Summer 2010 & Available Players

FROM HOOPSWORLD

Point Guards:
Steve Nash (Team Option: owed $13.1 million for the 2009-2010 season): Point guard is the one position that is relatively thin with regards to this free-agent crop. As a result, the former two-time MVP will have plenty of suitors, with New York and former coach Mike D'Antoni set up as possible front-runners.

Rafer Alston (Unrestricted): Skip was impressive in the playoffs, helping to lead the Magic to the NBA Finals. However, he was relegated to the bench for key moments once Jameer Nelson returned for the Lakers series, and was then shipped off to New Jersey in the Vince Carter deal. He now finds himself backing up Devin Harris.

Chris Duhon (Unrestricted): Played extremely well over the first few months of last season, but then wore down in the second half.

T.J. Ford (player option for '10-'11 - owed 8.5 million): Ford would likely have to take a pay cut if he did opt out, but he would also have the opportunity to land a longer deal with more guaranteed money. Much depends on how he performs this upcoming season.

J.J. Barea (Team Option –$1.8 million): The Mavs will pick up this relatively inexpensive option, especially if they lose J Kidd this summer.



Shooting Guards
Dwayne Wade (Player Option - owed 17.0 million in 10/11): D Wade is widely recognized as the silver medal. Of the Big Three (LBJ, Wade, and Bosh), he is the only one with an NBA Finals MVP on his resume. Odds are he stays in South Beach, but anything is possible. Would the Illinois native consider playing alongside Derrick Rose for his hometown Chicago Bulls (who, by the way, will have plenty of cap space…)

Joe Johnson (Unrestricted): One of the more unheralded stars in the Association, Johnson is a versatile and valuable guard entering his prime. He'll be wooed by every team in the league.

Michael Redd (ETO - owed $18.3 million in 10/11): Redd, who is coming off an MCL and ACL tear, is a gifted scorer and great teammate, but is otherwise limited. He may choose to keep the guaranteed 18+ million and stay in Milwaukee for another year.

Ray Allen (Unrestricted): Some presumed Allen was on the down slope of his career after a statically disappointing 2007-2008 campaign which saw his scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers plummet during his first season spent trying to fit in with the rest of the 'Big Three.' But Allen responded with a surprisingly productive '08-'09, as his scoring jumped back over 18 ppg again. And the most impressive aspect of his bounce-back season was his incredible efficiency. Ray-Ray posted career-high shooting percentages from the floor (48%) and the charity stripe (95.2%).

Manu Ginobili (Unrestricted) – Yes, he always seems to be dinged up and has trouble staying on the floor due to his aggressive style of play, but (when healthy) Manu is one of the best players on the planet. He is a consummate winner and every team would love to have him on their roster.

Peja Stojakovic (ETO – owed $15.3 million): Due to recurrent back injuries that have frequently kept him out of action, it safe to assume Peja won't terminate early.

Kyle Korver (Unrestricted): There is always a market for one of the League's more lethal marksman.

John Salmons (ETO – owed $5.8 million): With Ben Gordon now in Detroit, Salmons will have a greater opportunity to showcase his skills in Chicago.

Roger Mason (Unrestricted): San Antonio got him at a steep discount last summer and Mason hit plenty of big shots during his first season with the Spurs

Raja Bell (Unrestricted): A respected defender that getting a little long in the tooth.



Small Forwards:
LeBron James (Player Option - owed 17.2 million in 10/11): The crown jewel of this class is the apple of the Big Apple's eye. No need to run down his resume, we all know the balance of power in the NBA will be shifted by his epic decision.

Paul Pierce (ETO - owed $21.5 million in 10/11): With Ray Allen being unrestricted, the C's could lose at least one-third of the Big Three. But with KG still under contract through 2012, and considering he is owed a whopping $21.5 million, Pierce may very choose not to opt-out.

Tracy McGrady (Unrestricted): How will his knee respond to last February's microfracture surgery? Will he return by the All-Star Break? Will the Rockets trade him? More questions than answers when it comes to Mr. McGrady.

Josh Howard (Mavs have a Team Option at $11.8 million in 10/11): Howard has encountered some off-the-court issues that have made Dallas hesitant to commit to him long-term…

Richard Jefferson (ETO – owed $15 million): RJ would have to take a huge pay-cut if he opted out; expect him to stay in San Antonio thru 2011

Mike Miller (Unrestricted): Had a underwhelming and disappointing '08-'09 campaign in Minnesota, but he'll have a chance to prove his worth as a Wizard in Washington.

Travis Outlaw (Unrestricted): Outlaw is relatively young and still developing. Word is the Blazers are shopping him this summer.



Power Forwards
Chris Bosh (Player Option - owed 17.1 million in 10/11): Bosh's future remains very much up in the air. He could very well be traded by February's trade deadline if the Raptors feel he's leaning towards leaving…

Amar'e Stoudemire (Early Termination Option - owed 17.7 million in 10/11): With Suns owner Robert Sarver in financial trouble, the Suns appear to be in full-scale fire-sale mode, which makes Amar'e another prime candidate to be traded (sooner rather than later).

Dirk Nowitzki (ETO - owed $21.5 million in 10/11): You know Cuban will break the bank to keep Dirk in Big D, but is the feeling mutual? Does Nowitzki want to spend the rest of his career with the Mavs?

Carlos Boozer (Unrestricted): As detailed above, he'll be a hot commodity. A 28-year old that is still a legit 20/10 threat every time he steps on the court.

Udonis Haslem (Unrestricted): The type of banger and enforcer every team could use.

Al Harrington (Unrestricted): He's a volume shooter and isn't a great defender, but the guy can give you 25 on any given night.



Centers
Yao Ming (ETO - owed 17.7 million in 10/11): Unfortunately for both Yao and the Rockets, Yao's '09-'10 season, and possibly even his career, are in jeopardy due to a serious foot injury. It is now safe to assume Yao does not opt out.

Memo Okur (Unrestricted): Centers that can shoot the three and stretch out defenses are always in high demand.

Marcus Camby (Unrestricted): The former Defensive Player of the Year will supply copious amounts of blocks and boards.

Tyson Chandler (ETO - owed $12.8 million in 10/11): Another big man battling nagging injuries, Chandler is still being shopped by the Hornets. Depending on his health, he may or may not choose to exercise his option.

Jermaine O'Neal (Unrestricted): In and out of the lineup the last few seasons due to various injures (do we see a pattern developing here among the big men?), but put up respectable numbers when he was able to stay on the floor.

Shaq O'Neal (Unrestricted): The Big Witness claims his goal is to 'Get the King a Ring.' We will all find how just how much gas he has left in the tank.

Brad Miller (Unrestricted): A reliable, versatile pivot – he played well for the Bulls after being traded to Chicago last season.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Unrestricted): Although clearly on the down slope of his career, Big Z remains one of the best perimeter-shooting big men in the NBA.


Next summer there will also be a number of top-notch talents from the 2006 Draft Class that will become restricted free agents, which is another interesting twist that doesn't get as much national attention as it should. Unless they sign extensions over the next 12 months, these players will all be able to receive offers from other clubs in the summer of 2010. With the large number of teams that are working to clear cap-space, a franchise may be certainly be willing to throw plenty of cash at one of these rising stars if they don't land the unrestricted FA's on their wish list:

Brandon Roy
Rajon Rondo
LaMarcus Aldridge
Andrea Bargnani
Rudy Gay
Tyrus Thomas
Kyle Lowry
Randy Foye
J.J. Redick
Renaldo Balkman
Sergio Rodriguez
Ronnie Brewer
Jordan Farmar

In addition, there are still a handful of quality catches from the 2005 Draft Class that are on the open market right now. All of these guys are currently restricted free-agents, and most of them will ink long-term deals this summer – beginning July 8th – but if any of them should accept a one-year qualifying offer, they will become unrestricted FA's next summer:

David Lee
Marvin Williams
Raymond Felton
Hakim Warrick
Nate Robinson
Jarrett Jack
Linas Kleiza


Last but not least, let's round out the complete list of players that will become free-agents in 2010. (Some of these names will have value due solely to the fact that their contracts come of the books at the right time):

Steve Blake
Jerry Stackhouse
Luis Scola (Restricted)
Ben Wallace
Amir Johnson
Joel Przybilla (ETO)
Larry Hughes
Quentin Richardson
Mo Evans (Player Option)
Carl Landry (Team Option)
Chuck Hayes (Team Option)
Eddie House
Rasual Butler
DeShawn Stevenson (Player Option)
Bruce Bowen
Devean George
Earl Watson
Luke Ridnour
Willie Green (ETO)
Louis Amundson
Nazr Mohammed (ETO)
Vladimir Radmanovic (ETO)
Matt Harpring
Ricky Davis
Adam Morrison (Restricted)
Derek Fisher
Speedy Claxton
Brian Scalabrine
Tony Allen
Patrick O'Bryant
Mardy Collins
Anthony Roberson
Michael Finley
Randolph Morris
Sasha Pavlovic
Antoine Wright
Steven Hunter
Anthony Marrow (restricted)
Brent Barry
Marquis Daniels (Team option for '09-'10)
DJ Mbenga
Chucky Atkins
Kelenna Azubuike (Player Option)
Darko Milicic
Dorell Wright
Yakhouba Diawara
Kwame Brown
Fabricio Oberto
Mark Madsen
Craig Smith
Darius Songaila (ETO)
Sebastian Telfair (Player Option)
Dominic McGuire (restricted)
Kurt Thomas
Antonio Daniels
Jerome James
Brendan Haywood
Tony Battie
Trenton Hassel
Anthony Johnson
Tim Thomas
Brian Cardinal
Damien Wilkins
Mark Blount
Bobby Simmons
Kenny Thomas
Matt Bonner
Etan Thomas

If they are still listing Rondo as a FA option, I have to question when this article was written.

Also Alston is with Miami now, not the Nets.

Thanks, 112288, it's a fascinating list. Even if it's a little out of date, it's the first time I've seen how many good players are going to be on the market. (Ricky Davis? Mark Blount? Sebastian Telfair? Danny, get out the checkbook.)

I doubt if it's a coincidence that so many players have expiring contracts the same year that the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. Since the NBA is not immune to the current economic trainwreck, it's a fair conclusion that all the talk about teams throwing big bucks at free agents is probably just that - talk. Here's why.

1.) There will be discussions sooner or later this year regarding a new CBA - unless the NBA players' union takes the same cement-head stance the NHL players' union took a few years ago, which was similar to bungee jumping without the cord.

2.) David Stupid and the NBA owners are going to push hard for a hard cap. Players had a lot more bargaining power in the 1980s when the current contract terms were negotiated. Revenues were soaring and people like Larry, Magic and MJ made basketball the popular worldwide phenomenon it still remains. The big difference today is that revenues are plummeting because few people have money to spend and prices are too high.

3.) Long-term guaranteed contracts may be a thing of the past. The NFL model is probably making NBA owners lose sleep.

4.) As generous as the soft cap is, big money superstars are still limited by the current CBA. Lebron, DWade and CBosh can only sign for 30% of the cap limit (I think).

According to nbatoday.net (thanks for the link, gyso) if you project a salary cap of $60 million for 2010-2011, unlikely but good as an example, then the most any team can offer to James, Wade or Bosh is the max contract of $18 million - except their own teams, which have Bird rights.

However, that was last year that teams were anticipating the salary cap would be around $60-63 million. Now there are reports that, because of the economy, the cap could be as low as $50 million.

My prediction: there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth and the big money guys will take the Bird bucks and stay with their teams.