NBA Trades and Free Agency News Tracker for 2016-17 Season: Howard to Hawks, Conley Stays in Memphis and More
There are lots of rumors about which NBA players will go to what team ever since the free agency opened yesterday, July 1. The following is a list of the most significant free agent moves to date.
1. Dwight Howard goes to Atlanta Hawks
Howard agrees to a three-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks for $70.5 million. By playing for the Hawks, Dwight Howard returns to his hometown. Injuries plagued the 3-year stint he had with his previous team, the Houston Rockets, and he wasn't the force he used to be. He averaged his lowest scoring numbers last season at 13.7 points per game.
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Dwight Howard can help the Hawks in terms of rebounding and shot blocking. Those will be his key contributions if Al Horford stays. If Horford leaves, he will have to up his game for the Hawks.
2. Mike Conley stays in Memphis
Conley gets the richest contract in NBA history in terms of total value at $153 million for 5-years.
Conley is seen by many as the ultimate underrated player; he can make great plays but has never been an All Star. He suffered left Achilles tendinitis last season, causing him to miss 26 games. He averaged 15.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
Marc Gasol, Memphis center, said, "Mike was big. I will go through any type of wall for that guy." Perhaps that's because of his great team play. He won his second sportsmanship award, the Joe Dumars trophy last season.
3. Chandler Parsons goes to Memphis Grizzlies
Parsons will be Conley's new teammate, as he agreed to a max deal with the Grizzlies amounting to $94.8 million for 4 years. He said the decision to choose between Memphis and Portland was tough, noting that Portland also offered him a max contract.
Parsons averaged 13.,7 points, 2.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, but these stats hide the fact that during the earlier stages of the season, he had to play strictly limited minutes to recover from knee surgery.
4. Evan Turner goes to Portland Trailblazers
Turner agrees to play for Portland for a 4-year, $70 million contract. Previously playing for the Celtics, head coach Brad Stevens used Turner to make plays. He averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 27.8 minutes of playing time for his two seasons with Boston.
5. Jeremy Lin goes to Brooklyn Nets
Linsanity goes back to New York, but this time playing for the Brooklyn Nets. He agreed to a 3-year deal worth $36 million. In a Twitter post, Jeremy Lin said, "The journey continues.. thankful for the next chapter!!"
In an interview at the World Economic Forum, Jeremy Lin said that he is at his mental and physical peak at age 27. By signing into free agency, he said he "exhausted every opportunity to see which one will be the best for me."
