NBA free agency has gotten to the point where any bum on the street can get $50 million.
Yes, the column is called Meltdown Tuesday. Yes, it is being published on a Wednesday. Why? Because I was practicing my jump shot, hoping to land a max deal from an NBA team that has no clue what it is doing. Judging from the past week, I’m thinking that means about 25 of them.
The NBA is the last great bastion of front offices being completely insane The Portland Trail Blazers reached the second round, and apparently believe getting to the conference finals means signing Evan Turner to a four-year, $70 million deal.
Then there are the Brooklyn Nets, who should just disband after signing Tyler Johnson (who??) to a $50 million offer sheet after already inking Jeremy Lin’s coarpse to a three-year, $36 million pact.
You know it is a wild week in the Association when the New York Knicks are competent. Signing Courtney Lee for $50 million and Brandon Jennings on a one-year, $5 million deal? Nice! The Knicks are actually going to be decent and stuff for the first time since 2001.
Then you have the Los Angeles Lakers, who apparently are actively tanking in a way that would make the Philadelphia 76ers blush. Signing Timofey Mozgov to a four-year deal worth more than $60 million? Wow. Wow. Just more wow.
The only thing saving the NBA owners from themselves is the amnesty clause that will surely be added to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that will be negotiated after the upcoming season.
Now, if you will excuse me, I’ll be going back outside to practice my 15-footer.