It has been a crazy start to free agency this summer, but one story stood above all the rest. Dwight Howard, who many say has been dissatisfied with the Lakers organization, decided to take his talents to the Lone Star State and sign with the Rockets. Howard left an extra contract year on the table and a decent chunk of money to leave Los Angeles, but he felt that Houston gave him the best chance to win. Here's the rest of the top stories from this past week..
- The Pistons got one of this summer's top free agents when they agreed to a four-year, $54MM deal with Josh Smith. The high-flyer can earn an additional $2MM through incentives.
- The Warriors will ink Andre Iguodala to a four-year, $48MM deal.
- The Jazz took on Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush, and more from the Warriors and acquired Golden State's 2014 and 2017 first-round picks.
- Carl Landry will get a four-year, $26MM deal from the Kings.
- The Hawks quietly made a great signing when they agreed to a two-year, $19MM deal with Paul Millsap.
- A three-way trade sent Eric Bledsoe to the Suns and J.J. Redick to the Clippers.
- The Clippers will re-sign Matt Barnes to a three-year contract.
- The Nuggets reached agreement on a deal with J.J. Hickson.
- The Bobcats landed Al Jefferson on a three-year, $41MM deal. The final year will be a player option.
- J.R. Smith is staying in New York.
- The Wolves will keep Chase Budinger.
- David West will stay put in Indiana thanks to a three-year deal.
- Tiago Splitter and the Spurs agreed to a lucrative four-year deal.
- The Bulls will cut Richard Hamilton loose.
- The Grizzlies and Tony Allen came to terms on a fresh contract.
- The Hawks re-signed Kyle Korver for a whole lot of money.
- The Celtics replaced Doc Rivers with former Butler coach Brad Stevens.
- Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo wants to stay with the C's.
- The Mavs missed out on D12 and are spending the money elsewhere. They'll ink Jose Calderon in a few days.
- Martell Webster got a four-year deal from the Wizards.
- There's lots of turnover in Milwaukee and the Bucks will sign O.J. Mayo to their new look team with a three-year, $24MM deal.
- The Spurs agreed to a new deal with Manu Ginobili.
- The Rockets traded troubled forward Royce White to the Sixers for an international prospect and cash.
- The Pelicans will re-sign Al-Farouq Aminu to a one-year, $3.7MM deal.
- Omri Casspi agreed to a two-year pact with the Rockets.
- Former Knicks guard Chris Copeland is Indiana-bound.
- The Wolves will sign Kevin Martin to a four-year, $28MM deal.
- Omer Asik doesn't want to back up Howard and wants out. The Rockets say he's staying. Meanwhile, they're aggressively shopping guard Jeremy Lin.
- The Knicks will welcome back Pablo Prigioni.
- The Pelicans, Kings, and Blazers did a three-way deal involving a sign-and-trade of Tyreke Evans to New Orleans.
- The Mavs will welcome back guard Devin Harris.
- Dwight can opt out of his deal in 2016.
- The Rockets will bring back Francisco Garcia.
- Donald Sloan and the Pacers agreed to a deal.
- Andray Blatche is going back to Brooklyn.
- Howard's departure means that Pau Gasol won't be traded or amnestied.
- The Grizzlies re-signed Jon Leuer.
- The Spurs are set to sign sharpshooter Marco Belinelli to a two-year deal.
- The Nets will ink Shaun Livingston to back up Deron Williams.
- The Blazers agreed to a two-year deal with Dorell Wright.
- The Wolves waived Greg Stiemsma and Mickael Gelabale.
- The Cavs agreed to a deal with Earl Clark.
- The Cavs agreed to sign Jarrett Jack.
- The Bobcats will amnesty Tyrus Thomas.
- Quentin Richardson will be a part of the Andrea Bargnani deal.
- The Blazers said deuces to Sasha Pavlovic.
- Marcus Camby wants a trade or buyout.
- Nazr Mohammed is going back to Chicago.
- The Raptors will sign Julyan Stone.
- The Bulls got Mike Dunleavy.
- DeMarre Carroll will sign with the Hawks when he is allowed to.
- Eric Maynor and the Wizards agreed to a multi-year deal.
- The Clippers will re-sign Ryan Hollins.
- The Bucks will ink Zaza Pachulia.
- The Spurs agreed to sign former Pacer Jeff Pendergraph.
- The Bobcats will re-up Josh McRoberts.
- The Clippers agreed to sign Darren Collison for $1.9MM.
- The Blazers got Earl Watson.