Best (and Worst) Free Agent Signings

We recently decided to take a look at the best and worst fee agent signings of the summer season. As always, we would love to use topics from our listeners in our episodes (or on this blog), so email any possibilities to hosts@bullscast.com. If you send in a topic, we will also publish your opinions!

Nick

The Good

Jason Kapono - I really think the one thing Toronto lacked was a consistent outside threat in the playoffs. MoPete may have been that at one point but hasn’t been lately.

Brandon Bass - Dalls needs a hustle guy, they lost a lot when they lost Adrian Griffin, and I think Bass may be a hustling, PF version of Adrian.

Desmond Mason - He is still very young and athletic, even if his shot is broken right now. He could turn into a big gamble that pays off, especially if Bobby Simmons doesn’t come back.

Honorable mention to Maceo Baston, Grant Hill and Casey Jacobsen

The Bad

Penny - Really, Penny is back in the league? Didn’t he have like 7 really great years and then spend the next 7 being a huge albatross of a contract?

Jamaal Maggloire - Nope, cannot support the signing and then touting of signing by New Jersey. He had 1 good year, count em, one. I am SO FREAKING GLAD the Bulls didn’t sign him.

Smush Parker - I love Smush, but he is not a good fit for Miami. I think Riles may actually be trying to cause this team to fail so that he has a good enough reason to leave. And really, is he an upgrade?
Honorable mention to Eddie Jones (been done for 2 years now) and Rashard Lewis (not worth that much $ and not going to change the east).

Brad

The Sweet

Jarvis Hayes – He is a solid player and the Pistons needed somebody to be able to come off the bench, be athletic and play a lot of positions.

Ime Udoka – The Spurs keep getting richer. The guy can D it up and learn from Bowen as well as provide a decent 3-point shot. The guy fits the Spur mold perfectly.

Grant Hill – Maybe he will be the “Magic” the suns need to finally get to the finals. He is a steady veteran presence who will be just as important in the locker room as he is on the floor – maybe he can even back up Nash at point!

The Salty

Rashard Lewis – He is a really nice player, but just not worth the money and I don’t think he even guarentess the Magic the playoffs let alone a serious run at the finals. Yes I know it was a sign and trade, but for all intents and purposes it was a free agent deal.

Austin Croshere – He had one good year and I don’t really see him fitting in the style of the Warriors…Nelly’s problem now.

Jason Kapono – Way overpaid to not play any defense. I believe he can shoot, but that is it…he looked just silly against the Bulls in the playoffs and didn’t even play that much. He doesn’t do half of what MoPete does and I think the tradeoff actually makes the Raps a little worse.

The NBA shopping season over and pre-season is right around the corner…enjoy the start of football season and the Cubs while they’re battling it out in the NL Central and get ready for a great winter of NBA basketball.