Free agency and the trade market

It's been a long hiatus for me and this blog. For anyone that still checks in periodically, I hope to get back on track and stay on top of things again. With all the bouncing around this off-season, it's not like I don't have a ton of thoughts on how next season is shaping up. So what have we learned so far this summer? Dwight Howard is STILL sucking up news for essentially NO news to this point. The Brooklyn Nets have backed off obtaining the malcontent (we'll see) and it appears the Houston Rockets are willing to gut the entire roster to get Howard, for maybe a one season rental? The Rockets have been planning all summer and my guess the better half of last season to have a crack at getting him. Yesterday, Houston utilized the amnesty clause and released power forward Luis Scola just to add more cap space to try for Howard. The Nets retained the services of the top free agent this summer in Deron Williams which was huge for a franchise relocating. To add to their off season success, the Nets added shooting guard Joe Johnson from Atlanta and resigned small forward Gerald Wallace. The Nets spared no expense and opened their wallet to ensure the Brooklyn experiment didn't start off as a joke. 

Being a Phoenix native and in a subject that hits the fan soft spot, was the shocking news that Steve Nash departed after eight seasons with the Suns. The shock wasn't THAT he left, as most Suns fans anticipated, it was WHERE he went that sent shock-waves through the Arizona desert. Nash adds an interesting dynamic to the Lakers and gives him a legitimate shot at making the NBA Finals. While most fans are reeling from the idea he went to a nearby hated rival, it is understandable that he wanted to be close to family in the LA area and have a shot at a title in his final three years. Nash made this move with class and respect for his former team and helped coordinate his departure by getting traded for a handful of draft picks in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Though the picks will probably be later in the draft, they were assets the Suns wouldn't have received if he just bolted to another team. 

Some other moves of note: Ray Allen leaves Boston to join the rival Miami Heat, Elton Brand was amnestied by Philadelphia and signs with the Dallas Mavericks, Jason Terry leaves Dallas and heads to Boston, Atlanta trades Marvin Williams to Utah for Devin Harris, Goran Dragic and Michael Beasley sign with Phoenix, Houston trades Kyle Lowery to Toronto, Marcus Camby and Jason Kidd join the NY Knicks, Rashard Lewis signs with Miami, Orlando trades Ryan Anderson to New Orleans, Nick Young signs with Philadelphia, and Lou Williams leaves Philadelphia and signs with Atlanta. With teams jockeying their rosters around to make cap space, I'd expect to see some other moves, one of which being the end of the ever-agonizing trade talk of Dwight Howard.