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-DJ

NBA Free Agency Grades (DAY TWO)

Day two of NBA free agency is in the books. It wasn't AS crazy as day one was....but it still had it's moments (GO ROCKETS!). Here's what went down in case you missed it. 

NBA Free Agency Grades

Day Two

-Los Angeles Lakers sign (SF) Luol Deng for 4-years, $72-million.

Deng averaged 12.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, & 1.9 APG while playing 32 MPG in 74 games for the Miami Heat last season. 

Tremendous signing by the Lakers. Los Angeles has one of the youngest teams in the league and they need mature veteran players around to help keep the young guys in line. I probably would have preferred a two-year contract for Deng rather than giving him four, but I wouldn't be too nitpicky if I'm a Lakers fan. After an off-season that saw them hire the unproven Luke Walton as head coach and once again strike out on all the big-named free agents, they'll take any kind of good news they can get. Deng was a solid signing.

Grade: B-

NBA Free Agency Grades (DAY ONE)

NBA free agency is finally upon us. 

Here's a live look at NBA owners everywhere.....

Seriously though. The amount of money that was thrown out on the first day of NBA free agency was ludicrous. We all knew it was going to be insane, but were we expecting it to be THAT insane?!?! I mean, MIKE CONLEY is now the highest paid player in NBA history. Let that one sink in for a second.

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We good now? 

Anyway, with the first day of NBA free agency behind us and with the absolute wackiness of it all, it's only right that we here at THE Ultimate Sports Blog take a look back and grade each ridiculous contract that was handed out yesterday. 

Are you ready? I hope so. Because shit is about to get weird.

NBA Free Agency Grades

Day One

-Los Angeles Lakers sign (C) Timofey Mozgov for 4-years, $64-million.

Mozgov averaged 6.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, & 0.8 BPG while playing 17 MPG in 76 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. 

Ummm, yuck. Look, I know the Lakers don't have much to work with and they are in a bad spot right now. They have such a horrible team that no good free agents are even going to give them a meeting or even sniff their direction. That will change in a few years if D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram can develop into solid NBA players, but that's far from a guarantee. At the moment though, the Lakers need good players who can help those two develop. Giving a 4-year contract to a back-up center is ballsy. Giving a 4-year, $64 million contract to a back-up center is just plain fucking stupid.

Grade: F

Thunder and Lightning: A Tale Of Two People

We were supposed to go through it together. Worried that our favorite players from our favorite teams would leave for greener pastures or better situations. She was supposed to curse up a storm as Steven Stamkos flirted with the hated Detroit Red Wings and the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs. I was supposed to sulk as Kevin Durant listened to the bitchmade Golden State Warriors and the inferior San Antonio Spurs.

The situations were similar. 

Should These NBA Free Agents Be Brought Back? (PART TWO)

Yesterday was part one. Today is part two. 

See how that works?

Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade (Shooting Guard) - YES

Wade may not be the player that he once was, but the Miami Heat without Dwyane Wade just seems wrong. The Heat will likely bring back Wade regardless of the price tag. He's their Kobe Bryant and will likely continue to do so unless LeBron James can convince him to leave the beaches of Miami for the wonderful streets of....Cleveland? 

Hassan Whiteside (Center) - YES

I'm a huge fan of Whiteside's game. He's quietly become one of the best defenders in the league and is already one of the most in demand free agents and free agency hasn't even begun yet. While I would love to see him end up in Portland, the Heat may have an advantage in re-signing him and would be wise to do so. He's worth a max deal in my opinion.

Luol Deng (Forward) - MAYBE

Deng is one of those players that I'm bringing back if the price is right. I'm still a fan of what he can bring to the table, but I'm not willing to overpay for his services. At this point in his career, he's probably better suited for a "sixth man" role. He would likely kill in that kind of role.

Gerald Green (Forward) - NO

Green is coming off a disappointing year last year and I highly doubt the 30-year old is going to get things turned around at this point in his career. It's probably best for both parties to go their separate ways.

Udonis Haslem (Forward) - NO

The longtime Miami Heat veteran barely played last season and when he did play....it was gross. His NBA career may be over.

Joe Johnson (Forward) - NO

Six to seven years ago I would have jumped all over Joe Johnson. He was one of my favorite players when he was tearing things up on the Atlanta Hawks back in the late 2000's. Times have changed though and much like Luol Deng, Johnson is probably best suited for a "sixth man" role at this point in his career. He's also probably going to demand a nice price tag and the Heat really need to avoid spending a ton of money on a bunch of guys who should be playing basketball at the senior citizen center. 

Amar'e Stoudemire (Forward) - NO

I never noticed how many old guys the Miami Heat have on their roster. I guess it's true that old people love moving to South Florida. 

Dorell Wright (Forward) - NO

Pass.

Tyler Johnson (Shooting Guard) - YES

A young guy who has shown some promise on the Miami Heat? KEEP THIS GUY AROUND! You need someone on your roster who doesn't eat dinner at 3:30 and is in bed by 6. 

Every NBA Team Makes Their Pitch To Kevin Durant

 Kevin Durant is set to hit the free agent market and all 30 teams are interested. Only a handful of teams were able to land a meeting with the superstar and, realistically, only four teams have a real shot at signing him. But what if Durant listened to all 30 teams and heard their case as to why he should sign with them? I'm glad you asked.

Boston Celtics

You could become the second greatest small forward in franchise history. Isaiah Thomas is a top five point guard according to some people who only watched the playoffs. Brad Stevens is an exceptional coach with a college background. Home of Bill Simmons. Once Tom Brady and David Ortiz retire, this will be your town. 

Should These NBA Free Agents Be Brought Back? (PART ONE)

Now that both the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft are in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start focusing on the next best thing in the National Basketball Association. 

That's right.....

IT'S TIME FOR NBA FREE AGENCY!!!!!!

OK then.

Anyway, with free agency starting, I came up with a brilliant idea. Since I run my own sports blog and with NBA free agency coming up, maybe I should take a look at whether or not each NBA team should re-sign their own free agents or let them take a walk. 

See what I mean?

A BRILLIANT IDEA!!!!!!

This list should help every single NBA general manager make their decisions a little easier. I personally spent time evaluating each guy and ultimately made the decision myself. 

Enjoy the piece. It's a two-part column because I'm an asshole who likes making people come back to his blog on a daily basis. 

Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford (Center) - YES

Horford may be 30 years old, but he's still one of the best big men in the NBA. While his best days are likely behind him, he's still a very valuable player. If the Hawks let him walk, someone will offer him a big deal.

Kent Bazemore (Forward) - MAYBE

Bazemore is coming off the best season of his short career and will likely command a high price tag on the open market. The Hawks would be smart to bring Bazemore back if the price is right, but I usually tend to hate giving a guy big-time money when he's really only had one good year. Buyers beware.

Kris Humphries (Forward) - NO

The former Mr. Kardashian has been on five different teams over the last five years. He obviously has a commitment problem. I would continue to let him look for his perfect mate elsewhere in the NBA.

Mike Muscala (Forward) - NO

He sucks.

Kirk Hinrich (Point Guard) - NO

He's old. He sucks now. He should probably retire. Let him go.