Top 20 NBA Free Agents

Top 20 Free Agents:

1. Elton Brand: If you look at the list bellow of top 5 at each position, you see that PF has a complete lack of solid players after Brand and Josh Smith. Brand should be fully healthy this year and would be a great addition for any team. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective and is a beast on the defensive end. Teams like Miami and Philadelphia will be doing their best to get him away from the Clippers, though he claims he is just looking for a longer deal from the Clips. He is looking to get on a team that is looking to make a championship run. If this is the case, he should think about signing with the Pistons for a midlevel deal.

2. Baron Davis: Davis made a surprise move by voiding the last year of his deal with the Warriors. He is looking to get onto a team that is playoff ready team but could find himself with the Clippers, Wizards or back with the Warriors.

3. Gilbert Arenas: I only have Arenas bellow Davis because Arenas at times can hurt his team more than he helps them. If I’m a team, I do not give him close to a max deal if I’m looking to win a championship, in fact I don’t think he has the ability to win a championship because too often the story is too much about him. Look for the Clippers, Kings, Warriors or Wizards to end up with him in the end with a max deal.

4. Emeka Okafor gets my nod at number four even though he is a restricted free agent. This guy is a beast on the boards and defensive end. The problem is he has been in Charlotte on a very bad team where he has often had to carry the load. If he could go to a team like the Jazz where he could concentrate on Defense and Rebounding, you would see his numbers increase and he would have the best year of his career. It’s a good bet that he takes the one year tender to be un-restricted next year, otherwise he could get himself locked into the Bobcats organization for the next few years.

5. Josh Smith is a hugely talented player that hopefully one day will be able to maximize that ability. I don’t know if it’s because he has been in Atlanta and not had the best coach or what, but this guy is a bit of a head case and that needs to be reeled in for him to become the player that many want him to be. Philadelphia is the most likely suitor besides Atlanta. A good bet is that he takes the one year tender to become unrestricted next year.

6. Corey Maggette just barely irks out this spot. Maggette would be an excellent fit in Utah and Phoenix where his offense would fit perfectly in the systems already in place. He is a good enough 3 point shooter to really fit into both teams. Miami and Orlando are also options with Orlando supposedly holding the edge at this moment.

7. Andre Iguodala would be hire but because of his restricted status, he’s staying here. It looks like Philly will do everything they can to re-sign him.

8. Jose Calderon is a lock to be re-signed by the Raptors

9. Andris Biedrins fits with almost any team in the league, being able to provide energy around the basket. Look for the Warriors to match any deal and for him to take the one year tender.

10. Monta Ellis is one of the most exciting young PG/SG in the league but at the same time might be pricing himself out of a contract, thinking he is better than he actually is. Look for the Warriors to lock him up for a long time unless Baron or Gilbert are signed.

11. DeSagana Diop would fit on so many teams but it appears that it’s a lock that he will be back with the Mavs.

12. Beno Udrih played himself into a contract and should get a full midlevel from someone. He is basically waiting for the dominos to fall with Baron, Monta and Gilbert before he finds a home. That is unless a team jumps right on him with a full midlevel and he takes it.

13. James Posey is going to cash in off of his championship runs with the Celtics and Heat. He is now known as that defensive stopper off the bench that has great leadership abilities. Look for someone to give him a full midlevel exception with the Pistons likely to get him.

14. Loul Deng is also one of the players that should have taken the contract that was offered them. He had an off year last year and needs to prove that he will rebound from it before any team is going to spend big money on him. He will either reach a deal with the Bulls this summer or take the qualifying offer.

15. Ben Gordon has to feel like an idiot right now. Because of bad advice last year, he turned down a $50 million deal that was way above market value. He will be lucky to get a full midlevel and will most likely take the 1 year tender and stay with the Bulls.

16. Nenad Krstic would be much higher on this list except for a knee injury that really derailed him and made him look very ineffective when he returned. He has a good offensive feel and should take the one year tender with the Nets so that he can get fully healthy and work himself back into a bigger deal next season.

17. Kurt Thomas is an excellent pickup for any team needing a tough inside presence. He will most likely re-sign with the Spurs.

18. Josh Childress is an excellent sixth man and will most likely return to the Hawks but would be an amazing fit for the Jazz or Suns.

19. Mickael Pietrus will be a steal for whoever gets him because it’s most likely he won’t get a full midlevel. Some teams knowing they don’t have the money to go after the bigger free agents should try to get him on their team. Another excellent addition to either the Suns or Jazz.

20. Brent Barry might be getting up there in age but like he showed in the playoffs, he can still hit the three and can get a team back into a game through his efforts. Look for the Spurs to re-sign him.

Top 5 by position

PG
1. Baron Davis
2. Jose Calderon
3. Monta Ellis
4. Beno Udrih
5. Chris Duhon

SG
1. Gilbert Arenas
2. Ben Gordon
3. Brent Barry
4. Ricky Davis
5. Keyon Dooling

SF
1. Corey Maggette
2. Andre Iguodala
3. James Posey
4. Loul Deng
5. Josh Childress

PF
1. Elton Brand
2. Josh Smith
3. James Jones
4. Eduardo Najera
5. Ronnie Turiaf

C
1. Emeka Okafor
2. Andris Biendrins
3. DeSagana Diop
4. Kurt Thomas
5. Nenad Krstic