Dwight Howard Full Highlights 2016.01.18 at Clippers - 36 Pts, 26 Rebs, MONSTER!
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images
Matthew Dellavedova agreed to a four-year, $38.4 million offer sheet with the Bucks. Will the Cavaliers match it?
Matthew Dellavedova agreed to a four-year, $38.4 million offer sheet with the Bucks. Will the Cavaliers match it?
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty ImagesHawks add Dwight Howard, re-sign Kent Bazemore
A person with knowledge of the situation says Dwight Howard has agreed to join the Atlanta Hawks, who also re-signed Kent Bazemore.
Howard received a three-year contract worth $70.5 million, while Bazemore will get $70 million over four years, the person told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because contracts cant be signed until July 7.
Howard returns to his hometown after three seasons in Houston, where he battled injuries and wasnt the force he was earlier in his career. He managed just 13.7 points per game last season, lowest since he averaged 12 as a rookie for Orlando after being taken with the No. 1 selection in the 2004 draft out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.
Bazemore, who turned 27 on Friday, started 68 games for the Hawks, averaging 11.6 points.
Staying and going: All-Stars Andre Drummond and DeMar DeRozan are staying put, as are Hassan Whiteside and Nicolas Batum.
Many more are on the move, and some are getting paid like they never could have imagined.
Chandler Parsons, Joakim Noah, Evan Turner and Timofey Mozgov were among the players cashing in Friday during the first day of free agency and, really, of a new era in the NBA.
Former St. Marys guard Matthew Dellavedova will get richer, too, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $38.4 million offer sheet with Milwaukee although the Cleveland Cavaliers have the option to match it.
With revenue rising and the salary cap soaring right along with it, good players were being paid like All-Stars, while All-Stars were getting contracts that used to go only to superstars.
And the players at the top of the class havent even started agreeing to deals yet. Kevin Durant, who met with the Warriors on Friday, and Al Horford probably cant wait to see what they get after watching what lesser players on the market have already received.
For example:
Parsons four years, $94 million from Memphis.
Noah four years, $72 million from New York.
Turner four years, $70 million from Portland.
Mozgov four years, $64 million from the Lakers.
Their timing was even better than their play, as they became free agents at the ideal moment. With the NBAs national TV contracts worth more than $2.6 billion beginning with next season, the salary cap, which is tied to revenue, will soar well beyond its previous record to $90 million to $95 million.
Some players didnt have to wait long to claim their share. Drummonds five-year maximum deal to stay in Detroit will be worth $130 million, a bit more than the $128 million Bradley Beal got to remain in Washington. DeRozan will do a little better in Toronto and Charlotte kept Batum for $120 million.
But the Hornets lost a couple of key players from their 48-win team, as Jeremy Lin got a three-year, $36 million contract from Brooklyn, and the Pacers lured Al Jefferson to Indiana with a three-year, $30 million contract.
Citing a source familiar with the contract, the AP said the Utah Jazz have agreed to terms with Joe Johnson on a two-year deal worth $22 million.
None of the contracts can be signed until Thursday, after next seasons salary cap is set.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Free-agent-season-opens-with-8337519.php
