The most wonderful time of the year

Ahh yes, the start of NBA free agency, when teams hand out ridiculous sums of money to average players. Let's see what's happening so far:


Once strongly considering a return to Europe, Darko Milicic, the man selected after LeBron James in the 2003 draft, has decided to give the NBA another chance, thanks to a four-year, $20 million deal from the Timberwolves, reports Chad Ford of ESPN.

Do I even need to comment on this? I'll be married with children before Darko Milicic ever helps a winning team, besides being the 12th man. David Kahn is like Cartman trying out for the special Olympics. David, why did you give Darko $20M? "duhhr I don't know, I'm retarded."

Drew Gooden reached a five-year, $32 million contract with the Bucks, reports Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Explain to me what Drew Gooden brings to the table that a minimum-wage NBDL prospect couldn't? The Bucks could bring in 20 different NBDLers and find someone who can do what Drew Gooden does, which is essentially nothing. Defend and rebound a little? This is not worth $32M. The inability of teams to recognize how invaluable certain players are annually astounds me. Every year a below-average stiff like Gooden gets $30M, when these teams could find someone much cheaper just by holding tryouts, and get the same production. I can't wait until the Bucks sign John Salmons for $30-$40M, tying up approximately $70M in those two.

The Atlanta Hawks have offered Joe Johnson a six-year, $119 million contract, two NBA sources told SI.com.

The award for most untradeable contract in the league goes to...Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks! The Atlanta Hawks are apparently following the blueprint of the Washington Wizards, in locking down the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference (a couple years ago, the Wizards gave big contracts to Arenas, Jamison and Butler, even though they couldn't get out of the first round; the Wizards just last week had the top pick in the draft, so you see how well that went). It won't take two years for Atlanta to regret this contract, mark my words. Joe Johnson is a good player in a complimentary role, he is not a max contract, face-of-the-franchise type player. This is absurd.

The Houston Rockets have identified Chris Bosh as their primary target this offseason, a source told SI.com. The Rockets visited Bosh in Dallas just after midnight Thursday morning and are discussing sign-and-trade options to bring Bosh to Houston. Among the trade candidates that could be sent to Toronto are forward Luis Scola and guard Aaron Brooks.

I mean, I suppose Chris Bosh is worth it, but it would sadden me to see Aaron Brooks go. The Rockets drafted him late in the first round, and developed him into a pretty decent player. And to be honest, I'm not that big of a Bosh fan. He was the best player on a couple playoff teams in Toronto, but the Raptors also folded badly last season. When Charles Barkley was in Philadelphia, he carried some uninspiring 76er teams to the playoffs, so I don't think it's too much to ask of Bosh to do the same, especially considering how weak the East is after the top 3-4 teams. If you're a max player, you're damn right I'm going to ask a lot of you.

The Timberwolves have plans to meet Grizzlies restricted free agent Rudy Gay Thursday night, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

You know, you guys could have just kept O.J. Mayo and you'd already have your inside-outside combination of Mayo and Jefferson. Instead they'll have to trade for Rudy Gay, and then probably turn around and trade Jefferson, giving them Gay-Love (tee hee) which isn't nearly as good in my opinion. This is why you can't make stupid mistakes; you end up spending the next couple of years trying to make up for that mistake.

Amar'e Stoudemire has exercised the early termination option in his contract, his agent, Happy Walters, confirmed to SI.com.

I feel bad for whoever gives Stoudemire a big contract. I don't care how many points you score, I have no use for a power forward who is as allergic to defense and rebounding as Stoudemire. It's not that he can't defend and rebound, he just doesn't care. All he wants to do is score points. He should stay in Phoenix, which understands his strengths and weaknesses better than anybody. A different team might ask him to defend the rim, which would turn the paint into a layup line.

Perhaps feeling skittish about their chances to entice LeBron James, the Knicks are feverishly trying to peddle center Eddy Curry and his remaining $11.3 million contract, reports the Chicago Tribune.

What the Knicks are doing to their fans is cruel and unfair. For the past two years, they've been telling their fans, "Don't worry folks, in 2010 we'll get LeBron or Wade so all of this losing will be worth it." Now that they've finally realized they won't be getting LeBron or Wade, they have to throw other bullshit out their to show they're really trying. "Just gotta dump Eddy Curry's contract and we'll have superstars on the way!" I hope Knick fans are prepared for Carlos Boozer, because I'm afraid that's about the only star player they're going to be getting. The Knicks forgot that they actually have to put a competitive team on the court before a superstar would actually consider going there. Danillo Galinari and David Lee just aren't going to cut it. Considering what the Knicks have put their fans through, there might be torches and pitchforks at Donnie Walsh's office before this is over.