Upcoming free agent market....

[Impose]

Being a Hornets fan since LJ came into the league its hard to watch them completely rebuild after losing yet another franchise player.

But I think it looks really good for the hornets to bounce back, alot of mock drafts have C Paul going to the hornets @ No.4 which would rock. Add an exciting prospect like JR Smith, a healthy Jamaal Magliore, L Nailon scoring 14pts a game for minimum wage and a enough cap space to sign an all-star this could be a big offseason for them....

I'd be keen to see someone like Stromile Swift or Tyson Chandler end up in New Orleans if they cant find a huge star but....

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL MAKE A MOVE ON THE FREE AGENT MARKET THIS OFF-SEASON?

[J@3]

No love for Dickau

I think Michael Redd is more likely to stay given the circumstances of the draft... Atlanta will sign someone, doesn't mean it'll be someone good but it'll be someone. I think Chicago will re-sign most of the guys off contract for them which is good for the team. There'll be the obvious exodus for veterans to Miami in search of a championship... Charlotte will make a couple of signings I think and also Dallas. Look for Cuttino Mobley to go back to Orlando, if they'll have him.

[Impose]

On second thoughts I wouldn't mind someone like Sareef Abdur Rahim going to the hornets, that would give them a decent forward rotation with SAR/Nailon/Brown/West/Anderson... lots of depth. Sareef can go between power and small forward spots, Brown and Anderson -can- play backup center and they have potential in their backcourt

[Colin]

Ahem, Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

I just hope Phoenix re-signs Joe Johnson, and maybe some decent back-up pg/c.

[maes]

Chris Paul will probably go high, the NBA is enamored of PGs right now. Wade, Nash, Parker, Hinrich, AI, and even Davis & Ridnour have generated a lot of attention as to how an impact PG can totally turn a team around.

I think Nash winning the MVP is the NBA's way of saying "PGs are gonna get their respect now," it was more an award for the position as much as Nash.

Tyson is restricted, Chicago loves him, Chicago has money, Chicago did very well last year, Antonio Davis is gone soon...chances of Paxson letting him leave are about .000001%.

Stro is probably going somewhere, if West was serious about keeping him in Memphis they would have locked him up to a longer deal then just a 1 year.

I tend to agree Redd is staying unless the offer is like Nash's. There are several teams in bad enough need of a SG that he might get something like that.

Ray is probably staying unless someone gives Walker an unbeatable sign & trade, again several teams need a SG so badly that might happen. Seattle is in a unique situation where they can either A) stick with Ray and go for several more playoff runs B) trade Ray for rookies/picks and go for rebuilding mode. Outside of Ray, their oldest VIP player is Rashard at 26.

The impact Free Agents that will actually move i think are Delambert, Antonio Daniels, Shareef.

[Boyk]

HEY!!
You forgot my man Earl Boykins!!
5'5!
one of the best 6th men in the NBA and can start when asked

[Blue Nugget]

Ray Allen should go to the Cavs once they ditch Z ,since he doesn't want to stay there anyway and Redd will most likely stay in Milwaukee because of that draft pick.

In an interview it was said that Allen is uncertain about the Sonics future and he doesn't think that the team will stay as it is,since there will be 9 free agents ,but only time will tell I guess.

[Fenix]

Ray Allen should go to the Cavs once they ditch Z ,since he doesn't want to stay there anyway and Redd will most likely stay in Milwaukee because of that draft pick.

In an interview it was said that Allen is uncertain about the Sonics future and he doesn't think that the team will stay as it is,since there will be 9 free agents ,but only time will tell I guess.

Now, why would the Cavs throw a bunch of money into aging Ray Allen, if they can give it to a young stud such as Joe Johnson? Aren't they building for the future?

[Fresh8]

JJ will prob stay with the Suns while Ray Ray is probably seriously considering packing his bags...

[The X]

a Shareef Abdur-Rahim signing would actually make a lot of sense for the Hornets....Hornets need a go-to-player and on a team as crappy as the Hornets, Reef would be a go-to-guy....Reef could give you almost 20-10....if Magloire is healthy then he'll clean up scraps alongside Brown....Nailon can play a 6th or 7th man role as instant offense off the bench....4th pick should be used on Paul (if he is available), otherwise on Deron Williams....Dan Dickau can play about 20 minutes per off the bench (that should satisfy your Dickau daily dosage Jae)....move Claxton as Dickau is there and is cheaper....keep the Bird Man, he'll provide entertainment at the next Dunk Contest

they'll still not make the playoffs, but they should be in the playoff race until around the All-Star break....

[Metsis]

Now, why would the Cavs throw a bunch of money into aging Ray Allen, if they can give it to a young stud such as Joe Johnson? Aren't they building for the future?

First off, Phoenix will probably match the offer if Johnson isn't offered the maximum contract from somewhere else. Johnson is restricted free agent still... That makes him very hard to get if Phoenix decides to pay him up, which they most probably do.

Ray is an impact player... Johnson is ok and good, but most of his great game this season is because of the rest of the team... Amare, Marion, Quentin and Steve... I'd probably rank all of those guys as more of offensive threats than Joe. So you Johnson pretty much had his share of open shots this season. So I wouldn't yet rank him as a top notch shooting guard. He's had a lot of help this season, while Ray on the other hand has always been the number one guy and has always been the focus of the enemy defenses. If they tag LeBron with Ray Allen, I'd say you got one hell of a one-two punch to knock people down. LeBron can get his points while he's the main focus of the defense and so can Ray... They would be a lot harder to stop with two guys who can shoot and slash to the hoop... And LeBrons forever improving game would certainly make them a fantastic team to watch.

However if they get rid of Ilgauskas, they will probably have to save some money to get a center player too... So who knows... I'd say that they are more likely to go for Ray Allen than Joe Johnson... Going for Johnson and not getting him could easily cost the team that suffered this to end up with all the money in the world and no one to give it to. Original team has that 30 day matching period. So if you go for Johnson and wait for a month for Phoenix to decide, Ray will probably have a contract by then for someone else already.

For this reason only, I think Redd and Allen will be major commodities with Johnson only getting some attention from clubs that aren't as big players on the summers free agent market...

Ofcourse, if Allen and Redd already resign during June, then it's a whole new ball game after that...

[air gordon]

it's way too early to say confidently where ray allen is heading. otherwise you're kidding yourself

as mentioned earlier, they have a lot of FA's and the organization has to decide if they're keeping mcmillan as the coach first. also there's the CBA thing...

i thought july 1st is the day for resigning FA's

[Fresh8]

Steve Smith to the Lakers anyone?

[Jackal]

You'd sign anyone to LA.

When's Yao coming again?

[J@3]

Steve Smith? I'd rather Salim Stoudamire

[The X]

Salim Stoudamire? Lakers would be better with Francisco Garcia if he was to plummet down the draft....how about white boy Matt Walsh? or Julius Hodge....

I think Lakers could get a PG like John Gilchrist with their 2nd Round pick....or a high school guard like Louis Williams....

plenty of options in the 2nd Round this year....strongest 2nd Round in living memory....unless there are lots of withdrawals that is and even if there is, I still think it will be a deep draft....

[J@3]

I don't want them to pick Stoudamire in the 2nd round, I was just saying I'd much prefer him to Smith.

[The X]

Smitty will probably retire anyways....and if he wasn't too, then he'd only sign with a contender which the Lakers are not....so you won't have to worry about this happenning anytime soon

[.PixL]

why is nobody talking about darko?! i know he's not FA but he might as well be right now

personally i think if detroit don't trade him away he's gonna leave nba and play in europe. he is not a happy camper right now and it's mildly depressing to see a number 2 pick average 1.6 ppg

[Jackal]

You admit he's not a free agent but still expect us to talk about him?

Otay, that's a bit funky.

[maes]

Somehow i don't see Darko giving up the $20M left on his contract and some free NBA Championship rings to go play in Europe.

He's 20 years old...it's not like he's only got a few years left in him.

[#12]

I don't see anyone leaving there teams, only Stromile Swift and SAR.

[air gordon]

#12- care to make a bet on that?

[Jackal]

What won't you bet on?

[Blue Nugget]

Somehow i don't see Darko giving up the $20M left on his contract and some free NBA Championship rings to go play in Europe.

He's 20 years old...it's not like he's only got a few years left in him.

haha,sad but true