From the New Orleans newspaper: ____________________ Hornets veteran forward P.J. Brown expected the first few days of the free-agency period to go along without surprises. However, Brown said it came almost as a shock when he learned three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic accepted the Hornets' five-year, $64 million offer Saturday, the first day teams could begin negotiating with free agents. "I didn't know he was one of the guys they were looking at," Brown said Sunday. "I assumed Indiana would try to bring him back. I think definitely, it should make us better, but by how much at this point, you can't really say until all the final pieces are put together." Also... It appears more likely that shooting guard J.R. Smith will be traded. His father, Earl, said Sunday that J.R. will not participate on the Hornets' summer league team in Las Vegas because he believes a trade is possibly in the works. Smith, who has spent most of the offseason working out in Houston, could not be reached for comment. "If a trade happens, it happens," Earl Smith said. "It doesn't matter to us really, but he's not playing in summer league. Why play if he's going to be traded?" http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/ind...3650.xml&coll=1
To put Peja's deal in perspective: two years ago, the Suns offered Nash a 5 year, $65 million deal, and Cuban balked because he thought it was too much for him. Peja, he's a nice player, but damn.
VR was going to be in a situation like Swift last year. Not enough upside for a team under the cap to want to spend a wad, so it comes down to lots of teams offering MLEs and his choice. Makes a lot of sense for him (starting spot on a high market young playoff team) and the Lakers (capable shooter and some upside relative to price).
