While the NBA waits on Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James to decide where they will play basketball for the next few years, the NBA free agent carousel hasn't stopped.
The Miami Heat have attempted to add toughness to their roster. They signed Danny Granger to a two-year deal worth $4.2 Million dollars. At one point Granger was hated in South Beach. He was the defensive catalyst when Miami knocked off Indiana during their first championship run. Granger took a page out of Ray Allen ' s book by joining a team he had numerous playoff battles with in recent years. Granger was dealt at last years trade deadline for Evan Turner. He wants to prove to the Indiana Pacers and the rest of the NBA something is left in those legs.
Pat Riley has been a pretty busy man This week. While attempting to woo LeBron back to Miami, he managed to sign Josh McRoberts to a four-year, $23 Million dollar deal to take his talents to South Beach. Perhaps this is an insurance policy in case Chris Bosh decides to leave Miami. McRoberts is an athletic big with potential. If he does get the opportunity to play with LeBron, some of those skills will be enhanced due to playing alongside such a talented player.
The Detroit Pistons have signed Jodie Meeks to a three-year, $19 Million dollar contract. Meeks used the struggling Lakers to showcase his talents to potential suitors last season. He averaged a career high 14.5 points a night last season. Meeks definitely possesses the ability to score the basketball at a high rate. He once netted 51 points as a collegiate back at Kentucky. He may not get the same minutes, but Meeks could help Detroit compete for one of the lower playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the biggest free agent signings this summer by agreeing to a three-year, $45 Million dollar deal with restricted free agent Chandler Parsons. Parsons is one of the best young players in the NBA. However, the Rockets have held off on giving Parsons an extension while they wait to see what Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh ' s next moves are. If Parsons does indeed become a member of the Mavericks, Houston will be under a great deal of pressure to sign a power forward.
The Brooklyn Nets will pay a record $90 Million dollars in luxury taxes for the 2013-14 NBA season.
Only three teams have paid a cumulative total of $90 Million dollars in luxury taxes since it was introduced in 2001. The Nets did it in one season. Billy King has to find a way to cut back spending in Brooklyn. The Knicks finished second, paying a total of $36 Million dollars in luxury taxes.
When LeBron and Carmelo finally decide where their next home will be the smoke will clear and the future of the NBA will become more evident.
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