While the balance of power in the NBA East took another dramatic shift for a second straight day, the spectra of a another, though unlikely, LeBron-a-thon next summer reared its head.
But the key news was Pau Gasol tweeting Saturday he had landed a deal with the Bulls.
“It hasn’t been easy. After meditating it a lot I’ve chosen to play with the Chicago Bulls. Looking forward to this new chapter of my career.” tweeted Gasol, who will go from the Lakers to the Bulls in a sign and trade.
Meanwhile, according to an ESPN.com report, LeBron James agreed to a two-year deal worth $42.1 million with the Cavaliers but conceivably could become a free agent next summer, the website reported, the same time the Knicks are projected to have ample salary cap room.
Nevertheless, the report also noted James is committed to Cleveland long term.
The team also announced the signing but did not disclose the terms of the contract.
So why the short-term deal?
James has his sights set on 2016-17, when he would prefer to re-sign with Cleveland — just when a new television deal with the league should set profits soaring and set the salary cap, currently at $63 million, to as high as an estimated $80 million. Not a bad time to get a new deal.
Beyond the fallout from the earth-quaking choice by James’ return to Cleveland, the expected return of Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, Chicago getting Gasol and the Heat keeping Chris Bosh, whose public status always trailed that of James and Dwyane Wade, the NBA free-agent market stayed busy Saturday.
In was a good day for a couple of ex-Nets, Vince Carter and Anthony Morrow. Carter is headed to the Grizzlies on a three-year, $12 million deal while Morrow is going to the Thunder for a 3-year, $10 million package.
“It’s 99.9 percent done,” said a close Carter associate. “He had several offers but he was looking for a place where he could still produce and still be a leader.”
Carter, 37, was one of the NBA’s most effective sixth man types with Dallas last season, averaging 11.9 points off the bench. He led all NBA reserves with 146 3-pointers.
Morrow, part of the Nets’ ill-fated free-agent class in 2010 after the failure to land James, is set to join his sixth team in his seventh NBA season. The Oklahoman first reported the signing.
Elsewhere, the agent for Gordon Hayward confirmed his client is headed back to the Jazz after the team matched the four-year, $63 million offer sheet the Hornets presented to the athletic, 6-foot-8 forward.
“I think it obviously makes a really strong statement about what the Jazz feel toward Gordon,” agent Mark Bartelstein said. “They wouldn’t match something of that magnitude if they didn’t feel very strongly about the player.”
The Suns acquired Isaiah Thomas from the Kings in a sign and trade for the rights to forward Alex Oriakhi. Thomas, who was a restricted free agent, reportedly received a four-year, $28 million contract. The Suns, ostensibly, are loaded with point guards — including restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe, whom they want to keep. Suns officials have said they will match any offer Bledsoe gets.
“We welcome Isaiah Thomas. His addition to our backcourt makes it one of the deepest and most dynamic in the league,” Suns general manager Lon Babby said in a statement.
In a trade with Charlotte, Cleveland added big man Brendan Hayward, who didn’t play last season because of a fractured foot. The Cavaliers also got the draft rights to 45h pick Dwight Powell, a power forward from Stanford. The Hornets got guard Scotty Hopson, who spent most of the last three seasons in Europe, plus cash.