NBA Free Agency Gets Underway

By Brendon Rosenau
Love of Sports Correspondent

Happy Holidays to all the NBA fans out there!

That’s right, today is the first day that free agent signings can become official.

Throughout the coming days, player movement will come fast and furious, so consider this a crib notes version of the waiver wire.

Here are some deals set to take place and should change the landscape of several teams.

Pour a cup of coffee, get ready to email your best buds and enjoy. (Remember, as of this posting nothing is official.)

The free agency period will begin with a bang, as it looks like Baron Davis and Elton Brand will be contacting the post office.

Baron Davis to the L.A. Clippers

Davis opted out of the final year of his deal with the Warriors that would’ve paid him just $17.8 million this coming year. Instead, B-Diddy bolted. Some say his benching in the second to last game of the year was the last straw. Others say he wanted the move to Hollywood.

Baron took a pay cut to go with the Clips, a bold move if there ever was one, and is reportedly going to sign a four-year deal for $65 mil. Last year, he averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and almost five boards. The 29 year old is certainly capable of running a team, and the Clippers are really headed in the right direction. Now you have Davis and Cuttino Mobley in the backcourt with Eric Gordon coming in from the bench. The next item was to resign Elton Brand and make a return to the playoffs.

But wait, this is the Clippers.

Elton Brand to Philadelphia

Brand is now spurning the Clippers offer and looks to be headed to Philadelphia to sign a five-year, $82 million deal. The Clippers have to be devastated as they’ll likely lose Corey Maggette as well, and now they have to deal with the defection of Brand, who one week ago said he planned on resigning.

Apparently, the Big E couldn’t pass up the free cheesesteaks and the chance to play for a team really making a commitment to the future. The Sixers played great ball toward the end of the year, sneaking into the playoffs. The addition of an All-Star forward would be a huge bonus.

Meanwhile, Maggette’s been linked to San Antonio, Boston and Golden State as well. He’s seemingly willing to take less money to play on a contender.

To recap … the Clippers thought they’d made the steal of the offseason with Davis, but now find themselves looking up at the rest of the Western Conference. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Antawn Jamison resigns with Wiz

The other team banging their holiday drum is the Washington Wizards. The Wiz agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with Jamison hours before he hit the market. The 32 year old averaged a double-double for the first time in his career and has been more durable than people give him credit for. Since the 2000-01 season, he’s played in 82 games four times and his lowest total’s been 68. He took a $4 million pay cut so the Wiz could resign Agent Zero, and that plan, unlike the Clippers, seems to have worked.

Arenas has been heavily courted by Don Nelson and the Warriors, but it looks like Gilbert is staying in D.C. Six years and $111 million is hard to pass up, especially if you believe you have a chance to win, which the Wizards do. Caron Butler’s emerged as the team’s best player, but Arenas, if (and it’s a BIG ‘if’) healthy, and Jamison are just as good of a three-man combo in the league.

Dallas will be busy

The Mavericks will likely sign both DeSagana Diop and Gerald Green. Diop will get five years and $30 million, which is the mid-level exemption, and that will officially make him the most overpayed big man in the game. If I’m missing something here, please let me know. Diop is 26 and averaged a robust 2.9 points and 5.1 rebounds last year. In seven years, and he has surprisingly been in the league that long, he’s never averaged more than 18 minutes per game. This is a 12th man at best and the Mavs are tossing out starter money. Boo on them.

Green has (here comes that dreaded word) potential. He’s worth a shot for a one-year deal at the league minimum for sure. He’s one of the most athletic players in the league, he isn’t afraid to shoot and he can jump through the roof. However, this is his fourth team in three years. I can’t say I like what the Mavs are doing here.

New York looks to Duhon

Finally, Chris Duhon could be running the point for the Knicks next year. Sadly, this looks like the Starbury Era is in its final days.

Elsewhere

Beno Udrih will get a five-year, $33.3 million to stay with the Kings, Mickael Pietrus will get the mid-level exemption with the Magic and Rudy Fernandez may finally make his NBA debut. The Trailblazers have finally wrestled away the Spanish League superstar who averaged 21.2 points last year.

Have a good week everybody. You just know it’s gonna be a fun one! Get on that free agency Bandwagon and ride the hoops wave.

(If you’re like us, you’ll be glued to the TV all week waiting on the next big signing to happen. While you’re doing it, why not grab an ice cold beer!?! Our sister site, The Love of Beer, has all kinds of different flavors you may enjoy. Give it a look!)