The playoffs are over. The NBA Draft has come and gone, and now the only basketball action we have to look forward to is the Summer Olympics where the U.S. Mens’ Basketball Team (We refuse to call them the Dream Team again until they win Gold) will hopefully reclaim their status as Ass-kicker of Argentina.
Summertime is in full swing. For kids it means that it’s time to put on bathing suits and work on that pasty complexion. For parents it’s time to…well, work some more and curse the previously mentioned children who stand in the streets in delight. And for NBA General Managers (who border between parent and child at times…Mark Cuban) it means that it’s time for the free agent season to begin.
Money isn’t burning through the holes of many GMs’ pockets anymore. (See Elgin Baylor 2006 edition) Thirteen teams are above the salary cap and only seven have a chance at going the mid-level exception route. That means it’s going to be a touch time for players looking to cash in, and the days of GMs acting like donkeys and giving away their star players are over for now. Cough…Kevin McHale…cough…Chris Wallace. Excuse me.
While there may not be the potential to grab a standout like the 2009 class (Shawn Marion, Carlos Boozer), it doesn’t mean your team can’t grab a difference maker. But buyer beware, for every Shaquille O’ Neal or Steve Nash signing there is a Jon Koncak or Grant Hill to Orlando signing. (Seriously, for a while the guy was as brittle as Samuel L. Jackson in “Unbreakable.”)
In fact, it’s equally important to note how rare it is for a premiere player to switch teams in the free agency period, one per season on average in the past decade. While Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, and others have topped the headlines with their moves the only two All-Star calibers in free agency to make a switch since 2000 and win a championship afterward are Shaquille O’Neal and Chauncey Billups. So Clippers fan don’t get your hopes up. If the Nash signing didn’t bring a championship to Phoenix then that Daniel Gibson signing the Clips inevitably will make probably won’t put you over the top either.
Note that most stud players in this free agent class are restricted free agents so their respective teams they currently are on can match any contract another team offers.
Here’s a breakdown by conference of each team’s current free agent situation and their current roster situation. (The truth is that everyone is saving up for the 2009 and 2010 class, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun analyzing this one, right?)
(A humorous amount of props go out to free agent Courtney Sims, who shares the same name as a girl I dated in high school. Oddly enough my version played the post also on our school’s womens’ basketball team. I’d put up money she could do better than the NBA version, who averaged 0 points and less than a rebound a game. He will not be on our top 25 list.)
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
Unrestricted FA: P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell, Eddie House, Scot Pollard, James Posey
Restricted FA: Tony Allen
What They Should Do: The two key free agents they will want to keep are James Posey and Eddie House. Posey’s defense gave fits to Kobe and other stars in the playoffs, and he was a key contributor in their championship run. House is underrated and they should keep him and ditch my favorite Martian, Sam Cassell.
PJ Brown got his ring so it remains to be seen if he stays. He was a valuable piece, however, in the playoffs so they should keep him. He fits in perfectly with the team first attitude of the Celtics, is money from mid-range, and kept the Celtics afloat when Ray Allen and Co. went on life support.
A quality backup center is a need for Boston since Kendrick Perkins tends to get hurt. A look at Dsagana Diop might not hurt. If they keep Scot Pollard it is only to bring intrigue as to what hairdo he will choose next.
Toronto Raptors
Unrestricted FA: Primoz Brezec
Restricted FA: Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino
What They Should Do: They’ll definitely sign Calderon now that T.J. Ford went to Indiana. They made a potentially big move grabbing Jermaine O’neal but their best free agent bet would to be to a signing of Kurt Thomas. He would add depth to a pretty thin bench. Nathan Jawai may be good but not in his first year. Also, make more promos for Chris Bosh to be an All-Star. Those were hilarious.
Philadelphia 76ers
Unrestricted FA: Kevin Ollie, Louis Amundson, Herbert Hill, Shavlik Randolph
Restricted FA: Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams
What They Should Do: Signing Iguodala is a must. He’s the face of the young 76ers franchise. While he isn’t a superstar he definitely has All-Star potential and is one of the most underrated players in the game.
They’re also desperate for a shooting guard. When Willie Green is your main option you’re in trouble. That’s like having Keanu Reeves be your top choice for Hamlet. “To be or not to be. That is the question. Whoa…bogus.”
Last season the 76ers got a nice young player in Thaddeus Young. This year is no different when they grabbed forward Mareese Speights. They’re a few pieces away from being a title contender. Those pieces won’t come this year.
New Jersey Nets
Unrestricted FA: Darrell Armstrong, Bostjan Nachbar, DeSagana Diop
Restricted FA: Nenad Krstic
What They Should Do: Let the sacrifice to the basketball Gods in order to get LeBron begin. They got rid of Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter looks like the next to get the ax. It would behoove them to get a shooting guard
Re-signing Krstic was a good idea considering he had an okay season coming off an injury. Nachbar isn’t ever going to light up the scoreboard but he is worth taking a flyer on. Stromile Swift, well he is a last generation’s Tyrus Thomas. Never good. Coincidence that they came from the same college?
New York Knicks
Unrestricted FA: Fred Jones
Restricted FA: Randolph Morris
What They Should Do: Drop the entire squad except for David Lee. What they can do? That is a different story. The Knicks have no room to sign anyone. You can thank Basketball Satan, Isiah Thomas, for that. And their only pick in the draft was spent on Dario Gallinari, a talented young player, but not what they wanted. A point guard would have been stellar for a team that’s theme song is L.L. Cool J’s “Backseat in My Jeep.” If they could grab Andre Miller somehow things might start to look up.
By the way, at the NBA Draft Jeff Van Gundy said he still thinks Stephon Marbury can be a good point guard still. Was he watching the 1998 NBA highlights? Marbury, as much as I liked him at Georgia Tech, should be serving hot dogs on Coney Island. Sadly, he can’t even land that job because he can’t learn to distribute the condiments evenly, taking all the mustard.
Central Division
Detroit Pistons
Unrestricted FA: Juan Dixon, Theo Ratliff, Jarvis Hayes, Lindsey Hunter
Restricted FA: Alex Acker, Walter Herrmann
What They Should Do: Lindsey Hunter’s days may be numbered with the emergence of Rodney Stuckey (a name that always reminds me of Eddie Murphy’s character Randy Watson from “Coming to America.” Still, he is a great team guy even though he’s been in the league since 1955. Seriously, Hunter was the original spokesperson for Chuck Taylors, I think.
They also should be wise enough to let the Big Contract, aka Theo Ratliff go. He wants back on the team. I’d chainlock the doors like Morgan Freeman in “Lean on Me” to keep his ass out. He has the ability to hypnotize GMs into signing max contract deals.
Rumor is that the Pistons are taking a long look at Josh Smith. That would be a great pickup for them, or any team for that matter, given that the team lacked the youth and spark needed to hang with Boston.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Unrestricted FA: Devin Brown, Dwayne Jones
Restricted FA: Daniel Gibson, Delonte West
What They Should Do: Find a way to mold a hybrid out of Ben Wallace and Gibson/Sczerbiak. Then they would have a solid shooting guard. If they can’t do that then re-sign Gibson and West, who had a solid playoff run and may turn out to be the best player they acquired last season. They should tell Dwayne Jones to look into being a stunt double for Puff Daddy. His days are done.
It’s no secret that the Nets are looking to court LeBron in 2010. At this point you have to think Danny Ferry nervous meter is at DefCon 1. I would give up half the squad in an attempt to land Arenas and just pray Bron Bron has enough sympathy for his hometown franchise to stay.
You just know Ferry was knocking down LeBron’s door at 4 in the morning after the Ben Wallace trade going “See? We tried! The guy has the hops of Chris Webber but he still has the bad ass fro, right? (Nervous laugh) By the way, Bron, I have this contract here. If I can just find a pen…” to which LeBron slammed the door in his face shortly after.
Chicago Bulls
Unrestricted FA: Shannon Brown, Chris Duhon
Restricted FA: Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Demetris Nichols
What They Should Do: Find a legitimate center somehow. But how many of those are there in the league? They should keep Duhon and ship Hinrich out now that they have Derrick Rose. Heard of him? Guy from Memphis, likes to win, oh, basically every game he plays in.
They have to keep Ben Gordon. Do you trust Larry Hughes? Me neither. And Deng is one of the top free agents in the 2008 class. Will it strap them for cash? Sure. But this is the team that signed the backup singer for Fall Out Boy (Hinrich) to 11 million a year.
I still can’t get over the fact that Vinny Del Negro will be their coach. Doesn’t he look like every single TGI Friday’s restaurant manager you’ve ever seen?
Indiana Pacers
Unrestricted FA: Ronald Murray, Kareem Rush
Restricted FA: David Harrison, Andre Owens
What They Should Do: They can’t do much this year in the free agent pool but the additions of T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack allow them to get rid of Mr. Overrated, Jamaal Tinsley. If they want they can take a walk down the NBA Finals memory lane and sign Austin Croshere. Okay, Larry Bird, PLEASE don’t sign Austin Croshere.
Milwaukee Bucks
Unrestricted FA: Royal Ivery, Michael Ruffin, Jake Voskuhl
Restricted FA: Ersan Ilyasova, Awvee Storey (TO)
What They Should Do: Ask David Stern to go NBA Live style and just simulate games. That is the only way the Bucks will win, seeing as they are a paper tiger. Their big move was the acquisition of Richard Jefferson, a definite upgrade over Yi. But knowing them they will spend their mid-level money and make a sequel to “Pay it Forward.”
None of the guys up for free agency really matter to the Bucks. And Jake Voskuhl should be thrilled he is still in the league.
Southeast Division
Orlando Magic
Unrestricted FA: Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling, Maurice Evans, Adonal Foyle, Pat Garrity
Restricted FA: James Augustine
What They Should Do: The rumor is that Corey Maggette is pushing for Orlando to make a run at him. This would stack the Magic at forwards, who already have Rashard Lewis and the NBA’s most improved (and ugliest?) player, Hedo Turkoglu. If they make this move they will easily be in the running for the third installment of “Pay It Forward”, right behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
Washington Wizards
Unrestricted FA: Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Roger Mason
Restricted FA: None
What They Should Do: Now that Antawn Jamison has re-signed to a 4 year contract for 50 million all eyes are on Agent Zero. The Wizards reportedly are offering Arenas 100 million for 6 years and it may still not be enough. You can’t sign a guy fresh off a knee injury to any more than that, I think.
There’s not much help at center in the free agent pool so the Wiz will hope Brendan Haywood and rookie JaVale McGee can hold down the fort. Good luck with that.
Atlanta Hawks
Unrestricted FA: None
Restricted FA: Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Salim Stoudamire, Mario West, Jeremy Richardson
What They Should Do: Josh Smith is one of the most entertaining players to watch. Plus the cat is more athletic than 100 of me combined. I honestly think he could take a nap on the court and still get 2 blocks a game out of reflex. Add that to the fact that he paid tribute to the Human Highlight Reel, Dominique Wilkins, in the Slam Dunk Contest and I love him. If the Hawks are going to expand on their near monumental upset of the World Champion Celtics they have to re-sign him.
Josh Childress also would be a guy to keep as the Hawks have nearly no low court presence to speak of. (Unless you count Shelden Williams’ eyebrows.) We won’t even address the signing of Salim Stoudemire. We still haven’t forgiven him for that choke job versus Illinois in March Madness.
Charlotte Bobcats
Unrestricted FA: Derek Anderson, Earl Boykins, Othella Harrington
Restricted FA: Ryan Hollins, Emeka Okafor
What They Should Do: Emeka Okafor probably hasn’t been what the Bobcats had hoped for but he is a double double man every night and is a must sign on a Charlotte club that is seriously lacking identity. (Adam Morrison, we hardly knew ye.)
Whether they will keep Earl Boykins or not depends largely on if the rumors are true that Raymond Felton is being shopped around. (It’s quite likely considering they grabbed D.J. Augustin. The Bobcats are another victim to Low Post-itis. It’s a deadly disease afflicting most of the Eastern Conference.
Is it just me or does anyone else still think MJ could sign to this team for the mid-level exception and be starting in a week? He maybe should as an apology for his personnel moves.
Miami Heat
Unrestricted FA: Earl Barron, Jason Williams, Ricky Davis, Alonzo Mourning
Restricted FA: Blake Ahearn, Chris Quinn, Kasib Powell, Dorrell Wright
What They Should Do: You look at the list of free agent players for Miami and the only one that “needs” to be signed is Zo. He may be 38 but he provides an intensity this young team needs. Who would have thought Shaq would be out of Miami before Mourning? Could this be the beginnings of a rap battle between Zo and Shaq? Zo couldn’t do any worse than making a rap about having a vasectomy.
If Pat Riley knows what’s best for him he will let Mr. “I will shoot at my own team’s rim for a triple double” Ricky Davis go elsewhere. They have one locker room troublemaker as it is in Shawn Marion.
It might not be a bad idea for the Heat to switch Wade over to PG, drop everyone else except Marion, Michael Beasley, trade Udonis Haslem, and then go down to the South Beach courts. There they will sign the best streetballers in the land to 10 day contracts until the 2009 free agent season begins. They’ll have cap space then and can go after Carlos Boozer or Baron Davis.
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