I stole this from shapecity's post on the general board. I found it to be very intersting so thought I would copy the post and bring it over here. If anyone feels like responding or commenting, maybe it should be done on the general baord (it was there originally and might help the site out) When the Kings waived Desmond Mason and the Grizzlies waived Troy Gilder on Thursday, that took the league's total number of players under contract to 431, leaving 19 open roster spots. Out of those 431 players, less than half are signed to guaranteed contracts for next season, which means that more than half of the league will be joining LeBron James in free agency next July. The full breakdown: • 227 players will become free agents, including players with conditional contracts • 204 players possess guaranteed contracts for next season • 129 players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1 • 30 players will become restricted free agents on July 1 • 16 players possess an early termination option in their contracts and thus the right to become a free agent • 20 players possess player options in their contracts and thus the right to become a free agent • 7 players have a team option in their contracts for next season • 21 players have partially guaranteed contracts for next season • 4 players have fully unguaranteed contracts for next season
I would think that many teams will be trying to clear cap space this season with plans of loading up this summer. Boozer may be a hot item at the trade deadline. He can help a team in the playoffs and then come off the books this summer.
