Dwight Howard to Houston highlights the ‘signing day’

LOS ANGELES - Reuters

Photo shows Howard dunking during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz. AP photo

Dwight Howard’s move from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Rockets was not officially rubber stamped by Houston on Wednesday, though a flood of completed deals were confirmed with the NBA lifting its moratorium on new business.

On what is generally known as “signing day” some of the league’s biggest names changed uniforms as the league set its salary cap for the coming season at $58.67 million.

The occasion, however, was anti-climatic with most of the deals completed days earlier and only the formality of signing on the dotted line remaining.

Andrea Bargnani, Andre Iguodala and Josh Smith were among the high-profile names finding new homes while All-Star point guard Chris Paul re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul was quick to get his name on a new five-year, $107 million contract, officially inking his deal one minute after the moratorium was lifted at midnight.

Bynum for two years

Center Andrew Bynum agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a two-year, $24 million dollar deal, it was reported by the NBA on Wednesday.

Bynum had been traded from the Lakers to Philadelphia last season but failed to play one game for the 76ers because of knee issues. Howard, a seven-time All-Star center, was the prize free agent on the market and attracted the attention of several suitors before settling on Houston.

Even though the Rockets remained quiet on Wednesday, Howard’s signing was all but confirmed a day earlier when the league fined Houston $150,000 for prematurely commenting about their new acquisition.