a second time. Lebron will sign a short term deal, ensuring that he gets the most money possible when the escalated cap takes effect. Once the cap raises, whatever Lebron earns, it isn’t enough. Mr. James has this business of basketball thing pretty much figured out.

Anthony Davis: Not a free agent, but the announcement of his five year $145 million extension comes as a surprise to no one. Be thankful Pelicans fans, you have the soon to be best player in the NBA on your roster. Davis is the patriot missile of basketball weapons and will dominate the pro basketball landscape for years to come.

Goran Dragic: Miami signed Dragic to a five year $90 million deal, a fair payout for the widely underrated point guard from Slovenia. Pat Riley rarely makes poor decisions and he has continued that trend with this signing.

 

Dwyane Wade: Ahhh, good old Dwyane. He wants to stay in Miami. Miami wants him to stay. Both of you stop wasting our time and get a deal done. Neither of you are stepping away from each other. To play arbiter, Miami: you have vastly underpaid Mr. Wade for his career, as he has enabled you to sign players beyond your reach; Mr. Wade: Miami would like to pay you for future contributions, not past, You are frequently injured and, while you remain a sensational player, your consistency of injury leaves us at least slightly concerned. Meet in the middle, we all know it’s what’s happening anyways.

Marc Gasol: The Spaniard isn’t taking meetings. He has literally relegated his free agency to negotiations with one team. The Memphis Grizzlies, his current team. Applause is in order, they fit each other perfectly, therefore, no more need be said.

Deandre Jordan: See above. No, not as in you the reader; see above, as in Deandre, see above. That is how you should handle your business. The Clippers fit you, you fit them and they appreciate you and your shortcomings. We all know Chris Paul can be annoying and he gets under your skin, trust me, elsewhere, the grass is not greener. The Clippers will absolutely be competitive this season and you will only enhance the process and success.

Paul Pierce: The truth just walked in the door! Paully Sizzle is heading home and repping the Clippers under the leadership of his old friend Doc Rivers (Look here Deandre, these are reasons why shoud stay in LA.) Pierce fits the Clippers like that comfy old glove that reminds you of your carefree childhood, providing you with a bold, unwavering sense of security. Old man Pierce is for real and his presence off the Bench for LA’s better team makes the Clips a real force out West.

Draymond Green: Speaking of the West… (Turns attention to the current NBA champions…) Sign the man! We all know Draymond isn’t leaving, he wants to stay, the Warriors want to keep him. Cut to the press conference.

 

Demarre Carroll: The former Atlanta small forward cashed in. The Toronto Raptors, a hard sell franchise in free agency, opened the check book and got a solid player. Carroll signed a four year $60 million deal. Steep numbers and a clear overpay, seems to be the name of the game for free agency from here on out. Toronto is clearly upgrading it’s roster, but to invest that kind of money in a player with only one real standout year, could end as a cautionary tale.

Paul Millsap: The Magic tried to lure him away, but the Hawks reeled him back in. Millsap will forever go down as an unsung hero of the NBA, a valuable player, always lacking fan recognition and appreciation. This, however, does not prevent the power forward from being a positive contributor. This seems like an overpay by the Hawks, but more so a risk by Millsap, foregoing the extra years in place of future availability in exploding cap space free agency.

Brandon Knight: The Suns locked up their point guard to a five year $70 million contract. Knight is a good player, though concerns linger about his sustained productivity, Phoenix targeted him when they traded Goran Dragic away this past season, a trade they woefully lost. They must see something in the point guard worth investing heavily in. Brandon Knight is a solid, contributing player, hopefully this will not be a regrettable decision.

Khris Middleton: The Bucks retained their 23 year old forward on a five year $70 million deal. With an extraordinarily strong, youthful core, the Bucks made the wise decision to continue on, looking to develop and be exceptional for years to come.

Tobias Harris: It’s special shoutout time! Not because Harris is that desirable of a player, he’s short of a surefire superstar looking for the ideal, nurtured scenario to grow and learn. Rather because he is the only real available free agent this off season. Immense speculation surrounded this free agency window, their was much belief in the fluctuation of power in the NBA. Thus far it has culminated in a meager burst of smoke, seeing most players stay put and others moving to lesser basketball scenarios, for greater financial reward. This is it Tobias, you are the one. Numerous teams now want you that 48 hours ago did not. Take your pick and leave fan bases convinced you are the difference maker. Is this what free agency has become?