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NBA Free Agency: Smith to Detroit, Landry to Sacramento and More

Weekend update time, everyone. Major shifts happening. Problem is, it's the teams in the West that are getting better.

By Eric in Madison
USA TODAY Sports

Lots of movement in the wake of Dwight Howard's agreement with the Rockets. Let's see where we are:

  • Josh Smith agrees to a 4/56 deal with the Pistons, creating some confusion in their front court, as trying to fit Smith in at the small forward seems unwise. Is it possible Greg Monroe is on the block? The Pistons could really use a point guard.
  • Jose Calderon: 4/$29M with Dallas. Seems steep, especially in years as Calderon is already 33 years old.
  • Carl Landry 4/26 with Sacramento. Seems like a lot, but this appears to be the new number. Landry is pretty good offensively in the paint, but does create at least a temporary log jam for the Kings. I'd expect more moves.
  • Jarrett Jack 4/27 with Cleveland. Again seems a high price for a backup guard, but Jack was impressive with Golden State last year. Will probably take minutes away from Dion Waiters at the two if Cleveland is trying to win,
  • A comment on Golden State: their starting lineup is impressive, but also injury prone (Curry, Bogut). Currently their bench includes Draymond Green, Festus Ezeli, and Harrison Barnes as the only obviously playable guys. They outperformed last year. It's possible things don't go as well this year. It's also possible they are a top three seed in the West.
  • Paul Millsap, 2/19 with Atlanta. Not sure which side wanted such a short contract, but the result is pretty good for the Hawks. Appears to doom Horford to the center position, though.
  • Dorell Wright 2/$6 with Portland. Nice pickup; I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer Wright at that price to what the Wolves are paying for Budinger. Portland is quietly adding some decent depth with Wright and Lopez, not to mention C.J. McCollum. Grrr.
  • Omri Casspi and Francisco Garcia agree to small deals with the Rockets. Adding more shooters around Howard. Obviously the Asik question looms.
  • In case you missed it, Royce White was traded to the 76ers earlier in the week. I sincerely hope he can find a way to have a basketball career.
I think I hit the high points, I'm sure if there are more, we'll talk about them in comments.

Things are remarkably quiet on the Nikola Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko fronts. My sense is teams know it's not worth it to go after Pek, since the Wolves will match, but eventually a team might go for it as other alternatives dry up.

As for AK, I have no idea. vjl110 and Doogie had an interesting exchange on twitter where Doogie confirmed that he thinks neither Saunders nor Adelman are particularly high on him. Still, the Wolves need another wing who can play if they are serious about the playoffs, and I don't think Alan Anderson is it.

This is your weekend open thread. Be open. You know what to do.