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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Must See Sports – Fourth Weekend of March 2011

There is SO much going on in the sports world right now. The NCAA Tournament is building up to an exciting conclusion. Major League Baseball Spring Training is heading into its final week. The NBA regular season is approaching its final 10 games. The NFL…. Oh, wait…there is no NFL.


Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Semifinals

The NCAA Tournament is the main event in March. It resumes tonight, with the winners of tonight’s and tomorrow’s games advancing to the Elite 8, one game away from the Final Four. Beyond the Big Dance, the pickings are pretty slim this Thursday and Friday, and rightfully so.

The Hat Trick ran a Part 1 and Part 2 of the Sweet 16 earlier in the week with a breakdown of the action. Feel free to use it as a reference, like an encyclopedia (or a supermarket tabloid).


Saturday, March 26

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West and Southeast Regional Finals

Like I said, the pickings are slim come tournament time. You wouldn’t schedule a marquis matchup at the same time as the Super Bowl, would you? Well, the NBA (the only one of the “big three” sports in season, at the moment) has not lost that point either!


Sunday, March 27

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East and Southwest Regional Finals

The Final Four will be complete after these matches. I wonder what you call the downtime between Saturday’s and Sunday’s games from the “Elite 8” round. The “Superb 6”…? What about the remaining teams immediately following the first game of Sunday? Would they be the “Fantastic Five”? Things that make you go, “hmmm,”….


NBA
Portland Trailblazers at Oklahoma City Thunder

Finally, some professional action! The Blazers are in a tight four way race with the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, and Memphis Grizzlies to better their positioning in the lower half of the Western conference playoff seedings. Oklahoma City is pursuing a long shot, late season push to catch the Dallas Mavericks and avoid being possibly having to go on the road for most of a best of seven series with the San Antonio Spurs, who have been all but invincible at home, in the second round of the playoffs.

The Thunder are at home and it remains unclear whether or not forward Marcus Camby and his 10 rebounds per night, on a team that often struggles under the boards, with be available by Sunday due to an ankle injury.

Advantage: Thunder

LaMarcus Aldridge of the Blazers 1

Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Regional Finals

There is very little to pick from on the NBA’s list of offerings, unless you live in a market carrying the Miami Heat at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. You can see LeBron throw his powder into the air of Cleveland sports sanctuary turned mausoleum Quicken Loans Arena, benefiting an extra dozen Cleveland Police officers brought in for additional security, but will likely do little more than see the Heatles for free.

I do not pretend to have much depth of knowledge about the women’s college game, but, that said, I would be stunned to not see the Connecticut Huskies and Tennessee Lady Volunteers advance to the women’s Elite Eight…again. Can anyone tell me the last time one of these two teams did NOT reach the Regional Finals? The first one with the correct answer gets a shout out in the next Hat Trick! Don’t blow up the comments box at once, everyone.

(crickets chirping)

If The King does this, again, in Cleveland, it will give me the feeling that he is still punching his opponent after the referee declared a TKO. 2

Wednesday, March 30

New Jersey Nets at New York Knicks

The Nets travel across the Turnpike to Madison Square Garden to take on the slumping Knicks. While the Nets have been hopelessly (all but) eliminated from the playoffs for quite some time, there is a ray of hope for the future. The Nets, winners of 6 of their last 10, have a winning record this month, words one has not heard in quite some time. I have not followed the Nets closely, but I do not need to to know that the acquisition of All-Star point guard Deron Williams accounts for much of the turnaround.

Deron Williams has wasted no time in making his presence felt with the Nets, 6-4 in the month of march (as of this morning). 3

The Knicks’ shining star is fading quickly. The Philadelphia 76ers, left for dead in the earlier part of the season, have surpassed the Knicks and taken over sixth place in the Eastern Conference. While a fall into 8th place (let alone from the playoff picture altogether) is unlikely for the slumping Knicks, it is now a possibility, albeit a slim one. Their swagger has cooled substantially, having lost seven of their last eight games. The Nets have averaged 99 points per game in March, 5 points per game above their season average. A surging Nets team with a star player playing like he has something to prove (and, if so, he is proving it) faces a Knicks team that still believes it can out shoot everyone and defense be damned. This just in, Knicks: you have the second best offense in the NBA and a losing record.

Advantage: Nets


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The Transition of Transactions

The month of February has been VERY interesting in the world of sports. More moves, affecting the long term landscape of professional sports happened in this short month than have occurred in any single month in recent memory. Football, basketball, and baseball all had transactions that made headlines. Of course, the biggest news happened in the NBA, which, of course, we will look at today. However, the big NBA moves (Carmelo…cough…Deron Williams) should not completely overshadow the other power impacting moves in other sports.

NFL

Mike Vick – The Philadelphia Eagles placed the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick, ensuring that he will be in Philadelphia in 2011 (if there is a 2011 season) and receive a big, fat payday. In all probability, the Eagles and Vick will work out a long term agreement, rendering the one year assurances of the franchise tag moot. This has several impacts on the Eagles and the league.

Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, the starter at the beginning of the 2010 season, is placed in a challenging career limbo. The Eagles have the option of retaining Kolb, who will earn about $2 million in base salary in 2011.* Given Vick’s aggressive running style of play, placing Vick at a heightened risk for injury, a backup, capable of starting in the NFL (which are few in number in today’s NFL), is of greater value to the Eagles than to many other teams.

Philly also has the option of trading Kolb. Kolb, in my opinion, is at the level of an average starting NFL quarterback. That statement may not be sensational, eye-popping, or sound particularly complimentary, but the NFL has A LOT of BAD quarterbacks. The NFL has a lot of BAD quarterbacks who are starting, making good teams bad and bad teams worse. Kolb is NOT a bad quarterback. Philadelphia has two QBs that are not bad. Barring something catastrophic happening with Vick, the Eagles can garner considerable value for Kolb.

Kolb’s recent contract extension included an $11 million signing bonus.* If the Eagles already paid and will likely not retain Kolb after 2011, oatmeal is better than no meal. The Panthers, Cardinals, Vikings, Redskins (assuming Donovan McNabb leaves), Titans, Raiders, Browns, and Bengals (assuming Carson Palmer leaves), among other teams, would all become better overnight by adding Kolb to the roster. None of those teams were in the playoffs last season, meaning that they will have more valuable draft assets than other teams.

I do not have a read, one way or the other, on what the Eagles will do. The expiration of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement makes the future even more uncertain. Regardless, the decision (or indecision) on Kolb will impact the power structure of the NFL in 2011 and possibly the long-term.

Kevin Kolb (left) and Mike Vick (right). This town isn't big enough for the both of them. Or IS it??? 1

Peyton Manning – the Indianapolis Colts placed the franchise tag on quarterback Peyton Manning. I also think that the Colts and Manning will agree to a long term deal as soon as they are able to, making the franchise tag no more than an insurance policy. Peyton Manning wants to be the highest paid player in the league, topping the $18 million per season being earned by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Assuming this comes to fruition, and all indicators are that it will, Manning, along with Brady and Vick, will set the ceiling and the standard for pay of elite, veteran NFL quarterbacks.

"Damn it's good to be us!" 2

MLB

Albert Pujols - The proverb, “Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish,” exists for a reason. Albert Pujols is the best hitter in the game. He may be the best first baseman in the history of the 141 year old game by the time his career is over. He has the best hitting numbers of any player over the past 10 seasons (on a National League team, no less), including Alex Rodriguez. He is showing no signs of slowing down. The Cardinals always have a chance to win any close game with Pujols in the lineup.

PAY THE MAN! The equation is very simple. If you want someone’s services, you need to pay what those services are worth to receive them. The market decides the value and the market has already dictated, through Alex Rodriguez's current 10 year, $275 million deal, that Pujols is worth more than that.

Making matters worse, the Cardinals did not contribute to any goodwill by lowballing the man. Pujols set a deadline of the day after the start of spring training to conclude negotiations to focus on preparing for the upcoming season. Pujols wants $300 million over 10 years. A-Rod is earning $275 million over 10. WHAT made the St. Louis Cardinals think Pujols would accept the last minute, 8 year, $200 million offer put forth on the final night before the deadline?

A reporter actually asked Pujols why he thought contract negotiations during the season could be a distraction. REALLY? Does it look like Albert could just coast from his car to batting practice? Perhaps it would be excusable if the question was from a special, blind reporter, but it was an ESPN guy. 4

I understand that nearly everyone reading this is earning less than seven figures of income annually and some of these numbers may prompt the average person to say, “How could he be so greedy? Just TAKE IT!” It is not “greed” to ask for what you are WORTH. Worth is dictated by what others will pay. The Cubs, Angels, Mets, Marlins, and Red Sox, among others, will likely offer Pujols exactly what he wants if he tests the free agency market in 2012. The Cardinals would have been better served working on a more creative solution to resigning Prince Albert. With the loss of ace pitcher Adam Wainwright for the 2011 season to Tommy John surgery and the possible loss of Pujols after the season, the Gateway to the West may have some lean baseball years ahead.

After that lowball by the Cardinals, Cubs fans have cause to get a little excited about next year. Some would practically tear their clothes off to get Phat Albert to the north side of Chicago. 3

NBA

I cannot recall any other week leading up to the NBA trading deadline that resulted in the movement of as much talent as was moved in this past week. These moves are going to have both an immediate and long term impact on the power structure of the NBA.

Carmelo Anthony & Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks – This trade was the big one. Will the Knicks win the NBA Championship in 2011? Not likely. Can they create problems and potentially eliminate and upset an opponent in the first round? It is possible. The fact that this is even possible places the Knicks LIGHT YEARS ahead of where they have been over the past several years, in which a playoff appearance of any kind was a pipe dream. The Knicks have a foundation, with Billups, Anthony, and Amare Stoudemire, to build upon to rise to the top of the Eastern Conference very quickly following this season.

New York basketball is back! 5

Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets – I never saw this coming. Apparently, Williams did not either. ESPN reported that Williams, himself, learned of his trade out east while watching television in the Jazz training room. While it is unclear whether or not the recent, sudden resignation of 17 year tenured Head Coach Jerry Sloan played a role in the unexpected trade, it is clear that there may be a new trend among smaller market teams with star players whose eyes appear to be on the bright lights of big cities.

I can't help but notice that Williams was surrounded by Nets coach Avery Johnson and General Manager Billy King when he was introduced as a Net to the media. Was it to make sure he didn't bolt for the exit? I've seen more genuine smiles at a dentist's office before a root canal. 6

Williams had the option to opt out of his contract with the Jazz after the 2012 season, leaving the club holding his contract with no further compensation. After witnessing the Cleveland Cavaliers receive very little value for LeBron James and the Denver Nuggets having their season mired in drama and distractions, the Jazz got on top of the free agency steamroller, instead of in front of it or under it. Utah traded Williams to New Jersey for considerable future value, including two first round draft picks, both possibly lottery picks considering that they are draft picks belonging to the Nets in 2011 (almost certainly a lottery pick) and perennial playoff spectator Golden State in 2012.

The long term impact of this deal depends almost entirely upon Williams. If he likes where he sees the Nets going and signs an extension after the 2012 season, the Nets will become a playoff contender and probably a contender in the East within a few years. If not, and Nets owner Mikhail Prokorhov should be able to gauge Williams' intentions before next year’s trade deadline, the Nets should be able to recover significant value, deal Williams to his eventual destination, and continue moving forward to build a contending team.


Carl Landry to the Hornets – I find it curious that the Hornets took on an additional $2 million in salary (trading shooting guard Marcus Thornton to Sacramento). I also found it curious that the Hornets took on such expense to acquire a power forward when they already have All-Star power forward David West. Landry is talented, tough, and a valuable defender. Could the Hornets plan on running a bigger unit by rotating Landry in and out with West, center Emeka Okafor (when he returns from injury), and forward Trevor Ariza? Is he (much needed) insurance, a player who can start and be productive, in case of an injury in the Hornets’ starting front court? Marcus Thornton was a popular sharpshooter, earning less than $1 million per season**, with two more seasons remaining on his contract after this season. Landry’s $3 million contract** is expiring, so the Hornets are neither weighed down by the cost of nor certain to benefit from Landry’s services in the long run. This move will give the Hornets an added push down low and improve their long odds of advancing in the Western Conference playoffs.


Mo Williams to the Los Angeles Clippers – Could not have happened to a better guy. Williams is a hustling, hard working player who had the rug pulled from under him when LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. While the Clippers are going nowhere this year, they are going places soon with super-rookie Blake Griffin. The tone in the Staples Center is much more optimistic than in years past when the Clippers are playing.

Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers (traded from the Clippers for Mo Williams) – Could not have happened to a better guy. This man whined his way out of New Orleans, leading to a 2005 season in which the Hornets were bankrupt of backcourt talent and only had the draft lottery to look forward to, after signing a max contract with the Hornets. I should probably thank Davis as his trade-demanding antics made the Hornets so bad that they were able to draft Chris Paul in 2005, bringing more positively charged excitement to the team than Davis ever did and eventually bringing a Southwest Division championship to New Orleans in 2008. I am thrilled to see this malcontent out of L.A. (Clippers), with emerging stars in Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe and into the NBA’s hell hole of Cleveland.

I think the towel is part of the uniform in Cleveland. 7

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To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.


*Source: NFL Fanhouse
**Source: ESPN
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Word on the Tweet - February 21, 2011

The last few days have been busy in the sports world. The Daily Hat Trick staff, which would be me, has had to work overtime to gather the confidential tweets of players, coaches, and other sports figures. Twitter has made the world a better place by delivering the immediate, unvarnished reactions of sports personalities to occurrences in their lives. Here is what we have gathered.

Carmelo Anthony, after yet another round of trade talks between the Nuggets and the Knicks and Nets:

@NuggetsGM Maybe I'll stay here. I can live with $65 million. I'm starting to question the competence of the front offices over there. #DoYouWantToWinOrNot #HowHardCanItBe #BirdInTheHand

NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND! 1

Albert Pujols, after turning down the St. Louis Cardinals 8 year, $200 million offer:

@CardinalsGM Lowballing me won't help your cause. #Insulting #ARodMakesMore #ImSteroidFree #HowCanISurviveOnThatKindOfMoney

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Outfielder and Presidential Medal of Honor recipient Stan Musial, age 90, whose top salary was $100,000 (roughly $750,000 in today's dollars):

@PhatAlbert Are you out of your f__king MIND? #IWillSuitUpTONIGHTforATenthofThat RT @CardinalsGM Lowballing me won't help your cause.



Mike Vick, upon learning the Eagles applied the "franchise" tag to him, meaning he has to remain in Philadelphia, but will earn about $20 million in the 2011 season (IF there is a 2011 season):

@PhatAlbert Are you out of your f__king MIND? #IWouldSwitchToBaseballInAHeartbeat RT @CardinalsGM Lowballing me won't help your cause.

Chicago Cubs Manager Jim Hendry, upon learning that Pujols turned down the Cardinals' offer: 

@PhatAlbert Stick to your guns, pal. You DESERVE that $300 million! #WeCantWaitToGiveItToYou

$200 million?!?!? That's IT? You're breakin' my balls, man! You're breaking my balls! 2

Detroit Tigers Slugger Miguel Cabrera, to manager Jim Leyland, after being questioned in Florida for suspicion of DUI:

@MarlboroManager Coach, I've got a problem. Some cop is hassling me and I can't find my Scotch. #DoYouKnowWhoIAm

Leyland's response:

@Blowing.240Hitting.300 Son, your batting average and blood alcohol content are not correlated. Put the bottle down, especially in front of the COPS! #NotAgain #HeCantBeThatStupid #ThisIsWhyIStillSmoke
RT @MarlboroManager Coach, I've got a problem. Some cop is hassling me and I can't find my Scotch.

Everytime I try to QUIT, something pulls me back IN! 4

Cabrera, to Leyland, after his arrest:

@MarlboroManager I found it! RT @Blowing.240Hitting.300 ...Put the bottle down, especially in front of the COPS!

Cabrera must have still been full of that "brown courage" because this is the happiest mugshot I've ever seen. 3

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