Sports Look

August 4, 2008

NBA top 20 Free Agents for the week of August 4^th

The list of available free agents is starting to turn into a ‘fill your roster’ type situation.  Besides Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala and Ben Gordon, each of the players in the top twenty are role players that will be coming off the bench.  Most of them can help a team though and could step in and get starters minutes incase of injury.  Look for more and more of these players to start taking larger contracts overseas instead of the veteran minimum.

1:  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.   

2:  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.

3:  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.

4:  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.

5:  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.

6:  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.

7:  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.

8:  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. 

9: 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. 

10: 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.

11: 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.

12:  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. 

13:  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. 

14: Francisco Elson has played decently throughout his career and was hoping to return to Denver until Chris Anderson signed there.  The market hasn’t really opened up for Elson and it might take him a while to find a place to play.

15:  Carl Landry is most likely to resign with Houston.  The money and years is the sticking point right now.

16:  Robert Swift is said to be wanted back by Oklahoma.  Swift has tons of potential but has been injured most of his time with the Sonics.  He will most likely get a two year deal in which time he has to prove that he can actually play the game. 

17:  Delonte West should be returning to the Cavs but could be included in a sign and trade if they are not able to reach a deal that works for both sides.

18:  Dorell Wright played decently with the Heat and has improved each year he has been in the league.  The question that NBA GM’s want to know is if he has improved enough?

19:  Luke Jackson is finally healthy and should be able to contribute on a team in a ‘shooter off the bench’ sort of role.  Jackson is actually athletic and can get to the basket, it will be up to a team to utilize this.

20:  Robert Horry will have a hard time finding a new contract and could be a mid year signing.  He didn’t play a lot with the Spurs this past season and the Spurs are looking to fill his roster spot with a younger player. 

Top 5 by position

PG

1. Jannero Pargo
2. Jason Williams
3. Shaun Livingston
4. Sam Cassell
5. Ronald Murray

SG

1. Ben Gordon
2. JR Smith
3. Michael Finley
4. Devin Brown
5. Delonte West

SF

1. Andre Iguodala
2. Devean George
3. Dorell Wright
4. Luke Jackson
5. Ira Newble

PF

1. Josh Smith
2. PJ Brown
3. Carl Landry
4. Robert Horry
5. Juwan Howard

C

1. Alonzo Mourning
2. Francisco Elson
3. Robert Swift
4. Dikembe Mutombo
5. DJ MBenga

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 singed an offer sheet with Oklahoma and the Jazz matched it.

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 Celtics

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

Ricky Davis singed with the Clippers

Emeka Okafor resigned with the Bobcats

Nenad Krstic singed with Triumph Moscow

Kwame Brown singed with the Pistons

Kareem Rush singed with the 76ers

Ryan Gomes resigned with the Timberwolves

Randolph Morris has singed with the Hawks

Loul Deng resigned with the Bulls

Louis Williams resigned with the 76ers

Brian Skinner signed with the Clippers

Adonal Foyle resigned with the Magic

Carlos Arroyo signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv

Walter Herrmann resigned with the Pistons

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. 

Add This Column To Your Site for free
Visit SportzNutz.com for more great columns and opinion