2010 Free Agent List - Hoops World - Summer Dreaming

2010 NBA Free Agent List – Updated

By: Tommy Beer Last Updated: 3/2/10 3:18 PM ET | 2293 times read


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We have hit March and are inching closer to the to NBA playoffs, which many organizations and fan bases have been gearing for all season long. The impending arrival of spring also means that we are getting closer and closer to July 1st 2010, which many franchises and their long-suffering supporters have been preparing for (and fans have been dreaming about) for over two years now…

The First of July means many different things to many different organizations, players, GM's, and fans. For some it represents hope and the promise of a potentially brighter future. For some it represents hope and the promise of a potentially brighter future. Some associate it with anxious feelings and a franchise's turning point. Regardless, the significance of July 1st, 2010 – which is day that the most storied and talked-about free agent crop in the history of U.S. professional sports officially become free – can not be understated. It will shape the landscape of the entire league for a decade.

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With that as the backdrop, let's examine why this group has caused so much excitement/anticipation/chaos….
Let's start by breaking up the class into a few categories. First up, let's start with the big-name players whose contract's will expire following the 2009-2010 season, and will then become honest-to-goodness unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2010:

Joe Johnson
Carlos Boozer
David Lee
Ray Allen
Manu Ginobili
Marcus Camby
Raymond Felton
Tracy McGrady
Shaquille O'Neal

The next grouping is the list of stars that are signed thru 2011, but can opt out in 2010 if they so choose:

LeBron James (Player Option - owed 17.2 million in 10/11)
Dwyane Wade (PO - owed 17.0 million in 10/11)
Chris Bosh (PO - owed 17.1 million in 10/11)
Amar'e Stoudemire (Early Termination Option - owed 17.7 million in 10/11)
Dirk Nowitzki (ETO - owed $21.5 million in 10/11)
Paul Pierce (PO – owed $21.5 million in 10/11)
Kobe Bryant (PO – owed $24.8 million in 10/11)
Yao Ming (ETO - owed 17.7 million in 10/11)
Mike Redd (ETO - owed $18.3 million in 10/11)
(Obviously we know Redd won't opt out, and it's safe to assume the same for Yao Ming as well)

Next up, we have a few members of the 2006 draft class that will become restricted free-agents this summer, as they have played out the first four years of their rookie contracts and haven't signed early extensions:

Rudy Gay
Tyrus Thomas
J.J. Redick
Randy Foye
Kyle Lowry
Ronnie Brewer

In addition to the studs listed above, the following 'second-tier' players, young and old, are set to hit the open market as well:

Josh Howard (Team Option - owed $11.8 million in 10/11)
Brad Miller
Jermaine O'Neal
Kenyon Martin (ETO - owed $16.5 million in 10/11)
Mike Miller
Nate Robinson
Brendan Haywood
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Al Harrington
Udonis Haslem
Kyle Korver
Drew Gooden
Raja Bell
Luis Scola (restricted)
Sergio Rodriguez (unrestricted if Knicks don't offer QO)
John Salmons (ETO – owed $5.8 million in 10/11)
Tyson Chandler (ETO - owed $12.8 million in 10/11)
T.J. Ford (PO - owed $8.5 million in 10/11)
Travis Outlaw
Earl Watson
Larry Hughes
Luke Ridnour
Louis Amundson
Channing Frye (PO - owed $2.1 million in 10/11)
Grant Hill (PO - owed $3.3 million in 10/11)
Steve Blake
Quentin Richardson
Ben Wallace
Tony Allen
Marquis Daniels
Amir Johnson
Leon Powe (team option)
Anthony Morrow (restricted)
C.J. Watson (restricted)
Kelenna Azubuike (PO – owed $3.3 million in 10/11)
Jordan Farmer (restricted)
Shannon Brown (PO – owed $2.2 million in 10/11)
Dorell Wright
Joe Alexander
Hakim Warrick
Hilton Armstrong (restricted)
Chris Duhon

Rounding out the registry, there are a number of veteran role-players that will also be testing free agent waters:

Derek Fisher
Matt Harpring
Josh Childress (restricted)
Darko Milicic
Antoine Wright
Marcus Williams
Joe Smith
Jawad Williams
Mo Evans (PO)
Shelden Williams
Stephen Graham
Damien Wilkins
Luther Head
Rasual Butler
Kurt Thomas
Rafer Alston
Bobby Simmons
Matt Bonner
Tony Battie
Trenton Hassell
Sean Williams
Jarvis Hayes
Rodney Carney
Desmond Mason
Sean May
Etan Thomas
Kenny Thomas
Tim Thomas
Brian Cardinal



Read more: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=15458#ixzz0h5D4kxkf

Somehow I didn't realize that James, Wade and Bosh all had player options. I'm so sick of hearing about where these guys are going to play next season. The thought of them playing out their contracts and waiting for the 11/12 season in hopes of a higher cap makes me sick to my stomach. I really hope they all sign new contracts this summer so all this drama can be over and done with.