Frantic Free Agency - NBA 2012

The NBA 2012 Free Agency Marathon is underway. You have probably heard dozes of rumors, innuendo, and reversals of course. To bring you up to speed, the Hat Trick is giving you a rundown of the current state of the 2012 free agency class.

Steve Nash, PG, Los Angeles Lakers – 3 years, $27 million

Deron Williams…trades possibilities of Dwight Howard and Joe Johnson…yeah, yeah. Those are very important players with several years in front of them. That said, I think this move may have had the single greatest impact in the balance of power in the Western Conference.

Nash (13 PPG, 11 APG in 2012) will immediately give the Lakers a bona fine elite point guard. Much has been made of the 38 years on Nash’s biological odometer, but, in the words of the late singer Aaliyah, age ain’t nothin’ but a number. The future Hall of Famer and two-time MVP averaged a double-double per game for the eighth consecutive year. This was done with an aging and injured Phoenix team that was sorely lacking in defense and, since the departure of Amare Stoudemire to the Knicks, lacking an All-Star first passing option for Nash.

Still Father Time is undefeated. By any measure, Nash has been a bad mother… during the past two seasons in spite of having everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him (or, more fittingly, taken from him). But he will turn 39 next year and his minutes per game, free throw percentage, rebounds per game, assists, per game, and points per game all declined slightly in 2012 while his turnovers per game ticked up slightly. Some of that can be explained by his surroundings, but it would be naïve to completely factor Nash’s age out of the equation.

Hat Trick Grade: A

No commentary needed. 1

Jason Kidd, PG, New York Knicks – 3 years, $9 million

This was a smart move by the Knicks for a number of reasons. First, they are only paying $3 million per year for a future Hall of Fame point guard, an area in which they were deficient for much of last year. Second, their current point guard, Jeremy Lin (15 PPG, 6 APG in 2012), is a restricted free agent who is expected to sign a four year, approximately $40 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. The Knicks are strapped for cap space and while the popular opinion is that the Knicks will match the Rockets’ offer at any cost, acquiring Kidd (6 PPG, 6 APG, 4 RPG, 29 MPG in 2012) will ensure that they are not bankrupt at the point guard position in 2013. Finally, even with Lin on the roster, Kidd will be able to help mentor Lin into assuming the point guard duties full time.

Kidd is 39 years old, literally the last active NBA player who was active while I was in high school, for contrast. There will be no conflict between Kidd, who has signed the final contract of his career, and Lin, whose career is just getting started. There will be no competition for playing time. And this is hardly going to stress the Knicks’ salary cap.

Hat Trick Grade: B+

The last time Jason Kidd played in the East, his team won the East...twice. 2

Deron Williams, PG, Brooklyn Nets – 5 years, $98 million

This deal was a no-brainer for the Nets, who mortgaged their future to acquire Williams (21 PPG, 9 APG in 2012) in the 2011 season. Williams maintained that he would consider resigning with the Nets if they took steps to become more competitive. I am sure that the acquisition of Joe Johnson (19 PPG, 4 APG in 2012) via trade from the Atlanta Hawks and the possibility of picking up Dwight Howard (21 PPG, 15 RPG, 2 BlkPG in 2012) via trade from the Orlando Magic helped Williams’ perception of the Nets. Call me crazy, but I think the ability of the Nets to offer $20 million more than the next highest bidder may have tipped the scales in the Nets’ favor, too.

Hat Trick Grade: A+

The $100 million man 3

Chauncey Billups, G, Los Angeles Clippers – 1 year, $4 million

The re-signing of Billups (15 PPG, 4 APG in 2012) was key to the long-term interests of the Clippers for several reasons. First, Billups is a valuable player with championship experience and an unquestioned veteran leadership presence on the court. Second, All-Star point guard Chris Paul (20 PPG, 9 APG, 3 StlPG) has made his opinion about wanting to retain Billups clear. Paul is entering the final year of his contract. Last, the Clippers need another legitimate scoring threat in the backcourt with Paul.

Hat Trick Grade: B+

Paul, left, and Billups, right. 4

With the rampant speculation about dozens of transaction possibilities, I could write a novel about who could go where and what impact that could have. The Hat Trick will revisit this topic next week, likely with names like “Howard”, “Allen”, “Gordon”, and “Lin” appearing in the piece. Stay tuned for more free agency drama! 

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