With training camps beginning shortly in the NBA, teams are gathering their final rosters. While many of the star free agents signed a while back, there are still some valuable players remaining, as evidenced by these three signings.
Tony Allen agrees with Pelicans
Free Agent defensive stalwart Tony Allen is leaving the team he has called his own for the past seven seasons, the Memphis Grizzlies. The 13-year pro signed a one-year veteran's minimum deal of $2.3 million to join the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 35-year-old appeared in 71 games (66 starts) with Memphis last season, averaging 27.0 Minutes Per Game.
He posted per game averages of 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. Despite some obvious offensive limitations (career 28.0% three-point shooter), his defensive grittiness can be matched by very few backcourt players, if any. He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season, the sixth time in the last seven seasons that he has received All-Defensive honors (3X First Team, 3X Second Team).
The signing may prove to be an excellent one for New Orleans. Their roster is void of many talents behind their All-Star tandem frontcourt of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, and point guard Jrue Holiday.
Tyler Zeller Signs With Nets
Free agent Tyler Zeller will be joining the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year deal, after he spent the past three seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics.
Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but the second year is said to be non-guaranteed.
While the 27-year-old Zeller spent much of the 2014-15 season as Boston's starting center, his playing time has dwindled over the past two years on a Celtics team that has been loaded with depth. He averaged just 10.3 minutes per game in 51 appearances last season, finishing at 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
With Brook Lopez traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Zeller may find himself a part of the Nets regular rotation with Timofey Mozgov and 2017 first-round pick Jarrett Allen also jockeying for minutes at center.
Shabazz Muhammad Resigns With Minnesota
Free agent Shabazz Muhammad will return to the only team he has played for after signing a one-year, $1.6 million veteran's minimum deal to remain with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 24-year-old Muhammad has spent four seasons with Minnesota, and has averaged 20.5 minutes per game over the last three. Last season in 19.4 minutes per game, he finished with per game averages of 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds.
Whether he receives that much playing time this season remains to be seen, especially after the team traded for Jimmy Butler who essentially is in the same shooting guard/small forward mold as Muhammad.
