Top free-agent power forwards
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Sean Deveney /
Posted: 56 minutes ago

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2552298

Kenyon Martin will be one of the hot names in free agency, followed by Rasheed Wallace. After that, there is not much available for power forwards.


It's time for the Nets to pay up for Kenyon Martin. (Allen Einstein / AllSport)

Kenyon Martin, Nets
It seemed to be a no-brainer that the Nets would be built around Martin, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, but now that it has come time to pay Martin, that is not looking so certain. Martin wants a max contract, and he could get an offer from Denver, Atlanta or Utah. Martin's offense is probably as good as it is going to get — he has gotten better at his mid-range jumper, but is inconsistent. He is a top-notch defender in the paint and has improved dramatically as a rebounder. The Nets, though, made some terrible decisions chasing Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning, and the result is a bloated payroll that can't fit Martin, especially not with Jefferson being due an extension immediately after. The Nets can match the offers Martin gets, but probably won't be able to.

Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
Wallace has been noncommittal about returning to Detroit, and there's the possibility that he will want to play closer to his Philadelphia home (with the Knicks or Sixers, for instance). But he would have to take the midlevel exception to do so. Detroit will offer more money, and it was with the Pistons that Wallace rehabbed his career and won a championship. He's likely to stay.

Brian Skinner, Bucks
Despite an early season injury, Skinner finally got a chance to play last year in Milwaukee. He showed a good jumper, intelligent post play, a lot of hustle and better-than-expected rebounding. That should be enough to get any big man a decent contract, and though Milwaukee would like to keep Skinner, he might be out of the team's price range. If Utah or Atlanta misses on a center, they could go for Skinner. The Raptors, too, need big guys, and new coach Sam Mitchell was an assistant in Milwaukee last year.

Stromile Swift, Grizzlies
Swift can't get minutes behind Pau Gasol, in part because his head is not always in the game and in part because he is skinny. But Swift is a good rebounder and shot blocker who could develop into a quality power forward is he got the opportunity.

Antonio McDyess, Suns
McDyess turns 30 this year, and as an undersize forward who has had three knee surgeries, there is plenty to worry about. But at the end of last season, McDyess did show that he had something left, and had four double-doubles in the last 10 games. He'll be available for less than the midlevel exception, but Phoenix would like to bring him back and will get first crack. The Knicks, Rockets and perhaps even the Pistons, if they lose Wallace, will be interested.

Udonis Haslem, Heat
Haslem popped out of nowhere as an injury fill-in for Miami, and wound up averaging 6.3 rebounds in just 23.9 minutes. Miami is confident it will re-sign him.

Robert Traylor, Hornets
Traylor has found his niche as a 12-15 minute per game backup power forward who can handle a little time at center. He shot .505 last year and was more aggressive offensively than he has been in his career. His 3.7 rebounds are respectable.

Slava Medvedenko, Lakers
Admit it, you thought Medvedenko was going for 40 when he filled in for Karl Malone in Game 5 of The Finals and started by nailing three jumpers. Such is life with Slava, though: He only made one of his next five. He's a streaky, jump-shooting forward who likes to shoot and does not think of defense very much.

Chris Mihm, Celtics
The Celtics are expected to match offers for Mihm, who probably should be playing center. He is too slow to keep up with most power forwards and just does not rotate well on the defensive end. Mihm can make shots, but he is one of the league's worst passers — in 54 games with the Celtics, he averaged 0.2 assists and 1.2 turnovers.

Karl Malone, Lakers
It's possible that Malone will return to the Lakers and give a championship another shot. But his knee injury, and the passing of his mother in the offseason, probably will nudge him into retirement.

Others: Horace Grant, Lakers; Donnell Harvey, Malik Allen, Heat; Gary Trent, Timberwolves; Amal McCaskill, Sixers; Robert Horry, Spurs; Tom Gugliotta, Jazz; Keon Clark, Suns.