|
Sports Look
August 12, 2008
NBA top 20 Free
Agents - Week of August 11th
Ben Gordon
finds himself in a tough spot. He wants to get paid but doesn’t want to be a
Bull anymore. Gordon knows that Chicago’s backcourt is loaded with players that
play his position. If he takes the one year tender he knows that his minutes
will be cut for players that will actually be on the Bulls for years to come,
not a one and done player. Gordon has to find a team willing to give him a big
contract and the only remaining team with big money to spend is the Grizzlies.
The problem is that the Grizzlies are also stacked at the same position that
Gordon plays and he wouldn’t fit a need with the team. Gordon might have to
suffer this next season by taking the 1 year tender offer, not get much playing
time, and hope someone gives him a bigger contract next season.
With Josh Smith
finally signed by Atlanta, look for many of the other remaining free agents to
sing with teams either in the US or overseas.
The SF and PF
positions have nothing but bench players available at this point. They are
likely to be 9-15 place guys on a roster. The Center position still has some
intriguing free agents, nothing that really wows anyone but players that could
contribute. The PG and SG positions still have some decent bench players left
but a lot of the players looking for a home are older and looking for that last
contract or two.
1: Andre
Iguodala wants a bigger deal than the other restricted free agents received this
off-season and he could get it. Andre has a chance to be a better player than
any of the other restricted free agents this summer and he wants to cash in on
that potential.
2: Ben Gordon does not want to be a Bull but wants to
get paid at the same time. His best bet might be to take the one year tender
offer from the Bulls and become a free agent next season.
3: Jannero Pargo is looking at a few teams right now
with the Spurs looking to be the place he ends up.
4: JR Smith isn’t going to leave Denver and other teams
know it, that’s why nothing has been happening with him. Look for the Nuggets
to eventually get a deal done with him.
5: 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.
6: 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.
7: 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.
8:
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.
9: 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.
10: 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.
11: 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.
12: Carl Landry is most likely to resign with Houston.
The money and years is the sticking point right now.
13:
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.
14:
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.
15:
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?
16: 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.
17: 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.
18: Dikembe
Mutombo might be closer to 50 than 40 but he can still fill in adequately on
limited minutes for a team. It’s unsure if he will resign with the Rockets or
just retire.
19: DJ MBenga
had the best of luck last season. He got cut by the Mavericks in order for them
to sign Juwan Howard and then was picked up by the Lakers and made it to the
Finals. MBenga is a good third Center on a team and can be a second in certain
situations.
20: Theo
Ratliff still has some left in the tank as he showed at the end of last season
with Detroit. Ratliff should be signed as a third center on a team and could be
given more minutes depending on the situation.
Top 5 by
position
PG
1. Jannero
Pargo
2. Shaun Livingston
3.
Sam Cassell
4. Ronald Murray
5. Damon Stoudamire
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.
PJ Brown
2. Carl Landry
3. Robert Horry
4. Juwan Howard
5.
Austin Croshere
C
1. Alonzo Mourning
2. Robert Swift
3. Dikembe Mutombo
4. DJ MBenga
5. Theo Ratliff
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
Earl Boykins signed with
Virtus Bologna
Bobby Jones signed with
Miami
Shannon Brown signed
with the Bobcats
Jason Williams
singed with the Clippers
Francisco Elson
signed with the Bucks
Yakhouba Diawara signed
with Miami
Ryan Bowen
resigned with the Hornets
Josh Smith
resigned with Atlanta
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
|
