Analyzing Day 3: Mavericks land a big one
— -- Day 3 brought us another step closer to an active NBA free-agency period completing its most important business. While top prize LaMarcus Aldridge is still making up his mind and LeBron James and Marc Gasol remain unsigned, the other top unrestricted free agent available ( DeAndre Jordan) did make a decision Friday, while one of the top restricted players on the market returned to his team on a long-term deal. As usual, let's take a look at the signings and what they mean.
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DeAndre Jordan
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Contract: Four years, approximately $81.5 million (exact amount will not be known until salary cap is set)
Richard Jefferson
Team: Dallas Mavericks (re-signed)
Contract: 1 year, $1.5 million (veteran's minimum)
What it means: After years of striking out on max-caliber free agents, the Mavericks finally landed one, beating out the incumbent Los Angeles Clippers to sign Jordan. I wrote at length Friday about how well Jordan fits in Dallas. Later Friday, the Mavericks began filling out their thin bench by re-signing Jefferson for the veteran's minimum. Jefferson played both forward positions last season and shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range. If the 3s stop falling, Jefferson will have limited value at 35, but he's a good get at the bargain price.
What's next: Dallas may pursue a series of sign-and-trade deals to maintain some cap space after signing Jordan and Wesley Matthews, as I outlined in Friday's piece. The Mavericks could use more money to add to their roster. One player who's likely to be back is point guard Jose Barea, who was reportedly close to a new deal with the team.
Robin Lopez
Team: New York Knicks
Contract: Four years, $54 million
Derrick Williams
Team: New York Knicks
Contract: 2 years, $10 million
What it means: Having previously added shooting guard Arron Afflalo, the Knicks bought a frontcourt Friday, signing two players using more of their remaining cap space. While pricey, Lopez should be a good value. He's an excellent rim protector, filling an important need in New York and a capable offensive player who won't be out of his depth in the triangle. Williams is a more curious fit. The former No. 2 overall pick has been most successful in transition and has struggled to score efficiently in half-court sets in large part because of his poor 3-point shooting (30.1 percent career). At 24, Williams could still develop as a shooter, but he'll have to in order to justify getting $5 million a year.
What's next: Depending on how many non-guaranteed players they retain, the Knicks will have at most about $3-5 million in cap space remaining, along with the $2.8 million room exception. Their bench currently consists of rookies Jerian Grant and Kristaps Porzingis and second-year players Langston Galloway and Cleanthony Early, so more talent is needed, particularly a backup for Lopez.
Rajon Rondo
Team: Sacramento Kings
Contract: One year, $9.5 million
Marco Belinelli
Team: Sacramento Kings
Contract: Three years, $19 million
What it means: After seeing multiple players pass on their reported more lucrative offers to sign elsewhere with contenders, the Kings finally found some players to take their newfound cap space on Friday. The team finally consummated the long-rumored marriage with Rondo, who agreed to a one-year deal in the hopes of rebuilding his value. It's hard to see the upside for Sacramento. Even if Rondo does prove a fit, he'll be able to command a raise or head elsewhere next summer. More likely, adding another non-shooter to a team with limited outside shooting in the frontcourt will create major issues spacing the floor. At least the Kings found one shooter in Belinelli, a 39.2 percent career 3-point shooter. Alas, Belinelli has only posted a PER better than 12.6 once in his career (during 2013-14, his first year in San Antonio), and at 29 he's on the downside of his career. Even with the cap escalating, this contract may not age well.
What's next: Sacramento has between $8 million and $11 million in cap space remaining, and needs either a power forward to split minutes at the position with rookie Willie Cauley-Stein or a wing capable of sliding Rudy Gay to the 4 in smaller lineups. Mirza Teletovic of the Brooklyn Nets and Dorell Wright of the Portland Trail Blazers could provide additional floor spacing. Jordan Hill of the L.A. Lakers would be a more traditional option. And, in case the Kings' roster isn't already entertaining enough, Josh Smith is still on the market.
Patrick Beverley
Team: Houston Rockets (re-signed)
Contract: Four years, $23 million
Corey Brewer
Team: Rockets (re-signed)
Contract: Three years, $23 million
What it means: After a quiet start to free agency, the Rockets brought back two rotation players on Friday. Beverley looks like another restricted bargain. He'll make about the same amount over the next three seasons as Aron Baynes, plus Houston gets a favorable team option (or non-guaranteed year) for $5 million in year four, per ESPN's Marc Stein. Unless injuries hamper Beverley's career, this looks like a great contract. Brewer ended up getting a healthy raise from last season's $4.7 million salary by virtue of his strong performance off the bench after a midseason trade to Houston. He's 29 and heavily dependent on his athleticism, so this deal might not look as good in two years.
What's next: The Rockets are still holding out hope of convincing LaMarcus Aldridge to join them in a sign-and-trade deal. Failing that, Houston will likely face a decision on whether to dip into its mid-level exception to re-sign Smith or use it on an outside free agent. After former second-round pick Sergio Llull turned down the Rockets to stay with Real Madrid, backup point guard is probably their biggest need.
Tobias Harris
Team: Orlando Magic (re-signed)
Contract: Four years, $64 million
What it means: Three days into free agency, Harris didn't appear likely to get a lucrative offer sheet from another team as a restricted free agent. In fact, just a handful of teams (the L.A. Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz) currently have the room to realistically make him a max offer. So Harris and the Magic hammered out a deal that pays him slightly less than his maximum salary (around $70 million over four years). Despite my skepticism about Harris because of his poor defense, this contract will surely be tradeable if Orlando decides Harris isn't the right fit in Scott Skiles' system.
What's next: The Magic could clear up to about $20 million in cap space before re-signing Harris, which is how they could offer Paul Millsap $80 million over four years early in free agency. At this point, it's tough to see how Orlando might spend that money. Expect more modest additions to the bench. Stein tweeted Friday that the Magic are close to signing veteran backup point guard C.J. Watson.
Gary Neal
Team: Washington Wizards
Contract: 1 year, $2.1 million
What it means: The Wizards added some shooting to their bench on the cheap with a one-year contract for Neal, which would fit into their bi-annual exception if necessary. That allows Washington to save its mid-level exception to court power forward David West. Neal had a rough 2014-15 season, shooting just 30.5 percent from beyond the arc, and he hasn't been the same player since leaving the San Antonio Spurs. If he doesn't bounce back, the Wizards have enough perimeter depth to survive, so this is a low-stakes gamble.
What's next: Stein reported earlier Friday that Washington is "pushing hard" to sign West, who is likely to choose between them and San Antonio.