Let the Mediocre NBA Free Agency Period Begin!
NBA June 30th. 2008, 11:35am
Unlike the trade-happy NBA draft, we don’t anticipate too much thrilling movement on the NBA free agent front, which begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. The consensus appears to be that there aren’t any franchise-changing players on the market, and the only teams with considerable space to make any moves are Philly and notoriously frugal Memphis. But most teams appear to be salivating over the summer of 2010, when anyone with cap room can make a run at Chris Paul, LeBron James, D Wade and Chris Bosh. We look at this year’s potential targets after the jump:
Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards - Staying? Going? He’s opting out, that’s for sure, but all signs point to him staying in DC. Would look nice in Philly between Andre Miller and Iggy, though.
Elton Brand, LA Clippers - Coming off a season in which he played eight games, we doubt he’ll leave $16 million on the table and opt out because who would give that much money to him right now?
Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings - Too crazy to attempt to project what he does. Seen chatter about how the Lakers Phil Jackson would love him.
Corey Maggette, LA Clippers - Anyone want him? Assuming Arenas stays in DC, Maggette is the best scorer on the market.
Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks will likely to match any offer he gets, but Philly seems to be the only team with a real shot.
Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards - Anyone want a small forward who likes to shoot and can be a prolific scorer, but doesn’t rebound or defend particularly well? Or at least not well enough to command the salary he’ll want/get?
Beno Udrih, Sacramento Kings - Played well after the Bibby deal, and if someone (Miami?) throws some money at him, do the Kings match it?
JR Smith, Denver Nuggets - Denver’s not going to let him go anywhere.
Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors - $17 million reasons for him to stay put.
66 Responses to “Let the Mediocre NBA Free Agency Period Begin!”
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June 30th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Los Angeles Clippers guard Corey Maggette told friends over the weekend that he was encouraging the Orlando Magic to make a competitive offer in free agency, allowing him to return to the team where he started his NBA career nine years ago.
Under salary-cap rules, the Magic have only the middle-class exception of $5.8 million to offer him in the first year of a deal. The Magic could build a five-year deal worth close to $40 million
If Orlando gets Maggette, they add another 20 points per game scorer to the lineup.
Maggette has until today to opt out of his contract.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Maggette sign and trade to Phoenix for Leandrinho is very possible
June 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Orlando is trying to get rid of Redick. They just drafted that SG out of WK. i dont think Redick wants to sit another year. He has said he wants out if Stan doesnt play him.
Someone will take Redick
June 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Jamison doesn’t rebound well?
I agree he doesn’t defend.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
The Verizon Center has a huge banner on the back side that indicates that Agent 0 will be back next year.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Hey… Rockets… please sign Carl Landry ASAP. Thank you.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Didn’t James Posey also opt out. He doesn’t have the “name” of some of these guys but I would love for the Cavs to get him.
How stupid could the Wiz possibly be to give 120 Mil to a guy with 2 knee operations. He’s a good player, but he’s not worth max money.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am
@pkiguy22 - When you spend that much money on a decoration, you don’t take it right down just because the party might be canceled.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Why would the Magic want another scoring small forward? I can see Maggette with Nash though.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Irish, why would anyone want reddick? No one went crazy when casey jacobson became a free agent and they’re essentially the same player.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Magette will only go to a city that has obscene nightlife.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Any thoughts on Gordon and/or Deng from Chicago? I think a sign and trade with Gordon is a possibiltiy.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:59 am
If Gilbert returns great, but we shouldn’t give him a max deal. 6 years/100 million is very fair.
I am pretty sure Antawn will re sign too. The team seems to foolishly believe that if healthy they are contenders for a title. Two issues with that, 1. they are never healthy and 2. even when all have been healthy the best the Wizards have been is about 10 games over .500. The team as currently constructed will continue to be decent but will always be out of the playoffs by the 1st or 2nd round.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:59 am
If someone killed Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, and Zach Randolph, would that free up the cap space now?
June 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
What would Orlando do with Maggette? Can they play Lewis, Maggette and Turko at the same time?
June 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Artest would be a great fit on the Lakers, he is exactly the kind of player they need.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
@TBL - It’s called pulling a “Team USA”
June 30th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
@cbh49er - Not a pussy?
June 30th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Antawn’s a power forward (hates playing sf and is not capable of guarding any 3’s) who has averaged better than 9 rebounds per game over the last three years.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
That’s just wrong, man
Just one more year of Starbury
June 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Haha, exactly Ron.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
bceagles - unfortunatly no. reggie lewis was still on the celtics cap after he died.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Has anybody said it yet? No?
Ok; Lebron > Kobe.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
This is true, he plays more PF than SF
He also has attempted more 3FG than any F in the league, save R Lewis
June 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
yay! jamison and gilbert are back! yay! we can get beat soundly in the first round again because we can’t rebound or defend! yay!
/jacks 3
June 30th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Okay, I’m pretty sure CP3 is a free agent after THIS season…
June 30th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Damn, ok, back to the drawing board…
June 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
this says CP3 in 2010
this says Paul can opt out in 2009
June 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Spencer, your team beats the Wizards year after year, was that really necessary?
June 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
All I know is that in my NBA 2K8 game, which started with this past season, CP3 had a 1 + 1 deal, with that option belonging to the Hornets, and that the Hornets’ contracts are beyond abysmal.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
What would Orlando do with Maggette? Can they play Lewis, Maggette and Turko at the same time?
put Corey at the 2 spot.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
June 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
What about Eddie House? I think he may find some takers after the Finals. It is always nice to have a streaky hot shooter coming off the bench.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I would assume Nelson, Maggette, Turk, Lewis, Howard, but, honestly, the Magic don’t need another “athlete” type on the wings; they need a banger to move Lewis back to the 3 from time to time.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
@rockabye- Tony Battie. He was out all year last year. He is still under contract and is supposed to contribute. I dont know what, but he is another big body
June 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Irish, why would anyone want reddick? No one went crazy when casey jacobson became a free agent and they’re essentially the same player
sorry hef, i didnt see this at first. Comparing Casey Jacobson to Redick is a fair comparison. Both were lights out shooters at college and both sat on the bench in the pros. So maybe you are right, he will just fade off in the sun
June 30th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
The Magic would be better served with a lockdown defender over another scorer who needs the ball a lot.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Maggette at the two? Interesting. Don’t know if he shoots the three well enough to stretch the D, but guess you have Hedo and Lewis to handle that, huh?
He can be a good defender …
June 30th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
@ruckmaker- who would you suggest? I agree with that 100%. Courtney Lee is supposed to be a good defender.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
@TBL- i dont think Orlando can afford him though. Like i said in my first comment, they can only offer $6 mill the first year.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
RE: Reddick and Jacobson
Trajan Langdon’s Team has been in the Euroleague finals the last three years and won the title twice. He was Finals MVP this year.
Its a case of NBA coaches not wanting to use and adapt with talents they have. Its why we see star players get tons of minutes and contracts while talented but flawed players sit on the bench so often. Its why the Spurs are good because they are a team that seems to avoid the trap over the years.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
You didn’t mention Monta Ellis being restricted and his hometown (Lanier, Mississippi is an hour away from MEMPHIS) who has a ton of cap space.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
didnt trejan blow out his knee early in his nba career though? i seem to remember that being a factor in him not getting time.
good to hear hes doing well though
June 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
cbh…sorry, i went over the line.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
If the Magic signed Maggette, they’d be the Atlanta Hawks or GS Warriors but with a legitimate threat in the middle (sorry Pryzbylla). So it could work. I’m not sold though but it could work.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
@onterrio: They just traded for OJ Mayo and our really guard heavy. I don’t see why they’d sign Monta, when they’re dying for a post presence.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Just to answer the Magic-Maggette rumors: Maggette (who has an option for $8 million this year) can’t get more than a mid-level exemption offer from the Magic. The way that works is that they can’t offer a contract with annual value higher than the exemption for this year, which is $6 million. So they can offer a 5 year, $30 million deal. That won’t get it done.
At best Maggette can force a sign and trade with LA, which is where JJ Redick and some expiring contracts and/or a #1 pick come in handy….
June 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
wow, Trajon Langdon. I read about him in SI playing in Russia
June 30th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
@soptmikelupica- i already stated that in comment # 1
June 30th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I believe the 3 point line is shorter in Europe, too. That coupled with all of the zone played in Europe makes a comparison between the two tenuous at best. Trajon wasn’t athletic enough to get open very often.
/Cavs fan who’s glad we wasted a 1st on him.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
are* really guard heavy. Fuck.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Wasn’t Sarunas Jaskikevicus lighting it up overseas? He was nothing but a cheerleader in the NBA.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
As for Chris Paul: He’s on his rookie contract. At the end of the 2008-2009 season, he’ll be in the same situation Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Josh Smith, JR Smith, Biedrins, et al are in this season: Restricted free agency. The Hornets can offer him the qualifying offer for one more season, then Paul would be unrestricted in 2010. However, any team under the cap in 2009 (which more than a few teams are projected to be under the cap, thanks to large contracts that expire and could be traded - Jason Kidd, Iverson, Marbury, etc) could offer Paul a contract, and the Hornets would have to match or lose him.
That’s the story with CP3.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
CBH - yes Sarunas is a great euroleaguer. Probably would have been decent in nba’s faster game if he came over when he was younger as opposed to when he was about 30.
Parker, Navarro and Scola made for productive NBA players recently.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I lost all credibility on Sarunas, I wanted to the Cavaliers to do whatever it took to unite Z with a fellow Lithuanian.
I gained it all back when I rightly pointed out that Kobe is still better than LeBron and then him proving it by single handedly decimating Utah and the Spurs while his teammates did everything they could to ensure an early playoff exit.
That should do it.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
@ Irish @soptmikelupica- i already stated that in comment # 1
Except your math was 5 for close to $40 Million, not $30 Million, I do not know if Lupica is right about the annual amount but it is a different comment.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
sorry Ted. I got my comment from the Orlando Sentinel. Why dont you go read it and brush up on the Magic
June 30th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
So teddy, read before you come around correcting people. Chime in when you actually know what you are talking about
June 30th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Whoa, you had credibility?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Yeah Nick P, when I said that Dirk was as good as Kobe… that gained me instant credit in the Nick P world!
June 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
TBL, with a week free agent class (I agree by the way) do you think we will have a trade happy off-season?
By the way, everyone does hate you
June 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Tend not to agree with TBL on most things NBA, but I’d say he’s more right than the guy who wrote the above.
Do I think these guys can change a franchise?
Gilbert - Considering the salary it will take, he will have a negative impact on whoever signs him.
Josh Smith - Good, not great. Will be overpaid.
Gordon - Sucks
Okafor - Will play 50 games maybe.
Deng - I do like him; don’t see him changing a franchise.
Iggy - will get paid to be the best player on a team; you can’t win a playoff series with him as your best player, though.
Monta - Could be a stud, but G-State won’t let him go.
Pretty sleepy offseason if you ask me.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I’m with you Nick P. I’m an NBA junkie, but this is hardly the summer a few years ago of Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and T-Mac when everyone thought they were all headed to Orlando.
Also depends on franchise changing guy. Maybe you just need a solid role player to d it up for you so James Posey ends up being a big addition. I think by TBL’s def, its a All-Star player ala Kobe, LBJ, CP3, DWade, etc. And by that def, it is a sleepy offseason.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
@TEDKERWIN @ STOPMIKELUPICA- read this link
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/30/corey-maggette-to-the-magic/
i was right. thank you very much
June 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3467806
Antawn staying.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
@ Irish,
I did not say you were wrong only that Lupica had Orlando being only able to offer $30 mil, I was just pointing out instead of saying “you already said that in comment #1″ I was wondering who was correct, that is the info you posted in that link. Not every response is a personal challenge to your integrity. Lighten up.