NBA Free-Agency Guide

[trashtalkr]

I'll use this to let people know of all of the Free Agency signings taking place during the offseason.

Note that these deals are verbal agreements since contracts can't be signed until July 8th when the salary cap is decided.

Detroit sign both Ben Gordan and Charlie Villanueva to 5 year deals
Dallas sign Marcin Gortat to 5 year deal
LA Lakers sign Ron Artest to 3 year deal


Detroit did sign some quality players, but I think they overpaid for both of them. We'll see how the 3 guard rotation works out with Gordan, Rip Hamilton, and Rodney Stuckey.

Lakers getting Artest is huge! Not only is he the best defensive player in the game (yes I did just say that) but they steal him from a conference rival. And with Yao Ming possibly out for the season, this signing will put the Rockets in the lottery for next year.

[Habib]

First of all, thank you very much for this thread trashtalkr.

I am a bit concerned with the Ron Artest deal if it actually sorts itself out to be true. Wouldn't this mean that they lose Trevor Ariza?

In your opinion, which is a better fit for the triangle offense and the whole Laker squad, Ariza or Artest?

[trashtalkr]

Yeah this would mean they would Ariza. The Rockets are rumored to be offering Ariza a deal. That's an interesting question you raise, though Habib. This is what the Lakers lineup would look like:

PG Fischer
SG Kobe
SF Artest
PF Gasol
C Bynum

It's full of big men, which might be damaging to the triangle offense, but is probably the best defensive lineup in the league. Ariza was great at spreading the defense out to give Kobe room to work. He was a threat from the arc, which the Lakers no longer have. Fischer is getting too old to be a legitimate offensive threat. They do have Shannon Brown coming off the bench, but I think they might need another versatile forward who can hit the 3. I don't think they have anyone who can do that well.

[trashtalkr]

And now it's official. Trevor Ariza will be a Rocket

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303862

[AYHJA]

Hey man, Artest shot 40% from behind the arc last year...The Lakers GM is the best in the league...You sign Artest, a proven NBA player, and lose a good prospect like Ariza, but...WOW...

And we keep forgetting, the Lakers still have another former 1st round pick in Adam Morrison on the bench...He must have shown some serious promise that they would let Ariza go...PLUS, they have Odom coming of the bench..?!?!?

What was that conversation about the Rockets being the best team in the league..? :p

[Habib]

Your analysis makes a lot of sense trashtalkr. It saddens me that Trevor Ariza will leave the Lakers -- I guess darklighter1 was right by predicting that the guy will go after the money.

The reason that I really liked Trevor Ariza in that starting lineup (and with the Lakers of course) is because of he was an above average lock down defender, and brought such incredible athleticism to the floor. Asides from Kobe Bryant now, there is a significant decrease in the athletic diversity in that starting lineup, as you have correctly pointed out that "it is full of big men."

Oh well, such is life. AT least they get to keep Lamar Odom (hopefully).

Can you guys give a grading of this soon to be starting lineup on a scale of 10 (10 being the best), and the former lineup with Trevor Ariza, please?

[AYHJA]

Dude, Artest scares people...Did you hear him say that nobody had ever lit him up except for Brandon Roy..? And then Kobe, but SHID...Ariza was a good young talent, but I'll take Artest any day...Not to mention that they signed him for cheaper than they would have gotten Ariza...PLUS dude, him and Lamar Odom are both from New York City...And friends since grade school or some shit...No locker room problems...

I'd give this lineup a 9 man...Artest is solid enough to play the 4 and the 3 spot man...He had 100+ steals last year in 69 games...Shit, if Bynum can stay healthy, this is a 10 linuep...I don't see the potential for upgrades man...Every position is solid, the bench is beyond solid...They can put Artest on the best player on the other team, and lets not forget Kobe is an all NBA defender...Dude, this is a huge power move...

[Habib]

Interesting, interesting...OK shit, it's just itching me now, I CANNOT wait for the first 20 games of next season!!!

[trashtalkr]

With Ariza I would give the Lakers a 9 for their roster. They would need an upgrade at PG for me to raise it.

With Artest I'll give them a 7.5-8. Yes they are gaining defense and Artest is a better offensive player than Ariza if you were to compare them side-by-side. But, Ariza was a great fit in that offense

[AYHJA]

In the Triangle, you just need competent big men...The 3 just needs to be versatile...Ron Artest is one of the most versatile players in NBA history, believe it or not...It won't take him long to learn the triangle...Plus, he doesn't have to start right away...Odom can play the 3 and have Ron come off the bench until he learns it...

In other news, looks like Turk will go where the money is, which happens to be in Toronto...