A week into free agency, most of the biggest names on last Monday's ranking of the impact free agents by position already have agreed to new contracts. With the market thinning out, let's take a look at the 10 best players still available and who might be interested in signing them.
1. Nikola Pekovic, C, Minnesota Timberwolves (R) Along with the other players in the top three of this list, Pekovic's restricted status seems to have scared away suitors. Now, it's possible no team offers him a deal starting at more than $10 million per year. The two teams left with major cap space are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who might not want to cut into their 2014 cap space, and the Philadelphia 76ers, who are rebuilding and just added Nerlens Noel at center. Pekovic's other hope of a big offer would be the Sacramento Kingsusing the amnesty provision on John Salmons, which would allow them to clear somewhere in the neighborhood of $12.5 million even after signing Carl Landry -- but would also leave them badly in need of a small forward.
If no big offer materializes, Pekovic has a few choices. He could sign a smaller contract with a team like the Atlanta Hawks or Dallas Mavericks, knowing the Timberwolves would match. Or he could use the threat of playing next season for his $6.1 million qualifying offer as leverage to strike a long-term deal in Minnesota. Taking the qualifying offer would mean less money in the short term but would make Pekovic a more coveted asset as an unrestricted free agent next summer.
2. Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (R) Like Pekovic, Jennings has seen his market dry up. Besides the Bucks, the only team with ample cap space that has not added a starting point guard this summer is the Hawks -- who have their own restricted free agent at the position. So Jennings seems likely to be back in Milwaukee. The question is whether he'll play for the qualifying offer or sign a long-term deal. In March, Jennings told Yahoo! that if he takes the qualifying offer, he definitely will leave next summer. It would represent a major sacrifice in his casecase because Jennings' qualifying offer is for just $4.3 million.
3. Jeff Teague, PG, Atlanta Hawks (R) Teague has the same problem as Jennings and expressed his frustration at not hearing from the Hawks last week. Atlanta was busy filling other needs and still has more cap space to spend. Teague likely will be the Hawks' last move because his cap hold ($6.1 million) is smaller than his likely starting salary on a new
4. Andrew Bynum, C, Philadelphia 76ers Bynum might be the most interesting free agent left on the market. Depending on how his knees hold up, he could be either the best or worst value in free agency. So the medical evaluation will be an important part of the negotiating process for teams like the Hawks and Mavericks that could be interested in offering him more than midlevel money. At that price, a two-year contract probably strikes the appropriate balance between the upside of Bynum being a bargain and the risk that he doesn't get on the court at all.
5. Andrei Kirilenko, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves Kirilenko might have a tough time making anything close to the $10.2 million player option he turned down to enter free agency. His ideal scenario is Sacramento using the amnesty provision on Salmons and using that cap space on a long-term contract. Kirilenko could also get a lucrative one-year offer from Cleveland, which would allow the Cavaliers to save their cap space for next summer while competing for the playoffs now. Failing that, Kirilenko is likely looking at midlevel offers.
6. Chris Andersen, C, Miami Heat By all accounts, Birdman will continue to fly for the Heat. Andersen and the team have to figure out whether he'll sign using non-Bird rights (no pun intended) for $1.7 million or command part of Miami's $3.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception. Since Andersen is still being paid by the Denver Nuggets for the last year of a contract they amnestied last summer, he may be willing to take the smaller figure and leave the midlevel for other potential signings.
7. Monta Ellis, G, Milwaukee Bucks So far Ellis hasn't generated the kind of interest he hoped to find when he opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have paid $11 million. Our Marc Stein reported Saturday that the Hawks and Nuggets have interest, although Denver would need to move a contract to offer Ellis more than the midlevel exception. Atlanta can fit Ellis more easily, but it's unclear whether he would offer anything the Hawks don't already get from the more efficient Lou Williams.
8. Nate Robinson, PG, Chicago Bulls Now that most teams have settled their starting point guard spots, they're beginning to look for backups who won't break the bank. That's the case with Robinson, who can provide instant production off the bench despite his small stature. One possibility: a return to the Golden State Warriors, where Robinson played two years ago and Andre Iguodala could help with playmaking duties.
9. Gerald Henderson, SG, Charlotte Bobcats (R) Henderson took his game to a new level after the All-Star break, averaging 18.5 points per game. While that was partially explained by increased playing time, he pushed his per-36 averages from 16.6 points and 2.6 assists before the break to 19.0 points and 3.7 assists thereafter. His true shooting percentage also improved from .514 to .547. The Bobcats may be able to get a good deal to bring back the restricted free agent, who has apparently drawn little outside interest.
10. Brandan Wright, F/C, Dallas Mavericks With J.J. Hickson agreeing to a three-year deal in Denver, Wright becomes the best option for teams looking for a big man to score off the bench. The high-percentage finisher made better than 60 percent of his two-point attempts during two years in Dallas and can play either frontcourt position, although he's a weak defender at both of them. If the Mavericks sign Bynum, Wright may be looking for a new home.
Next 10: Mo Williams, PG, Utah Jazz; Gary Neal, SG, San Antonio Spurs (R); Corey Brewer, SF, Denver Nuggets; Elton Brand, C, Dallas Mavericks; Samuel Dalembert, C, Milwaukee Bucks; DeJuan Blair; C, San Antonio Spurs; Marreese Speights, C, Cleveland Cavaliers; James Johnson, SF, Sacramento Kings (R); Jermaine O'Neal, C, Phoenix Suns; D.J. Augustin, PG, Indiana Pacers.
_________________ Be well
GO BEARS!!!
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