-Last summer, Orlando had the biggest free agent pickup, acquiring forward Rashard Lewis in a sign and trade deal with the Sonics. Lewis' new contract was worth more than 110 million over 6 years.
Last summer, all major free-agents, with the exception of Rashard Lewis, resigned with their respective teams. Players like Vince Carter, Gerald Wallace, Anderson Varejao(better late than never), and even Andres Nocioni all resigned with their teams. While Rashard Lewis went for big money and a big fella(Dwight Howard).
This summer, on the other hand, has a lot more potential player relocations. Washington's Antwan Jamison and Miami's Ricky Davis, are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Their is also a solid number of desirable restricted free agents too. Perhaps the most coveted free agent this summer will be Warriors rising star, Monta Ellis, a restricted free agent.
A lot of superstars who signed max contracts in previous years, are now in their player option year, so they can choose to opt out and become a unrestricted free agent. Players like Washington superstar Gilbert Arenas, and Miami forward, Shawn Marion, have already expressed their desire to opt out and sign max deals either with their current team, or in a new location.
Now, Crossover Hoops ranks the top 10 free agents(some player options are not included, due the unlikeliness of them opting out) of this upcoming offseason.
And starting us off at number 10 is,
Jose Calderon-PG-Restricted Free Agent: Easily having the best season of his short career, Jose Calderon is quickly establishing himself as a top fleet point guard in the NBA. Currently 5th in the NBA in assists, only trailing 4 players who are averaging at least 10 assists per game, Calderon has proven that he can be the point man on any team in this league. I could see Calderon either staying in Toronto, teaming up with CB4 to make one of the nastiest young point guard-big man duos in the NBA. I could also seeing Calderon taking less money than he could get and joining friend Pau Gasol in the Lakers. Look for Calderon to sign anywhere from 6 million a year to 11 million a year.
-Could Calderon(L) and Bosh(R) become a future dynamic duo in the east?
9. Ben Gordon-G-Restricted Free Agent: With the exception of Kobe Bryant, not one player in the NBA emphasizes the word "shooting" in the shooting guard position more than Chicago's young gunner. Gordon could have gotten a contract around 50 million over 5 years last summer, but he turned it down, thinking he could hit the jackpot as a restricted free agent this summer. With both Gordon and Luol Deng's contracts coming off the books this summer, Chicago will have to decide who they want to spend their money on. Most people expect them to give Deng more than Gordon, and who wouldn't, if he stays healthy, Deng could be a future 20/7 player in the NBA. However, that shouldn't take anything away from Ben. Gordon will be a great guard in the league for the next 8 to 10 years. If he doesn't return to Chicago, I could see him signing with the Sixers, who will need another guard if Iguodala leaves, or they decide to put him at the SF spot. They are also in desperate need of a shooter, as the absence of Kyle Korver has hurt them tremendously in that category. I see Gordon getting anywhere from 8 to 12 million a year.
-Will Ben Gordon keep the Baby Bulls young core alive, or will he jump ship and join a team in need of a big time scoring guard?
8. Corey Maggette-F/G-Player Option: Maggette, in my opinion, is one of the most unappreciated and underrated players in the game today. For the past 3 years, he hasn't had an ideal relationship with coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. However, despite all the problems, Maggette has shown he is a great all around player this year. Any team would be lucky to have this kid. He can score 20+ points and grab at least 7 rebounds on any given night. He is still relatively young, and will be an effective 1st or 2nd option on almost every team in the league. Due to the problems him and Coach Dunleavy have faced over the past few years, I do not see Corey returning in a Clips uni next year. Teams I see him possibly ending up with are Miami, San Antonio, Portland, and New York. He will most likely get anywhere from 8 million a year to 12 million a year.
-As of March 21, Maggette is averaging 22.4 points per game, which is a career high for him. He is currently 10th in the league in PPG. He is also shooting a career best, 40.8% from beyond the arc.
7. Luol Deng: F: Restricted Free Agent: Last summer, Deng was reportedly offered a 5 year 50 million dollar contract extension with the Bulls. However, he supposedly turned it down and decided to become a restricted free agent this summer. Deng could be a star small forward in the near future, as long as he is in the right place at the right time, and consistently works on his game. Currently Deng is one of the centerpieces of the Baby Bulls young core, which includes himself, guard Kirk Hinrich, forward Andres Nocioni, guard Ben Gordon, center/forward Joakim Noah, and forwards Tyrus Thomas and Drew Gooden. Deng could choose to try and sign with a team where he would be the focal point in the offense, or he could stay in Chicago, and be a big part of a team that is only a good coach away from being a top notch team in the East. I can't see Deng going anywhere else, because it seems he is happy in Chicago, but for him to stay, he's going to have to compromise on his salary. If he wants to be apart of a good Chicago team, he will have to take less money in order for Chicago to try and resign Gordon and possibly another key free agent. I see Deng getting anywhere from 7 million a year to 14 a year.
-If Deng stays in Chicago, he could be apart of a Bulls squad that will rival LeBron's (L) Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
6. Andre Iguodala: G/F: Restricted Free Agent: Like Deng and Gordon, Iggy Pop supposedly turned down a reported 57 million dollar contract spread over 5 years. Some people thought he was nuts, others, thought he could get more this summer. So, the season began, Iggy's numbers and Philly's performance were nowhere near worth a 57 million dollar contract. Unexpectedly, things began to change, Iguodala's numbers improved and Philly began to win games. In games spanning from Feb 5th to March 19th, Philadelphia won 16 out of 20 games. Including 2 4 game winning streaks and 1 5 game winning streak. In that stretch the Sixers beat playoff contenders San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Orlando and Washington, en route to the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. For the season, Iguodala is averaging a career high 19.7 ppg. Most likely, Iguodala returns to Philly due to their recent success. He will probably get anywhere from 9 million a year to 15 million a year.
-Iguodala and the Sixers have been rising to the occasion as of late, looking to capture a playoff spot in the East.
5. Antwan Jamison-PF-Unrestricted Free Agent: The biggest name unrestricted free agent on the market. Antwan is nearing the end of the peak of his career. He is a 20/10 player every night, and has being carrying the load for the Wizards, along with Caron "Tough Juice" Butler, during Gilbert Arenas' absence. Antwan is a nightly inside scoring threat, and will provide experience, leadership, and instant offense for any team that decides to sign him. If he decides to leave Washington, which he most likely will if Arenas leaves, I could see him signing with a team like Chicago, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Charlotte, or Miami. Since he is turning 32 in June, don't expect him to get a large, long-term deal. I see him getting a contract around 4 years 36 million. Normally players his age should get less, but he has proven to stay healthy and play at a high level since breaking the 30 year mark.
-Jamison and the sixth place Wizards have been playing very well in the absence of Agent Zero.
4. Shawn Marion-F-Player Option: For the past 2 years, Marion had complained about not getting enough recognition as a player, despite having a max deal, being a 4 time all-star, making the All-NBA third team twice, and being in the top 5 in voting for Defensive Player of the year two times. Well, prior to All-Star break, Marion got his wish, and was traded to the worst team in the NBA, the Miami Heat, in a blockbuster deal which brought the Diesel to Phoenix. Now Marion has to decide if he wants to take a pay cut, and play for a winning team, or go to whoever offers him a max contract. I have bashed Marion for being selfish in the past (see my article on the Heat-Suns trade), and I still think he is selfish. Don't get me wrong, I've talked to him in the past before, he is a very nice guy. But sometimes, if you really care about winning you can't care about individual accolades, which Shawn has being doing for the past 2+ years. I see Shawn most likely opting out and signing with possibly the Warriors, Bobcats, or 76ers. He will most likely get 10-12 million a year in the contract he signs.
-(From Left to Right) Marion, Pat Riley, and Dwyane Wade have only won 12 games this year. The Heat are 3-15 since Marion's arrival in South Beach. They stand at a league worst 12-56.
3. Monta Ellis-G-Restricted Free Agent: So far, Ellis' career reminds me eerily of how Gilbert Arenas' career began. Like Arenas, Ellis has begun his young, promising career in Golden State, after being selected in the second round. Just like Arenas, Ellis won the Most Improved player award in his second year. If he stays in Golden State, Ellis will be the future superstar in Golden State, where he will most likely enjoy success, if Warriors GM Chris Mullin continues to put the right puzzle pieces in Warrior uniforms. If, however, Ellis decides to follow in Arenas' footsteps and sign elsewhere, I see him most likely signing in Memphis, where he, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and this years draft pick will form a young, exciting core, which could contend in the west for years to come. He will most likely get a max deal, or something close to it, making anywhere from 10 million a year to 15 million a year.
-Quickly becoming one of the best scoring guards in the league, Ellis has to decide what he wants this summer: money or wins.
2. Baron Davis-PG-Player Option: For the past 3 1/2 years, Baron Davis and the Warriors have quickly become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NBA. Leading a team that is averaging a league best, 110.9 points per game, Davis has shown that he is a top notch point guard in this league. After running the show for the Warriors, who pulled a HUGE 8 over 1 seed upset in last years playoffs over Dallas, it is tough to see B-Diddy wanting to play anywhere else. He has had, arguably, one of his best seasons this year, and I see him opting out of his contract in order to gain stability, by signing a new, long-term contract with the Warriors. I see him signing a 4 or 5 year contract, worth about 40 to 50 million.
-Not letting an All-Star snub bring him down, Baron Davis has lead the Warriors to a potential playoff berth in the toughest Western Conference in the history of basketball.
AND FINALLY...THE NUMBER ONE FREE AGENT ON THE MARKET THIS SUMMER...
1. Gilbert "Agent Zero" Arenas-PG-Player Option: It seems almost a given Arenas is going to opt out of his contract at seasons end. Gilbert has stated more than once, in his own, NBA.Com blog, that he is going to opt out, and sign a max deal with either the Wizards or a new ball club, where he can win a championship. Despite playing only 8 games so far this season due to injury, Arenas will still most likely sign a max deal. He is a superstar, and he deserves superstar money. He is only of the most clutch players in the NBA, and easily a top 5 scorer in the league. If he can come back, and help get the Wizards far in the playoffs, I see him resigning with the Wizards, and improving their chances of going to the finals and representing the East. If he decides to leave, I see him signing with his hometown Clippers, or the Sacramento Kings.
-Agent Zero is currently in the same dilemma as his heir apparent in Golden State. Does he want money or wins?
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