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Authored by Ryan Bennett - 4th July, 2005 - 2:11 pm
No free agents can be officially signed yet, that cannot happen until the 22nd of July, but the free agent wooing period has begun.
It’s that time of year when NBA teams send out their big name players/ promo kits/ coaching staff to try and entice that eye-catching free agent to sign with their team. At this time assumptions can be made, and those same assumptions can be chucked out the window in 2 weeks. Just look at Carlos Boozer and the Jazz, I needn’t explain that any further. Don’t consider this to be gospel, but an informed writer’s conclusions from many (at the time) good sources.
With that said here is an attempt to spot here the top 25 free agents will end up, and how they might get there.
1) Ray Allen: The Sonics are still offering Allen the same deal as last season, an amount the Clippers will outbid. The Cavaliers will try and sign Redd but if that goes wrong will take a shot at Allen too. The Mavericks will reportedly have a look at a sign and trade possibility. Most likely destination: the L.A. Clippers .
2) Michael Redd: The Bucks can and have offered Redd more money than any other team can offer. The Bucks still have two teams to compete with though for Redd’s services, for the most part the Cavaliers. Redd is from Ohio and may want to play for his home state, or so the Cavs hope. The Nuggets are still in the picture to acquire Redd at a long shot. Denver has a lot of talent to surround Redd with, and talent-wise pose the best team for Redd to join. LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are going to be better prospective teammates than Desmond Mason and Andrew Bogut. Most likely destination: the Cleveland Cavaliers .
3) Samuel Dalembert: Philadelphia have said they will match any offer for Sam. They would be stupid not too. Expect a big year from Dalembert, after working out with Webber for the summer. Most likely destination: the Philadelphia 76ers .
4) Zydrunas Ilgauskas: Danny Ferry has stated that he wants to keep big Z in Cleveland, and wants to add Michael Redd as well. These two all-stars will know what is happening with each other’s respective off-seasons, and will look to form a three-headed all-star trio for the Cavs. Most likely destination: the Cleveland Cavaliers .
5) Tyson Chandler: Tyson Chandler will be staying with the Bulls. He dominates on defense, an area where the Bulls dominate. Without Chandler the Bulls would be in ruins. Any offer from another team will be futile. Most likely destination: the Chicago Bulls .
6) Joe Johnson: The Phoenix Suns will match any offer that is put on the table for Joe Johnson, except for the max, and no team will offer him that. Most likely destination: the Phoenix Suns .
7) Larry Hughes: There are few potential partners for Larry Hughes out there because of his lack of an outside shot and his overrated man on man defense. If Washington doesn’t resign him, look for Denver to try and sign him. Most likely destination: the Washington Wizards .
8) Stromile Swift: Stro has a lot of interest around the league, because teams still see a lot of untapped potential. He has popped up in many articles all through the media, going to many different teams. I think he will go to the Atlanta Hawks . They will out bid any team for him. He gets the chance to start, and play with a young athletic core. Most likely
destination: the Atlanta Hawks .
9) Eddy Curry: With Curry’s recent medical scares expect fewer teams to be willing to offer Curry big money. The Hawks have been named as a team that will throw big money at Curry, but he doesn’t fit their offense like Swift does. Most likely destination: the Chicago Bulls .
10) Bobby Simmons: With the acquisition of Ray Allen, Bobby Simmons becomes more expendable. If the Clippers don’t resign him, look for the Bobcats to make a strong offer. Most likely destination: the L.A. Clippers .
11) Shareef Abdur Rahim: As much as Shareff would like to play for a proven winning team, the Nets can be that winning team with the addition of Abdur Rahim, and they can give him starter’s minutes. Shareff also gets teamed with his California alum, Kidd. Expect Shareef to bite the bullet and sign for the MLE or for a sign and trade to be worked out. Most likely destination: the New Jersey Nets .
12) Antoine Walker: The hardest free agent to figure, Antoine Walker. If Boston cannot get him for cheap, he will be either sign and traded to the Knicks or he will sign with them for the MLE. Most likely destination: the New York Knicks .
13) Cuttino Mobley: Mobley opted out of his deal with the Sacramento Kings that would have paid him about $6 to 6.5 million this coming season. Most people out there say he won’t collect that much on the market, just wait until Denver cannot sign anyone for their $8 million in space. Mobley should sign there for about $6 million per year and he will address the outside shooting and porous defensive problems with the Nuggets. Most likely destination: the Denver Nuggets .
14) Kwame Brown: Washington’s love affair with Kwame was short lived and never fulfilled. Look for a sign and trade with the Knicks; the Wizards may take back Michael Sweetney and some filler. Most likely destination: the New York Knicks .
15) Vladimir Radmanovic: Radmanovic is a restricted free agent, and he is not going to get any big offers from elsewhere, so he will be a Sonic next season. Most liely destination: the Seattle Sonics.
16) Udonis Haslem: Miami drafted Wayne Simien because he was the best power forward available, and he can come in straight away and play. Insurance for Haslem, in case he leaves. I don’t see any team offering Haslem more than the MLE, so expect him to be back for the Heat for the MLE. Most likely destination: the Miami Heat .
17) Marko Jaric: Marko has stated that he wants to start at point guard next year. The Clippers have their point guard position set for next year with Livingston bracketed to start. Expect Jaric to take his skills elsewhere. Potential suitors: Houston, Cleveland, and the LA Lakers. Antonio Daniels will sign with the Cavs, so expect Jaric to sign with the cross-town Lakers for the MLE. Most likely destination: the L.A. Lakers .
18) Donyell Marshall: Marshall is still a great shooter and can defend in the low post with some degree of effectiveness. Marshall isn't a winner, but he'll go to a team with a chance to win this summer. Most likely destination: the Chicago Bulls
19) Latrell Sprewell: Sprewell would be a great fit in Miami or Detroit. All he needs to do is deflate that huge ego of his and agree to come off the bench for the MLE or part of that. The Pistons need a back up small forward/ shooting guard that can play defense and score. Sprewell fits that role well when his head is screwed on the right way. Most likely destination: the Detroit Pistons .
20) Robert Horry: If Luis Scola comes over he will take the Spurs’ MLE, and it looks likely that Scola will come over. Shaq is trying to get Horry in Miami but they won’t have the money to do it, so Horry may sign for the veteran’s minimum with either team. Or the outside chance of signing with the Rockets. Most likely destination: the San Antonio Spurs
21) Chris Andersen: Chris Andersen makes it on to my list by the shear fact that he is a long athletic young big man. He will be a nice addition to Dallas for the MLE. They need a big athletic big man to back up both Dirk and Dampier. Andersen won’t get more than the MLE; most writers have him going for half the MLE. Most likely destination: the Dallas Mavericks .
22) Antonio Daniels: The Cavs will sign Antonio Daniels for the MLE. Daniels gets to start in Cleveland, and will be swayed to play there with a possible starting line-up featuring: Ilgauskas, Gooden, James and Redd. Most likely destination: the Cleveland
Cavaliers.
23) Brevin Knight: The Bobcats added a great pure point guard in the draft by the name of Raymond Felton. Look for Knight to return to the Bobcats to start next season, and tutor Felton. Most likely destination: the Charlotte Bobcats .
24) Damon Stoudamire: Stoudamire has said on record he would love to play for Houston, where he practices in the off-season. The Rockets need a point guard, and Damon fills that need. Most likely destination: the Houston Rockets .
25) Reggie Evans: The Sonics have already extended their qualifying offer to Evans and I don’t think he is worth more than $3 million to any team. The Sonics will over pay for him in my opinion. Most likely destination: the Seattle Sonics.
Contact Ryan at: ryanwbennett@gmail.com |
