Los Angeles Lakers
Starting Lineup
One of the fiercest starting units in the league. The best center in the league in Dwight Howard. The second best two guard in Kobe Bryant behind Dwayne Wade. A borderline top five PG in Steve Nash. A top five PF or C in Pau Gasol. Four extremely talented players. Read the rest of this entry »
Following the signing of Ty Lawson, the Nuggets now have four large multi-year contracts on the books
Note: Wilson Chandler is also on the books for another $6-7 million per annum for the next three years also.
The trio of JaVale McGee, Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari will be earning a combined $34 million a year for the next 4 years. Andre Iguodala has another $15 million a year for two years and will be expecting a contract extension in that price range once it expires which would take the Nuggets up to $50 million in guaranteed salary for the next 4 years. Read the rest of this entry »
Here are the players given extensions prior to the October 31st deadline
Analysis
James Harden
A top 5 shooting guard (elite starter) and top 25 player (All-Star caliber player) in the league overall. A very good scorer and playmaker. Exceptionally efficient. A good defender/rebounder.
When you consider that two of the others are in their mid-thirties (Kobe, Manu) and the other two are over 30 (Wade, Joe Johnson), and that, Harden is only 23 years old and by far the best young shooting guard in the league … his value is clear.
Fully deserving of a maximum contract. Read the rest of this entry »
Trade Details
Houston Rockets receive: James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, Lazar Hayward
Oklahoma City receive: Kevin Martin, 2013 Raptors first rounder, Jeremy Lamb, 2013 Mavericks first rounder, 2013 Bobcats second rounder
Trade Reaction
Houston Rockets
Excellent deal for Houston. They traded some scraps, two mid-first round picks and a mid-lottery pick for the best young two guard in the NBA who is already one of the top five SGs in the league (top 25 player in the league with potential for more). Read the rest of this entry »
San Antonio Spurs
Starters
A pretty good starting lineup but not a dominant one. Two very good starters in Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. One above average one in Kawhi Leonard. One middle of the pack one in Danny Green. And a below average but solid starter at power forward with Diaw. Read the rest of this entry »
New York Knicks
Starters
A good but unexceptional starting unit. One high level (top five) starter and two very good starters (top 10-12) in Carmelo Anthony + Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire respectively. Plus two well below average starters in Felton and Shumpert. Read the rest of this entry »
Houston Rockets
Starters
A very weak starting lineup. Probably bottom five in the league. No above average starters. Two middle of the pack starters (Asik, Kev Martin). Two firmly below average starters (Parsons, Lin). One very poor starter (Patterson). Read the rest of this entry »
Dallas Mavericks
Starters
A decent starting lineup. An elite player in Dirk Nowitzki, an above average starter in Marion but the rest of the pack are are firmly below average. Read the rest of this entry »
Philadelphia 76ers
Starters
It’s unclear how effective this starting unit will be. Major questions about how well Hawes can transition to PF (I am more of a doubter than a believer). A pair of young players in Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner who will be looking to take a leap forward also. So I am not sure how to rate them just yet.
They have a top five center in Bynum, a top ten PG in Holiday, a middle of the pack SF in Turner, a below average but solid starter in J-Rich and I have no idea about Hawes. What that equals out into, I am not sure. Read the rest of this entry »
