Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Top free agents in the NBA
Vincent Goodwill / The Detroit News
1. Ron Artest (Houston)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $7.4M/ 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists
• Age: 29
• Outlook: Artest has transformed himself from combustible to dependable. When Tracy McGrady went down last season, Artest stepped up in every way possible. He helped the overachieving Rockets push the Lakers to seven games in the West semifinals, which boosted his value. He's still one of the top five perimeter defenders in the game, and in the right situation, could be extremely helpful to teams looking to get over the hump. With the recent news about Yao Ming, Houston may go into full-bore rebuilding mode.
• Interested teams: L.A. Lakers, Houston, Cleveland
• Likely landing: Houston
2. Hedo Turkoglu (Orlando)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $6.8M/16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists
• Age: 30
• Outlook: Turkoglu helped carry the Magic to the Finals. His ballhandling skills are rare for his size (6-foot-11) and he's more than capable of running an offense. He makes difficult shots and isn't afraid to shoot with the game on the line. But since Orlando acquired Vince Carter, it's clear Turkoglu will be hitting the open market, although teams may be hesitant to give a 30-year-old $10M per year.
• Interested teams: Toronto, Portland, Sacramento
• Likely landing: Portland
3. Trevor Ariza (L.A. Lakers)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $3.1M/8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals
• Age: 23
• Outlook: Ariza's one of few who should get a raise. His game has grown by leaps and bounds after missing the 2008 playoff run, and it showed how much he worked on his game in the meantime. He shot nearly 50 percent from 3-point range during the playoffs, and "stole" two games from Denver in the West finals. He's only tapped the surface of his potential and is a top priority for the Lakers.
• Interested teams: L.A. Lakers, Detroit
• Likely landing: L.A. Lakers
4. Paul Millsap (Utah)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $797K/13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, .96 blocks
• Age: 24
• Outlook: Millsap always was viewed as a valuable backup, but in 2009, he stepped up in a major way after Carlos Boozer went down for extended periods. At 250 pounds, he's built to take the extra beating, and is the kind of player Jazz coach Jerry Sloan craves. He's aggressive on the glass, averaging almost nine rebounds in 30 minutes.
• Interested teams: Detroit, Utah, Oklahoma City
• Likely landing: Oklahoma City
5. Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $14.1M/11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks
• Age: 29
• Outlook: Odom's inconsistency always has worried GMs, but his willingness to come off the bench during a contract year has to earn him some brownie points. He's easily one of the most versatile players in the game when motivated. His efficient performance in the playoffs turned some heads.
• Interested teams: L.A. Lakers, New Orleans
• Likely landing: L.A. Lakers
6. Ben Gordon (Chicago)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $6.4M/20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists
• Age: 26
• Outlook: Gordon has signed one-year deals in the past after failing to agree to long-term deals with the Bulls, and logic would indicate he's looking. He's one of the better clutch shooters, evidenced by his performance in the playoffs against Boston. Because of his height (6-3), he's a smallish shooting guard in the Vinnie Johnson-mode, but for the money he's looking to make ($10-11M), coming off the bench might not be best.
• Interested teams: Chicago, Detroit
• Likely landing: Detroit
7. David Lee (New York)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $1.7M/16.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Age: 26
• Outlook: Lee led the NBA in double-doubles (65) and is an ideal role player. He excelled in Mike D'Antoni's system, willing to do all the dirty work necessary to complement anyone. He turned down a three-year, $8M offer to test the market, so he's expecting at least $10M, and the Knicks can match any offer. But the acquisition of Darko Milicic and drafting Jordan Hill would seem to indicate Lee's expendable.
• Interested teams: New York, Oklahoma City, Atlanta
• Likely landing: New York
8. Jason Kidd (Dallas)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $21.3M/9 points, 8.7 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.98 steals
• Age: 36
• Outlook: Even though Dallas was bounced in the second round, Kidd's teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry had career years, thanks to Kidd. His veteran leadership still is valued, and he's a triple-double waiting to happen. His age would be a concern, but he keeps himself in excellent shape and his shooting percentages are up from his career averages. He wants a ring, badly, so L.A. is an obvious destination. But Dallas owner Mark Cuban has deeper pockets than most, so it wouldn't be shocking if Kidd returned to Dallas.
• Interested teams: Dallas, New York, L.A. Lakers
• Likely landing: Dallas
9. Charlie Villanueva (Milwaukee)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $3.4M/16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds
• Age: 24
• Outlook: Villanueva is a big man who can score from all angles, and is just tapping the surface of his potential. He's not as strong on the boards as you'd expect from a guy who's 6-11, and his defense could use some work. After seeing guys in the same mold, however, lead Orlando to the NBA Finals (Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis), he will be in high demand. He's never played big minutes before, so his production should rise.
• Interested teams: Detroit, Cleveland
• Likely landing: Detroit
10. Mike Bibby (Atlanta)
• 2008-09 salary/stats: $14.9M/14.9 points, 5 assists
• Age: 31
• Outlook: Bibby's 2009 stats were down in almost every category from his career stats, but his savvy and big-game experience will make him a valued asset. Since Atlanta traded for Jamal Crawford and drafted Jeff Teague, it's unlikely he'll return. There was no way Bibby was going to command a high salary before the economy went in the tank.
• Interested teams: Atlanta, Cleveland, L.A. Lakers
• Likely landing: L.A. Lakers
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