Notebook: Tim Thomas Signing Means Free Agency Is Done

The Tim Thomas signing in Dallas makes it official: Free agency is winding down. Yeah, Lamar Odom is still out there and so are David Lee and a few others. But once you get to Tim Thomas, it means that Free Agency 2009 is poised to jump the shark.

Whatever the opposite of a difference-maker is, that's Thomas. Dallas will be the seventh NBA stop for Thomas, who was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 1997 draft. Yes, Thomas is talented, and, yes, he can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting.

But we've heard those things for 12 years now. The reality of the situation is that Thomas will either be unhappy with limited minutes in Dallas or he'll get plenty of playing time there, meaning the Mavs aren't going to be going anywhere.

Does Miller mean two ones in Portland?
There's no doubt Andre Miller is an upgrade over Steve Blake when you're talking about the point guard position in Portland, but there's more to it.

First, Miller is a point guard used to having the ball in his hands a lot, not unlike a Chris Paul or Baron Davis type. In Portland, Brandon Roy is the primary ballhandler and playmaker, despite being the two guard.

Miller is going to be playing off the ball much more than in the past, which is worth keeping an eye on. And if Miller isn't playing off the ball more, then it's going to be an adjustment for Roy.

Also, coach Nate McMillan maintained earlier this week that the Blazers want to run more this season. Of course, that's easy to say in the summertime, but it remains to be seen whether or not a Miller-Roy backcourt can lead an uptempo team.

Minimal chance of Rambis in Minny
Timberwolves general manager David Kahn said he hopes to have a head coach in place next week sometime. Elston Turner, Mark Jackson and Kurt Rambis are said to be among the candidates.

It seems a stretch to think Rambis would take the job considering he said the Sacramento Kings were too much of a rebuilding project for him. What is Minnesota, after all? Plus, it seems almost certain that this will be Phil Jackson's last year in L.A., so it seems logical Rambis would want to wait around.

More on the 'Meka Move
A couple more thoughts on Emeka Okafor-for-Tyson Chandler ... It can't be good news for the Hornets that Paul isn't psyched about Chandler leaving town.

Also, the "hands" issue is an important one. Okafor has bad hands, so the notion of Paul lobbing balls to Okafor at the rim -- like he did for Chandler -- isn't realistic. It's just tough to see how Okafor is a better fit in New Orleans than Chandler was.

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