WASHINGTON — KD2DC is dead.
We all had inklings of this as Kevin Durant’s decision day drew nearer, and it became crystal clear last week. And while Durant’s move to Golden State drew all the attention over the holiday weekend, there was a flurry of moves that left the NBA looking much different than it did a few days ago. Here are the biggest 12 moves of free agency so far — for various reasons — in terms of their impact on the league.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File
Biggest tone-setterTimofey Mozgov to Lakers: 4 years, $64 million
It’s hard to say how much Mozgov will do for the Lakers after mostly riding the bench for the Cavaliers during their title run, but his eye-popping deal set the tone for the escalation of this year’s free agent market. At 7-1, 275, there’s reason to hope Mozgov can regain the form that saw him average nearly 10 points and seven rebounds a game the two years before last, but $16 million a year on a long-term contract is hardly a value play.
(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
Best narrativeJeremy Lin to Nets: 3 years, $36 million
In the world of crazy contracts, this is a relative steal and brings Lin back to New York, where he first rose to stardom. It’s a great deal for the Nets, even if Lin isn’t the dominant, primary point guard. Still just 27, Lin has slowly but surely reduced his once-staggering turnover rate while his point production has remained steady and actually improved slightly on both a per minute and per possession basis.
(AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying
Most obviousBradley Beal to Wizards: 5 years, $128 million
Beal was a restricted free agent and always expected to stay, but the commitment to keep him as John Wall’s long-term backcourt mate limited the Wizards’ other moves. They reportedly had interest in a few of the bigger names (beyond Durant), but committed more money to Beal than their other free agent signings combined. That means fitting projects and cheaper options around him, but that was always the plan, sans-Durant.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Best valueZaza Pachulia to Warriors: 1 year, $2.9 million
Amid the flurry of huge dollar contracts, Golden State’s addition of Pachulia was a wonder stroke by GM Bob Myers. He immediately replaces Andrew Bogut as Golden State’s starting center, where he could well provide even better rebounding (at the expense of some of Bogut’s superior passing and shot-blocking) for a fraction of the cost. The ability to get this deal done allowed Golden State the financial wiggle room to make the other move coming later on the list.
(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
Biggest head-scratcherDwight Howard to Hawks: 3 years, $70.5 million
As the Rockets unraveled into a pile of infighting malcontents last season, it was pretty clear that Dwight Howard wouldn’t return. Instead, he goes to a Hawks team a year removed from the Eastern Conference Finals, but with questions about how Howard will fit in. Howard may be from Atlanta, but the Hawks committed a lot of money to a guy who doesn’t necessarily fit their system on either end of the floor.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File
Best move from 2011Joakim Noah to Knicks: 4 years, $72 million
After rumors that the Wizards might shell out a fortune for the aging big man, it was instead the Knicks who wooed Noah to New York alongside his former Bulls teammate Derrick Rose. While Noah’s defense and energy should certainly help a Knicks team that could use a little of each, he’ll do little to help an offense that was the third lowest-scoring in the league last season.
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File)
AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File
Oddest fitEvan Turner to Blazers: 4 years, $70 million
The upstart Blazers were perhaps the biggest surprise in the NBA this year after losing LaMarcus Aldridge, then storming to the second round of the playoffs. That makes a $70 million gamble on Evan Turner that much more puzzling. Turner shot just 24 percent from deep last season, and lands in a crowded backcourt with C.J. McCollum and Allen Crabbe, both of whom are better shooters. Terry Stotts will have another challenge on his hands trying to figure out how to get the most out of Turner at the small forward position on his new team.
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
Biggest overpayHarrison Barnes to Mavericks: 4 years, $94 million
In spite of his playoff Houdini act, somebody was always going to give Harrison Barnes a max contract, and with Chandler Parsons leaving Dallas, that ended up being the Mavs. Dallas also traded for Andrew Bogut and signed Seth Curry within a few hours, meaning there will likely be lineups with Barnes/Bogut/Curry on the floor at the same time next season. But it’s unlikely anyone will confuse them with Golden State.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Most underratedChandler Parsons to Grizzlies: 4 years, $94 million
For the same price as Barnes, Chandler Parsons left Dallas for Memphis to give the Grizzlies some needed athleticism and perimeter shooting. He’s something of a defensive liability, but will be surrounded by better defensive teammates than he’s been used to. Memphis may be the closest thing to a sleeping giant in the west, with Marc Gasol coming back to help a team that scrapped its way to the playoffs with two of its best players injured. Speaking of which …
(AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
AP Photo/Jim Cowsert
Most likely to be criticized by casual NBA fansMike Conley to Grizzlies: 5 years, $153 million
Conley may not be a household name, but he’s been instrumental to Memphis’ recent success. So while $153 million seems like a panic attack-inducing amount of cash to throw at a non-superstar, it makes sense (at least on the front end of the contract) for a Grizzlies team that would have been markedly worse (and was, when he was hurt) without his team-leading 19.4 PER on the floor.
(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
AP Photo/Brandon Dill
Best fitAl Horford to Celtics: 4 years, $113 million
The Celtics would have loved Durant, but they’ve done well to build themselves up as a future contender in the East with a host of good, young talent, and now have a veteran to plant in the middle of it all. You can see why Horford would be interested in Boston, too with the Hawks seeming to have hit a ceiling, the Celtics have added 15 and 8 wins over the past two seasons, respectively. They should only be better next year.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
AP Photo/John Bazemore, File
Most earth-shatteringKevin Durant to Warriors: 2 years, $54 million
Durant may give the Warriors the look of a video game All-Star team, but his short-term deal makes sense on nearly every level. Still just 27, Durant can play out the next two years in Oakland and still make another turn in his career arc, whether it be back to the team that drafted him in Oklahoma City (like LeBron) or his hometown Wizards (like … LeBron), or really anywhere else in the league. With the direction the league is headed, he’ll be able to sign an even more lucrative contract by annual value then. And for now, he goes to the team already set up best to win now and gives them another killer, versatile player that makes them the biggest offseason favorite we’ve seen in any sport in quite a while, and his best shot to win a title.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
