The Rockets introduced free agent signee Dwight Howard this month with a flashy press conference that doubled as a parade of Rockets Hall of Famers, many of whom showed up to take part in the event that NBA TV broadcast nationwide. In Detroit, Pistons president of basketball ops Joe Dumars could barely contain his excitement as he put new acqusition Josh Smith on display in front of the media.
It's safe to say the Bulls were a bit more subdued when they announcing their signing of Mike Dunleavy.
Just about every team has waded into the free agent market in July, with widely varying results. The Rockets handed out a max contract to Howard, while the Clippers did the same in re-signing Chris Paul. The most lavish commitment the Lakers made was a one-year contract for Chris Kaman for the value of the mini mid-level exception.
The offseason has been even quieter for the Thunder and Heat. Their minimum-salary agreements with Derek Fisher and Chris Andersen, respectively, are their only forays into free agency so far. The Kings, too, have only made one free agent pickup, signing Carl Landry to a long-term deal.
That's a spending spree compared to what's happened in Philadelphia and Phoenix. Neither the Sixers nor the Suns have signed any free agents. That will surely change as teams begin to invite players to training camp, but both rebuilding clubs have passed on the chance to spend for upgrades.
With the help of the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Tracker, we've put together a list of each team's greatest expenditure in free agency this summer. In most cases, the players receiving the most lucrative multiyear deals are also getting the highest average annual salaries, but there are a few exceptions, as we note. The list includes free agent signees and players acquired via sign-and-trade, but it doesn't include signed draft picks. Some of the signings have yet to become official.
- 76ers — None
- Hawks — Jeff Teague: four years, $32MM (by total value); Paul Millsap: two years, $19MM (by average annual value)
- Bobcats — Al Jefferson: three years, $40.5MM
- Bulls — Mike Dunleavy: two years, $6.509MM
- Bucks — O.J. Mayo: three years, $24MM
- Cavaliers — Jarrett Jack: four years, $25.2MM (by total value); Andrew Bynum: two years, $24.79MM (by average annual value)
- Celtics — Keith Bogans: three years, $15.857MM
- Clippers — Chris Paul: five years, $107.343MM
- Grizzlies — Tony Allen: four years, $20MM
- Heat — Chris Andersen: two years, $3.434MM
- Jazz — John Lucas III: two years, $3.2MM
- Kings — Carl Landry: four years, $26.047MM
- Knicks — J.R. Smith: three years, $17.947MM
- Lakers — Chris Kaman: one year, $3.183MM
- Magic — Jason Maxiell: two years, $5MM
- Mavericks — Jose Calderon: four years, $29MM (by total value); Monta Ellis: three years, $25.08MM (by average annual value)
- Nets — Andrei Kirilenko: two years, $6.509MM
- Nuggets — J.J. Hickson: three years, $16.145MM
- Pacers — David West: three years, $36.6MM
- Pelicans — Tyreke Evans: four years, $44MM
- Pistons — Josh Smith: four years, $54MM
- Raptors — Tyler Hansbrough: two years, $5.112MM
- Rockets — Dwight Howard, four years, $87.591MM
- Spurs — Tiago Splitter: four years, $36MM
- Suns — None
- Thunder — Derek Fisher: one year, $1.4MM
- Timberwolves — Kevin Martin: four years, $27.805MM
- Trail Blazers — Dorell Wright: three years, $6MM
- Warriors — Andre Iguodala: four years, $48MM
- Wizards — Martell Webster: four years, $21.991MM