NBA Free Agency gets off to a fast start

July 2, 9:39 PMSports Business ExaminerJosh Lobdell

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Guard Ben Gordon is fifty million dollars richer and headed to the Detroit Pistons AP Photo/Paul Beaty

Since Tuesday at 12:01 am EST the faces of many NBA teams have been changed, and in at least one case the very foundation of the team has undergone a free agent upgrade. To be sure the 2009 NBA free agent season got off to a very fast start.

Of course the biggest news is the Detroit Pistons who went out and signed Guard Ben Gordon from Chicago for 5 years and up to 58 million dollars, and Power Forward Charlie Villanueva for Milwaukee for 5 years and a reported 37 million dollars. Both deal as reported by NBA.com

This is significant since these are not the kind of players the Pistons have generally sought out. This was a team constructed around a philosophy of team defense first. Since neither one of these players could ever be confused with as a strong defender we seem to have a change of philosophy for the Pistons.

It appears that they are going to build a team around a up tempo full court attack, that is 180 degrees from the half court, defense first style that has one them 3 world titles. Of course the Pistons still do not have a coach, a starting center, or a true point guard so further dealing may be in the works.

Here is a look at what some other big name free agents are up too:

• Jason Kidd looks to be talking both with his current team the Dallas Mavericks, and the New York Knicks
• Nate Robertson may sign a one year deal with the Knicks but the Trail Blazers, and Kings may be interested
• Lamar Odom wants a 40 million dollar deal that may price him out of LA right into San Antonio, Phoenix also may make a play for him
• Ron Artest is being courted by Cleveland but may be close to a deal with the Lakers
• David Lee will get a big offer from Memphis
• Paul Millsap- make get an offer from Oklahoma City to rich for Utah to meet
• Rasheed Wallace rumored to be headed to one of the Eastern Conference Power Houses; Boston or Orlando

While none of the moves so far have reshuffled the power ranking of the league or the power struggles in each conference it is still very early on, and it seems more apparent every hour that Detroit will deal away Rip Hamilton and/or Tayshaun Prince to fill one of their still glaring holes.

With that Piston cast off Rasheed Wallace is a good fit for Boston or Orlando anywhere where he can play a little defense and not have to continually play inside where the Pistons really wanted him to play.

Since the NBA draft was pretty much a bust for all those who did not pick in the top five this year’s free agent signing period become that much more important. Die hard NBA fans should stay abreast of all the potential signings and trades.