in NBA Free Picks

It was supposed to be a quiet summer on the free-agent front. Instead, the surprise decisions of two players have changed the NBA betting situation for at least four teams.

Point guard Baron Davis and power forward Elton Brand decided to opt out of the final year of their respective contracts, risking big money to enter a rather shallow pool of unrestricted free-agent talent. They chose wisely. Davis went to the Philadelphia 76ers for five years and nearly $80 million.

This was a major signing for the Sixers. Their post-Allen Iverson rebuilding project is ahead of schedule, and at +3500 to win the NBA title, the 76ers have value after going 40-42 (43-36-3 against the spread) and making the playoffs last season. Brand is a consistent 20-point, 10-rebound superstar joining veteran point guard Andre Miller (17 points, seven assists last year), small forward Andre Iguodala (20 points per game, 19.05 Player Efficiency Rating), double-double center Samuel Dalembert and a collection of promising youngsters like sophomore forward Thaddeus Young (16.58 PER).

Brand’s escape from L.A. put a damper on the Davis signing, but the Clippers responded by landing center Marcus Camby from the NBA odds for the championship; the Clippers suddenly look like a potential deep value pick at +6500, but Davis and Camby don’t have a lot of talent surrounding them.

The fourth team in this free-agent shuffle is the Los Angeles Lakers will match that offer.

Maggette is a prolific scorer (22.1 points per game last year), and Turiaf (15.05 PER) is a prototypical “high energy” player for the Lakers, but neither man fills a pressing need for the Warriors. Point guard Chauncey Billups, on the other hand, would be a coup if Golden State can pull off the rumored trade with the Detroit Pistons. Center Andres Biedrins (19.18 PER) is reported to be Detroit’s target; if the Lakers don’t match the Turiaf offer by Thursday’s deadline, the dominoes could continue tumbling in this crazy summer.

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