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Day 2 of the NBA Free Agency is over. We spent a lot more money, but things have slowed down significantly since the incredible first day of spending. We also officially brought Damian Lillard on the trading block to join James Harden after he requested a trade outside of Portland. Let’s dive in.
We’ve got the big moves, anticipated signings, headaches, great value signings, things we disagree about, and more below. We’ll go through them all from Day 2, with grades for some and emojis for others.
As things settle down after today, we’ll be moving daily reviews of significant plays to The Bounce, our free NBA newsletter.
Damian Lillard has finally requested a swap
Finally it happened. We finally saw Damian Lillard request a transfer from the Portland Trail Blazers after 11 seasons there. And now the madness begins about what this means for the Blazers and their future profession. You must decide what priority is to reclaim the value for him. Is it related to draft selection or players? Blazers general manager Joe Cronin let the public know that the Blazers remain intent on winning, which is a little hard to tell when you’ve quit for the past two seasons to increase your chances of winning the lottery.
Regardless, we’ll soon find out if the Blazers have the ability to bring in promising young players, picks and someone who’s currently relevant to get Lillard back on his feet. The reason we came here is because Neil Olshey was building a team that had reached its absolute limit and needed a change, and the new front office just wasn’t handling that transition properly. They weren’t wrong in trying to dismantle a solid team, but the subsequent trade-offs resulted in gross mismanagement of that process. This is how we face the Lillard trade request this weekend.
Let’s break down the trades the Blazers took during the refit:
Trade with the Clippers, February 2022:
The Blazers sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers. They got Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow and Keon Johnson back along with a second-round pick for 2025.
- Bledsoe didn’t play a minute for Portland and was released in July 2022.
- Winslow has played 40 games since joining the Blazers and is currently a free agent.
- Johnson has played 62 games for Portland but is averaging just 15.8 minutes and shooting 36.6 percent from the field.
Trade with the Pelicans, February 2022:
The Blazers sent CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to the Pelicans. They got back Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada, a future first-round pick (over Milwaukee) and two second-round picks.
- Hart played 64 games for them before being traded last season.
- Alexander-Walker and Satoranský were traded almost immediately.
- Louzada played seven games before being sacked last summer.
- The first round player was transferred in a trade for Jerami Grant.
Trade with the Spurs and Jazz, February 2022:
The Blazers sent Satoranský and Alexander-Walker to the Spurs and Jazz, respectively. They got Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes and a second-round pick back for 2022.
- Ingles never played for them and left as a free agency in the summer.
- Hughes signed with the Bucks in the summer.
- The second-round pick became Jabari Walker, who played 619 minutes for them this year. The contract is partially guaranteed until 2025.
Trading the Pistons, July 2022:
The Blazers sent draft rights to Gabriele Procida (36th pick in 2022), the Bucks’ 2025 top-four protected pick, and two second-round picks to the Pistons. They got Jerami Grant and the draft rights back to Ismael Kamagate (46th pick).
- Grant averaged 20.5 points on 47.5/40.1/81.3 shooting splits in 63 games last season.
- They agreed on a five-year, $160 million deal with Grant this summer.
- Kamagate was sent to Denver for a future second-round pick.
Trade with the Hawks, Pistons and Warriors, February 2023:
The Blazers sent Gary Payton II and two future second-round picks. They got back Kevin Knox and four second-round picks.
- Knox has played 21 games and is a free agent.
- One of the second-round picks this summer was Rayan Rupert.
Trading the Knicks, Sixers and Hornets, February 2023:
The Blazers sent Hart, rights to Bojan Dubljević, rights to Dani Diez and two future second-round picks. They got back Matisse Thybulle, Cam Reddish, Ryan Arciadiacano, the rights to Ante Tomić and a first-round pick.
- Thybulle has played 22 games and is a restricted free agent.
- Reddish played 20 games and signed with the Lakers.
- Arciadiacano was lifted in April.
- Tomic is 36 years old and still plays in Spain.
- The first-round pick ended up being Kris Murray.
Maybe the Blazers will keep Thybulle, but look at how bad so many aspects of these trades were. Yes, the Blazers received a few picks, most of them in the upcoming second rounds.
Essentially, they sent Powell, Covington, McCollum, Nance, Snell, and Payton (having just signed him) in exchange for five additional second-round picks, Grant (whom they had agreed to give $160 million a day to before Lillard). ). Trade Request), Walker, maybe Thybulle if they keep him, Rupert and Murray. And essentially, one could add that the Blazers’ mismanagement of so many roster changes has led to Lillard deciding he needs to go elsewhere.
The great merit of the Blazers with this front office is that they deliver good drafts. Shaedon Sharpe was hard to pin down last summer and they made the choice. Their tanking led to them landing at Scoot Henderson in that draft. Those are good building blocks. The Blazers should lean on their build strength in the draft and acquire as many picks for Lillard as possible.
GO DEEPER
Damian Lillard’s trade request has been a long time coming and marks the end of an era
Big moves of the day
D’Angelo Russell agrees to re-sign with the Lakers to a two-year, $37 million deal
I didn’t like Russell’s attitude toward the Lakers when they made the trade, and the postseason has largely proved that to be the case. He disappeared over long distances and was simply not reliable. However, thanks to the signing of Gabe Vincent, they may have built a squad that doesn’t require him to be on every night. There’s no such thing as a bad two-year contract, so we’ll see if Russell stays with the Lakers both years or if they eventually let him go.
grade B-
GO DEEPER
Bucks and Lopez agree on a two-year deal to keep Center in Milwaukee
Brook Lopez agrees to re-sign with the Bucks to a two-year, $48 million deal
There have been many rumors of Lopez flirting with the Rockets’ cap room and going into free agency, and perhaps that has landed him a senior two-year contract. Staying with the Bucks was the right move for the 35-year-old big man. It goes best with the way they’ve played in the past and the Bucks seem to genuinely love him. They kept him and Khris Middleton and can now focus on being healthy for another title shot.
Grade: A-
GO DEEPER
Bucks and Lopez agree on a two-year deal to keep Center in Milwaukee
Max Strus agrees to a four-year, $63 million deal with the Cavaliers
If Strus shoots like he did two seasons ago (41.0 percent from distance), then this contract is for you. If he’s only shooting 35.0 percent from downtown like he did last season, that’s paying a little too much. However, Strus is not just another Duncan Robinson. He can do plays. He’s a solid defender with great hands. For a 3-and-D wing like the Cavs wanted, that money shouldn’t be hard to justify.
Grade: B+
Dillon Brooks agrees to a four-year, $80 million deal with the Rockets
Good for Brooks that he found a way to get an obscene sum of money after being ruled excommunicated by the Grizzlies. The Rockets hope to achieve a level of competitiveness and defense they haven’t had before. It can happen. But offensively, his mentality almost amplifies the offensive issues the Rockets had a year ago. He doesn’t have the veteran presence they need, and it’s an incredible overpay for someone who didn’t have a big market for that kind of money.
Grade: C+
GO DEEPER
Rockets and Dillon Brooks agree to four-year, $80 million deal
Expected new signs of the day
Austin Reaves agrees to re-sign with the Lakers on a four-year, $58 million deal
Many people wondered if teams with room for the cap would bid. Reaves couldn’t help but sign, which forced the Lakers to pay more money than they could bid overall. Instead, he made it to the Lakers at a reasonable price, and he won’t have a hard time proving that contract was underpaid. His rise has been impressive and $14 million a year is a steal for this type of player.
Grade: A
GO DEEPER
Westbrook is returning to the Clippers on a two-year contract
Russell Westbrook agrees to re-sign with the Clippers to a two-year, $8 million deal
No one really seemed to believe there was a big market for Westbrook, which the number provided here confirms. However, the Clippers didn’t have much to offer him and he wanted to stay with the team. He actually played really good basketball, much closer to what we saw in the Wizards than what we saw in the Lakers. This is a really good deal for him.
Grade: A
GO DEEPER
Reaves signs 4-year deal with Lakers: sources
Dwight Powell agrees to re-sign with the Mavs to a three-year, $12 million deal
I actually think that’s incredible value for a player like Powell. He’s not someone they should have played as often as they did. Despite the efforts he made, as the main man he struggled a lot in defence. But $4 million a season for a rotating big man is great value in this market, and they’re hopefully adding depth to a position that’s had trouble finding any.
Grade: B+
LaMelo Ball agrees to a five-year, $260 million contract extension with the Hornets
It’s a given and everyone knew it was coming. Ball is the franchise player of this team that needs star power. Even if it was just a formality, it would be nice to see that they locked him up immediately.
Grade: A
GO DEEPER
Hornets and Ball agree to five-year extension: sources
Domantas Sabonis agrees to a five-year, $217 million contract extension with the Kings
I agree with John Hollinger on that. It’s a bit of a surprise that they went through with this renegotiation and extension with the remaining $17 million cap space. I have no problem with them taking care of Sabonis. He was great for them last season. But the Kings could have made more of their situation and waited to extend or re-sign at a later date.
Grade B
GO DEEPER
Kings and Sabonis agree to a five-year extension
Current offers of the day
Vasilije Micić agrees to a three-year, $23.5 million deal with the Thunder
It’s always a bit difficult to predict how some of these top European players will adapt to the NBA game. Micić is a solid outside shooter and a very good playmaker. Use him to lead the second unit or even run him alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and you could have great backcourt balance. It’s not big money and it would mean someone from the OKC roster has to go.
Grade: C+
Great values of the day
Sasha Vezenkov agrees to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Kings
I love this move for the Kings because I think Vezenkov will have no trouble producing at the NBA level. He beat the Greek league last season and no one could really protect him. He’s not a great playmaker and that needs to change, but he can take his place in a team that loves to pick up points quickly.
Grade: B+
Thomas Bryant agrees to a two-year, $5.4 million deal with the Heat
I think there’s more to Bryant’s game than he showed with the Lakers or the Nuggets. At the time he got injured with the Wizards, there was a lot he could do out there. For so little money this could be a huge improvement on the Cody Zeller minutes.
Grade: B+
Jalen McDaniels agrees to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Raptors
This is one of my favorite signings of the summer so far. McDaniels has a lot of potential and could even become a version of what his brother Jaden is doing for Wolves. The shot is doable and it shouldn’t be difficult to fit all that distance and athleticism into the Raptors’ defense.
Rating: A+
headache of the day
Jock Landale agrees to a four-year, $32 million deal with the Rockets
I like what we’ve seen of Landale during his postseason moments with the Suns, but that feels like an overpayment. I’m not sure I would trust him with three or four years for that money either. And this could end up being another Daniel Theis move for the Rockets where they turn him over ASAP. I like that he fits into this rotation and he’s a good veteran to add to the mix. The Rockets made sure they hit that salary floor.
Grade: C+
Donte DiVincenzo agrees to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Knicks
That feels like a huge overpayment. DiVincenzo is a guard I want in my rotation and they got him for less than the full mid-level exception. I might rather have Derrick Rose on his team for next season and then reevaluate my roster/rotation than tie DiVincenzo for $50 million over four years. It feels like they could have done more for the money.
Grade: C
trades of the day
Cleveland Cavaliers take on Max Strus (four years, $63 million)
Miami Heat earns second-round pick
The San Antonio Spurs take on Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens as second-round picks
Strus is a much better version of what the Cavs were hoping for from Osman, but there’s still room that Osman could be a nice contributor. He could get that chance in San Antonio or find a new home somewhere else. Perhaps the heat has opened up enough flexibility to cause more excitement in a trade.
Grade: B+ for Cavs, C for Heat, B+ for Spurs
Indiana Pacers take over Obi Toppin
The New York Knicks secure two future second-round picks
The Knicks needed to create some leeway to complete the DiVincenzo signing, but I don’t like giving up so early when someone like Toppin gives up. Taking advantage of a team in need of a pay/roster cut is prime practice for the Pacers.
Grade: B+ for Pacers, C- for Knicks
Houston Rockets Acquire Dillon Brooks (Four Years, $80M)
Memphis Grizzlies take on Josh Christopher
I don’t like Brooks’ contract, as I said above, but just losing Christopher to the Grizzlies in a deal to make room for him in the roster isn’t a terrible loss. Christopher has a chance of being a good rotation wing for a team like the Grizzlies if they decide to keep him.
Grade: B- for Rockets, B for Grizzlies
Atlanta Hawks acquire TyTy Washington, Usman Garuba and two second-round picks
Houston Rockets get trade exemption
Worst-case scenario, the Hawks grabbed two more youngsters to try and develop further, with Garuba looking like he could make an excellent defender. The Rockets had to drop some players from the roster and perhaps give up far too early on the recent first-round picks.
Grade: A- for Hawks, C for Rockets
Brooklyn Nets receive minimum pay
Houston Rockets acquire Patty Mills
Another pay drop for the Nets as the Rockets bring in another veteran. Mills was no longer needed with the Nets, so I like the position in Houston as the locker room leader.
Grade: A- for missiles, D for webs
LA Clippers take over KJ Martin
Houston Rockets receive two second-round picks
The Clippers are taking advantage of the Rockets having to cut a roster spot to accommodate all of their signings and acquisitions of the day.
Grade: A for Clippers, C+ for Rockets
Fast, small offers
Jaxson Hayes agrees to a two-year deal with the Lakers
He never really put it together in New Orleans, but he did show flashes. It’s not a bad play for depth and potential development, but they also need a more mature veteran in the mix.
Yes or no? 👍
Dennis Smith Jr. agrees to a one-year deal with the Nets
Smith has been a nice reclamation project and now he’ll get a chance to make some money from his game next season in Brooklyn.
Yes or no? 👍
Patrick Beverley agrees to a one-year, $3.2 million deal with the Sixers
It’s difficult to judge that commitment without knowing the Harden resolution, but as long as Beverley is closer to the Chicago version than the Lakers version, it will be fine.
Yes or no? 👍
Mo Wagner agrees to re-sign with the Magic to a two-year, $16 million deal
Wagner gives them decent Big Man depth, but I’m not sure about the price. Feels like a wink to his brother Franz that they will take care of the family.
Yes or no? 🤝
Jae Crowder agrees to re-sign to a one-year deal with the Bucks
Between his game in Milwaukee and his exit in Phoenix, Crowder needs a solid season to recover for another contract.
Yes or no? 👍
Ty Jerome agrees to a two-year, $8 million deal with the Cavaliers
I’m a Ty Jerome fan and he should add a lot of depth to the Cavs’ backcourt. That’s a good value.
Yes or no? 👍
Alex Len agrees to re-sign with the Kings to a one-year, $3.2 million deal
Len has reignited his career with the Kings and actually managed to have some good minutes without a substitute. Since they were sending Richaun Holmes to Dallas, they needed him back and made him a little deal.
Yes or no? 👍 👍
Names to watch out for
Big names still available: none.
Limited free agents are still available: Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Grant Williams, and Ayo Dosunmu. Paul Reed, Matisse Thybulle
Veteran Head Guard: Ish Smith, Cory Joseph, DJ Augustin, George Hill, Michael Carter-Williams, Kendrick Nunn
Important Veterans: Eric Gordon
Young people who should dare: Trendon Watford, Dalano Banton, Darius Bazley, Hamidou Diallo, and Jaylen Nowell
Mentors: Blake Griffin, Danny Green, Andre Iguodala, Wes Matthews, Goran Dragic, Austin Rivers, Terrence Ross, Taj Gibson
Big men: Robin Lopez, Christian Wood, Markieff Morris, Boban Marjanovic, Mo Bamba, Dario Šarić, Montrezl Harrell, Bismack Biyombo, Gorgui Dieng
Forward: Derrick Jones Jr., Jeff Green, JaMychal Green, James Johnson, TJ Warren
Wings and shooters: Kelly Oubre Jr., Justin Holiday, Malik Beasley, Lonnie Walker IV, Torrey Craig, Justise Winslow, Will Barton
Plumlees and Zellers: Mason, Marshall, Miles, Cody, Tyler, Luke
GO DEEPER
Hollinger: Why the salary cap in the NBA free agency isn’t cool anymore
(Photo by Domantas Sabonis: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)