Thunder forward Kevin Durant has come second in the draft and MVP votings, but nobody in the NBA can touch him nowadays when it comes to pitching products - whether it's shoes, video games or soft drinks. He leads our Commercials Rankings and No. 2 (Kobe Bryant) is not even close.
Nike clearly leads the pack in terms of NBA endorsers, but Chinese brands like Li Ning and Peak are emerging powers.
It will be an interesting offseason in Los Angeles following the early exit from the playoffs. Check the news and tweets coming from La-La Land.
Best transaction: Signed guard Jose Manuel Calderon on August 3, 2005
Worst transaction: Traded guard Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets for forwards Eric Williams and Aaron Williams, center Alonzo Mourning and two first-round picks on December 17, 2004
Executive of the Year: Never
TRANSACTIONS:
SEASON 2005-06
January 26 2006 Fired as general manager. December 9 2005 Named Gene Keady assistant coach. November 16 2005 Signed guard Darrick Martin. October 27 2005 Waived guard Corey Williams and center Toree Morris. October 22 2005 Waived guards Robert Pack and Tierre Brown and forward Bryan Matthews. October 4 2005 Traded guard Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets for guard Mike James. October 3 2005 Signed guards Tierre Brown, Robert Pack and Corey Williams, forward Bryant Matthews and center Toree Morris. September 2 2005 Waived forward Lamond Murray. August 22 2005 Re-signed forward Matt Bonner. August 9 2005 Re-signed forward Pape Sow and signed guard Chris Duhon to an offer sheet. August 3 2005 Signed guard Jose Manuel Calderon. July 7 2005 Signed fowards Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham. Draft 2005 Selected forwards Charlie Villanueva (7th overall pick), Joey Graham (16th overall pick) and Uros Slokar (58th overall pick) and guard Roko-Leni Ukic (41st overall pick). June 27 2005 Exercised the contract option on forward Chris Bosh through 2006-07. June 24 2005 Extended qualifying offers to forwards Matt Bonner and Pape Sow.
SEASON 2004-05
April 9 2005 Signed guard Omar Cook to a 10-day contract. February 11 2005 Waived center Alonzo Mourning. December 17 2004 Traded guard Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets for forwards Eric Williams and Aaron Williams, center Alonzo Mourning and two first-round picks; waived forward Jerome Moiso. December 16 2004 Waived guard Roger Mason. October 22 2004 Waived guard Norm Richardson and forward Ousmane Cisse. October 4 2004 Signed guard Norm Richardson and forward Ousmane Cisse. September 20 2004 Signed forward Matt Bonner. August 18 2004 Signed center Loren Woods. July 30 2004 Matched the offer sheet tendered by the New Orleans Hornets to guard Morris Peterson. July 14 2004 Signed guard Rafer Alston. July 3 2004 Signed center Rafael Araujo. July 2 2004 Named Jim Todd, Alex English and Jay Triano assistant coaches. June 29 2004 Named Sam Mitchell head coach. Draft 2004 Selected center Rafael Araujo (8th overall pick) and forward Albert Miralles (39th overall pick). Traded the draft rights to forward Albert Miralles to the Miami Heat for the draft rights to forward Pape Sow and a future second-round pick.
Traded guard Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets for guard Mike James.
