NBA free agency has always been an eventful time for NBA basketball fans. It occurs soon after the end of the NBA finals, as well as the draft. This summer has been no different, in fact even more exciting than in past years. In the summer of 2007 the Boston Celtics big three was formed, when the Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, but those were both via trade. In the summer of 2010, LeBron James made his "decision" to travel down to the warm beaches of Miami Florida, and side with fellow All-Stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. This summer, however, has seen more big names being moved than any other year, whether through free agency or trade.
A 6-time NBA All-Star, Joe Johnson, was one of many star players to relocate this month. Johnson was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for multiple role players and draft picks. The move sparked maybe the biggest free agent of them all, Deron Williams, to re-sign with the Nets, and give Brooklyn arguably the best backcourt tandem in the NBA. One team who would argue that statement is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers added a huge piece to its squad, one that it thinks has been missing for a while, an All-Star point guard. Well, not only did they get an All-Star, but also a two-time MVP winner in former Suns guard Steve Nash. The sign and trade deal almost came out of nowhere, as the Lakers had been Nash's biggest rival for years, while playing with the Suns. Nevertheless Nash ok'd the deal, not only because of the Lakers' potential, but also because he would be closer to his family in Phoenix. Another shocking move was made by a veteran All-Star guard, this time it was Ray Allen. Ray Allen had spent the past 5 seasons with the Boston Celtics, and helped them win a title in 2008, but after losing to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals this past season, Allen decided to sign with the defending champion Heat. The move shocked most Celtics fans (including myself), but it was not the end of the world for Celtics fans, because they added a veteran shooting guard of their own. Longtime Dallas Maverick Jason Terry agreed to sign the Celtics just days before Allen decided to leave. Some think that the two are connected, but it has been denied by Allen. Terry was not the only Maverick that left the team, the point guard who led them to a championship just a year ago, Jason Kidd, left Dallas for New York. Kidd signed with the Knicks with the intention of mentoring the young breakout point guard, Jeremy Lin. It sounded like a great plan until Lin signed an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. One that the Knicks intended to match until Houston changed the third year of the contract to $15 Million. Instead the Knicks decided to just trade for a former Knick point guard, Raymond Felton.
Despite all of these blockbuster moves none were the story of the summer in the NBA. The biggest story remains where is Magic center Dwight Howard going? Howard has expressed on many occasions that he is not interested in playing for the Magic next season, but no deal has been made yet, and the two sides do not seem to be able to figure anything out. All the blame is to go on Howard, however, as he made it clear that he would stay if the coach and general manager left. Well, at the end of the season Van Gundy and Otis Smith were fired, and Howard proceeded to simply change his mind. Howard is single handedly ruining the Orlando Magic's organization. After getting a brand new arena, and hosting the All-Star Game this past year, the Magic are now most certainly headed backwards.
Despite the problems in Orlando, the rest of the NBA is looking great. The league continues to get more and more exciting as more players change locations. Fresh rookies are preparing to make an impact on the league, and the 2012-2013 NBA Regular Season Schedule was just recently released. On October 30th the season begins in Miami, where the Heat will begin their defense of the NBA title against their rival of recent, the Boston Celtics. Can't wait? Me neither.
