Sports Look

July 21, 2008

Sports Look: The Top 20

1:  Emeka Okafor is a beast on the boards and defensive end. The problem is he has been in Charlotte on a very bad team where he has often had to carry the load. If he could go to a team like the Jazz where he could concentrate on Defense and Rebounding, you would see his numbers increase and he would have the best year of his career. It's a good bet that he takes the one year tender to be un-restricted next year, otherwise he could get himself locked into the Bobcats organization for the next few years.

2:  Josh Smith is a hugely talented player that hopefully one day will be able to maximize that ability. I don't know if it's because he has been in Atlanta and not had the best coach or what, but this guy is a bit of a head case and that needs to be reeled in for him to become the player that many want him to be.  Philadelphia is the most likely suitor besides Atlanta. Look for the 76ers to offer him a deal with it loaded up front so that the Hawks will be less likely to match.

3:  Andre Iguodala would be hire but because of his restricted status, he's staying here. It looks like Philly will do everything they can to re-sign him.

4:  Andris Biedrins fits with almost any team in the league, being able to provide energy around the basket. Look for the Warriors to match any deal and for him to take the one year tender.  With the Warriors now having more cap room with Davis leaving, look for them to lock him up long term as long as he doesn't overestimate his value.

5:  Monta Ellis is one of the most exciting young PG/SG in the league but at the same time might be pricing himself out of a contract, thinking he is better than he actually is. He wants 10 Mil a year which is ridiculous for someone that can't even run a team full time.  The Warriors should lock him up now with Baron gone but can Monta even run the team?

6:  Loul Deng is also one of the players that should have taken the contract that was offered last year. He had an off year this past season and needs to prove that he will rebound from it before any team is going to spend big money on him. He will either reach a deal with the Bulls this summer or take the qualifying offer.

7:  Ben Gordon has to feel like an idiot right now. Because of bad advice last year, he turned down a $50 million deal that was way above market value. He will be lucky to get a full midlevel and will most likely take the 1 year tender and stay with the Bulls or be included in a sign and trade.

8:  Nenad Krstic would be much higher on this list except for a knee injury that really derailed him and made him look very ineffective when he returned. He has a good offensive feel and should take the one year tender with the Nets so that he can get fully healthy and work himself back into a bigger deal next season.  The 76ers are rumored to be interested in him.

9: Kurt Thomas is an excellent pickup for any team needing a tough inside presence. He will most likely re-sign with the Spurs.

10: Josh Childress is an excellent sixth man and will most likely return to the Hawks but would be an amazing fit for the Jazz or Suns.  He will have to wait till his Hawks teammate Josh Smith finds a home before someone starts looking at him seriously.

11: Jannero Pargo had an excellent run with the Hornets this past season and will try to cash in.  The problem is that teams know that he's instant offense off the bench but not much else.  It would be smart for him and extent his career if he stays in New Orleans where he can backup Chris Paul even if he has to take less money.

12:  Louis Williams had an excellent year with the 76ers and should get a look from some teams but his restricted status could scare a few people away.  Look for him to sign a decent deal with Philadelphia. 

13:  Kwame Brown will find someone to pay him.  He has size and he can play defense but his offense is atrocious.  He has been linked to the Jazz and Heat this off-season where he could come off the bench to provide inside defense for 20 minutes a night.  Look for someone to give him part of their mid-level exception. 

14:   Ricky Davis is another player that some teams will just stay away from.  While he has tried hard to change the league feeling of him being a head case, not every team is buying it.  The Heat have been rumored to be willing to take him back at the veteran minimum, if he can find a bigger deal anywhere, look for him to take it.   

15:  Carlos Arroyo isn’t very well respected around the league but put together a good year as a backup in Orlando and that should land him with a team this season. 

16:  Sasha Vujacic really showed a lot in the playoffs, being a defensive stopper for either guard spot.  He fits well in the Triangle offense but a lot of his offensive production in the playoffs took away from getting the rest of the team involved.  Look for the Lakers to re-sign him. 

17:  JR Smith would be higher on the list if he had matured some while in the league.  He is an amazing 3 point shooter and is instant offense off the bench but gets burnt on the defensive end.  He is a head case though and can be a distraction in the locker-room.

18:  Devean George is the best unrestricted SF on the market and falls to the third tier SF behind Corey Maggette and James Posey.  He provides defense and can hit threes at times.  He has slowed down a lot but could still be a good reserve defensive stopper off the bench.

19:  Jason Williams can still run a team but his minutes should be limited and he must avoid injury.  He would be a perfect fit as a backup PG on a veteran team like Phoenix or San Antonio.

20:  Michael Finley is most likely going to be retained by the Spurs but might have to look elsewhere if the Spurs decide to go for a younger player.  Finley can still hit 3’s and is a great veteran to have during the playoffs. 
 

Top 5 by position

PG
1. Monta Ellis
2. Jannero Pargo
3. Louis Williams
4. Carlos Arroyo
5. Jason Williams

SG
1. Ben Gordon
2. Ricky Davis
3. Sasha Vujacic
4. JR Smith
5. Michael Finley

SF
1. Andre Iguodala
2. Loul Deng
3. Josh Childress
4. Devean George
5. Dorell Wright

PF
1. Josh Smith
2. PJ Brown

3. Carl Landry
4. Walter Herrmann
5. Robert Horry

C
1. Emeka Okafor
2. Andris Biendrins
3. Nenad Krstic  
4. Kurt Thomas
5. Kwame Brown

Recently signed players:

Antawn Jamison re-signed with the Wizards

Baron Davis signed with the Clippers

Gilbert Arenas re-signed with the Wizards

Jose Calderon re-signed with the Raptors

DeSagana Diop re-signed with the Mavericks

Beno Udrih re-signed with the Kings

Chris Duhon signed with the Knicks

Gerald Green signed with the Mavericks

Elton Brand signed with the 76ers

Corey Maggette signed with the Warriors

Mickael Pietrus singed with the Magic

James Jones signed with the Heat

Ronnie Turiaf signed with the Warriors

Roger Mason signed with the Spurs

Brent Barry has signed with the Rockets

Patrick O’Bryant has singed with the Celtics

Jarvis Hays has signed with the Nets

Antoine Wright, Keith McLeod and James Singleton all signed with the Mavericks

Dee Brown signed with the Wizards

Eduardo Najera signed with the Nets

James Posey singed with the Hornets

Tyrone Lue singed with the Bucks

Daniel Gibson re-signed with the Cavs

Kelena Azubuike has singed an offer sheet with the Clippers and the Warriors have seven days to match the offer

Craig Smith has re-singed with the Timberwolves 

CJ Miles has singed an offer sheet with the Thunder, the Jazz have 7 days to match.

Keyon Dooling was signed and traded to the Nets

Rodney White signed with Maccebi Elite and joins former NBA players Marcus Fizer and Esteban Batista there.

Juan Carlos Navarro signed with Barcelona

Carlos Delfino signed with Khimki BC in Russia

Jorge Garbajosa signed with Khimki BC in Russia

Malik Allen signed with the Bucks

Boston Nachbar signed with Dynamo Moscow in Russia

Matt Barnes signed with the Suns

Tony Allen and Eddie House resigned with the Suns

Primoz Brezec signed with Virtus Roma in Rome

Scott Church has been covering the NBA for six years.  He resides in Utah and you can contact him at Scott@categoryonegames.com. 

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