This is not an exhaustive list, just a list of the top names, IMO. Nor is it a list of those who will be FA's - some options may or may not be exercised. It's simply a beginning list of those who might be FA's. At the end, I've listed my top 10 of those who are either guaranteed to be a FA or are likely to opt out of their current contract. Most or all of these top 10 could re-sign with their current team, but I believe they will receive the most interest in the off-season. Please let me know if I've overlooked anyone significant Unrestricted R. Wallace A. McDyess B. Barry E. Ginobili (could be restricted) M. Okur (could be restricted) M. Daniels (could be restricted) T. Kukoc G. Ostertag V. Divac W. Person B. Sura E. Williams K. Clark A. Foyle Z. Rebraca J. Barry M. Curry R. White M. Doleac G. Giricek C. Arroyo R. Alston D. Johnson C. Anderson Players who could opt out and become FA's L. Sprewell K. Bryant A. Walker N. Van Exel E. Dampier S. Nash G. Payton K. Malone S. Jackson A. Hardaway K. Kittles B. Bowen M. Camby T. Hudson D. Fisher A. Peeler M. Blount If teams do not pick up the Team Option in their contracts B. Wells R. Murray C. Boozer R. Horry J. McInnis M. Jaric D. Gadzuric U. Haslem L. Walton Players coming off their rookie scales - restricted if a qualifying offer is made K. Martin J. Crawford Q. Richardson S. Swift D. Miles C. Mihm J. Przybilla E. Thomas H. Turkoglu M. Peterson D. Stevenson I. Tsakalides K. Dooling M. Fizer MY TOP TEN OF THOSE LIKELY TO BECOME FREE AGENTS Kobe Bryant Rasheed Wallace Steve Nash Kenyon Martin Jamal Crawford Erick Dampier Stephen Jackson Mehmet Okur Marquis Daniels Quentin Richardson
Whoa, 'Sheed, Bowen, Arroyo, Ginobili, Alston. All such capable players, K-Mart too. Damn, I can't believe he's unrestricted. The fact that Arroyo and Alston might not be resigned is a good sign, they're awesome point guards. I hope they go to teams seriously in need of one. Like the damn Celtics, Sixers and Magic.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PrimeTime:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe is def. #1</div> Your right but Sheed is probably gone from the Pistons destanation=NY Kmart is gonna be another real hot ticket and im interested to see what Jamal does.
I would like to see Kobe, Jamal, and Kenyon all stay where they are. But, in my opinion, those three, along with Rasheed Wallace and Quentin Richardson are the top 5 free agents, nonrestricted or otherwise, out there this summer.
I want Rasheed to stay in the Piston too. He can be the dominate big guy in the east with JO, he can easily be on the allstar team next year because of his sizes and skills. Hey he might start over Ben Wallace for the allstar center for the east next year.
I would leave Rasheed where he is right now, Pistons having a great season and where hes obviously integrated very fast. I would love to see Ginobili some where else than Spurs but right now Spurs i sthe best place for him to stay. Kobe wont be with the Lakers next season thats for sure. And Steve Nash? to be honest i cant imagine any of those players somewhere else than where they are playin right now
As a Seattle man, I am very i nterested in what happened with Brent Barry. I would take a guess and say most teams will be chasing him at some point, and his value to the Sonics was underlined when they went 5-15 in the 20 games he missed. A contender like San Antonio would love to add his shooting, whereas a young team like Chicago, Denver or Cleveland would love to add his leadership.
Wolves need to sign Dampier, if I was McHale I would beg and plead him to come here, he would give the Wolves the presence in the paint and the toughness that is their only thing remotely close to being called a weakness.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dachen33:</div><div class="quote_post"> Hey he might start over Ben Wallace for the allstar center for the east next year.</div> that would never ever happen for a couple reasons one being that ben wallace was one of the top vote getters in the league. in fact, i think he was 2nd overall behind vince carter. secondly, he wouldnt even be listed on the ballod as a center, he'll be listed as a PF, so even if he did end up getting voted in, he wouldnt start over ben since they'll prolly be listed at diff positions. i doubt very much that he would get voted in over JO, but he could very well be selected as a reserve depeding on his season of course.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KG is the MVP:</div><div class="quote_post">Wolves need to sign Dampier, if I was McHale I would beg and plead him to come here, he would give the Wolves the presence in the paint and the toughness that is their only thing remotely close to being called a weakness.</div> I agree 100%, he finish easy plays around the basket something kandiman doesnt do all the time. And he is an excellent offesive rebounder something the timberwolves struggle to get especially when KG is outside the piant taking perimeter jumpers. A jump shooting team like the Wolves need a guy like Dampier to clean up those missed jumpers. And he will also protect the defensive boads. When the Wolves lose it usually when they lose the edge on the boards. The only thing that worries me about Dampier is that will he be willing to work that hard on the boards after he gets the fat contract. It worries me when players put up their best career #, when they are at an end of the contract. That future pay check motivates you to work a little harder than you normally would.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe=DaMAN:</div><div class="quote_post">Your right but Sheed is probably gone from the Pistons destanation=NY Kmart is gonna be another real hot ticket and im interested to see what Jamal does.</div> Sheed's staying in Detroit. His close friend Damon Stoudamire went on record saying that Sheed loves it in Detroit. NY is on the verge of getting swept in the 1st round. Detroit is poised to go deep in the playoffs. In NY, the media will be all over him 24-7. In Detroit, he's a fan favorite. I'd be shocked if Sheed left Detroit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dj_premium_plus:</div><div class="quote_post"> that would never ever happen for a couple reasons one being that ben wallace was one of the top vote getters in the league. in fact, i think he was 2nd overall behind vince carter.</div> First of all, the very reason Ben Wallace gets so many votes is because there's no other prominent center competing with him in that category (Jamaal Magloire was certainly not a household name). That also partly explains why Vince got the most votes, because the East lacks popular forwards. Put him on the same ballot with Iverson, McGrady, and Kidd, and see if he still leads the vote-getting.
Mehmet Okur is on there for the restricted list, and I expect him to move. He isn't getting the minutes he wants in Detroit, and although they want him to stay, he hasn't returned the sentiment. Rasheed Wallace, on the other hand, will be a Piston next year. He has said nothing about going to NY since he has been a Piston.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree 100%, he finish easy plays around the basket something kandiman doesnt do all the time. And he is an excellent offesive rebounder something the timberwolves struggle to get especially when KG is outside the piant taking perimeter jumpers. A jump shooting team like the Wolves need a guy like Dampier to clean up those missed jumpers. And he will also protect the defensive boads. When the Wolves lose it usually when they lose the edge on the boards. The only thing that worries me about Dampier is that will he be willing to work that hard on the boards after he gets the fat contract. It worries me when players put up their best career #, when they are at an end of the contract. That future pay check motivates you to work a little harder than you normally would.</div> Not gonna happen. The Wolves are way over the cap all they have is the mid-level to offer. It's certainly not enough for Damp who is coming off a career year. Other possibility would be a sign-and-trade, but I doubt the Warriors would be taking T-Hudd and the Wolves don't have much else valuable to offer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">First of all, the very reason Ben Wallace gets so many votes is because there's no other prominent center competing with him in that category (Jamaal Magloire was certainly not a household name). That also partly explains why Vince got the most votes, because the East lacks popular forwards. Put him on the same ballot with Iverson, McGrady, and Kidd, and see if he still leads the vote-getting.</div> position doesnt matter...im talking total votes. what difference does it make if your in the east, west, pf, C, sg...ben wallace was the 2nd highest total vote getter...not for just his position...TOTAL VOTES. understand? and yes...vince would still lead the vote getting regardless of what position he's at. again, its not highest votes by position, its highest TOTAL VOTES. i think your not too sure how the votes work. vince isnt the highest voted forward, hes the highest voted player...followed by ben wallace. mmmkay? so one more time...just so you get it for sure...its not by position, its total votes. vince had more votes then any other player in either conferance at any position...ben had the 2nd highest. glad we got that all cleared up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting worldchamps9903:</div><div class="quote_post"> Steve Nash Kenyon Martin Marquis Daniels </div> i doubt that daniels nash and k-mart will be free agents.
Steve Nash already said he's opting out of his contract, he didn't say that he wanted to leave The Dallas Mavericks but he did say he wanted more money. Regardless, he'll be a free agent next season. As for Erick Dampier going to The Minnesota Timberwolves, it simply won't happen. Minnesota's salary is entirely too high to aquire a quality center, seeing how centers are in such high demand and Erick Dampier is a double-double a night type guy. He's likely to go where the money is, probably for a contract worth 8 million a season. Minnesota is too far over the cap and can't sign him, end of story. I'm interested to see where Nick Van Exel goes, I hear he's unhappy in Golden State and he's really intent on joining a championship team. Van Exel has been an allstar type player his entire career, and much like Malone and Payton I think a championship has become a major priority to him as he grows older. Many teams would be interested in aquiring Nick, even if it's in a backup role similar to his situation in Dallas. Money may not be as big of an issue as it once was, so I think that opens the door for alot of teams to sign Nick to perhaps the mid-level exception.
it will be kinda sweet if NVE opts out his contract and go to Houston, and move Francis to the shoting guard and brings Mobley off the Bench. Or sign Carros Arroyo, he is a great pass first guard and he has a nice stroke,too. Rockets needs a good pass first point guard. After that, they can do some sign and trade to get a better 3 postion then Jimmy. Their best fit is to trade for Rashard Lewis. Houston is Rashard's home town, and he is very good and atheltic. A very high 3 point % PG Carros Arroyo SG Steve Francis SF Rashard Lewis PF Kevin Cato C (the one and only)...Yao Ming six man: Mobley
