There is, of course, the old adage that titles are not won in July (the Heat in 2010 being the clear exception) but several moves were made on Tuesday that could quietly alter the regular season standings out west next season. We’ve also seen shooters get large contracts this week like, it seems, never before. Those are the main two storylines from the July 2, but there’s a whole lot to get to before we all take a nice break for the
There is a sneaky, devious way that the Los Angeles Lakers can re-sign Dwight Howard, continue to pay Kobe Bryant the NBA’s highest salary and create even more cap room for this summer and next summer. Use the amnesty provision on Bryant. Yes, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said in the days after Bryant tore his Achilles tendon that using the one-time provision – which 15 teams still have at their disposal – on the face of the franchise was not under consideration.
UNDER CONTRACT: G Derrick Rose, F Carlos Boozer, F Luol Deng, C Joakim Noah, G Richard Hamilton, G Kirk Hinrich, F Taj Gibson, G Jimmy Butler, F Vladimir Radmanovic, C Nazr Mohammed, G Marco Belinelli, G Nate Robinson, C Kyrylo Fesenko DRAFT PICKS: G Marquis Teague FREE AGENTS: G Mike James, F Brian Scalabrine MOVES: For the first time in franchise history, the Bulls are going to have to pay the luxury tax – and really don’t have much to show for it. GM Gar
UNDER CONTRACT: F-C Emeka Okafor, C Nene, F Trevor Ariza, G John Wall, F Jan Vesely, F Kevin Seraphin, F Chris Singleton, F Trevor Booker, G Jordan Crawford, G Shelvin Mack, G A.J. Price, G-F Martell Webster, G Jannero Pargo DRAFT PICKS: G Bradley Beal, F Tomas Satoransky FREE AGENTS: G Morris Almond, F Brian Cook, F Maurice Evans MOVES: Before the draft, the Wizards found a taker for the one year and $24 million left on Rashard Lewis’ contract, shipping him to
UNDER CONTRACT: C Al Jefferson, F Marvin Williams, F Paul Millsap, G Mo Williams, F Derrick Favors, F-C Enes Kanter, G Randy Foye, G-F Gordon Hayward, G Alec Burks, G Earl Watson, G DeMarre Carroll, G Jamaal Tinsley, F Jeremy Evans, G Raja Bell DRAFT PICKS: G Kevin Murphy FREE AGENTS: F Josh Howard MOVES: The Jazz were active before July 1, jumping in on Dallas’ desire to dump Lamar Odom and taking Mo Williams off the hands of the Clippers while moving a
UNDER CONTRACT: F Amar’e Stoudemire, F Carmelo Anthony, C Tyson Chandler, G Jason Kidd, F Steve Novak, C Marcus Camby, G Iman Shumpert, G Raymond Felton, F Kurt Thomas, G J.R. Smith, G Pablo Prigioni, F Chris Copeland, F James White, G-F Ronnie Brewer, F-C Rasheed Wallace DRAFT PICKS: None of consequence FREE AGENTS: G Mike Bibby, G Baron Davis MOVES: For the Knicks, the early offseason was more about who got away than whom they landed. They seemed to have the inside track to signing
UNDER CONTRACT: G Chris Paul, F Blake Griffin, C DeAndre Jordan, F Caron Butler, F Lamar Odom, G Jamal Crawford, G Chauncey Billups, F Grant Hill, G Eric Bledsoe, C Ryan Hollins, F-C Ronny Turiaf, F Matt Barnes, G Willie Green, G Travis Leslie, F Trey Thompkins DRAFT PICKS: None FREE AGENTS: F Kenyon Martin, F Bobby Simmons, F Ryan Gomes MOVES: For a team without a true GM, the Clippers did pretty well this offseason. Neil Olshey’s departure to Portland didn’t impact the team’s ability to
UNDER CONTRACT: F Corey Maggette, G Rodney Stuckey, F Charlie Villanueva, F Tayshaun Prince, F Jason Maxiell, F Jonas Jerebko, G Will Bynum, F-C Greg Monroe, G Brandon Knight, F Austin Daye, F-C Vyacheslav Kravtsov, G Jonny Flynn, G-F Terrence Williams DRAFT PICKS: F Kyle Singler (2011), C Andre Drummond, F Khris Middleton, G Kim English FREE AGENTS: G Walker Russell, C Ben Wallace, G Damien Wilkins MOVES: Before the draft, the Pistons made a move driven by finances, trading Ben Gordon – one of