Signings:
Stephen Curry-Golden State Warriors: 5 years, $201M
Stephen Curry just signed the richest deal in North American professional sports history earning just over $40M per season. Curry has earned every single penny of this contract earning two MVP awards and two NBA championships in the last three years. Curry is one of the league's best players and after earning just $44M in the last four seasons he was due for a huge raise. With all the moves Curry and the Warriors will once again be the favourites to take the title home.
Jeff Teague-Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 years, $57M
Teague will be the point guard for the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves this year after they traded Ricky Rubio. Teague is an above-average starting point guard and will help to get rising stars Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns the ball as well as new acquisition Jimmy Butler.
Patty Millers-San Antonio Spurs: 4 years, $50M
Mills may be the best backup point guard in the league but with Tony Parker injured until the new year he will spend lots of the season as a starter. Popovich chose to keep Mills in San Antonio rather than sign all-star Kyle Lowry showing the trust he has in him.
Shaun Livingston-Golden State Warriors: 3 years, $24M
Shaun Livingston is another one of the best backup point guards in the NBA keeping his talents in the Bay Area for three more years. Livingston is not much of shooter but with his size he may be the best point guard at posting up down low.
Tony Snell-Milwaukee Bucks: 4 years, $46M
The Bucks had to pay a heavy price to keep sharp-shooter Tony Snell in town after his best season in the league. Snell will help young stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker grow next year as the Bucks look to grow their team.
Blake Griffin-Los Angeles Clippers: 5 years, $173M
With the departure of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin is now running the show in LA and got paid the second largest contract in NBA history to do it. Griffin failed to take the Clippers past round two with Chris Paul and JJ Redick so I don't see how he will be able to do it without them. Griffin also has had injury problems in the past failing to stay healthy.
Cristiano Felicio-Chicago Bulls: 4 years, $32M
In 66 games, Felicio only managed to average 4.8 points per game but he got paid $32 million because of it. With the departure of Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo, Felicio should get more time on a rebuilding Chicago team.
Jrue Holiday-New Orleans Pelicans: 5 years, $126M
Holiday is an above-average point guard but is not in the same category as many others who play the game better than him. The Pelicans need someone to get the ball to Anthony Davis and Demarcus Cousins though and they sure paid the price to do so.
David West-Golden State Warriors: 1 year, Veteran Minimum Deal
West took a veteran minimum deal to return to the defending NBA champions for another shot at a title. It was either return to the Warriors or retirement at this point in West's career. He can still be a decent player off the bench.
Langston Galloway-Detroit Pistons: 3 years, $21M
Galloway split last season between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings producing better in New Orleans. Detroit will be his fourth team as he enters his fourth year in the league and tries to find a permanent home.
JJ Redick-Philadelphia 76ers: 1 year, $23M
JJ Redick will trust the process next year as he takes his talents to one of the league's best up-and-coming teams. Redick will provide veteran leadership for Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and Joel Embiid as they push for a playoff spot next season.
Amir Johnson-Philadelphia 76ers: 1 year, $11M
Johnson's numbers have dropped over the past four years as he continues his tour of the Atlantic Division. Another veteran who will hopefully help power-forward Dario Saric reach his full potential after last season's rookie-of-the-year nomination.
Michael Carter-Williams-Charlotte Hornets: 1 year, $2.7M
Michael Carter-Williams has not lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he first entered the league as he continues to swap teams yearly. He will be given a prove-it contract in Charlotte next year to back up all-star point guard Kemba Walker.
Andre Iguodala-Golden State Warriors: 3 years, $48M
Iguodala may be the best sixth man in the NBA as he is a huge contributor to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Iguodala will defend anyone he is asked to well as he proved when he won final's MVP guarding LeBron James in 2015. He is getting up in age but can still be a very good player in today's game.
Joe Ingles-Utah Jazz: 4 years, $52M
The Australian will return to Salt Lake City next season after having his best year in the NBA during the 2016/17 campaign. Ingles got to start all 11 playoff games last year which will give him experience as he enters his fourth season.
PJ Tucker-Houston Rockets: 4 years, $32M
PJ Tucker is one of the NBA's best pound-for-pound rebounders and he is very capable of defending any power or small forward in the game. Tucker can sometimes struggle to score but in the end his effort and defence is worth every penny of this contract..
Jose Calderon-Cleveland Cavaliers: 1 year, Veteran Minimum Deal
Calderon will replace Deron Williams as Kyrie's backup but he is passed his prime and will most likely not contribute much to the best in the East.
Trades:
Clippers Receive: Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, 2018 1st Round Pick, Cash Considerations
Rockets Receive: Chris Paul
The first massive blockbuster trade after the draft was the Clippers sending Chris Paul to join James Harden in Houston. Houston has fully committed to competing next year like many other teams in the West as they might have the best backcourt in the NBA. The biggest question will be who gets to play point guard after James Harden's MVP-calibre season running the point? The Clippers get good return for someone who was going to opt out of their contract and leave them no matter what. Lou Williams will continue to be one of the best sixth man in the NBA after being nominated for the award while Patrick Beverley brings his tenacious and excellent defence to LA. Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell are still young and could turn into somethings if developed properly while Darrun Hilliard and DeAndre Liggins will compete for a roster spot. Kyle Wiltjer played well in the D-League last year and they will also get a first-round pick likely to be a late first rounder. Chris Paul left $11M on the table to try and win with Houston.
Winner: Rockets
Jazz Receive; Ricky Rubio
Timberwolves Receive: 2018 1st Round Pick
George Hill was most likely going to leave the Jazz this summer so instead of risking not having a point guard they traded for premier passer Ricky Rubio. Rubio is one of the game's best passers but he can sometimes struggle to score and is not the best shooter. Rubio's replacement in Minnesota will be former all-star Jeff Teague coming off an OK season in Indiana. A first-round pick might be too much to give up but point guards are very valuable in today's game and they did not want to get into a bidding war for the likes of Kyle Lowry or George Hill.
Winner: Timberwolves
Pacers Receive: Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis
Thunder Receive: Paul George
With Paul George heading to OKC, the West is now officially stacked with the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets, Thunder and maybe even possibly the Timberwolves while the Cavaliers will look to run over Boston and Toronto in the East again. Paul George will most likely only play one year with the Thunder and then head to Los Angeles but even if he does the trade is worth it for the Thunder. George is one of the game's best players and the main goal for the Thunder is to keep MVP Russell Westbrook happy so he does not walk out like Kevin Durant. The Thunder will be able to compete now especially if they add someone else like Rudy Gay. Victor Oladipo played good after coming over from Orlando but played terrible in the playoffs resulting in his exit. Sabonis was good at Gonzaga and played well as a starter in his first year but is not good enough to start on a contender. The Thunder traded Serge Ibaka to Orlando last year for Oladipo and Sabonis so they traded Serge Ibaka for Paul George. The Pacers were offered multiple first-round picks and two starters from Boston in return but at that point Indiana thought they could retain him. Westbrook and his new mate could make a big splash in the Western Conference next year while the Pacers will fall to the bottom of the East without George and Teague next season.
Winner: Thunder
Photo Credit for Stephen Curry goes to http://www.nba.com/. Jrue Holiday goes to http://www.espn.com/. PJ Tucker goes to https://www.thestar.com/. Chris Paul goes to http://bleacherreport.com/. Paul George goes to https://www.2k.com/.
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