Slim pickings for teams wanting to changeBy Chad Ford
ESPN Insider


Well it's here. Finally. Sort of. At least we think it is.

First the player movement moratorium (when free agents are free to actually sign deals) was supposed to be July 14. Then it was pushed back to July 22. Then to July 28. Then indefinitely.

Free Agents Off the Market
Ray Allen, Sonics
(5 years, $80-85 million)
Michael Redd, Bucks
(6 years, $85-90 million)
Larry Hughes, Cavs
(5 years, $60-65 million)
Samuel Dalembert, Sixers
(6 years, $60-70 million)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavs
(5 years, $55-60 million)
Bobby Simmons, Bucks
(5 years, $47 million)
Cuttino Mobley, Clippers
(5 years, $42 million)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Nets
(6 years, $37-38 million)
Udonis Haslem, Heat
(5 years, $30-32 million)
Dan Gadzuric, Bucks
(6 years, $36 million)
Stromile Swift, Rockets
(5 years, $28-29 million)
Antonio Daniels, Wizards
(5 years, $28-29 million)
Jerome James, Knicks
(5 years, $28-29 million)
Kyle Korver, Sixers
(6 years, $25-27 million)
Kwame Brown, Lakers
(3 years, $22-24 million)
Donyell Marshall, Cavs
(4 years, $20-21 million)
Raja Bell, Suns
(5 years, $20-25 million)
Willie Green, Sixers
(6 years, $19-20 million)
Brian Scalabrine, Celtics
(5 years, $15 million)
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Pacers
(3 years, $12 million)
Keyon Dooling, Magic
(3 years, $10 million)
Fabricio Oberto, Spurs
(3 years, $7.5-9 million)
Jeff McInnis, Nets
(2 years, $7 million)
Juan Dixon, Blazers
(3 years, $8 million)
Mark Madsen, Timberwolves
(5 years, salary undisclosed)
Arvydas Macijauskas, Hornets
(3 years, salary undisclosed)
Robert Horry, Spurs
(3 years, salary undisclosed)
Clifford Robinson, Nets
(terms undisclosed)
Luke Walton, Lakers
(terms undisclosed
Chris Andersen, Hornets
(terms undisclosed)
Bostjan Nachbar, Hornets
(terms undisclosed)
Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Timberwolves (terms undisclosed)
LaRon Profit, Traded to Lakers
(3 years, $2.7-2.8 million -- only the first year is guaranteed)
Eddie Basden, Bulls
(partially guaranteed multi-year contract)
Lucas Tischer, Suns
(1 year plus team option, $1.1 million -- first year is partially guaranteed)
Matt Walsh, Heat
(2 years, $1.1 million -- first year is partially guaranteed)
Dwayne Jones, Timberwolves
(2 years, $1.1 million)


Now the word around the league is that the moment of truth has finally arrived. Free agents will be free to sign on Tuesday. In theory at least.

That's great news for the 37 free agents who have already come to terms with teams. It's also fantastic for teams like the Nets, Rockets, Cavs and Lakers who have scored significant offseason additions this summer.

But it's bad news for several teams that still have significant cap room to spend this summer. With a projected $49.5 million cap, the Hawks ($23.5 million), Bobcats ($18 million), Hornets ($11 million), Clippers ($10 million), and Sonics ($10 million) still have money under the cap to burn.

Thirteen other teams -- the Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Timberwolves, Sixers, Kings, Raptors and Jazz -- still have their full $5 million mid-level exceptions available. And a number of other teams still have partial mid-level exceptions available.

Another 13 teams -- the Bulls, Nuggets, Rockets, Pacers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Magic, Sixers, Suns, Raptors, Jazz and Wizards -- can still use their $1.7 million exception.

In other words, there's a lot of free-agent money left to be had, but not a lot of free agents worth spending it on.

The Hawks are expected to use a big chunk of their cap room on Joe Johnson. However, if the Suns match the offer, they could be shut out for the second straight year. Other bad teams like the Hornets, Bobcats, Jazz and Blazers also have little to show this summer.

Still hoping that your team will make a major addition before the season starts?

Here's a look at who's out there on the free-agent and trade markets.

VIA FREE AGENCY

Tyson Chandler, PF/C, Bulls
Chandler should have an offer by now. He's got the same upside as Samuel Dalembert, while being younger and 3 inches taller. The Hawks or Hornets should take the gamble. What do they have to lose? As it stands, the Bulls are willing to give him Dalembert-type money to stay. He wants more. He probably won't get it unless he gets an offer sheet somewhere else. Of course, if he does, the word inside the Bulls' offices is that they'll match anyway.

Eddy Curry, C, Bulls
Having one bad heart is tough enough. But two? Curry's medical tests (and his uninsurable contract) aren't the only things scaring teams off. Teams worry whether he'll get in great shape or work hard once he has a fat, long-term contract in his hands. Hawks GM Billy Knight might gamble if he can't find anyone else to take his money, but right now it looks like he's the only one. Look for the Bulls to either re-sign Curry at a bargain price or for him to take the one-year tender and become an unrestricted free agent next year.

Antoine Walker, F, Celtics
It looks like the Celtics aren't going to make a strong bid to re-sign Walker -- despite the euphoria he created in his return to Boston. He's had a number of teams interested in signing him with their mid-level exceptions, but Walker wants more. The Heat, Kings and Sixers all have interest, but so far none of them has put together a sign-and-trade package that Danny Ainge is willing to swallow. Walker was in Miami Thursday, so things may be heating up there.

Marko Jaric, PG, Clippers
GMs love big point guards, and Jaric, who stands 6-foot-7, is as big as they come. When Jaric was healthy last season, he was pretty good. He started the season averaging 12.3 points, 6.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 44 percent on 3s. He ended the season with similar numbers. In between, injuries slowed him down to a crawl. If he can stay healthy, he could be a real steal in the free-agent market. But he's going to have to work out a sign-and-trade to get out of L.A. The Nuggets, Cavs and Timberwolves have shown the most interest. Can anyone make a deal with the Clippers?

Vladimir Radmanovic, F, Sonics
Radmanovic is a 6-10 athletic forward who can run the floor and stroke it from 3. He was the leading contender to win the Sixth Man Award before breaking his leg and missing the last six weeks of the season. He was a critical component in the Sonics' unexpected run this year, and has a lot of fans around the league. So why can't he get any love? Radmanovic wants starter's money (a starting salary at $8 million-$9 million per year) and a starting role in Seattle. That's too much for them (or anyone else right now) to swallow. An up-tempo team that gets up and down the floor could be a great fit for him.

Earl Watson, PG, Grizzlies
Watson isn't a big name, but his numbers were pretty close to Jason Williams' in every category but the scoring department last season. He pushes the ball up the floor, plays great defense and plays a little bigger than he looks. He's ideally suited as a top-notch backup, but on a team like the Knicks, who will now be looking for a point guard who "plays the right" way, he could be a fit. Then again, if the Grizzlies find a way to trade Williams, look for Watson to end up right back in Memphis.

Gary Payton, PG, Celtics
Payton is no longer a superstar, but people forget that Payton averaged 6.1 assists per game for the Celtics last season and shot 46 percent from the field. Given the dearth of point guards out there and the money they're making, that's not too shabby. The Lakers are a possible destination, though his first go-around with Phil Jackson was a little shaky. A better destination? Seattle. The team needs someone to back up Luke Ridnour. But more important, they need the sense of identity they've lacked since Payton was running the show.

Latrell Sprewell, SG, Timberwolves
Maybe Latrell's going to have a problem feeding his family after all. After turning down a three-year, $21 million dollar extension offer with the Wolves last fall, Spree is finding out the market isn't as hot as he thought it would be for a soon-to-be 35-year-old shooting guard with pigtails. Still, who can deny that Spree still has some juice left in the tank. He finished strong, scoring 14.3 points per game and shooting 44 percent from 3 in April. He's no longer a go-to guy, but he still can be a lethal option off the bench.

Damon Stoudamire, PG, Blazers
Stoudamire has been flirting with both the Rockets and the Cavs, but hasn't been able to get a deal done. The latest looks like he's leaning toward signing a deal with the Grizzlies



VIA TRADE

Players Traded this Summer
Chucky Atkins, Wizards
Curtis Borchardt, Grizzlies
Caron Butler, Wizards
Bobby Jackson, Grizzlies
Raul Lopez, Grizzlies
Greg Ostertag, Jazz
Quentin Richardson, Knicks
Kirk Snyder, Grizzlies
Kurt Thomas, Suns
Jake Voskuhl, Bobcats
Bonzi Wells, Kings

Williams, PG, Grizzlies
The word from a source inside the Grizzlies is that Williams has a number of suitors -- including the Celtics, Heat and Knicks. With Larry Brown taking over in New York, you can scratch the Knicks from the list. The Celtics need a point guard who can push the ball. Williams will deliver that along with a lot of attitude and some volatile chemistry. A deal of Mark Blount and Marcus Banks for Williams works under the cap. The Heat offer wouldn't be as lucrative for the Grizzlies. To make a deal work, Memphis would have to send Williams and Lorenzen Wright (also on the block) for Eddie Jones. Yikes.

Jamal Crawford, G, Knicks
We know that with Brown running the show in New York things are going to have to change. Stephon Marbury is the obvious choice, but he won't be the first to go. Brown will try to move him to the two and prove to the world that he can make Marbury a winner. Crawford, he has very little use for. He's a skinny, no defense, jump-shooting guard with a selfish streak. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Cleveland or Portland.

Jamaal Magloire, C, Hornets
The one legit center on the market should be getting more suitors. The Hornets are resigned to move him and thought they had a deal done with the Raptors before the draft. The trick is getting another center (preferably one who wants to play in New Orleans) or an All-Star caliber player in return. The Hawks, Lakers, Nuggets, Pacers, Grizzlies and Raptors have shown the most interest.

Nene, PF, Nuggets
The Nuggets won't give Nene away. However, if they could land a top-flight two guard and a reliable backup center that could play heavy minutes whenever Marcus Camby goes down, they might be open to it. A trade for Desmond Mason, coupled with the signing of a free-agent center like Zaza Pachulia might do the trick.

Al Harrington, F, Hawks
With Marvin Williams and Josh Smith both playing the same position it makes sense for the Hawks to shop Harrington. With that said, the rumor the Pistons offered Darko Milicic for Harrington was greatly exaggerated according to sources on both teams.


Wally Szczerbiak and Sam Cassell, Timberwolves
The Wolves have to do something and it centers around finding new homes for Cassell and possibly Szczerbiak. They've tried to use both as trade bait with the Clippers for Jaric, but the Clippers aren't biting. There was also talk earlier in the summer of a Cassell for Jason Williams swap, but that too has fallen apart.

Drew Gooden, F, Cavs
Now that the Cavs have Donyell Marshall (along with second-year power forward Anderson Varejao), the need to keep Gooden has lessened. For a guy that put up pretty impressive numbers, especially on the boards, his stock is pretty low. Scouts say that a lack of basketball IQ and off-the-court issues are scaring teams away. Still, for a young team in need of a rebounder, Gooden could be a big bargain.


Michael Finley, G, Mavs
The Mavs have a problem. Now that word is out that Finley's on the Mavs' amnesty list, teams are no longer willing to trade an asset to get him. They'd much prefer not to swallow the $51 million left on his contract and get him for the veterans minimum. The Mavs can talk all they want about trading him, but unless they take back an awful contract in return, it doesn't look like it will happen.

thanks a bunch man.



but like i told you guys....Crawford REALLY needs to convince Brown he's worth keeping, otherwise he'll be shopped at the very least.

what surprises me is that Ford has Cleveland as possible suitors. That would probably involve Eric Snow. Probably a D. Miles for Crawford as far as Portland is concerned.


Anyways, good read. Thanks for posting it.

Jamal Crawford, G, Knicks
We know that with Brown running the show in New York things are going to have to change. Stephon Marbury is the obvious choice, but he won't be the first to go. Brown will try to move him to the two and prove to the world that he can make Marbury a winner. Crawford, he has very little use for. He's a skinny, no defense, jump-shooting guard with a selfish streak. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Cleveland or Portland.

well isn't that profound coming from a fraudulent, egomaniacal hack "professor" at a degree mill with an advanced case of logorrhea and most lilkely dysmenorrhea as well.

Jamal Crawford, G, Knicks
Crawford, he has very little use for. He's a skinny, no defense, jump-shooting guard with a selfish streak. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Cleveland or Portland.


Eric Snow, Fut. 1st for Crawford


Any thoughts???



[Edited by - bobs3304 on 07/29/2005 15:14:44]

Posted by SkyWalker:

snow and gooden

Gooden is precisely the type of PF that Brown would HATE.

And the only way we could make that work is if we threw in Sweetney, b/c the salaries wouldn't match (Gooden + Snow is more than 125 %), and personally, I'd rather have Sweetney.

In the past, I would've agreed with you, but there's a reason why someone with Gooden's skill set is being constantly traded for next to nothing...

[Edited by - bobs3304 on 07/29/2005 15:19:28]

Posted by nyk4ever:


Agree. I'd say the same thing goes for Darius Miles, theres a reason that this guy is moving around the league for players that he should be performing 10X better then and isn't.

Would you be on board for a Snow, 1st for Crawford deal?

"The Orlando Magic acquired forward Drew Gooden, guard Gordan Giricek and cash considerations from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for forward-guard Mike Miller, forward Ryan Humphrey, a first-round draft pick and a future second-round draft pick."


Gooden, Giricek, and $$$ for Mike Miller, Humphrey, and 2 picks.

Not sure Gooden really "reeled in" all that much man.

Gordan Giricek is probably about as good a player as Miller is.....that pretty much sums it up.

Posted by tkf:

Posted by bobs3304:

Gordan Giricek is probably about as good a player as Miller is.....that pretty much sums it up.

No he isn't, mike miller can play..

Ya....not so much lately. Giricek and a pick would get you Miller easy. You're overrating Mike bigtime.

Posted by djsunyc:



Tyson Chandler, PF/C, Bulls
Chandler should have an offer by now. He's got the same upside as Samuel Dalembert, while being younger and 3 inches taller.[/b]

He doesn't have the same upside as Dalembert and he isn't 3 inches taller. Is Tyson Chandler 7-2 now or did I miss something? What an idiot.

Earl Watson, PG, Grizzlies
Watson isn't a big name, but his numbers were pretty close to Jason Williams' in every category but the scoring department last season. He pushes the ball up the floor, plays great defense and plays a little bigger than he looks. He's ideally suited as a top-notch backup, but on a team like the Knicks, who will now be looking for a point guard who "plays the right" way, he could be a fit.[/b]

Yeah thats what we need, Earl Watson. Lets trade Nate and Craw for Earl Watson because he plays the 'right' way. What an idiot this guy is!

The word from a source inside the Grizzlies is that Williams has a number of suitors -- including the Celtics, Heat and Knicks. With Larry Brown taking over in New York, you can scratch the Knicks from the list.

Hes an idiot. I highly doubt Jason Williams was ever ever on our radar for even one second unless it was as a throw-in in a trade that would get us Gasol.

Jamal Crawford, G, Knicks
We know that with Brown running the show in New York things are going to have to change. Stephon Marbury is the obvious choice, but he won't be the first to go. Brown will try to move him to the two and prove to the world that he can make Marbury a winner. Crawford, he has very little use for. He's a skinny, no defense, jump-shooting guard with a selfish streak. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Cleveland or Portland.

Just plain dumb. Who in the hell would we want in Cleveland? Craw for Lebron? If he trades Craw and moves brown to the 2, Nate is gonna be our starting pg? Yeah.......Larry Brown is gonna start a rookie 30 mpg. Asshole.

Nene, PF, Nuggets
The Nuggets won't give Nene away. However, if they could land a top-flight two guard and a reliable backup center that could play heavy minutes whenever Marcus Camby goes down, they might be open to it. A trade for Desmond Mason, coupled with the signing of a free-agent center like Zaza Pachulia might do the trick.

What a freaking idiot. Nene for Desmond Mason AND Pachulia? COme one man, NeNe isn't even a starter on his team and Desmond Mason puts up 17 ppg. Not to mention that Pachulia and NeNe are very similar players except NeNE is slightly more advanced right now and Pachulia is 2 years younger. Who the hell does he think NeNe is, and how does he calculate his worth so high? ANd does Denver need another athletic non-jump shooter? (Although obviously they jump at that deal and leave the room before the ink dries on the contract.)


Chad Ford just go teach in Hawaii and take up surfing or something.

[Edited by - Killa4luv on 07/30/2005 03:03:47]