The ramifications of 2009 NBA free agency should be felt during next spring’s playoffs, whether it’s Ron Artest with Los Angeles or Rasheed Wallace in Boston.
But the summer’s biggest free agent move was Toronto going all-in for Turkish point forward Hedo Turkoglu (five years, $53 million), who helped drive Orlando into last season’s NBA Finals.
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The Raptors were 33-49 last year, missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, but will splashing the most free agent cash ensure their return to the postseason?
In 2008, Philadelphia gave Elton Brand a five-year, $82 million deal. While he missed most of the season with a shoulder injury, the 76ers improved by one win (40-42 to 41-41) and one place in the Eastern Conference (7th to 6th). They still were bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
In 2007, Rashard Lewis joined Orlando on a massive six-year, $118 million contract, and the Magic won their first playoff series since 1996. Contract extensions for Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard may also have helped.
In 2006, Ben Wallace joined Chicago for four years and $60 million. The Bulls went on to win their first playoff series since Michael Jordan’s last title in 1998 but were vanquished in the conference semis by Wallace’s old team, Detroit.
In 2005, Larry Hughes bolted Washington for Cleveland (five years, $70 million) and promptly helped create the heated rivalry that now exists between the Cavaliers and Wizards. Hughes and the Cavs went to the NBA Finals in 2006 but he was off in Chicago for the final two years of his deal.
