Big NBA Names on the Move

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 8, 2010

Big NBA Names on the Move

LeBron James

One day after the Heat secured commitments from Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron joined his Olympic teammates in Miami. The Akron, Ohio, native opted to move on after seven years in Cleveland, where he rejuvenated a moribund franchise, won two consecutive MVP awards and reached the 2007 NBA Finals. But LeBron wasn't only the big-name player to land a new home this offseason. Here's a look at some others who have made moves -- both in free agency and in trades -- thus far.

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh averaged 20.2 points and 9.4 rebounds and played in four All-Star Games in seven years with the Raptors. But he never won a playoff series. He is hoping for more postseason success alongside Dwyane Wade and LeBron in Miami.

Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire is moving on after eight years in Phoenix, where he averaged 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds and formed a deadly pick-and-roll combination with two-time MVP Steve Nash. The five-year, $100 million deal with the Knicks reunites Stoudemire with former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.

Carlos Boozer

The Bulls have searched for a couple of years for an inside scorer, and they landed one in Boozer, who averaged 19.5 points on 56.2 percent shooting to go with 11.2 rebounds for Utah last season. Boozer, who will be paid more than $75 million over five years, spent the past six seasons with the Jazz.

David Lee

David Lee joined Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade with the Knicks, who received Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf. After putting up big numbers in D'Antoni's up-tempo offense (20.2 points, 11.7 rebounds), Lee should do the same in Don Nelson's small-ball system. Lee, a fan favorite in New York, led the Knicks in scoring and rebounding last season, when he made his first All-Star team.

Al Jefferson

Minnesota agreed to send power forward Al Jefferson, who was being targeted by the Mavs, to Utah for two future first-round picks and a trade exception. Jefferson, who joined the Timberwolves in 2007 in the offseason deal that sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics, averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 boards last season -- his first year back from a major knee injury. He'll help Utah replace the departed Carlos Boozer.

Raymond Felton

The Knicks were in need of a speedy point guard who is capable of running in Mike D'Antoni's system. And they got it in Raymond Felton, who averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals over 80 games with the Bobcats last season.

Josh Childress

Josh Childress, who was acquired by the Suns in a sign-and-trade, spent the last two seasons with Olympiakos in Greece, where he averaged 15.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting and 4.8 rebounds in the Euroleague in 2009-10. Before that, the versatile wing player was one of the league's top sixth men for the Hawks.

Corey Maggette

In need of a scoring threat and willing to take on a hefty contract, the Bucks acquired forward Corey Maggette in a trade with the Warriors nearly a week before free agency began. The 11-year veteran averaged 19.8 points on 51.6 percent shooting in 70 games with Golden State last season.

Tyson Chandler

Seeking to bolster their front line, the Mavericks acquired Tyson Chandler in a five-player trade with the Bobcats, who got Erick Dampier and his $13 million non-guaranteed contract as part of the deal. Chandler -- who averaged 6.5 points on 57.4 percent shooting and 6.3 boards last season -- joins re-signed center Brendan Haywood and power forward Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas.

Hedo Turkoglu

Hedo Turkoglu was one of the marquee free agents in 2009, but he flopped in Toronto after signing a five-year, $53 million deal. Phoenix will hope for a resurgence after acquiring him for Leandro Barbosa.

Shaquille O'Neal

Shaq accepted the veteran's minimum (nearly $3 million over two years) to chase a ring with the Celtics, who will benefit from O'Neal's rebounding and efficient scoring, especially early in the season when starting center Kendrick Perkins is sidelined while recovering from knee surgery.

Al Harrington

After falling out of favor in New York, Al Harrington signed with the Nuggets this offseason for the full mid-level exception. With Denver's bigs battling injuries seemingly every season, Harrington should provide some much needed depth and scoring. He averaged only 1.5 assists over the last three years, but Harrington also averaged 17.7 points per game last season.