Jun 19, 2007, 2:45 pm
From <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.insidehoops.com">[url="http://www.insidehoops.com"]http://www.insidehoops.com[/url]</a><!-- w -->
NBA free agent rankings key:
(U) = Unrestricted free agent.
? = Restricted free agent.
(P) = Player option to end contract and become unrestricted free agent.
(T) = Team option to end the player's contact and make him an unrestricted free agent.
(ETO) = Early termination option to become unrestricted free agent.
Chauncey Billups (ETO), Detroit Pistons, 6-3, 202, PG
Stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 42.7% FG, 34.5% 3FG
Comments: No one expects Billups to leave Detroit. If he becomes a free agent it's just so he can sign a bigger deal with the team. Of course, some other squad could steal him like the Bulls stole Ben Wallace, but InsideHoops.com figures there's a 90% chance Billups stays.
Vince Carter (ETO), New Jersey Nets, 6-6, 220, SG
Stats: 25.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.4% FG, 35.7% 3FG
Comments: Expected to become a free agent despite being set to earn over $16 million next season. Could stay with the Nets but anything seems possible. We think he'll stay with the Nets, though a sign-and-trade is possible. Only a select few teams could afford to sign him outright and his asking price is probably too high for their tastes.
Rashard Lewis (U), Seattle Sonics, 6-10, 230, SF
Stats: 22.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.1% FG, 39% 3FG
Comments: If the Sonics draft Kevin Durant with the #2 pick, is Lewis needed anymore? Rashard is big enough to pretend to be a power forward, but that's not his game, and he'd get banged around a lot. He's seeking a long deal. The Bobcats and Magic could bite.
Gerald Wallace (P), Charlotte Bobcats, 6-7, 215, G/F
Stats: 18.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, 50.2% FG
Comments: A force on both ends of the floor, Wallace is one of the most versatile talents available. Tons of teams want him, for his defensive skills especially.
Mo Williams (U), Milwaukee Bucks, 6-1, 185, PG
Stats: 17.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 44.6% FG, 34.6% 3FG
Comments: A breakout season for a dynamic, talented point guard. The Bucks would love to keep him. After a quiet rookie season with the Jazz, Mo got better each season in Milwaukee and it would be nice to see him hang around and become a building block.
Mike Bibby (ETO), Sacramento Kings, 6-1, 190, PG
Stats: 17.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 40.4% FG, 36.0% 3FG
Comments: The Kings had a bad season, and Bibby was pretty unspectular. With Bibby, Kevin Martin and Ron Artest you'd think the team is just a power forward or center away from competing, but it's quite possible management blows up the team. A sign-and-trade sending Bibby elsewhere is possible, or he could stay. Word is, however, that he's not going to elect to terminate his contract, so we'll probably remove him from this list any day now.
Darko Milicic ?, Orlando Magic, 7-0, 275, PF/C
Stats: 8.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.8 bpg, 45.4% FG
Comments: Although it feels like he's been around for years, Milicic in late June turns just 21 years old. In other words, the kid is the same age as most college juniors or seniors. He only played 23.9 minutes per game last season, so those stats easily could have been higher with real court time. The Magic were hoping he'd break out this season, but it didn't happen. But the flashes are there and the potential is still big.
Desmond Mason (U), New Orleans Hornets, 6-5, 222, G/F
Stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 45.2% FG, 66.3% FT
Comments: Mason has been all over the place stat-wise over the last few seasons, scoring 17.2 ppg in Milwaukee three seasons ago, just 10.3 ppg with the Hornets two years ago and 13.7 ppg last season. A spectular dunker, Mason's limited shooting range hurts his offensive usefulness. But he's a talented, athletic player best used as a primary backup as an undersized small forward or strong shooting guard.
Grant Hill (U), Orlando Magic, 6-8, 225, G/F
Stats: 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 51.8% FG, 16.7% 3FG
Comments: Old but worth adding as a fill-in small forward or shooting guard. Probably best served joining a championship team. InsideHoops.com thinks he should sign with the Magic for the minimum just to make up for all the money they wasted on him during his injuries.
Luke Walton (U), Los Angeles Lakers, 6-8, 232, SF
Stats: 11.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.4% FG, 38.7% 3FG
Comments: Walton was having a very good season until missing action late January through mid March. He definitely benefitted from the triangle offense and we're not sure he'd do as well elsewhere. His value is probably highest with the Lakers, so hopefully he stays. Most teams would consider him a sixth or seventh man, not a starter.
NBA free agent rankings key:
(U) = Unrestricted free agent.
? = Restricted free agent.
(P) = Player option to end contract and become unrestricted free agent.
(T) = Team option to end the player's contact and make him an unrestricted free agent.
(ETO) = Early termination option to become unrestricted free agent.
Chauncey Billups (ETO), Detroit Pistons, 6-3, 202, PG
Stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 42.7% FG, 34.5% 3FG
Comments: No one expects Billups to leave Detroit. If he becomes a free agent it's just so he can sign a bigger deal with the team. Of course, some other squad could steal him like the Bulls stole Ben Wallace, but InsideHoops.com figures there's a 90% chance Billups stays.
Vince Carter (ETO), New Jersey Nets, 6-6, 220, SG
Stats: 25.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.4% FG, 35.7% 3FG
Comments: Expected to become a free agent despite being set to earn over $16 million next season. Could stay with the Nets but anything seems possible. We think he'll stay with the Nets, though a sign-and-trade is possible. Only a select few teams could afford to sign him outright and his asking price is probably too high for their tastes.
Rashard Lewis (U), Seattle Sonics, 6-10, 230, SF
Stats: 22.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.1% FG, 39% 3FG
Comments: If the Sonics draft Kevin Durant with the #2 pick, is Lewis needed anymore? Rashard is big enough to pretend to be a power forward, but that's not his game, and he'd get banged around a lot. He's seeking a long deal. The Bobcats and Magic could bite.
Gerald Wallace (P), Charlotte Bobcats, 6-7, 215, G/F
Stats: 18.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, 50.2% FG
Comments: A force on both ends of the floor, Wallace is one of the most versatile talents available. Tons of teams want him, for his defensive skills especially.
Mo Williams (U), Milwaukee Bucks, 6-1, 185, PG
Stats: 17.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 44.6% FG, 34.6% 3FG
Comments: A breakout season for a dynamic, talented point guard. The Bucks would love to keep him. After a quiet rookie season with the Jazz, Mo got better each season in Milwaukee and it would be nice to see him hang around and become a building block.
Mike Bibby (ETO), Sacramento Kings, 6-1, 190, PG
Stats: 17.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 40.4% FG, 36.0% 3FG
Comments: The Kings had a bad season, and Bibby was pretty unspectular. With Bibby, Kevin Martin and Ron Artest you'd think the team is just a power forward or center away from competing, but it's quite possible management blows up the team. A sign-and-trade sending Bibby elsewhere is possible, or he could stay. Word is, however, that he's not going to elect to terminate his contract, so we'll probably remove him from this list any day now.
Darko Milicic ?, Orlando Magic, 7-0, 275, PF/C
Stats: 8.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.8 bpg, 45.4% FG
Comments: Although it feels like he's been around for years, Milicic in late June turns just 21 years old. In other words, the kid is the same age as most college juniors or seniors. He only played 23.9 minutes per game last season, so those stats easily could have been higher with real court time. The Magic were hoping he'd break out this season, but it didn't happen. But the flashes are there and the potential is still big.
Desmond Mason (U), New Orleans Hornets, 6-5, 222, G/F
Stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 45.2% FG, 66.3% FT
Comments: Mason has been all over the place stat-wise over the last few seasons, scoring 17.2 ppg in Milwaukee three seasons ago, just 10.3 ppg with the Hornets two years ago and 13.7 ppg last season. A spectular dunker, Mason's limited shooting range hurts his offensive usefulness. But he's a talented, athletic player best used as a primary backup as an undersized small forward or strong shooting guard.
Grant Hill (U), Orlando Magic, 6-8, 225, G/F
Stats: 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 51.8% FG, 16.7% 3FG
Comments: Old but worth adding as a fill-in small forward or shooting guard. Probably best served joining a championship team. InsideHoops.com thinks he should sign with the Magic for the minimum just to make up for all the money they wasted on him during his injuries.
Luke Walton (U), Los Angeles Lakers, 6-8, 232, SF
Stats: 11.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.4% FG, 38.7% 3FG
Comments: Walton was having a very good season until missing action late January through mid March. He definitely benefitted from the triangle offense and we're not sure he'd do as well elsewhere. His value is probably highest with the Lakers, so hopefully he stays. Most teams would consider him a sixth or seventh man, not a starter.
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