Off Season Moves Through Orange Colored Glasses
It's been a busy free agent season with plenty of moves and shifts in balances of
powers. There will surely be more to come but a lot of the big names have either re-signed or are actively shopping the foreclosure listings for mansions in a new city.
We will now explore some of the key transactions through the myopic orange-colored lenses of a Suns blog.

Tue,
July 1Charlotte extends qualifying offers to Emeka Okafor and Ryan Hollins and picks up the 2008-09 option on Jermareo Davidson.
Houston picks up contract option for Steve Novak.
Memphis extends qualifying offer to Juan Carlos Navarro.
Portland signs Rudy Fernandez.
Miami signs Michael Beasley.
As seen from the Sun: When will Portland stop getting better? ....and its a real shame to lose RCN back to Spain. I don't recall a player of this caliber turning down the NBA in favor of playing in Europe. Times, they are a changin'
Wed,
July 2L.A. Clippers sign Eric Gordon.
Miami signs David Padgett and Jason Richards.
As seen from the Sun: This might be the high point of the Clipper's summer
Thu,
July 3Dallas signs Gerald Green.
Chicago names Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka assistant coaches.
Orlando signs Courtney Lee.
As seen from the Sun: I guess with the Little General gone the Mav's are going all out high flying crazy. We had better watch out!
Fri,
July 4Oklahoma City signs Russell Westbrook and D.J. White.
As seen from the Sun: Oklahoma City? Where is that? And couldn't the commie bastards take the damn holiday off?
Mon,
July 7Charlotte names Herb Brown assistant coach.
Portland names Joe Prunty assistant coach.
As seen from the Sun: Assistant coaches don't get enough respect. Let's here it for these boys! Go Herb! Way to go Joe!
Tue,
July 8Charlotte signs D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca.
New York signs Danilo Gallinari.
Milwaukee signs Joe Alexander.
Memphis signs O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur.
Sacramento signs Jason Thompson.
Toronto signs Hassan Adams to two-year contract.
As seen from the Sun: Toronto is looking like a real threat to the 5 seed in the east. The Wizards better get on the ball and fast...Hibachi!
Wed,
July 9 Miami signs Mario Chalmers.Portland signs Jerryd Bayless.
Milwaukee signs Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
Washington signs JaVale McGee.
New Orleans signs Chris Paul to a contract extension.
New York signs Chris Duhon.
Minnesota obtains Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, a first-round pick and cash considerations from Philadelphia in exchange for a future conditional second-round draft pick.
Miami signs James Jones.
New Jersey signs Chris Douglas-Roberts.
Portland obtains Ike Diogu and the rights to Jerryd Bayless from Indiana in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, the rights to Brandon Rush and cash considerations.
Indiana obtains T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and the rights to Roy Hibbert from Toronto in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to Nathan Jawai.
Toronto re-signs Jose Calderon.
Dallas re-signs Jose Juan Barea and signs DeSagana Diop.
Sacramento re-signs Beno Udrih.
Memphis signs Marc Gasol.
Sacramento signs Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing, Jr.
As seen from the Sun: Phew. Busy day! Where to start...
CP3 in NO 4evr. That's kind of cool.
Diop is back with his buddies in Dallas patrolling the middle and defending Dampier
Beno is off of tho marketo. To bado.
Gasol is back from LA in Memphis! Oh, its the other over-hyped Spaniard. Oh well.
5 yrs, $24m for James Jones? I think the Heat got burned
Thu,
July 10Houston signs Brent Barry.
NBA announces Sacramento's Brad Miller has been suspended for five games and JamesOn Curry has been suspended for one game.
Cleveland signs J.J. Hickson.
Golden State signs Corey Maggette and signs Ronny Turiaf to an offer sheet.
Los Angeles Clippers sign Baron Davis.
Orlando signs Mickael Pietrus.
Phoenix signs Robin Lopez.
Los Angeles Clippers renounce their rights to free agents Dan Dickau, Shaun Livingston, Boniface Ndong, Smush Parker and James Singleton.
Utah signs Kosta Koufos.
Washington signs Dee Brown to offer sheet.
As seen from the Sun:
Note to Bill Bidwell and the AZ Cardinals:
Draft 1st round pick. Sign first round pick. Get first round pick into camp on time. Play season. Go to playoffs. Rinse. Repeat.
The Beard goes to LA and Brand walks. I guess facial hair really isn't making a come back. Time to shave.
Fri,
July 11Dallas re-signs Antoine Wright and signs Keith McLeod and James Singleton.
New Jersey reaches agreements in principle with Eduardo Najera and Jarvis Hayes.
Milwaukee signs Andrew Bogut to multi-year contract extension.
Minnesota signs Kevin Love.
Toronto signs Nathan Jawai.
As seen from the Sun: At first I thought the Nets were hosed when they trade RJ for YI but now that they have Najera and Hayes they are a lock for the 8th seed.
Summary of the Western Conference Off Season Moves?
I was kind of scared when the Clippers got Davis and it looked like they were keeping Brand and were going to improve by dumping Maggette. But no. They Clipped up and instead its the 76'ers that are looking sharp and the Clips and Warriors are giving up their seats on the spring time bus to the Blazers and the Kings.
That's right, I am calling it now. The Kings will make the playoffs! Book it.
For a full recap see this handy page on nba.com.
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comments
Comments
Houston?
Am I the only one worried about Houston? I think Barry is an excellent addition for them, since with Yao and McGrady, they really only need spot up shooters who don’t turnover the ball. Barry may only be a role player at this point in his career, but, when healthy, he is an outstanding one and most SA fans are sick that they lost him.
Now with a rather impressive starting lineup of Alston/Battier/McGrady/Scola/Yao and a bench of Jackson/Hayes/Landry/Dorsey/Head/Barry/Greene, I’m not sure why they don’t get more inclusion with the top tier teams.
Purchasing my Dragic jersey
by rosewood on Jul 13, 2008 5:17 PM MDT 0 recs
I'll admit...
they will be good. The only reason I’m not worried too much is that TMac and/or Yao almost always get injured for long periods of time. So like you said “when healthy” they’ll be very tough, but for how long will the key players stay healthy?
"Yeah I could have been king, but maybe I already am king. Hail to the king baby." Ash from Army of Darkness
by Turambar on
Jul 13, 2008 5:40 PM MDT
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Houston worries me...
But not as much as Portland. They sure look good on paper…
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
by PanamaSun on
Jul 14, 2008 7:51 AM MDT
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I'd put the Suns 3rd in the West?
Maybe that’s too optimistic, but I’d rank the Suns 3rd in the conference today, behind Nawlin’s and the Spurs. Many people will say the Lakers should be up there, but I really think their finish ahead of the Suns was more about the Suns dropping too many in the weeks after the Shaq trade—the Lakers only finished 2 games ahead of the Suns. The word on Bynum is that he is still not even running, let alone ready to resume basketball activity.
Houston is a solid squad, and the Jazz as well, but I’ll take the Suns over them in a series. Portland is up and coming for sure, but maybe one more year before we can call them an elite team.
by SoCalSun on Jul 14, 2008 11:39 AM MDT 0 recs
Suns over the Lakers?
I mean, I definitely want that, but them sounds like homer rankings to me.
Purchasing my Dragic jersey
by rosewood on
Jul 14, 2008 11:41 AM MDT
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Don't be surprised
if the Lakers take a step back this year. I predict much drama over Bynum, Odom will be traded or dangled as trade bait all year, and Turiaf’s chemistry will be missed.
by SoCalSun on Jul 14, 2008 1:12 PM MDT 0 recs
Moves?
Will the Suns even make a move this offseason?
Now that Brent Barry is gone, will another veteran shooter be targeted?
by dang on Jul 14, 2008 6:28 PM MDT 0 recs
Portland
Portland signs Rudy Fernandez.As seen from the Sun: When will Portland stop getting better?
I just agreed not to be mean….Would it be too mean to say the answer is in part when the suns quit selling the Blazers draft picks like Rudy? =)
by Dekko on Jul 14, 2008 9:24 PM MDT 0 recs
nope - it is what it is
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on
Jul 15, 2008 9:26 PM MDT
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Sarver pinching pennies
It is hard not to knock Sarver for selling those pick for 3 mil and/or serviceable players. But hey, I’m having trouble paying my electric bill. I look for spare change in the couch. Who knows what Sarver has to worry about. We all thought the banking business was great.
April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?
by Hawk42 on Jul 16, 2008 7:06 AM MDT 0 recs
Sarver hasn’t pinched pennies. The Suns have just made some bad financial decisions (Marcus Banks, Boris Diaw, etc.) that have screwed their cap situation. He’s not cheap; he’s just had some sub-par GMing since the BC departure.
by Mike Lisboa on
Jul 16, 2008 2:05 PM MDT
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