Post by donatello2424 on Mar 13, 2010 11:21:20 GMT -5
It is early in the season, but here is something for the teams with massive cap space next season can look forward to. Here is a list of the top projected free agents. The list isn’t in any order, so it isn’t a ranking.
The list is dominated by big men with a handful of point guards. In a league with few top bigs available, this free agent class could be a gold mine and severely shift the power from one team to another.
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625 Stephon Marbury PG 30 6'2'' 180 C+ A- A- A- D+ D
The Celtics have been trying to trade Marbury for a while now with no success. Now, he is an expiring contract. Given a chance to actually play and produce in Boston, he is showing that he isn’t as horrible as some people thought. He is averaging careers highs in both ppg (20.5) and spg (2.3). His apg number is also good for 8th in the league. While his turnovers are high, he makes up for it with his high apg totals. It will be interesting to see where he goes. He might sign a year deal of around 10 million or so for a team who tries to trade him for expiring and a pick. If not, then he might be a mle player to help a team out. If they get him for the mle, they will be one lucky team.
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543 Al Jefferson PF 22 6'11'' 279 A- C- D+ B+ A- A
Jefferson really leads the power forwards here. He is looking for his first contract after his rookie deal. Jefferson is going to get the max, and he deserves it. 20/11 along with 2 bpg, along with A scouted, he is going to get the max. The Nets will have Diawara’s cut salary off the books so while it appears they will be close to the HC next year, they actually won’t. Which is lucky for them since they more than likely would not have been able to bring back both Big Ben and Al. However thinking long term, they do have Carter and Diop expiring after next season, which is going to be in the back of the Nets’ heads.
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279 Ben Wallace PF 32 6'9'' 240 C F C A+ B+ C
I think Ben often gets overlooked. He has usually shunned those waiting for him to fit free agency by signing 3 or 4 year deals for a very cheap amount. The reason I put him on this list is because he is one of only a fre players in the league who is a true defender/rebounder. While he is only at around 2.5 bpg this year, in previous years he pulls down over 3 a game. Add that to his 11 rpg he is a very productive 32 year old. The nets hope he offers to come back at a cheap amount like his history suggests he will, but most teams in the league hope he hits the open market since his skill set is at a premium.
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541 Josh Smith PF 21 6'10'' 226 B+ C+ C A- B+ A
Smith is another one of the expiring rookies that will be looking for a big pay day. Smith is a great shot blocker and is a decent rebounder (10 or so a game), however don’t let that B+ inside fool you, he isn’t a good scorer. His B+ is likely due to an insane jumping rating. His .386 fg% shows that he has trouble scoring. Of course he is still young and has potential (even though he didn’t go up in TC), so he can improve that. However it is going to take a lot of articles and IT’s to make him a true stud. He is going to get the max due to his shot blocking alone.
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250 Chris Andersen C 29 6'10'' 234 B- C- C A B- B
You usually won’t see someone like Andersen on a list like this, but I feel he is in the same mold as Ben Wallace. Andersen is a solid rebounder (9 a game) and a good shot blocker (3 bpg). He is a mle type player and that is about right. He could be signed for a little more because of his blocking. I see him as very similar to Big Ben. Andersen is a slightly worse rebounder, but won’t kill you with his fg, ft, and 3-point percentages like Ben will.
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302 Jerald Honeycutt SF 32 6'9'' 245 C+ C A- B+ A- C
Honeycutt seemed to be the forgotten free agent last season, so he signed a one year deal to bring himself back into the marketplace next season. He is an interesting player with his ratings and could be a great backup, but he has been starting and is impressive. He isn’t much of a scorer, but he has shown his rebounding this season playing power forward and even center for the Bullets. 11 rpg is great and should only go up with more minutes at a big man position. He isn’t a shot blocker or a ball stealer (0.6 pg for both), but he should play decent enough defense. Don’t forget his passing if you need a backup point as well. 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio is fine. Just imagine him backing up all 5 positions.
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587 Richard Hamilton SG 29 6'6'' 185 C+ A+ C A- D+ C
Rip came to the Bullets after the Lakers went over the hard cap and needed to get rid of salary. Being their worst starter, it was Rip who was the sacrificial lamb. Rip has taken that and turned into a very solid scorer for the Bullets. 25 ppg and around 1.5 spg is solid for this wing. He is also averaging around .460 from fg% and over .400 for 3-point territory. If a team needs a guard for their outside focused team, you can’t get much better than Rip. The question is whether or not the Bullets can resign him. They have Brand expiring next season so they have to think long-term, but their franchise point guard is signed on for 3 more years after this one.
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642 Michael Olowokandi C 32 7'0'' 272 B D+ C A- A- C
Kandi has had an up and down career. He will be great one year, and then crappy the next. He reminds me a lot of Nazr, has solid ratings but his stats don’t match them. Kandi is part of the Hawk’s AARP sponsored team with him, Webber, and Nash. However, Kandi can still play some. 16 ppg, 11 rpg, and around a steal and a block a game. He also shoots a high percentage, which is key for a big man. He is not going to get the max (I hope at least), but he could be a nice piece to a team who needs a big in the middle. Kandi isn’t a top one, but he is serviceable. In a league with not many top big men, serviceable can pay some big dollars.
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612 Dwight Howard C 21 7'0'' 256 A- C D- A- A C
The cream of the crop of all of the expiring rookies (sorry Al Jeff). 24 ppg, 12 rpg, and 2.6 bpg is studly. His fg% is a little…shitty…but due to how great he is he is going to get a max. Charlotte needs to bring him back if they want a chance to compete sometime this decade. However, reports are coming out of the trade block that Spencer is trying to trade him…because he is worried about bringing him back. If he can get a stud in return for him, then take it. However, more than likely Spencer will take his chances with that beast that is free agency.
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568 Larry Hughes PG 28 6'5'' 187 B A- A- A C- D
Hughes is forgotten being on the Cavaliers, but if you look at his stats, you will see why I put him on this list. 22 ppg and around 10 apg is very solid. 2 spg and around 2.5 topg make him a very good point guard. Hughes is a great scorer (take a look at his fg%, it is shocking). Will he get a max offer? I doubt it. While he is great, there is something about him that doesn’t scream max. I can see him getting something like a 3 year deal for max money, or maybe start the 1 year, high salary trend. I don’t think he is going to be the savior a team who signs him wants.
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551 Sebastian Telfair PG 22 6'1'' 173 C+ A- A- B+ C- B
It seems like this list is dominated by young players who are expiring off of their rookie deal. Telfair was the big surprise of that draft, winning rookie of the year honors. 21 ppg, 9 apg (2 topg) and over 2 spg make him a top, but little notched point guard. Minny will hope to bring him back (for the max, he is going to get it) and pair him with a top pick in this year’s draft. Maybe pair him with one of the free agents on this list to have a very solid young duo to build around.
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591 Paul Millsap PF 22 6'7'' 261 B+ C- C- B A- A
The Spurs have two guys on this list (the next one after Millsap) and should be able to bring them both back since they will have 8 million along with 4.5 in cut salary coming off the books next season. Millsap joins the list of young big men who are going to be free agents this offseason, and will be looking for a big pay day. He is likely going to get the max based on his 17/11 averages and his A scouted potential. The Spurs want him back for less, mainly due to the fact that Dirk, Manu, and Camby take up a chunk of their salary, and two max guys will put them in a tough situation.
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590 Devin Harris PG 24 6'3'' 189 B- B+ B+ B+ C- C
Speaking of the Spurs, we have to bring up Harris. I think Harris is right under those top point guards, but he has the potential to be on par with them. His numbers aren’t really mind-blowing (20 ppg, 8.3 apg, and 3.2 topg) but remember he is playing on a team with Dirk, Millsap, and recently acquired Manu. I do think some team is going to sign him to the max and try to pump some articles into him to reduce his turnovers, but the question is whether or not it will be the Spurs. The Spurs do have the luxury of being able to replace either Harris or Millsap if they leave (Perkins replacing Millsap or Dirk replacing him, and Manu taking over the point for Harris), but how good would they be if that happened?
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548 DerMarr Johnson SF 27 6'9'' 208 B A- C B+ C C
I through Johnson in here because he is a wildcard. With this free agency being dominated by point guards and big men, it seems that Johnson could see a decent pay day as a wing. His percentages are down some, but he is a 20 ppg scorer the past two years. He also has solid defensive stats as well as rebounding. He of course won’t get the max, but maybe a longer deal at his 8.8 million salary this year could be in the mix, or possibly up to 10 a year.
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645 Tim Duncan PF 31 7'0'' 252 A- C- C A A D
We continue with the big men. Timmy is one of the top bigs in the league. 25 ppg, 15.5 rpg, and almost 3 bpg puts him in a category all his own. The good thing with the grizz is that they can offer him a max deal and not have to worry about the HC right away, but they will only have 3 guys, be it 3 top guys, but still 3 top guys. He will probably sign back with the grizz, but other teams can hope to break up that 3-some.
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519 Allan Houston SG 36 6'6'' 212 B- A+ C C C- C
Yes he is 36, yes he will probably retire soon, but Houston can still score. Almost 29 ppg, almost .540 fg%, and .475 3%, so he can score. Yes he can’t play defense but who cares when you can score that well. I do think he is a wildcard player. He could get paid a ton and hope he retires before the contracts gets too bad, or someone could go low with a 10 million or so, or he could only get mle bids. I think all are possible. But if he doesn’t completely bomb in TC, he can still be a great starter for a team.
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452 Sam Cassell PG 36 6'3'' 199 C+ B- A- B+ D D
I am going to end this list with another old guy. Cassell, like Houston, is 36 but should get interest. Now I don’t see Cassell getting the money Houston will, but the mle is most likely. Him and Damon Stoudamire (signed the MLE this season) will likely be two of the top mle guys in this free agency. Sam has gone downhill, but he still can score with good percentages and is an efficient point guard. Great for a backup or spot starter.
