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NBA Free Agency: Damian Lillard, Mike Dunleavy and Goran Dragic agree with respective teams on new contract

 

Damian Lillard lands big money as he agrees to remain with the Portland Trailblazers.

A mere 7 hours into the NBA Free Agency and big names are being big bucks. To recap what happened so far on Day 1 of free agency, click here. Here’s more news from the NBA Free Agency that should grab your attention:

The number one overall pick from the 2012 Draft got paid big money to tip off Free Agency, so its only fitting that the year’s Rookie of the Year also get paid. After Anthony Davis agrees to 5 year 145 million dollar contract, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com confirmed a report from ESPN’s Marc Stein about Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers being close to agreeing on a 5 year contract worth 120 million.

The deal gives the point guard an average salary of 29 million dollars per year, which might seem a lot as per the salary cap for this season but will give the team a lot to work with in the future,with the cap expected to go up as an after effect of the league’s mega TV deal worth 2 billion.

With reports about LaMarcus Alridge most likely to leave the franchise, Nicolas Batum part of the Charlotte Hornets now, while Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez are said to be entertaining meeting with other teams, Lillard might be the only member of the Trailblazers’ starting line-up to return next season. In this guard heavy league, Lillard might be overlooked not being named in any awards and so forth but his numbers of 21.6 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds are exceptional for a thrid year point guard.

He has played all 82 games in his three season with the franchise and his only 24 years old. So it was vital for Portland to lock up their franchise’s corner stone early. The Trailblazers can’t sign Lillard until 9th July till the Free Agency moratorium ends.

Goran Dragic agrees huge upgrade in salary in new contract with Heat

Goran Dragic agrees to remain with the Miami Heat.

Once again Marc Stein was active reporting the contract agreement between the Miami Heat and their point guard Goran Dragic. The deal is not a max contract nonetheless gives Dragic a huge pay upgrade from 7.5 million last season to 18 million on average per year. The deal will also include a player option at the end of the fourth year. With Dragic sealed, the Heat can turn their entire attention to superstar Dwyane Wade, who is pursuing a max contract according to Yahoo Sports. 

Dragic, the 2014 Most Improved and member of the 2014 All-NBA Third team, is the possibly the best point guard the Heat have had long term. His quick and nifty around the basket, can be lethal in pick and roll with fellow center Hassan Whiteside, who took to Twitter to congratulate his teammate:

Even if Wade does not end up signing with the Heat, their starting line-up consists of Dragic, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Whiteside. That’s a line-up that might not contend for the Conference title but ensures Miami makes the Playoffs.

Mike Dunleavy agrees to deal with Bulls

Nobody expected this deal to go down yet Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a 3-year contract worth 14.4 million dollars. The contract was highly unexpected with LeBron James wanting his Cleveland Cavaliers to land the sharpshooting forward.

K.C. Johnson of Chicago Tribune reports on why Dunleavy agreed to the deal and his reactions: 

With Dunleavy secured, the Bulls can fully turn their attention to making sure All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler returns in a Bulls jersey next year. Despite the constant rumors, Dunleavy believes that Bulter will re-sign with the franchise

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