Yeah. So. This Actually Happened.

http://www.twitvid.com/1BABD


At the end of the third quarter of a game that was a blowout from the fifth minute onwards, Raptors point guard Jarrett Jack holds the ball at the top of the key. Noticing his shoelace is undone, he tucks the ball under his arm while the clock continues to tick, and ties it back up.

Not a single Bulls player tries to knock it away.

That basically summed up the whole game. The Bulls played worse than any team has ever played in any game at any standard in any season of any decade in any league in any country of any sport ever. They were listless, talentless and overmatched, with the playbook of a Corleggy cheese and all the energy of a bag of spanners. They fought like a Frenchman on their way to losing 110-79, in front of a sold out crowd of men in suits who refused to boo as if they cared. It's the only time I've ever turned off a game because I couldn't stand to watch it. Bad, bad, bad times.

If you happen to own or run an NBA team and are looking to hire someone to work 80 hour weeks as a professional nerd, hire me. Because then I can stop supporting the Bulls.

Creative Financing In The NBA

If you Google the term '"creative financing" otis smith', you'll find quite a few hits. It's long been a favoured phrase for Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith, and his most famous usage of the phrase came in the run-up to the 2007 offseason. Smith used the term "creative financing" to describe how the Magic were going to handle having maximum cap room, juggling signing other team's free agents with retaining Darko Milicic. It was a fairly generic term that said something without really saying anything. And it only gained its resonance after Smith used all his money to give Rashard Lewis a ridiculously, amazingly, biblically terrible contract

You'll also, slightly depressingly, find this website fourth in those search results. There's a reason for that. "Creative financing" is something that I've harped on about for a while. The financial side of the NBA gives me a jolly; watching and learning how the NBA teams manage (or mismanage) their salary cap space, the luxury tax threshold and all their exceptions gets me off in ways that it really shouldn't. I don't know why it's fun, I only know that it is. I think you agree.

Therefore, there follows a list of some of the better examples of creative financing in the NBA today, some of the ways in which executives and cap experts have manipulated the system, staved off the shackles of oppression, and beaten the terrorists.


- The Bulls set a precedent by signing four players to descending contracts at the same time. At one point, the contracts of all four of Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni, Smiling Joe and Sulking Ben had contracts that shrunk on a year-by-year basis. The idea of this was to maintain future salary flexibility to allow them to retain Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas down the road as well. It didn't work, though; even though they paid them backwards, the Bulls overpaid all four, then overpaid Deng as well, and those combined with a staggeringly powerful fear of the luxury tax unbecoming of a team with such hefty profits (and an irrational hatred of the man) led to Gordon leaving as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Which sucked. Still, it could be worse. They may well have maximum cap room in 2010. (Yay! Because cap space went so well for us last time.)

- The Hawks are currently trying something similar. In the last six weeks, they've re-signed all three of Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia, all to pretty decent value contracts. All three also have contracts that dip in value in the 2010/11 season, a crucial offseason for the Hawks if they are to be able to pay to keep their star player, Joe Johnson. Knowing this to be true, GM Rick Sund has tried to set himself up to be able to pay all four players without going into the luxury tax. It's a good idea, in a way. But the downside of it is that this means the Hawks are going to be grazing their balls against the powerful stone grinding wheel that is the luxury tax threshold, and all they'll have done is retaining a good yet inadequate core. Of course, they would have had some financial flexibility, but they decided to use it all on Jamal Crawford, instead of re-signing the thoroughly comparable Ronald Murray for a third of the price. It's a strange decision.

- Quite a few players have taken second year dips in multi year contracts. The Magic (the creative financing GENIUSES that they are) once did it with Tony Battie, a move which enabled them to give Lewis even more completely unnecessary money than before. The Raptors have done it with Jarrett Jack, as they'll be struggling to stay under the tax next season. Others to have signed contracts that either descend or that have the occasional dip in them include Kris Humphries, Devin Harris, Speedy Claxton, Jarron Collins and Marcus Camby. But it's not common.

- Contract guarantees can be fun, too. There's way more leeway to them than there is often considered to be. Most unguaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts are guaranteed against lack of skill; that is to say, 'if we don't think you're good enough, we're cutting you.' Furthermore, any of those include dates on which the contract will become guaranteed if the player is still on the roster. But you can get way more creative than that if you want to. One such example is that of Matt Harpring; the Jazz re-signed Harpring to an oversized 4 year $25 million contract, but with conditional guarantees on the fourth year. Harpring were to only be guaranteed $4.5 million if he either:

a) missed 47 games combined during the 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons due to injuries to his right knee, or
b) missed 35 games in the 2008-09 season only due to injuries to his right knee.

Neither of these happened. Harpring gutted out the injury, as well as a concurrent serious injury to his ankle, and saw through all three seasons. It came at a cost, though; he's now about to retire. What a trooper, though.

- Leon Powe had something similar but different going on with his first contract from the Boston Celtics. Powe signed a three year minimum salary deal with the first year guaranteed, but with performance-related guarantees on the other two years. His second year salary became guaranteed if Powe either made the 2006/07 rookie team, or if his point, rebound and assist averages added together to total more than 14.0 in more than 41 games played. His third year had a similar guarantee, but with the threshold raised to 16.0. It turns out that this was quite a good idea, as Powe became a valued contributor while playing for the cheapest possible price. Shame about the latest knee injury.

- There's not much flexibility for creativity with rookie scale contracts. They follow a strict formula - two guaranteed years, two option years - and even though players and teams can negotiate the contract's value to between 80% and 120% of the scale amount, almost everyone gets the 120%. (The only ones I can think of that haven't are Ian Mahinmi, George Hill and Sergio Rodriguez.) However, this season, the Indiana Pacers found a new way to make things interesting. When signing Tyler Hansbrough, they gave him the customary 120%, but with an interesting caveat; all four seasons of the contract are only 80% guaranteed. (Note: that's all that rookie scale contracts have to be guaranteed.) The purpose of this isn't entirely obvious; if Hansbrough really sucks or dies or something, the option years won't be exercised anyway, so having a partial guarantee on them doesn't make much of a difference. But it's interesting because it's creative. And, dammit, that's what we're after.

- Speaking of creative, check out Brandon Roy's guarantee conditions. Intense.

- It might be the Mavericks, not the Magic, that are the kings of creative financing. (A cynic would say that they need to be, considering that they overpay almost everyone. That cynic would have a point.) Particular favourites of Donnie Nelson and friends include conditional guarantees based on championship wins (given to Jerry Stackhouse and Greg Buckner) and team based performance incentives (see this). Having unguaranteed final seasons in contracts is a good ploy of theirs; Erick Dampier has an unguaranteed 8 figure final season in 2010/11, with conditions that he's never going to meet, giving the Mavericks a massive trade chip to play with. Buckner's contract - which they initially signed, then gave away, but have now brought back - has only a small percentage of his final two years guaranteed. You probably already know about the last year of Stackhouse's deal, and the uses that had. And you may also have known that the last year of Jason Terry's contract is only $5 million guaranteed as well.

But the Mavericks have saved their best unguaranteed contract trick for last. After the Magic matched the offer sheet that Dallas gave to Marcin Gortat, the Mavericks found themselves with a full MLE again. Rather than use on an MLE calibre player, they instead decided to spend $4.5 million of it on Drew Gooden, a poor player with the worst defense in the NBA and an increasingly bad understanding of offensive continuity. The contract, though, has a caveat; only $1.9 million of the $4.5 million is guaranteed. And there's no guarantee date.

It's fairly normal for players to sign partially guaranteed one year contracts. If it wasn't common practice, training camp would suck. But it's rare for players earning more than the minimum to do it, and it's the first time I've ever seen it on a contract this size. It's actually quite a clever ploy, because it gives the Mavericks quite a trade chip. In a year when so many teams are over the tax, and so many teams need to make instant salary savings, unguaranteed contracts have to be considered even hotter shit than usual. And by signing Gooden to one, the Mavericks give themselves a pretty mean trade chip between December 15th (the first date Drew can be traded) and January 10th (the date all contracts become guaranteed). He was, without a shadow of a doubt, signed with this intent in mind. So expect it to happen.

As for what's in it for Gooden.......well, not a lot. $2 million for three months work is never bad, but for this to have been the best he could get, his other offers must have really sucked.

- And finally, here's an example of how not to creatively finance. Naturally, it involves Otis Smith. And it also involves the man in the opening picture, James Augustine.

Augustine was drafted by the Magic in the 2006 draft, and signed a two year rookie minimum contract with the team. He stayed with the team for the whole two years, barely playing, and was became a restricted free agent. The second year of his first contract was only 25% guaranteed until July 30th, and the rule with qualifying offers is that they have to be at least the same amount of guaranteed money and the same guarantee dates as the final season of the previous contract. So when Orlando tendered him a qualifying offer, Augustine accepted it immediately, and was thus under contract for the 2008/09 season for $972,581 (the amount of the QO = minimum salary + $175,000), of which $243,145 (25%) was guaranteed, with a guarantee date of July 30th 2008. Orlando then waived him before that date, meaning that they essentially paid Augustine a quarter of a million dollars to have him under contract for two weeks in mid-July.

It's definitely financing, no question about it. And it's definitely creative. But it was also really, really thilly.

Otis Smith's job became far easier and far more secure when the Magic's NBA Finals appearance prompted the aptly named Rich DeVos to start stumping up luxury tax dollars. Imagine what would have happened, though, if that hadn't happened. There'd be no Marcin Gortat. There'd be no Brandon Bass. There might not have been any Vince Carter trade, and there might not have been any Matt Barnes signing. The Magic would be relying on the man who coined the term "creative financing" to do that exact thing. And it's hardly something he's renowned for.

I commend the Magic's offseason. They've done pretty much everything right. Even the little things, such as the inclusion of Ryan Anderson into the Carter trade, were done correctly. Otis Smith has had a good summer. But Magic fans should be very, very grateful to ownership. Spending is easier without a budget.

September Still Hasn't Ended

Part 1!!!!!!!!

Now part 2!!!!!!!!



Minimum salary deals:

Atlanta signed Randolph Morris for two seasons, giving themselves both the opportunity to develop a talented young centre and the opportunity to lose him to unrestricted free agency. They also signed Othello Hunter and Thomas Gardner for training camp. Sham's lame ill-informed prediction: Hunter makes it if Solomon Jones gets traded. (Readers note: they haven't signed Dalibor Bagaric, despite it reputedly being a done deal almost a month ago. This is not good.)

Boston signed Darius Miles and Patrick O'Bryant to young'en up an old old bench. Miles could be something between inconsequential and surprising, depending on how much cartilege is in his knee. And all O'Bryant has to do to replace the production of Scot Pollard is to stay alive. Whether he becomes anything of any use is another matter, but he's not entirely talentless.

Ryan Hollins re-signed with Charlotte for the qualifying offer, after the team had already taken out the team option on Jermareo Davidson. So apparently Charlotte likes these two nigh-on identical players in equal measure. The Bobcats also signed non-shooting guard Shannon Brown, trading away their draft pick Kyle Weaver immediately afterwards. They must think incredibly little of Weaver, because Brown is pretty poor.

The Bulls re-signed Demetris Nichols on the basis that he's young, cheap, partially guaranteed and can hit a jumpshot. But mainly the second one.

Cleveland made two minimum salary signings of a polarisingly different standard. The signing of Tarence Kinsey gives the Cavaliers a young player on the cheap, one who should never have been out of the league in the first place, but in contrast, the signing of Lorenzen Wright gives a new home to someone who shouldn't be in it. Wright used to be good, but those days are long gone - he was arguably the worst player in the NBA last season, and he has every chance of being so again.

Similarly, the Mavericks made two good minimum salary signings in James Singleton and Gerald Green, yet they also brought in Keith McLeod. You need shooters, so you sign one of the worst offensive guards in or around the game? Okay. Don't get that one. But great move on The Singleton. Hustle players and rebounding specialists who can also hit three pointers are always welcome. Another player who should never have been out of the league.

Denver did their usual of padding out their bench on the cheap, but they did so with Chris Andersen, Anthony Carter and Dahntay Jones, all of whom are fine value for that price. All three are also decent defensive players, something which Denver sorely needs. Let's hope that Carter doesn't start this year, though.

Will Bynum signed with the Pistons for two seasons, giving them the backcourt shooter that they sorely need. Wait, no, that's wrong.

Golden State got into the training camp scrub signfest early, picking up Anthony Morrow, Rob Kurz, DeMarcus Nelson and Dion Dowell to come to camp. Sham's lame ill-informed prediction - Morrow and Nelson make it.

The Clippers made some more value signings, getting Jason Williams for the minimum, which is good value if they get any version of J-Will other than last year's. They also signed Brian Skinner, someone who has been criminally underrated since Billy King overpaid for him back in 2004. Paul Davis is also returning as the 15th man for no real reason.

The Lakers had some training camp pickups of their own, namely Brandon Heath, C.J. Giles, Dwayne Mitchell and Josh Powell. Powell's making it, but the rest have only a little chance. Unless I'm wrong. Which is highly possible.

(EDIT - They've sinced also re-signed Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, who'll probably make it, defying logic and rational thought.

Jamaal Magloire signed with the Heat, despite him not being very good any more. Along with camp signee David Padgett, plus returnees Mark Blount and Joel Anthony, there's not now any room left for Alonzo Mourning. (The Heat also signed Jason Richards early for training camp, but he's since torn up his knee, so that's his NBA dream over for this season.)

New Orleans went the Denver route, and padded out their bench with veterans for the minimum salary. They went for Sean Marks (OK), Ryan Bowen (pointless) and Devin Brown (genius). So, a 50% success rate there.

New York signed one of the most one dimensional players of all time in Anthony Roberson, but thoughtfully, his one dimension is one that they need.

Adonal Foyle re-signed with the Magic, which did nothing to assuage the size problems that the Magic with everyone other than Dwight Howard.

Philadelphia binged and went the veterans minimum route four times. Theo Ratliff showed surprising mobility last year for a 35 year old big man with a history of back problems, and he still has something left to give as a backup. Donyell Marshall, meanwhile, doesn't. The signing of Kareem Rush gives the Sixers two of the least efficient shooting guards in Western society today, but at least is a small improvement on their outside shooting problem. Royal Ivey, meanwhile, isn't.

Former Sixers Louis Amundson signed with the Phoenix Suns, as did former Warrior Matt Barnes. Both are good pickups and good fits in Phoenix, particularly for that price. Maybe Barnes should fire another agent, because the boy hasn't gotten paid yet.

The Portland Trail Blazers signed Luke Jackson, Steven Hill and Jamaal Tatum, and you can probably pencil in all three to be waived, particularly if Darius Miles's contract reappears on their books. If not, Hill has a chance. Unless they sign Shaun Livingston, in which case, it's game over all around.

Bobby Brown signed with the Kings for two guaranteed seasons, which gives us a new tangent of wordplay jokes if nothing else.

Anthony Tolliver and Darryl Watkins signed with the Spurs, who apparently wanted a big man who can't make a layup to save his life. (Watkins, not Tolliver.) The Spurs also brought in Desmon Farmer and Devin Green for training camp, and I hereby predict that Farmer and Tolliver make it. The Spurs don't have to penny pinch around the tax this year, these are the luxuries that they can now afford.

(EDIT: They've also since brought in Salim Stoudamire. YEEHAW!)

Toronto brought in Will Solomon to play point guard, even though he isn't one, and Hassan Adams to play two guard, even though he isn't one. I like the way they're thinking.

In entirely inconsequential news, Dee Brown is back in the NBA after signing with the Wizards.



Draft picks:

Boston's three picks saw them draft J.R. Giddens (a swingman that they don't really need right now), Bill Walker (who everyone seems to be rating really high) and Semih Erden (who we'll probably never see again). I'm curious to see why everyone loves Bill Walker so much. I'm not saying they're wrong, for it would be foolish of me to have much opinion on draftees since I don't folow NCAA basketball (note: that might make this whole section a bit dull), but I understand that Bill Walker's game is predicated on athleticism, not skill. And Walker's also just had his third knee surgery. To me, that doesn't bode well. But, sod it, what would I know. (I'll tell you what I'd know: nothing. That's what I'd know.)

Charlotte, not happy with two athletic near-seven footers, plumped for a third in Alexis Ajinca, and also plumped for a second short ass point guard in D.J. Augustin. I don't think they've identified their most immediate holes here, but then again, they could use an upgrade basically everywhere.

Chicago didn't have much thinking to do before drafting Derrick Rose, a surefire number one pick despite no one being able to draw up a clear cut list of the things he's actually good it. ("Athleticism? Check! Finishing in the lane? Check! Passing? Um, well the system he played in wasn't right. Shooting? Yes, well, he needs to improve his shooting....") They also traded three second rounders for one, and came away from that bizarre trade with Omer Asik, who will no doubt go on to lead a fabulous life and have an amazing career, despite having already suffered a serious knee injury since the night of the draft.

Correctly identifying that Ben Wallace is awful, Cleveland drafted two power forwards, J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson. Both are post players, and both are quite good, but having watched summer league, I can't remember either of them throwing a single pass. (A look at the stats confirms this - Hickson had 0 assists in summer league. Jackson had 3. Must've kept dropping it.) The Cavaliers also drafted Sasha Kaun, which I thought was a province in Canada.

Denver traded for the rights to Sonny Weems at 39, which was interesting. (Hang on, no it wasn't.)

Detroit traded out of the first round and drafted the man they would have drafted in it anyway, Walter Sharpe. They signed him for two guaranteed years, sending all us hardened and overeager NBA addicts to Wikipedia to understand narcolepsy better than we thought we did. Sharpe won't play much this year. Detroit also drafted Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington, who will play even less, because they're not on the roster.

Anthony Randolph was drafted 14th by Golden State but already looks to be better than most of the people taken ahead of him. Dick Hendrix was taken 49th, and hasn't been able to make the same boast, but he is able to boast the name of Dick Hendrix, so his life will be fine.

Houston likes three kind of players - shooters, defensive specialists, and shit point guards. Having drafted Aaron Brooks and signed Steve Francis last year, they're all right for shit point guards, so they used the secound round this year to get one of each of the other two, with defensive specialist Joey Dorsey (33rd) and Maaaaaarty Leunen (54th). They also came out of the first round with Donte Greene (28th), but that didn't last (see below).

Indiana drafted Jerryd Bayless at 11. But that's not how it ended up. See below.

The Clippers drafted the best available player at their weakest position when they took Eric Gordon at 7, and that's rarely if ever a bad strategy. In the second round, they picked up Mike Taylor (55th) and DeAndre Jordan (35th), both of whom won't contribute much for two years, which is why they signed three year contracts.

The Lakers only draft pick was Joe Crawford at 58. They've subsequently signed him, but they've also signed Brandon Heath and Dwayne Mitchell (see above), and all three are battling with Coby Karl for what looks like one spot. So they probably could have not bothered drafting Crawford. The Lakers also brought in last year's second rounder, Sun Yue, and already are getting so wildly overexcited that they're talking about playing him at guard sometimes.

Memphis obtain probably the best player available at their weakest position when they traded for Darrell Arthur at 27. Shame about the weed and hoes thing, though. (Readers note: Don't be fooled. Darrell Arthur is not a keen gardener.)

Miami drafted Michael Beasley at number two, after giving the worst acting job since Keanu Reeves in Point Break when trying to convince people that they might not. In the second round, they came away with Mario Chalmers, despite not having a pick. Since when were number 34 picks so devalued? How does Minnesota have the 31st and 34th picks, and not come out of it with a player for next year? Strange times. (Readers note: Minnesota drafted Nikola Pekovic at 31, who may well be good, but whom we also may never see.)

Milwaukee rightly identified that their forward spots were pretty desolate, so they drafted two - Joe Alexander (6th) and Cucumber A Moute (37th). Mbah A Moute's profile informs you that I've only barely seen him play, ut I've seen more of himt han I have Joe Alexander, so I'll do us all a favour and not pretend to know what's going on there.

New Jersey were lauded for their draft, that saw them get Brook Lopez at 10, Ryan Anderson at 21, and Chris Douglas-Roberts at 40. I tend to agree, except for Ryan Anderson. No offence, Ryan.

At number six, the Knicks drafted a man who "will not be a superstar" (c/o Fran Fraschilla) who plays their least needed position. So I'm going to need more convincing on the Danilo Gallinari pick.

The Thunder identified their need for a guard, and then didn't draft the best guard available, picking Russell Westbrook at 4. Either they see something the rest of the world didn't, or the rest of the world saw something that only they didn't. They also moved up into the first round to draft a power forward (D.J. White, 29th), despite having about twelve already, and after already having drafted one five spots earlier (Serge Ibaka). Entering the draft with four second rounders, they gave three away, and used the fourth on yet another big man (DeVon Hardin, 55th). Soon after the draft, they picked up Kyle Weaver from Charlotte, who obviously didn't want him. Sam Presti clearly did, though, because Weaver then signed a four (count'em, four!) year deal. The additions of he and Westbrook hopefully mean that Damien Wilkins will stop getting so much playing time, because no one likes a chucker. Unless you're a Kobe fan.

Orlando brought in Courtney Lee (22nd) because they didn't think they'd be able to keep Maurice Evans, and because they thought Keith Bogans sucked. Right on both counts.

Philadelphia drafted Marreese Speights at 16, something which led to Speights choosing 16 as his new jersey number. Not sure what role Speights will fill since Elton Brand was signed, but we won't hold that against them, given that the chicken came before the egg. Giggidy.

Phoenix got a backup centre in Robin Lopez (15th), as their roster starts to assume a more traditional makeup. This is not a bad thing.

Only Portland could go into a draft night with five picks and leave with two players, Nicolas Batum (25th) and Jerryd Bayless (11th, see below). They also brought over Rudy Fernandez, thieved from Phoenix the previous season. Young quality born out of endless money and trying hard. Good MO.

Sacramento copped more stick for head coach Reggie Theus's comments on why the team drafted Jason Thompson at number twelve than they did for the pick itself. But this doesn't mean that they got off lightly.

San Antonio tried to give away their pick, but couldn't, so took someone almost completely unheard of in George Hill (26th), who they've since signed. Backcourt scoring was apparently a priority of theirs this year. They also followed their own tradition and drafted a European in the second round (Goran Dragic, 45th), but then unusually traded him for an NCAA player (Malik Hairston, 48th). Strange times. (For equality's sake, we should mention James Gist, picked 57th. Hi James.)

Utah drafted three Euros that they don't need now and may never need ever, in Kosta Koufos (23rd), Ante Tomic (44th) and Tadija Dragicevic (53rd).

Finally, Washington drafted Tits McGee, one of my favourite draftees this year, and not only because his name is Tits. McGee is the next Marcus Camby. Book it. (Readers note: comparison overstated for effect. And his name isn't really Tits.)




Trades:

Cleveland finally has the right idea, dealing spare parts Joe Smith and Damon Jones in a three team trade with Oklahoma City and Milwaukee that landed them starting point guard Maurice Williams. Now that the Cavaliers finally have a complimentary guard that can score and handle the ball a bit, I hope Mike Brown finally figures out how to use one. Elsewhere in the deal, Oklahoma City somehow got two somewhat decent players on two sizeable expiring contracts in Smith and Desmond Mason, while only giving up Adrian Griffin Luke Ridnour to do so. Meanwhile, Milwaukee gives up the best player - and one of a good value contract - in return for nothing of any significant use. I know the Williams and Michael Redd pairing needed splitting up, but not like that. And don't give Adrian Grifin to Scott Skiles. You won't like where that goes.

Milwaukee's other trade involved somehow being giftwrapped Richard Jefferson by New Jersey for the tiny cost of Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian. Why New Jersey wanted that package, I do not know. Simmons expires a year sooner than Jefferson, and crucially in time for the 2010 offseason, but he's not an expiring contract, and Yi Jianlian is now but one of a humber of many young big men on the Nets roster. He's also not that good. Can you trade a 20ppg in-his-prime All Star, not get a starter back, not get an expiring contract back, nor even a draft pick, and be happy with your return? I'd like to think not, but I think it just happened.

Again on draft night, Toronto threw all their eggs in one basket, trading T.J. Ford, Macy O'Baston, Rasho Nesterovic and the rights to Roy Hibbert to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to Nathan Jawai. O'Neal and Chris Bosh should pair effortlessly, much more so than Ford and Jose Calderon did, and the Raptors now have the best frontcourt pairing in the East. (Even better than "Dwight Howard and anybody.") Yet they still have largely crappy wing players, and a very weak bench. They have a fine front three, but very very little in support of them. And they've run out of money to do too much about that. Indiana, meanwhile, saves a good amount of money, and gets two young talented players at their biggest positions of need. That can't be bad. They're not going anywhere, but that's not a bad way to retool.

Golden State picked up Marcus Williams for the cost of a first round pick, despite two years of nothing but injuries and bad play. It's a gamble worth taking, but one with an element of risk. Williams has shown roughly nothing so far, albeit while playing often out of position.

Ron Artest finally left Sacramento, going to Houston along with recently signed draftees Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr in exchange for prospect forward Donte Greene, a pick, and the expiring contract of Bobby Jackson. Houston's defense is now freakin' mega, and they even made sure to save some money on the deal by dealing Ewing to New York for the meaningless rights to Frederic Weis, and dealing Singletary to Phoenix for D.J. Strawberry in a move that saves both teams money. Meanwhile, Sacramento's somewhat going for the ol' addition by subtraction thing, which may or may work out. (Donte Greene, by the way, put on an absolutely disgusting performance in summer league. Yes I know he scored 40 in one game, but HOLY SWEET JESUS CHRIST BOY will you pass the sodding ball.)

Denver took a break from their minimum salary policy to get a younger, cheaper and better version of the departed Eduardo Najera, when they traded the peripheral expiring contracts of Taurean Green and Bobby Jones
to New York for Renaldo Balkman. New York then waived both instantly. A no-brainer for Denver, even with their self-inflicted budget concerns, and when factoring in the fact that Balkman will always be a backup. But what were New York doing? You have a lot of small forwards, yes. But get rid of the crap ones. Also, don't trade a small forward on account of the fact that he's a "bad fit" and that there's too much competition in front of him, just to later trade for Patrick Ewing Jr, his cheaper but inferior replacement. If you want to save money for two years, don't sign Chris Duhon to that deal. There. Sorted.

The Clippers filled their cap space, with a few trades, most notably getting former DPOY candidate Marcus Camby for absolutely nothing. It's just not good enough, is it? Some teams out there are pissing away their MLE's, and some teams get gifted the league's better big men in their prime, entirely through circumstance. The NBA is a stupid game anyway. The Clippers also later traded for Steve Novak, seemingly seeing something in him that Nick Fazekas couldn't reproduce. They also conspired with Utah to complete one of the most pointless trades ever, acquiring their former player Jason Hart for Brevin Knight. The contracts are basically the same, the players are basically the same, and while Knight is slightly better, he'll play fewer games. Yet neither should actually play at all, barring a typhoid outbreak. So....why did this happen again?

An 8 player trade went down on draft night, but only three players in it mattered. Memphis and Minnesota swapped their draft picks a few hours after making them, with Kevin Love going to the Timberwolves, and O.J. Mayo going to Memphis. Also involved in the trade were Mike Miller, Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins, but of those few, only Mike Miller is a productive player. Essentially, Miller was Minnesota's asking price for swapping the two, and in exchange for Miller, Memphis made some salary swaps that gives them roughly $7 million more in cap space next offseason. For both parties, the question is, did they get the better part of the prospect swap. I'm going to cop out and say that I don't know enough about Kevin Love to judge. This is what you can do when you're an amateur blogger.

Indiana and Portland also made a prospect swap, switching the draft rights of Brandon Rush and Jerry D. Bayless, while also including Josh McRoberts, Ike Diogu and Jarrett Jack. In terms of the other three players, Portland got hosed, but since Bayless is apparently the better prospect, that makes it all right. (Again, I refuse to say. I've watched summer league, but I'm not making an empassioned opinion solely off of that. Nor should you.)

Finally, in the biggest news of the offseason, Minnesota managed to blag a first round pick off of Philadelphia for the less than arduous task of taking on the contracts of Calvin Booth and Rodney Carney. Talk about easy decisions. Carney is still a cheap prospect, even though he hasn't done anything yet, and Booth earns the minimum. Not even Minnesota says no to that.

Wake me up when September ends.