Greetings my Peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be doing my 4th of July special edition where we talk about free agency,
all the player movement, as well as trades that went down.
Also I'll talk a little bit of WNBA, the All Star Reserves were named so we'll talk about them
and some coaching news as far as the Chicago sky goes so just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Okay guys so it's your boy GD back again with the All Things Basketball Podcast. You know I was trying to take a hiatus there but it's like Al Pacino says in the Godfather part 3.
Just when I thought I was out they pulled me back in so I'm back at it guys. This is going to be the 4th of July edition of the episode.
Since it's a day we celebrate the independence of this nation we'll celebrate the independence of free agents going to the various spots that they go to so.
Alright let's get into it but before I even go there I want to talk a little WNBA right quick.
You have the All Star Reserves now. You now have 12 players there. I'll give them to you in kind of team order.
The Atlanta Dream they got two players in. Alicia Gray and Cheyenne Parker and I saw how they announced Cheyenne Parker she was so excited.
It was nice. It was a nice little gesture. Those two get in. Kalia Copper of the Chicago Sky. She makes it back in.
Alyssa Thomas as well as D'Wanna Barna for the Connecticut Sun. Alyssa Thomas a no brainer who many thought should be a starter so she gets in as a reserve.
Kelsey Mitchell for the Indiana Fever so she's joining Aliyah Boston as representatives for that organization.
Nafisha Koo you pretty much figured she's another person you could have made a starter as well as she's playing.
Kelsey Plum the Plum Dog makes it in and she's starting to heat up right now so she's looking great so she makes it in along with her teammates.
Aja Wilson Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young and then you have two New York Liberty players.
Sabrina Nescu as well as Courtney Vanislu joining Brianna Stewart as All Stars.
Magpigore of the Seattle Storm she joins Jewel Lloyd and then rounding out is Elena Deladon who's having a great year.
She tweaked her ankle so we'll see what happens there whether it's prolonged where she doesn't make the All Star.
I mean there's still time for her to heal up in time for that so we'll see what happens there.
Of course you have your snubs. I'll just name a few players.
Melissa Smith for the Indiana Fever. Ryan Howard of the Atlanta Dream.
They got a trio over there of her Cheyenne Parker and Lisa Gray and Ryan Howard showed her dismay by dropping 43 points just of a day.
So Ryan Howard's someone you can make a case for.
Marina Marbury of the Chicago Sky you could make a case for her.
And you can also make a case for Natasha Cloud as well.
The Perennial Point Guard over there with the Washington Mystics.
So any other players but you know with any All Star game you're going to have snubs and so forth.
So but kudos to the ladies that made it and then we'll have the draft on July 8th where Asia Wilson and Brianna Stewart gets to draft the teams.
I'll be interested to see how they do in terms of drafting their own players how that's going to work because Asia's got to worry about three of her players as opposed to Brianna who has two teammates in there.
So so it should make for interesting draft process there.
So but that is your All Star news there.
And then a bit of coaching news.
James Wade out as the coach and GM of the Chicago Sky.
He held both positions but he goes actually towards the NBA.
He gets an assistant coaching job with the Toronto Raptors.
So a lot of people say oh you left them high and dry.
Yeah you can make the case what was the rush but supposedly inside word is that there was no longer a meeting of the minds in terms of Wade and the organization.
So and then this job opportunity comes up.
So kind of greases the skids if you will for him to make his departure.
So in the interim you have Emory Vatarsavir.
That's the coach who's the interim and actually got the win.
In fact in their first game of Chicago Sky beating the Indiana Fever on July 2nd.
So kudos to them for getting that win with the departure of Wade.
So all right.
So that is your news right there.
Now let us get into free agency trades and so forth all the moves.
So let's get into it. Here's how I'm going to do it.
I am going to cover the Eastern Conference first.
Go in alphabetical order and then we'll go to the West.
So probably going to have to split this up guys into two episodes.
I get the feeling because there's a lot to crown the cover.
So let's get into the East.
The Atlanta Hawks.
They start out by trading John Collins to Utah for Rudy Gay and a future second round pick.
This trade has the smell of a salary dump which it was.
John Collins making 25 million a year.
Atlanta freeze themselves of that money.
So he goes to Utah.
I'll talk about the Utah end of it when I get to discussing Utah.
But it does create 25.3 million dollars in the trade exception.
So this frees them up to use that money in other ways.
And then bear in mind too that you have possible contract extensions coming up for Dejante Murray.
In fact for Sadiq Bay and then for Aneka, Akaungu.
So you got to re-up those guys especially Akaungu.
And then it seems like there was early discussion about Trey Young being on the move.
It seems like that talk has kind of quieted down.
It seems like he's there to stay as of this moment.
Then we move on to Boston.
Boston they pretty much extend Christophe Porzenkis after the trade of course that brought him to Boston.
So he re-sup for two years and 60 million.
So that's your major move right there.
Christophe Porzenkis adding to that Boston front court.
Thus making Grant Williams a restricted free agent expendable.
So he hasn't signed yet.
I imagine they're probably going to do a wait and see maybe see if somebody gives him an offer sheet.
And this gives them time to decide whether to match it or let him walk.
So that development we'll see what happens there.
The Brooklyn Nets they trade shooting guard Joe Harris.
They've been trying to trade him for the longest time.
So they were able to do it.
They traded him along with two second round picks to Detroit.
I'll talk about the Detroit in a minute.
But those two second round picks a 2027 pick that belongs to Dallas and then a 2029 that belongs to Milwaukee.
So Brooklyn dealing not even their own picks the picks they got from others.
They do resign Cameron Johnson the young budding forward.
He signed them to four years a hundred and eight million dollars.
So they see a lot of promise in him.
They want to use him as a building block over there along with Mikhail Bridges.
And then they signed former Laker Lonnie Walker the fourth to one year contract.
Turns to be announced.
So Brooklyn making some slight moves.
They also lose some players as well like a Patty Mills they lose a Seth Curry as well.
I'll talk about that later.
And they're supposedly one of those teams in the mix for Dame Lillert.
That's the big talk now.
So we'll see what happens in that regard.
Moving on to the Charlotte Hornets.
They signed their point guard Lamello Ball to the rookie max deal.
Five years at $270 million.
So they do the wise and prudent thing.
They hang on to their star and they give him the rookie max.
So kudos to Lamello Ball for securing that bag.
And then as we talk about people resigning they actually
resign Miles Bridges to a qualifying offer.
He was a player who they could have given a rookie extension to but with the domestic
abuse charges that were levied against him and which caused him to miss last season.
He's going to be back pretty much guys.
He's going to be singing for his supper because he'll be a free agent after next year.
So we'll see if he can be the player that he was prior to that where he had kind of a breakout
season.
So we'll see what happens in that regard.
And then remember to a draft that Brandon Miller also a small forward.
So we'll see how that dynamic plays out.
And then what's going to happen with your restricted free agent PJ Washington.
So far there hasn't been any movement on either side.
He did have a career year in scoring.
Scoring nearly 16 points per game.
So you saw improvement in this game in that regard.
And he fits what the Hornets need him to do.
So we'll see what happens with it.
It seems likely they'll bring him back.
I don't see why they wouldn't.
Moving on to Chicago.
Chicago Bulls resign.
Well they actually give extension to Nikolai Vusovic to a three year 60 million dollar
extension.
So they do the wise thing and extend Vusovic.
So he'll be back.
They apply for the disabled players exemption for Lonzo Ball.
Speaking of the ball family.
Lonzo Ball who had the knee surgery so he's going to be out for the entire season next season.
So they're looking to gain a 10.2 million dollar exception for him being out next year.
We'll see if the league rules in their favor.
So and then Andre Drummond he opts into his player option for three million dollars for
next season.
So this gives you an adequate backup center and Drummond to spell Vusovic.
They also resign Kobe White three years at 40 million dollars.
Kobe White of course he's your combo guard over there.
He can light it up.
He'll be staying in Chicago.
Chicago signs free agents.
Javon Carter from Milwaukee.
They sign him to a three year deal at 20 million and they signed small forward Tori Craig to a
two year deal with a player option.
The terms to be announced.
So Chicago fortifying their bench and saying pretty much we're going to run it back.
We're going to see what happens in that regard.
So the point guard position still is in question but pretty much it seemed like they're bringing
back all the other pieces.
So we'll see what happens there.
Could they be a player in the Dame Lillard sweepstakes.
Maybe probably take either DeMar DeRosan or Zach Levine to even get a conversation started
with Portland.
So we'll see what happens there.
Cleveland the Cleveland Cavaliers.
They resign.
Caris Leverte who's played so well for them last season.
Signs him to a two year 32 million dollar deal which seems about right for what he gives them.
Place small forward over there.
He could play shooting guards spelling Donovan Mitchell.
So you have that.
They also sign free agent Gorgies Nyang from the Philadelphia 76ers to a three year 26 million
dollar deal and Matt Struess from the Miami Heat four years at 63 million dollars.
Wow.
And it ends up being actually a signing trade where you have Sadi Osman and Lamar Stevens
going on to move along with a second round pick to San Antonio and then a second round
pick going to Miami.
So it ends up being a signing trade guys.
Cleveland is pretty much saying you know we need to shore up our bench
and they do that with these deals here.
So you now have some outside shooting there that you added with Nyang and Struess.
Cleveland making improvements as they were the 4C last year in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons they acquire Joe Harris like I said in the trade.
So they get Joe Harris there.
You add him with Bojohn by Donovitch and you have some nice outside shooting over there guys.
They also acquire point guard Monty Morris via trade.
They got him from the Washington Wizards.
So now you have a very capable backup point guard to play behind Jaten Ivey.
Monty Williams starting to shore things up over there.
So these are nice additions for that young team.
That's for sure.
And then the Indiana Pacers.
They sign free agent swing man Bruce Brown who's coming from
coming from the world champion Denver Nuggets.
They signed them to a two year 45 million dollar deal with a team option.
This is such a sweet signing for them to get a guy like Bruce Brown in your program.
Guy who's a energy player.
A guy who's going to play both ways and just a solid addition to this team.
Oh by the way they signed their point guard Tyrese Holly Burton to the rookie max.
5 years 270 million and rightfully so.
You sign him to that kind of money.
Definitely solidify your point guard situation with him on board.
They also acquire Obi-Topping via trade and they also trade shooting guard Chris Duarte
who they got a few years ago in the draft by the way and they sent him to Sacramento.
But Obi-Topping a guy who did not get an opportunity in New York to really shine
he goes to Indiana.
Mind you there's some young bigs over there that he's going to have to jump over so to speak.
He's going to have to prove himself over there.
But think about this guys.
He goes to a team where Tyrese Holly Burton taken after him in the draft by the way.
And Tyrese look at the bag that Tyrese Holly Burton got as opposed to Obi-Topping who was
supposed to be the man to replace Julius Randall.
That didn't happen.
I'll talk more about that in a minute.
So he's see his new teammate get the bag and he's kind of having to pretty much show and prove
with this coming season so he can get him a bag.
Obi-Topping I think will be motivated to do that this season.
I think Rick Carlisle will give him a fair shake over there.
So I'll be watching that very closely.
But the next lose Obi-Topping and they trade him for well I'll get to the next part of it in a minute.
So that's Indiana.
Miami shooting guard Victor Oladipo he exercises his player option at 9.4 million.
And then he gets dealt to OKC with that trade.
It creates 9.4 million in trade exception for the Miami Heat.
And we'll see how they utilize that.
Also they resign power forward Kevin Love.
They sign shooting guard Josh Richardson coming from New Orleans Pelicans.
Oh by the way he was a former second round pick of the Miami Heat.
So he returns to South Beach.
And then of course the Miami Heat is the desired destination of Dame Lillard.
Whether that happens or not we'll see right now the Portland Trailblazers are saying they're not
thrilled with a package where the highlighted player coming back is Tyler Harrow.
That's what they're saying right now.
So will Miami have to get creative involve other teams.
We'll see what happens there.
But of course Dame watches officially on guys.
So I'll talk about the Portland end of it when I get to Portland.
Milwaukee Bucks.
They pretty much escaped themselves being in the bid of a firestorm by
resigning Chris Middleton and Brooke Lopez.
There was rumblings that if this didn't happen maybe Yonis
onto Tocumpo makes a little noise about him not wanting to be in Milwaukee.
They do what they think is best for them and bringing back Middleton at three years 102 million.
And then Brooke Lopez got a two year deal at 48 million.
So Milwaukee is saying you know pretty much we're going to run it back.
They did sign three agent shooting guard Malik Beasley from the LA Lakers.
A one year 2.7 million dollar deal.
And also they're bringing back Jay Crowder.
So Jay Crowder will get a clean slate with new coach Adrian Griffin over there in Milwaukee.
So I think he will be utilized better under Griffin as opposed to a boot holzer last year.
And then my New York Knicks.
As I said they trade Obi Toppin to Indiana for two future second round picks.
Just to put this in perspective guys the Houston Rockets they deal King N. Martin Jr.
They deal him to the Clippers for two future second round picks. Only difference in the two deals.
One guy was a lottery pick as opposed to the other guy was a second round a late second round pick at
that. So this just spells and I got to call it like I see it a failure on the part of the front
office. I understand I get it at the time they weren't completely sold on Julius Randall.
So they call themselves drafting his heir apparent. But little did everybody know that Julius Randall
will turn around and become a now two time all NBA player as well as two time all star.
Average in over 20 points 10 rebounds and five assists.
So not many of those guys are in the league right now.
With that said Obi Toppin as I said plenty of times dating to my season recap of the Knicks.
He wasn't going to get a fair shake here.
Tibs relies very much so on Julius Randall.
Toppin was not going to get a fair shot here.
And then of course we heard about the rumblings in the locker room especially during the Heat
Series in which they lost that series. So like I was saying Tom Tiberdoll cost Obi Toppin the bag.
That's be absolutely clear about that. His stubbornness not to be at least creative and utilizing Obi Toppin.
Could he have played small forward possibly could have.
He has small forward skills like I said in a powerful with body.
So why not try and line him and Randall up together and see what happens there.
Tibs did not want to be creative and getting him in the line. He cost a young man a bag.
So Obi Toppin I'm rooting for him.
Again I didn't think he was giving a fair opportunity here.
So I'm hoping that he gets that in Indiana.
But with that trade it creates a 6.8 million dollar trade exception for the Knicks.
So with that said the Knicks did do something here. They signed reagent guard Dante DeVincenzo.
Signed him to a four year 50 million dollar deal which is a very good deal.
They create of course a reunion with those Villanova guys Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
Josh Hart we know opted into his player options.
So I think it's incumbent upon Leon Rose to take care of Josh Hart for doing such a move.
Because that move created opportunity for the DeVincenzo move.
So you definitely give Josh Hart props for that.
Leon Rose take care of that man because he did something he didn't have to do.
He could have went on the open market and got more money.
But he called himself doing a favor for the franchise and allowing them to bring in DeVincenzo.
So take care of that man Leon Rose.
But you know this now puts a bullseye on the back of Tom Tibidow and on Julius Randall.
You now shipped out the young talented forward in Toppin.
You still need a 3 and D guy to be honest or versatile forward. You still need that.
And there's names that's still out there by the way.
A Kelly Ubre of the Charlotte Hornets he's still not signed.
I talked about Grant Williams. He's a guy who's a restricted free agent.
But I think if the Knicks can pull their money together they can possibly.
Remember you still have Evan 48 on the books.
So if you were to do a kind of signing trade with Boston to bring in a Grant Williams.
Grant Williams would be a perfect addition to this team.
He can play either forward position.
He can probably in small ball can play your center position if need be.
Although you have a Isaiah Hartenstein who's been a stud here.
That was solve a lot of your ills if you're the New York Knicks.
Also a guy like TJ Warren.
Grant you he's finally healthy.
But that would be a total dice roll.
This is a kid who before that foot was bothering him.
He was a dynamic player.
So could you catch lightning in the bottle with a TJ Warren maybe also a guy like Jim Michael Green.
He's a guy who can be a solid backup at the four.
Also Darius Basely.
That's another name Dario Saarage.
PJ Washington of the Charlotte Hornets who I spoke about earlier.
I think he returns to Charlotte to be honest and Matisse Tybal.
He's a 3 and D guy.
He was dealt to Portland last year.
So he's a guy that's kind of out there as a restricted free agent also.
So those are a few names that are out there for the Knicks if they were to go that route.
So we'll see what they do there.
And then we'll talk about the Orlando magic.
They resign Franz brother Mo Wagner.
They resign him at two years 16 million so they keep him there along with his brother.
So and he knows the system over there.
He's been a solid contributor.
So definitely a wise signing there to resign him.
And also they bring in a veteran Joe Ingalls who was in Milwaukee last season.
They bring him over at two years 22 million.
That's quite a bit of money there for Joe Ingalls who's on the other side of his 30s.
So you bring in veteran help there and he does that his health.
We got to see remember he had the ACL injury.
So he's still kind of working his way back into the player he once was.
So we'll see what happens with that signing there.
Orlando, you know, they're a young team.
You just need to see these young players mature and blossom like Apollo, Bancaro.
You drafted an Anthony black over there.
Of course, you still have Jalen Suggs there.
So we'll see what happens with that team.
Philadelphia 76ers.
Oh, I've been waiting to talk about them.
So James Harden.
He exercises his player option at 35.6 million.
But he pulls a Kyrie guys.
He acts as to be traded.
So think about this for a minute guys.
James Harden has now axed out of three teams in two and a half years.
Three teams.
He asked out of Houston to go to Brooklyn.
He goes to Brooklyn.
He's not happy there, especially with all the Kyrie shenanigans.
So he wants out of there.
He goes to Philly where he's united with a Jolen B.
Oh, by the way, who just won the league MVP.
Harden congratulated him, gave him props so forth.
They get rid of their coach Doc Rivers because Doc Rivers and Harden supposedly didn't see eye to eye.
So you make that move.
You're bringing a Nick Nurse.
So you figured that's got Harden's blessing on it.
But yeah, he still wants to be traded.
This is the case of some people are never satisfied.
And then what happens now for James Harden?
Who's a taker out there?
Remember I talked about the Houston Rockets.
Houston Rockets is off the tables, guys.
They're off the table now with all the moves they made.
I'll talk about them.
LA Clippers.
I guess you could sell me on that.
But why would Steve Bomber want to get into the James Harden business?
Maybe in LA, he's happier.
I don't know.
But this is a mess, guys.
And then the crowning irony to all this is his accent to be traded has not been changed.
And the accent to be traded has now been superseded by Dame Lillard and his accent to be traded.
So I doubt if there's any movement on Harden, I don't think there'll be movement on Harden until Dame gets traded.
And then that's going to be a long process.
So you're talking about an ugly situation in Philadelphia.
So I don't know what's going to become of it.
We'll see what happens there.
Also news coming out of Philly.
They're choosing not to extend Tyrese Maxie.
This is a huge role of the dice, guys.
Tyrese Maxie had a bidder for coming out season last season.
So you allow this kid.
And I think Nick Nurse is going to be able to really get good play from him.
So you're taking a huge risk here, allowing Tyrese Maxie to play out this season.
I think the more the season goes on, the richer he becomes.
And let me circle back to James Harden for a second.
Like I said, Houston is off the table.
I talked about Steve Bomber and the Clippers.
And there was a report about the Knicks being interested in James Harden.
Let me be 100% crystal clear here.
The Knicks have no desire in bringing in a James Harden.
I know a lot of people bring up the Knicks.
It's like Knicks for Clicks because they know the fan basals start foaming at the mouth.
If Leon Rose gets into the James Harden business, it is a dereliction of duty.
There's no way you can bring him here.
No way.
I gave you his resume.
Three teams in the last two and a half years.
You think he's going to be happy here in New York with this media, with this scrutiny?
I mean, Philadelphia, you get the scrutiny over there, but in New York, it's at least two to five times magnified.
So I don't see the Knicks getting into that business at all. 100% no.
But you know, ESPN, they have to entertain this foolishness for some of these Knicks fans who desperately wants a star.
I think the Knicks are.
They're just being thrown in there to be thrown in there.
There's no legitimacy to them being interested in James Harden whatsoever.
So I put that out there.
But the Sixers do add Patrick Beverly to a one year deal.
He last played in Chicago, started the season in LA.
Philly, they're in a bit of a fix here with this hard situation.
So we will be watching and see what happens there.
Then you have the Toronto Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors, they resign their center, Jocab Polter at four years, $80 million.
So you pretty much sign him to the same money that you give Nicolai Fusovic.
I'll take Fusovic seven days of the week.
I know Jocab, he's a solid big man, not in the class of a Fusovic, but Toronto made the choice and they signed him to the 20 million a year deal.
So good for him. Good for him.
And they also signed Point Guard Dennis Schroeder, him being with the Lakers last season.
They signed him to a two year, $26 million deal.
So happy for Schroeder.
Remember, a few years back he fumbled the bag.
So it seems like he kind of recouped it a bit.
But Dennis Schroeder now in Toronto for the Raptors.
And of course they lose Point Guard Fred Van Fleet going to Houston.
I'll talk about the Houston story when I get to them and they're exploring Pascal Siakam trade packages.
So of course, you know, they got a lot of similar big men over there.
So, you know, they're doing the wise thing and entertaining deals for Siakam.
But Siakam's a player who was a very solid player.
I'm sure there's a market for him.
If I can think of a team off the top of my head, I probably couldn't right off the top of my head.
Maybe OKC can get into the Pascal Siakam business over there.
That he'd be a nice addition over there.
That's the team that immediately jumps into my head.
Hey, so that's the Toronto story there.
And then lastly, Washington.
Of course, Washington was busy prior to free agency trading.
Chris stop Pozangas as well as Bradley Beale and then receiving Chris Paul and then shipping him out.
But they do trade Point Guard Monte Morris to Detroit.
So that creates for them a nine point eight million dollar exemption and then add that along with the mid level exemption.
They already have at seven point eight million so they could do a few things, few interesting things there.
And then of course they resign Kyle Kuzma to a four year, a hundred and two million dollar deal.
So you have a nice little nucleus there with Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole.
So nice young players there.
So Washington kind of retooling over there.
So we'll see what happens with them.
So that is your East story.
Like I said, I'm going to break this up.
I'm going to talk about the Western Conference moves free agency trades so forth.
All right guys, so as always, I thank you for listening.
Much appreciated.
All things basketball with GD.com.
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All right guys.
So until then we'll talk soon.
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