The floodgates of free agency opened up on July 1st and the Houston Rockets did not acquire Kevin Durant. Instead, the Rockets dished out $133 million to pick up Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon. According to sources via ESPN, the new starting forward Ryan Anderson agreed to a four-year $80 million deal while guard Eric Gordon has agreed to a four-year $53 million deal. Both players are said to be highly effective offensively but have dealt with a number of health issues in the past.
Free agency moves around the league.
Joakim Noah is set to join Derrick Rose in New York with the Knicks with a $70 million four-year contract. Former Rocket Jeremy Lin is heading back to New York to join the Brooklyn Nets. Chandler Parsons, another former Rocket, signed a four-year $98 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Dwight Howard is heading home to Atlanta after landing a three-year $70.5 million dollar deal with the Hawks. Rajon Rondo is heading to Chicago to take over where Derrick Rose left off after agreeing to a two-year $30 million deal. Paul Gasol is heading to San Antonio to join the Spurs after agreeing to a two-year $30 million deal. Rumor has it that Tim Duncan is considering retirement. After a disappointing offer from the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade began flexing his muscle by talking to the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. After the holiday Wade suddenly cancelled the meetings he had planned for the week. Seth Curry is heading to Texas to join the Dallas Mavericks after agreeing to a two-year $6 million deal. Dirk Nowitzki plans to re-sign with the Mavericks after a two-year $40 million dollar raise.
KD.
Kevin Durant, whose free-agency moves were the most highly anticipated, announced via ‘The Players Tribune’ that he plans to take his talents to the Golden State Warriors. “…I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors.” And just like that, Durant is headed to the Bay area to take his rightful place next to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on the NBA Avengers super-squad. To make room for Durant the Warriors had to let Andrew Bogut go and he will join the Dallas Mavericks. What the Warriors lost in depth they certainly gained in an improved starting line-up. After spending nine years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reaction from fans and critics alike to Durant’s departure has been overwhelmingly juvenile. Durant has weathered the fair-weather temperament of the city/fans for nearly a decade and guess what Oklahoma City? Everyone still remembers that “Mr. Unrealiable” newspaper cover so…
It’s actually refreshing to see a player taking back a fraction of power by making decisions for himself that are in his best interests. It is the dawn of the super-squad era. The west coast Avengers squad is forming but keep an eye on the east coast. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul could join forces and with their powers combined, create a Justice League of their own. Just wait on it.