Post by donatello2424 on Feb 26, 2010 20:41:46 GMT -5
This class can really be summed up by two player: LeBron and Wade. Both have a chance to be out there for people to bid on. But, there is more than just LeBron and wade, Kobe, Dirk, and AI also have the chance to be free agents. I have outlined who I consider to be the best free agents available. I left out some of the 36+ year old guys because I feel they aren't major factors anymore. So here are who I consider to be the top free agents, in no particular order.
650 Allen Iverson PG 31 6'0'' 175 B- A- A A- C C
Even though AI may be older than the rest of the top of the free agent class, that doesn’t mean he won’t be getting offers. AI, even though he will be 32 at seasons start, is still a top point guard in the league. He is a 20+ ppg scorer, 9+ apg passer; add in his 2.5 spg and sub 2 topg, he is one of the best all-around point guards out there. A max bid to him is hard to swallow due to his age, but a 3 year deal is more reasonable. The Bucks are going to try everything to keep him if they want their core together, but with 4 other big contracts on the books and the hard cap on top of them, they may have to cut ties with the former rookie of the year and mainstay on the defensive teams.
302 Jerald Honeycutt SF 31 6'9'' 245 C+ C A- A- A- C
Honeycutt is a guy whose value can be up one minute and down the next. He is a very interesting player to say the least. He is good for around 15 ppg in a lineup, more or less depending on the system, but he can put up double-digit rebounds while being able to dish the ball as well. He can play all 5 positions which is one reason why his value is going to be high this offseason. Like AI, he is going to be 32, but he can be a great 6th man backing everyone up, or as a starter at any number of positions. I can’t see him getting a max offer, but I didn’t believe he would get paid this last time and he did.
163 Dirk Nowitzki SF 28 7'0'' 253 B A C+ A- A- C
Dirk is part of the next generation crew that is expiring. They aren’t the top rookies, but there are several players going for their 2nd contract. Dirk is unique in the sense that he can play both forward positions well. He can score inside and out, but his bread and butter is the outside shot. He is a very good rebounder (double-digits when starting at the 4) and can defend decently enough (he isn’t going to lead the league in blocks). Dirk is going to get a max, so that isn’t the question. It is where he decides to sign. Toronto has 3 big contracts coming off the books but whether or not get can bring back Dirk and Kobe (and possibly Grant Hill) is up for question.
606 Kobe Bryant SG 27 6'6'' 195 B+ A- B- A- C B
Speaking of Kobe, let’s take a look at him. He was part of a huge deal that saw him swapped for KG. Kobe has been relatively quite so far in the league. He put up 25+ ppg for 4 years and you rarely heard much about him being a great player. Kobe has the skillset to be a star on a team, it is just if he can find the right team and the right system. His PPG totals are down this year, but that is due to being on a team with Priest Lauderdale and Dirk, two other 20 ppg scorers. Like I said with Dirk, retaining both of these guys is going to be difficult for the Raptors. All they can do is offer the max and hope.
381 Josh Howard SG 26 6'6'' 211 B A- C A C+ B
The Cavs are in a spot where I don’t believe they have enough to try and contend, but have too much to suck and get a high pick. Howard is one reason for that. He is averaging around 20 ppg and 8 rpg playing the 2-guard, so he should be highly coveted after the big name guys go. The Cavs can afford to lose him since they have Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay at both positions, but Howard should be resigned and at least traded for some much needed help inside.
639 Jermaine O'Neal PF 27 6'11'' 229 A- C- C A- A- C
The Lakers will have 3 top free agents they need to bring back, but they are also close to the hardcap. J.O. gets overlooked since he plays with Shaq, Billups, Rip, and LeBron, but he is a solid player as is. He is one of the top rebounders in the game and is likely going to be paid for that. He can still put up around 15 ppg and play solid positional defense. He is likely going to be the guys under the max, but the Lakers hope they can get him back on a steal.
507 LeBron James SF 21 6'9'' 252 A- B+ A- A- B+ A
LeBron is the highlight of this free agent class. He is likely going to be at least A- across the board since he still has potential. He can play all 5 positions and likely would beast at all of them. He will rival EP with the number of MVP awards when all is said and done. The Lakers future hangs on the balance of whether or not he stays. He is going to get max offers from every team in the league that can afford to give one, and he deserves them all. 25+ ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg from a small forward is unbelievable. The Lakers are hoping and praying he comes back. If they don’t it is gonna be many sleepless nights until he does.
451 Chauncey Billups PG 29 6'3'' 216 B- A- A- A C C
The third guy here has been forgotten since his days in New Jersey. Billups is still a 20 ppg scorer with 10 apg. He is going to be 30 so that is a concern, but he is also one of the top point guards in the league. A big question with the Lakers is who is going to be gone. I feel it has to be one of these 3, and it is not going to be LeBron. They can try and steal JO or Billups back cheaply, but I have a feeling they will be priced out of their price range. It could be jO with LeBron being able to play the 4 or Billups with LeBron there as well. It should be interesting.
497 Dwayne Wade SG 24 6'5'' 212 A- A- C+ A C B
You can’t talk about LeBron without talking about the other top young free agent in Wade. Wade is older and isn’t as completely as LeBron, but he has been a force so far. He is a top ppg scorer who can rebound and pass the ball as well. The Grizzlies have some flexibility with being able to resign him with some other expiring contracts, but he is going to get max offers as well. If both are free agents, I think fbb might crash.
199 Etienne Preira SF 33 6'7'' 216 B- A- A- A- C C
A 34 year old SF likely wouldn’t warrant recognition on a top free agent list, but EP is different. The 9 time MVP can still play. 20+ ppg with around 9 rpg and 4 apg, but he gains a ton of value with the fact that he can block and steal with the best of them. He is going to get offers. I have a feeling he is going to get max deals and a team hopes he retires before that contract gets too outrageous. But the Warriors have an interesting dynamic with Ep and SJax both expiring, can they keep both?
425 Stephen Jackson SG 28 6'8'' 218 B A B+ A- C C
Jackson is another quite guy that doesn’t get a ton of recognition, but that is mostly due to being the second best SG for so long (behind EP). He is a 25+ ppg scorer who can rebound, play defense, and dish the ball. He is going to be 29 so he is in that same max contract limbo with the years as AI and Dirk. He should get the offers and be a force until he retires. The Warriors are going to have to balance between EP and SJax with salary. The addition of Manu makes one somewhat expendable, but can they afford to lose a starter and get nothing in return? I doubt it.
499 Jameer Nelson PG 24 6'0'' 196 B- A C+ B+ C- B
Nelson would make a great consolation prize if someone strikes out on LeBron or Wade. He is a great scorer who can defend, but he does have some flaws. He can’t play the point at all and is small to be a 2-guard. That aside, 25+ ppg is great. He is a decent passer and rebounder, but he is going to get that max contract due to his scoring. It is going to be a lot of money paid to an outside only scorer, but if he can play decent defense and still score 25 or more a game, he is going to get max offers.
500 Emeka Okafor C 23 6'10'' 256 B C- C- A A- B
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The only young big man worth mentioning (Darko is good but is really only a rebounding and blocker now, even with B+ inside), Emeka has improved to be a force. He is a very balanced big man. He isn’t going to be your star big who puts up 20+ ppg with 12 rpg and 3 bpg. He will give you those rebound and block numbers but with only 15 ppg. He is solid. Is he max material? I doubt it, but he is going to get paid. People want shot blocking bigs who can rebound, and the fact that he can score some only adds to his value. Remember the contract Marcus Camby got? He could end up a max offer if a team is desperate for a big.
456 Luke Ridnour PG 25 6'2'' 178 C A- A+ C+ C- B
Don’t be scared off by Like’s crappy numbers this season, he can play. He is a lethal scorer and a solid passer as well. Think of Nash. He had an off year this year, but he can still play. I don’t see him getting a max offer other than from one of the Oregon homers who will jizz if they get him, but he is likely going to be under those max guys in terms of salary. A desperate team might sign him to salvage something out of this free agent class and hope he can put up Nash numbers. Mops is trying to hurt his value by not featuring him so he can sign him on the cheap but we see what you are doing.
650 Allen Iverson PG 31 6'0'' 175 B- A- A A- C C
Even though AI may be older than the rest of the top of the free agent class, that doesn’t mean he won’t be getting offers. AI, even though he will be 32 at seasons start, is still a top point guard in the league. He is a 20+ ppg scorer, 9+ apg passer; add in his 2.5 spg and sub 2 topg, he is one of the best all-around point guards out there. A max bid to him is hard to swallow due to his age, but a 3 year deal is more reasonable. The Bucks are going to try everything to keep him if they want their core together, but with 4 other big contracts on the books and the hard cap on top of them, they may have to cut ties with the former rookie of the year and mainstay on the defensive teams.
302 Jerald Honeycutt SF 31 6'9'' 245 C+ C A- A- A- C
Honeycutt is a guy whose value can be up one minute and down the next. He is a very interesting player to say the least. He is good for around 15 ppg in a lineup, more or less depending on the system, but he can put up double-digit rebounds while being able to dish the ball as well. He can play all 5 positions which is one reason why his value is going to be high this offseason. Like AI, he is going to be 32, but he can be a great 6th man backing everyone up, or as a starter at any number of positions. I can’t see him getting a max offer, but I didn’t believe he would get paid this last time and he did.
163 Dirk Nowitzki SF 28 7'0'' 253 B A C+ A- A- C
Dirk is part of the next generation crew that is expiring. They aren’t the top rookies, but there are several players going for their 2nd contract. Dirk is unique in the sense that he can play both forward positions well. He can score inside and out, but his bread and butter is the outside shot. He is a very good rebounder (double-digits when starting at the 4) and can defend decently enough (he isn’t going to lead the league in blocks). Dirk is going to get a max, so that isn’t the question. It is where he decides to sign. Toronto has 3 big contracts coming off the books but whether or not get can bring back Dirk and Kobe (and possibly Grant Hill) is up for question.
606 Kobe Bryant SG 27 6'6'' 195 B+ A- B- A- C B
Speaking of Kobe, let’s take a look at him. He was part of a huge deal that saw him swapped for KG. Kobe has been relatively quite so far in the league. He put up 25+ ppg for 4 years and you rarely heard much about him being a great player. Kobe has the skillset to be a star on a team, it is just if he can find the right team and the right system. His PPG totals are down this year, but that is due to being on a team with Priest Lauderdale and Dirk, two other 20 ppg scorers. Like I said with Dirk, retaining both of these guys is going to be difficult for the Raptors. All they can do is offer the max and hope.
381 Josh Howard SG 26 6'6'' 211 B A- C A C+ B
The Cavs are in a spot where I don’t believe they have enough to try and contend, but have too much to suck and get a high pick. Howard is one reason for that. He is averaging around 20 ppg and 8 rpg playing the 2-guard, so he should be highly coveted after the big name guys go. The Cavs can afford to lose him since they have Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay at both positions, but Howard should be resigned and at least traded for some much needed help inside.
639 Jermaine O'Neal PF 27 6'11'' 229 A- C- C A- A- C
The Lakers will have 3 top free agents they need to bring back, but they are also close to the hardcap. J.O. gets overlooked since he plays with Shaq, Billups, Rip, and LeBron, but he is a solid player as is. He is one of the top rebounders in the game and is likely going to be paid for that. He can still put up around 15 ppg and play solid positional defense. He is likely going to be the guys under the max, but the Lakers hope they can get him back on a steal.
507 LeBron James SF 21 6'9'' 252 A- B+ A- A- B+ A
LeBron is the highlight of this free agent class. He is likely going to be at least A- across the board since he still has potential. He can play all 5 positions and likely would beast at all of them. He will rival EP with the number of MVP awards when all is said and done. The Lakers future hangs on the balance of whether or not he stays. He is going to get max offers from every team in the league that can afford to give one, and he deserves them all. 25+ ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg from a small forward is unbelievable. The Lakers are hoping and praying he comes back. If they don’t it is gonna be many sleepless nights until he does.
451 Chauncey Billups PG 29 6'3'' 216 B- A- A- A C C
The third guy here has been forgotten since his days in New Jersey. Billups is still a 20 ppg scorer with 10 apg. He is going to be 30 so that is a concern, but he is also one of the top point guards in the league. A big question with the Lakers is who is going to be gone. I feel it has to be one of these 3, and it is not going to be LeBron. They can try and steal JO or Billups back cheaply, but I have a feeling they will be priced out of their price range. It could be jO with LeBron being able to play the 4 or Billups with LeBron there as well. It should be interesting.
497 Dwayne Wade SG 24 6'5'' 212 A- A- C+ A C B
You can’t talk about LeBron without talking about the other top young free agent in Wade. Wade is older and isn’t as completely as LeBron, but he has been a force so far. He is a top ppg scorer who can rebound and pass the ball as well. The Grizzlies have some flexibility with being able to resign him with some other expiring contracts, but he is going to get max offers as well. If both are free agents, I think fbb might crash.
199 Etienne Preira SF 33 6'7'' 216 B- A- A- A- C C
A 34 year old SF likely wouldn’t warrant recognition on a top free agent list, but EP is different. The 9 time MVP can still play. 20+ ppg with around 9 rpg and 4 apg, but he gains a ton of value with the fact that he can block and steal with the best of them. He is going to get offers. I have a feeling he is going to get max deals and a team hopes he retires before that contract gets too outrageous. But the Warriors have an interesting dynamic with Ep and SJax both expiring, can they keep both?
425 Stephen Jackson SG 28 6'8'' 218 B A B+ A- C C
Jackson is another quite guy that doesn’t get a ton of recognition, but that is mostly due to being the second best SG for so long (behind EP). He is a 25+ ppg scorer who can rebound, play defense, and dish the ball. He is going to be 29 so he is in that same max contract limbo with the years as AI and Dirk. He should get the offers and be a force until he retires. The Warriors are going to have to balance between EP and SJax with salary. The addition of Manu makes one somewhat expendable, but can they afford to lose a starter and get nothing in return? I doubt it.
499 Jameer Nelson PG 24 6'0'' 196 B- A C+ B+ C- B
Nelson would make a great consolation prize if someone strikes out on LeBron or Wade. He is a great scorer who can defend, but he does have some flaws. He can’t play the point at all and is small to be a 2-guard. That aside, 25+ ppg is great. He is a decent passer and rebounder, but he is going to get that max contract due to his scoring. It is going to be a lot of money paid to an outside only scorer, but if he can play decent defense and still score 25 or more a game, he is going to get max offers.
500 Emeka Okafor C 23 6'10'' 256 B C- C- A A- B
The only young big man worth mentioning (Darko is good but is really only a rebounding and blocker now, even with B+ inside), Emeka has improved to be a force. He is a very balanced big man. He isn’t going to be your star big who puts up 20+ ppg with 12 rpg and 3 bpg. He will give you those rebound and block numbers but with only 15 ppg. He is solid. Is he max material? I doubt it, but he is going to get paid. People want shot blocking bigs who can rebound, and the fact that he can score some only adds to his value. Remember the contract Marcus Camby got? He could end up a max offer if a team is desperate for a big.
456 Luke Ridnour PG 25 6'2'' 178 C A- A+ C+ C- B
Don’t be scared off by Like’s crappy numbers this season, he can play. He is a lethal scorer and a solid passer as well. Think of Nash. He had an off year this year, but he can still play. I don’t see him getting a max offer other than from one of the Oregon homers who will jizz if they get him, but he is likely going to be under those max guys in terms of salary. A desperate team might sign him to salvage something out of this free agent class and hope he can put up Nash numbers. Mops is trying to hurt his value by not featuring him so he can sign him on the cheap but we see what you are doing.
