Sports Look

July 29, 2008

NBA Top 20 Free Agents for the week of July 28^th. 

1:  Emeka Okafor it appears that Okafor doesn’t want to stay and the Bobcats are looking for a sign and trade.  They are far off on contract negotiations and Okafor could eventually take the one year tender offer and become a free agent next season.   

2:  Josh Smith appears to be heading out of Atlanta.  Two teams are in the running for a sign and trade for him.  This would be the wrong move for Atlanta, they need to re-sign him and if that means they have to overpay for him, they need to do it.  After losing Josh Childress for nothing, they need some form of PR bump and bringing Smith back is what they need at this time.   

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:  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.

5:  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.

6:  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.

7:  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.

8:  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. 

9: 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. 

10: 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.   

11: 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. 

12:  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. 

13:   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.

14: 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.

15:  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. 

16:  Shaun Livingston could be a steal for a team willing to take a risk on him coming back healthy.  It’s a big risk, high reward sort of situation because if he blooms, he could really help a team. 

17:  Sam Cassell is likely to sign with a team like the Suns or Nuggets.  He is a coach on the floor but can kill an offense from his constant dribbling at the top of the key.  His minutes should be limited but is a nice insurance policy.

18:  Devin Brown is an experienced SG that is an instant offence type of player off of the bench.  He has been around the league and knows how to fit in with teams.

19:  PJ Brown is most likely going to retire but could be picked up mid way through the season just as he did with the Celtics this past season.  He is still an asset to a team in limited minutes.

20:  Alonzo Mourning is still saying he is going to play this season.  He is out for another 4-6 months but hopes to make it back around the All-Star break.  If healthy, Mourning can help any team he is on.  He is still a great defensive stopper and can score inside.  Miami appears to be the place he wants to be and would be a great lift for the Heat for the final stretch of the season. 

Top 5 by position

PG

1. Jannero Pargo
2. Louis Williams
3. Carlos Arroyo
4. Jason Williams
5. Shaun Livingston

SG

1. Ben Gordon
2. Ricky Davis
3. JR Smith
4. Michael Finley
5. Devin Brown

SF

1. Andre Iguodala
2. Loul Deng
3. Devean George
4. Dorell Wright
5. Ryan Gomes

PF

1. Josh Smith
2. PJ Brown
3. Carl Landry
4. Walter Herrmann
5. Robert Horry

C

1. Emeka Okafor
2. Nenad Krstic 
3. Kwame Brown
4. Alonzo Mourning
5. Francisco Elson

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 had had his offer sheet matched by the Warriors

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

Josh Childress singed with Olympiakos in Greece

Kurt Thomas resigned with the Spurs

Sebastan Telfair resigned with the Timberwolves

Maurice Evans singed with the Hawks

Loren Woods signed with Zalgiris Kaunas of Euroleague

Royal Ivey signed with the 76ers

Chris Anderson signed with the Nuggets 

Monta Ellis resigned with the Warriors

Dahntay Jones signed with Denver

Andris Biendrins resigned with the Warriors

Sasha Vujacic resigned with the Lakers

Ryan Hollins resigned with the Bobcats

Scott Church has been an NBA freelance writer for more than six years.  He resides in Utah and you can contact him at Scottshoops@yahoo.com. 

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