Post by Contract Year on Jan 30, 2010 14:58:54 GMT -5
Potential Free Agent Class of 2006
Amare Stoudemire
Current Team: New York Knicks
Age: 22
Ratings: A- C D+ A- B B
Statistics: 21.2 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.7 BPG
After being able to re-sign McGrady, it's probably safe to say that the dark cloud which once loomed over the New York Knicks franchise has been lifted. Well, for now anyway. Along with Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire is one player that teams with cap space are dying to take a crack at. The 22 year old power forward was not looking great earlier on, but this season has shown Amare to be a superstar in the making when he tries hard. In 69 games this year, Amare is averaging 21.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1 steal and nearly 2 blocks a game. Product of a contract year? You be the judge. One thing I know for sure... Amare will be receiving a max deal this off-season.
Marcus Camby
Current Team: New York Knicks
Age: 31
Ratings: C+ C C- A A- D
Statistics: 8.3 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.8 BPG
While Camby's ratings aren't anything to marvel at, he will surely command a ton of attention should he decide to test the free agent market. Defensive big men are not easily attainable and Marcus Camby is one of the best the league has to offer. Averaging 8.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks (tied for 2nd), Camby has anchored a very good Knicks defense this season. I don't expect him to get anywhere near the 14 million that he is making now, but he still might require a large salary if the Knicks want to keep him and in all honesty he is probably worth it.
Pau Gasol
Current Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 25
Ratings: B+ C C B B+ B
Statistics: 21.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG
While I'm skeptical of Gasol's ability to play this well on a good team, I have to give credit where credit is due. Pau is certainly playing better than most would have expected and would seem to be slowly but surely developing. Averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds, the Philadelphia 76ers hardly miss cast off Jermaine O'Neal as Pau Gasol is playing better than Jermaine ever has. The amount of salary that Gasol could command in the open market is hard to determine. A lot of general managers around the league are still down on Gasol and chalks up his success to the fact the 76ers are a bad team. Even 76ers General Manager Tmacsdaddy seems a bit unsure of himself as he's been clearly trying to syke himself into believing that Gasol is worth a max deal. Either that or he's simply trying to raise his trade value around the league.
Steve Nash
Current Team: Atlanta Hawks
Age: 31
Ratings: C A+ A+ C+ D+ C
Statistics: 19.4 PPG, 10.7 APG, 1.7 SPG
Steve Nash isn't being talked about much and a lot of that has to do with how mediocre the Atlanta Hawks have become. Nash surely misses the days of when Richard Hamilton was his running mate in the back court and he damn sure misses the days of those run and gun Supersonic teams. Don't be fooled by Nash's decline in points per game as he is still a top 3 shooter in the league and is certainly capable of putting up huge scoring numbers in the right offense. Averaging a league leading 10.7 assists per game, 31 year old Steve Nash is longing to compete in the UOSLR finals and ultimately become a champion. This free agency may be his chance to do so as I'm sure the team that signs him will not hold on to him like the Hawks are doing now.
Ronnie Fields
Current Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 28
Ratings: C+ A- B- A- C+ C
Statistics: 20.8 PPG, 7 RPG, 0.8 BPG
Ronnie Fields has always flown a bit under the radar despite being susceptible to some big time games. The Milwaukee Bucks are happy to have been graced with the services of this 28 year old out of Farragut Academy as in 60 games, Ronnie Fields is averaging 20.8 points and 7 rebounds. He is also averaging nearly a block a game. This is as a 6'4 shooting guard starting at the 3 by the way. Fields will earn over 12 million dollars for this season and I can't see him being worth anymore than that. Couple that with the fact that his ratings are a bit underwhelming and I could see the Bucks easily re-signing Fields on a steal of the deal if he decides to test free agency.
Ben Wallace
Current Team: Utah Jazz
Age: 30
Ratings: C F C- A+ B+ C
Statistics: 3.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.2 BPG
Despite his A+ defense, Ben Wallace, much like Marcus Camby, has underwhelming ratings. His numbers are not very impressive either as he is averaging a mere 3.7 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Many of the general managers here are in love with shot blockers though and if there is one thing Ben Wallace is no slouch at, it's shot blocking. Averaging 3.2 blocks a game, Ben Wallace is certainly a coveted player amongst league managers and will definitely command quite a bit of salary in this coming free agency. Wallace has been a key component in the recent resurgence (if we can call it that) of the Jazz so they will be praying that he chooses to stay on board for cheap.
Yao Ming
Current Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Age: 24
Ratings: B+ C C- A- A- B
Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG
Along with Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming is one of the main prizes that this potential free agent class has to offer. The 7'6 wonder out of China has been a 20 and 10 big man since his rookie season and he has been slowly but surely improving with each passing year. The fact that he leading a very good Clippers team at 24 year old will definitely have cap space holders foaming at the mouth should Yao decide to test the free agent market. In 68 games this season, Yao is averaging 22.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks a game. Ming is the face of the Clippers franchise and I'm sure Clippers management will do whatever it takes to keep him on board.
Nene Hilario
Current Team: Portland Trailblazers
Age: 22
Ratings: B- C C- A A- B
Statistics: 10.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.6 BPG
I've hated on Nene quite a few times on the board but to be perfectly honest, I did it out of spite as I have been secretly coveting him for a while now. Nene is nothing special as far as post scoring goes but in his case, who cares. Great defensive big men are not a dime a dozen in this league and it would seem that a 22 year old Nene Hilario is already one of the best defensive bigs in the league. In 64 games this season, Nene is averaging 10.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks a game. Nene is one of the few bright spots the troubled Portland franchise has and they will surely do everything in their power to keep him on board. I'm not sure if he is worth a max contract, but if he hits the open market, I'm sure someone will give it to him.
Caron Butler
Current Team: Seattle Supersonics
Age: 25
Ratings: B+ B C A C+ C
Statistics: 23.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.1 SPG
Does anyone remember what Seattle gave up in order to get this guy? I don't. After a bunch of lackluster and down right terrible deals, the Seattle Supersonics finally caught a break as they were able to get up in the ass of Denver Nuggets General Manager Mops. In the deal, they would acquire 25 year old all-star Caron Butler. In 62 games this season, Butler is averaging career highs across the board with 23.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.8 APG and 2.1 SPG. One of the best two way players this league has to offer, Caron Butler will surely command the max from any team that wants his services. Seattle cannot afford to lose him and will definitely do everything in their power to keep him in a Sonics jersey.
Andrei Kirilenko
Current Team: Seattle Supersonics
Age: 24
Ratings: B- B C+ A C+ C
Statistics: 18.4 PPG, 7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.4 BPG
I was not a big fan of the move to bring in Andrei Kirilenko. The Sonics aren't a very good team and therefore moving two future first rounders for anything other than a star player probably isn't the best deal. That being said, AK47 is playing as good as ever and it's hard to deny the impact that his do-it-all style of play can have on a team. Averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and blocks, Kirilenko has been instrumental in Seattle's solid season thus far. An all-league defender since day 1, Kirilenko is the type of player that every general manager drools over. That being said, Andrei will most likely demand a max contract and I'm not 100% positive he is worth one.
Other Notable Free Agents:
Jamal Mashburn (Phoenix Suns) - Old man Jamal Mashburn has fell off the map a bit as far as small forwards go but he has great ratings and can be a very good 4th starter. Hopefully Jahallstar refrains from hitting the max button on Mash again.
Rasheed Wallace (Orlando Magic) - Career underachiever Rasheed Wallace is having one of his best seasons as a pro this year while being a helping hand in the Magic's dominance this season. The outside shooting big man is averaging 18 points and 10 boards and would be an excellent addition to any team.
Mo Williams/Brent Barry (Seattle Supersonics) - I don't think very highly of Mo Williams but you can't deny his 17 points and 8 assists. Sonics will probably be able to bring him back as I can't see anyone giving him a lot of money. Brent Barry, while old as hell, still seems to have the ability to be a good starter as he's averaging 11 points and 5 assists in just 26 minutes off the bench.
Kenyon Martin (Boston Celtics) - Kenyon Martin has been a late bloomer ratings wise. I couldn't put him on the main list of free agents as he has only played 5 games this season. Still, 20 and 10 through 5 is impressive for him. He could be a good 4th or 5th starter, or a great 6th man off the bench.
Fred Jones (Denver Nuggets) - After an amazing first training camp, Jones has fell off the map because he hasn't really developed since then. He is averaging 21.9 points a game this season which is rather impressive consider the guy is most likely just a good bench player in his prime. The Nuggets are horrible though so that certainly has something to do with it.
Randolph Childress (Detroit Pistons) - Nearly 20 points a game to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Randolph is also chipping in 1.5 steals a game, while shooting 46/91/41 from the field. It probably goes without saying that Randolph Childress is a flat out player. He is a bit undersized as a two, but he is certainly the kind of combo guard that any good team would love to have coming off the bench.
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