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You forgot to add Mikki Moore's signing with the Kings. And for a 32-year old non-rebounder and non-shotblocker who has only one good year to show, it seems like a wasted midlevel exception.

It's also worth mentioning that Mike Bibby is no Jason Kidd. So, I don't see Mikki duplicating his fluke of a performance last season.

King4kong | 07/17/07, 12:31 PM

I am a proud Raptors fan, and was excited at the prospect of getting Kapono, but they definitely overpaid. But you can't say that, just because he won't have Shaq and Wade, that he won't be good. In the 6 games the Heat played with neither Wade or Shaq, Kapono averaged 11.7 pts and 57% from beyond the arc, better than his overall season averages. Granted, it was only 6 games, but it still shows he doesn't need his two superstars to be effective.

Rocketsforlife | 07/17/07, 12:58 PM

Toronto may have slightly overpaid for Kapono's services (and who doesn't overpay for just about any player in the NBA these days?) but if you look beyond the obvious Wade/O'Neal comparison you find that he fits quite nicely in the Raptors' rotation. Anthony Parker is a solid shooting guard who can slash more than he's shown so far, given his experience in Tel Aviv before coming back to North America. If Kapono starts (which is possible) then his presence gives T.J. Ford more space to operate from the point guard position, opening up lanes inside for Chris Bosh and, if that is cut off, for kick-outs to Parker, Kapono and Andrea Bargnani on the perimeter. Toronto is already a pretty deadly outside shooting team so if Bargnani can improve his inside game even a little (and he's working hard at it so expect some progress this season, especially since he practices against Rasho Nesterovic, who has solid fundamentals from practicing for years with Tim Duncan and coach Popovich) the Raptors will be a tough matchup for any of the elite teams in the league, much less the comparative powderpuffs in the Eastern Conference. Throw in the deep bench (Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Nesterovic, Carlos Delfino, Juan Dixon) and you've got a team that can potentially repeat as Atlantic Division champions and challenge all year for a top-two seed in the East.

Scarbro | 07/17/07, 01:18 PM

Toronto may have slightly overpaid for Kapono's services (and who doesn't overpay for just about any player in the NBA these days?) but if you look beyond the obvious Wade/O'Neal comparison you find that he fits quite nicely in the Raptors' rotation. Anthony Parker is a solid shooting guard who can slash more than he's shown so far, given his experience in Tel Aviv before coming back to North America. If Kapono starts (which is possible) then his presence gives T.J. Ford more space to operate from the point guard position, opening up lanes inside for Chris Bosh and, if that is cut off, for kick-outs to Parker, Kapono and Andrea Bargnani on the perimeter. Toronto is already a pretty deadly outside shooting team so if Bargnani can improve his inside game even a little (and he's working hard at it so expect some progress this season, especially since he practices against Rasho Nesterovic, who has solid fundamentals from practicing for years with Tim Duncan and coach Popovich) the Raptors will be a tough matchup for any of the elite teams in the league, much less the comparative powderpuffs in the Eastern Conference. Throw in the deep bench (Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Nesterovic, Carlos Delfino, Juan Dixon) and you've got a team that can potentially repeat as Atlantic Division champions and challenge all year for a top-two seed in the East.

Scarbro | 07/17/07, 01:23 PM

Huh? The Kapono bit confuses me. This guy won the three-point shootout last year, so yeah, he can shoot. And Shaq wasn't even playing for half of last year; when he was, he was clearly a shadow of his former self. Bosh may not be the same size, but what he lacks in bulk he makes up for with speed and talent. Suffice to say he'll be drawing enough doubles to keep Kapono open more often than not.

As for benefitting the Raptors: you don't think a team with two excellent big men and two excellent point guards could use a bevy of great three-point shooters?

3Seconds | 07/17/07, 01:25 PM

Steve Blake will be perfect in Portland. Blake is not concerned about stats and will make sure the young players develop into solid players. Then in three years, Portland will sign a super star to take Portland to the finals....

Hudson69 | 07/17/07, 01:27 PM

Kapono is the perfect fit in Toronto...he is very much like Mike Miller, and I think he is paid A LOT MORE than Kapono. Raptors desperately need a better SF (just look at how Joey Graham played in the playoffs) and Kapono fits the bill perfectly with his style of play.

funguscafe | 07/17/07, 01:30 PM

The Raptors have an excellent SF in Garbajosa, who provides them with the grit, rebounding and high basketball IQ every team needs to be successful. They need an athletic SF, sure, but I'd hardly term the need as "desperate". Between Delfino, Garbajosa, Kapono and Graham (if needed), the Raptors are covered. They are building a winning program the right way -- strategic trades where needed and necessary, drafting well and developing talent progressively, maintaining a balance of youth and experience on the roster, growing the players together in a relatively stable environment, instilling a team-first mentality promoted firmly by the star player(s), and giving leeway to younger players to play their way into a better understanding of what it takes to win. They were ahead of schedule last year and they will continue to grow into a legitimate title contender in the next two to three years.

Scarbro | 07/17/07, 02:08 PM

Kapono is a serviceable player but to argue that he was worth the contract he got is too extreme. For a guy who hasnt done much in his career only to finally put up stats in a contract year should raise red flags. At best, expect him to be this year's Brian Cardinal or Damon Jones, that is unless Steve Blake's contract is even more excessive for another mediorce player. On a side note, congrat to Miami for no wasting your mid level for a career backup at best.

HopelessKnicksFan | 07/17/07, 02:17 PM

Thompson is wrong on one thing. Blake doesn't care if he starts or comes off the bench. The signing makes sense for him because he loves Portland and lives in the suburb of West Linn, OR in the offseason. And on the Blazers end, he does fill a need. If you paid attention to the Blazers last year, you will know that both Jarrett Jack and Rodriguez are not very disciplined at running the point, especially feeding the post. (btw look for Jack to play alot of two-guard alongside Blake at PG and Roy at SF) Blake, for all his flaws, is good at running a team, plus can shoot it pretty well. Plus his contract is reasonable - 12 mil over 3 years, with the last year a team option (coincidentally when the team will have the choice of resigning Jack or Blake or going with someone else entirely). So what's the beef?

Kapono is vastly inferior to Mike Miller. Kapono has no NBA skill except for shooting, while Miller (tho I hate his hair cut) can shoot just as well and has a pretty good overall game, especially his passing. Kapono is a perfect comparison to Damon Jones.

VolcanoSounds | 07/17/07, 02:24 PM

who ever compared kapono with mike miller... you serious? miller averaged 18 last year, he's a CAREER 14 ppg player. When kapono even averages one season of 14 ppg, we'll start talking....

yynnaot | 07/17/07, 02:29 PM

Mike Miller averaged 18 points a game on the worse team in the league, which is not hard to do...... MM is overrated.
Kapano should have stayed in Miami, but there always is a place for shooters on teams with quality low post players like Bosh.

Hudson69 | 07/17/07, 02:34 PM

The Bulls had Steve Kerr and John Paxton, deadly three-point shooters who were key members of championship teams. Robert Horry has the mountain of rings to prove that a guy with a big outside shot and limited skills in other areas (besides bodychecking) can make things happen on championship-calibre teams. If Jason Kapono continues to hit from three at a 45-to-50 percent clip, who's to say that he's not a nice fit for the club he's chosen? He's going to see the ball a lot in Toronto, and if he hits the shots he'll be doing what Bryan Colangelo got him to do.

Portland has a glut of point guards but somebody's got to guide the development of two talented but young fellas. VolcanoSounds is right on the money about Blake.

Rumours north of the border suggest that the Yi fiasco in Milwaukee might end with a trade to Toronto, a city with a huge Chinese population and a team with lots of opportunity for him to be a key member and a potential starter. I don't know how serious discussions are, but Jose Calderon has been connected to Yi in the trade rumours. But since Mo Williams just re-signed with the Bucks I'm not sure how hot those rumours are anymore (and they would've been much hotter had Williams left town).

Scarbro | 07/17/07, 02:41 PM

I did not mind the Derek Fisher signing. He is a competitor and Kobe seems to like him. They did have other needs, but their options were to overpay for a big man or overpay for a known commodity. You think Mikki Moore was going to pick up the triangle in a year? Is Chris Mihm worth the mid level for 3 years, let alone 5? Fisher works because he knows the triangle and has the respect of Kobe and Phil, very underrated parts of playing on the Lakers.

beyondblue | 07/17/07, 03:16 PM

Last season, including the playoffs, Kapono played in 67 games, 30 of which included Shaq. With Shaq in the lineup Kapono shot 48.2% from beyond the arc, while with Shaq in street clothes he shot 53.7%.

Kapono played in 8 games with neither Shaq nor Wade, in which he shot 57.1% (16/28) from beyond the arc.

Nice "analysis" you got there.

MoodyCrayon | 07/17/07, 04:43 PM

The Fisher signing seems like a no brainer to me. The Lakers were going into the season with just Farmar, who I love but who is a second-year player. Fisher was the best available, knows the system, gets along with Kobe, is beloved by the fans, and didn't cost a ridiculous amount.

alferdog | 07/17/07, 05:18 PM

The Lewis signing is only marginally better than the Grant Hill signing. Like an addict heading straight to the bar after a rehab stint, the Magic FINALLY get Hill's contract off the books and they replace him with a player only marginally better. Lewis is very very efficient, but don't count on him playing ANY defense. Quite a few teams look much better in the East. The Magic might even have trouble making the playoffs.

hippynate | 07/17/07, 05:43 PM

Didn't the Lakers just draft 2 points guards the last 2 years. This was just to make Kobe happy until next year when the Knicks can trade Marbury and his expiring contract plus a young player and draft pick for Kobe. Fisher should have signed with the Clippers.

ACO | 07/17/07, 06:14 PM

The overlooked aspect about the Derek Fisher signing is that it is a huge morale booster for the locker room and the fans. Fisher has always been a fan favorite and a positive influence, and with all the negative news coming from the Laker camp this summer, his arrival is welcome news.

That being said, you shouldn't pay someone $14 mil just for a morale boost, but I think he will prove to be an asset on the court as well. Even if they just drafted two point guards, both Farmar and Crittenton sorely lack experience, something Fisher brings plenty of. He will be an excellent mentor and leader for the younger players to follow, not to mention a better role model than "you know who". Besides, anything is an improvement over Smush.

West Coast Bias | 07/17/07, 06:40 PM

Don't forget Matt Carroll's $27 million over six years from the Bobcats. They now have that contract and a 3rd overall pick filling up the 25 minutes a night needed to back up Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace. Had they used that money on an interior presence, they'd really be positioned to make noise in the inferior East, but instead they wasted it.

jdbolick | 07/17/07, 06:52 PM