Free Agency Day One: Knicks make big splash (belly flop) by acquiring Bargnani

As the entire basketball world had their eyes on Dwight Howard with free agency opening, the biggest move of Night One was made by new Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri — the same guy who fleeced the Knicks of half their roster in the Carmelo Anthony trade.

Ujuri dumped Andrea Bargnani on the Knicks in exchange for Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, a first-round draft pick in 2016 (which the Nuggets have first dibs on in a pick-swap agreement) and two future second-round picks.

Memo to Knicks fans: The absolute worst perimeter defender in the NBA is heading your way. All of Canada is laughing at you.Watch for Bargnani to wave a towel in one way or another — as a cheerleader, or as a matador who lets every bull get past him. A Raptors source told me that Toronto was rated as the NBA’s worst defensive team when Bargnani was on the floor, and coaches Dwane Casey and Jay Triano felt pressure to play him in order to inflate his trade value for ex-GM Bryan Colangelo, who was never able to dump the former overall No. 1 pick.

Ujiri had no such problem.

From Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: “What became clear late last season — that Bargnani had played his last game as a Raptor, with the team’s president openly suggesting he would trade him as soon as possible and the fans booing at every chance — will come to fruition. Bargnani had become a lightning rod for an under-achieving, non-playoff roster and a fresh start was all that anyone wanted. He, and the Raptors, will now get that fresh start.

Meanwhile, the “Dwecision” got off to a rollicking start as the Houston Rockets met with Howard in Beverly Hills, Calif. with a contingent that included Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Yao Ming joining from China via a video call. GM Daryl Morey cleared the cap space to make a max offer to Howard by trading Thomas Robinson to the Portland Trail Blazers for two future second-round picks and the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and Marko Todorovic

Houston can sign Howard to a four-year, $88 million contract with teams other than the Lakers.

Rockets stars James Harden and Chandler Parsons pitched Howard about how they wanted him as a teammate, how the chemistry of the locker room would welcome him. The Rockets could sell two things that the Lakers likely can’t: a chance for a close connection with the franchise’s star players; and an immediate chance to be a championship contender.

“His main focus was winning and we will give him the best opportunity to do that,” Parsons told Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears.

Rockets officials plan to stay in California for several days this week, meeting with free agents around the area and staying connected to Howard as he meets with the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and ultimately the Los Angeles Lakers.

Was gr8 meeting with @DwightHoward. Hakeem & Clyde there made it obvious how @DwightHoward & @JHarden13 could be the next gr8 big/wing combo

— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) July 1, 2013

 

Once he makes up his mind, the dominoes will begin to fall.

The biggest of those dominoes is Utah center Al Jefferson, ranked No. 3 on our Top 50 Free Agents list behind Howard and Paul (CP3 is expected to re-sign with the Clippers).

The Charlotte Bobcats, who have no chance whatsoever to land Howard, have already targeted Jefferson hard, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.

Josh Smith of the Hawks had a five-hour meeting with the Detroit Pistons, but Smith’s desire to be a max player will not be fulfilled in Auburn Hills.

Just asked a source if the #Pistons will offer Josh Smith the max, the answer: “Absolutely not.”

— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) July 1, 2013

Other developments from the overnight:

• The Bucks and Timberwolves contacted Oklahoma City guard Kevin Martin. The Pelicans also are interested, but they have Tyreke Evans as a priority target. Evans has made it clear that he wants to go back to playing point guard, the position be played when he won the Rookie of The Year award, but the Pelicans just acquired Jrue Holiday to fill that role.
• According to Marc Stein on ESPN.com, the Mavericks reached out to the Celtics regarding Rajon Rondo and were told it would take Dirk Nowitzki to get a deal done. That ain’t happening.
• Milwaukee is taking a long, hard look at Jeff Teague, who may or may not be the best free agent point guard on the market and would be reunited with former coach Larry Drew in Milwaukee. Monta Ellis has already rejected an extension from the Bucks, and Brandon Jennings is a restricted free agent. The Bucks also stand to lose J.J. Redick, who cost them Tobia Harris in a trade deadline deal with Orlando.
• Multiple reports out of New York say Kyle Korver will ultimately be Brooklyn bound to play for Jason Kidd’s Nets — even if he has to sign at a discount.
• Point guard Gal Mekel of Macabi Haifa (No. 37 in our rankings) has agreed the join the Maveicks, according to Stein.
• The Portland Trail Blazers have a made a pitch to Tony Allen, No. 13 in our rankings.
• David Lee is on the trading block and was offered for Bargnani, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
• Reports from various L.A. reporters have the Lakers going after Delfino, Wayne Ellington, Nick Young, Jordan Farmar and Francisco Garcia.
• Will Zaza Pachulia leave Atlanta for Portland? Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com says it is quite possible.
• The Jazz and Lakers have inquired about Knicks forward Chris Copeland, No. 31 on our big list.

More updates coming as the news trickles in.