Free Agent Targets?
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:55 am
Who do you think the Nets should target in free agency this year? Should they target anyone (signing someone will cut into 2010 cap space)?
Here's a list of 2009 free agents from ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... ents-09-10
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Note:
The Bi-annual exception for next year is $1.99 million, the exact number for the MLE has not been released but let's put it at $5.50 million.
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Out of that list here are a list of guys I'd be interested in if they can be had for the "right price" (and whom there is actually some chance of signing):
ROSTER FILLER / MINIMUM CONTRACT PLAYERS:
Lindsey Hunter, (38 years old) (League minimum, 1 year deal) -
He'd be the third-string point guard Thorn and Kiki have talked about for a while now.
Gerald Green, (23 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
Might as well take a flyer on him... I'd be willing to give Green a multi-year deal with the second year being completely non-guaranteed... Though I'm doubtful he ever puts things together.
Morris Almond, (24 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
A a former first round pick, I figure we can run this guy through summer league and possibly even training camp and see what he's all about...
Quinton Ross (28 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
He's coming off a bad season, and has already peaked, however I'd be fine with Ross sitting on the bench and getting spot minutes as he defends with intensity...
Kareem Rush, (28 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
Rush is a shooter... Which makes it kind of ironic that the Sixers refused to play him... In limited minutes Rush can be effective, at the very least he gives the Nets another player who can knock down the numerous good three-point looks that their current offense generates.
PLAYERS WORTHY OF PART OR ALL OF THE BAE / MLE:
Brandon Bass, (24 years old) ($18.0-$19.0 million, 3 years + 1 year player option) -
He's not one of my favorite players (as he sometimes suffers from a case of Zach Randolphitis), and I'm not sure I want to hand out a contract that will significantly cut into the 2010 cap space... Still Bass is the type of banger that could give this team the shot in the arm that it needs.
Anthony Parker, (33 years old) ($4.0-4.3 million, 2 years) -
AP means more to the Raptors than he does to a team like the Nets (or most other teams for that matter), so my guess is that he resigns with Toronto. Still there's no harm in making a reasonable offer to him...
Ime Udoka, (31 years old) ($2.0-$2.2 million, 2 years) -
He's regressed a bit since his time in Portland but still defends well and hits the three... Udoka made around $1 million last year so I'd offer him a contract that pays him similarly for this year and the next.
James Singleton, (27 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
A gritty hard-nosed defender who posted career highs across across the board in 2009. I feel like he could be a nice sleeper-pickup in the mold of Jarvis Hayes.
Dahntay Jones, (28 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
Another good defender who carved out a niche for himself this season. One thing though... He actually posted worse stats than James Singleton, which is a bit unexpected considering the amount of hype he's gotten as of late. My guess is that Jones resigns with Denver but for the sake of completeness I included him on this list anyway.
Trevor Ariza, (23 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
Like Jones I doubt Ariza leaves his current team, if the Nets are to pry Ariza away from the Lakers it's going to take the majority of (if not the entire) MLE... I'd throw an offer at Ariza for less than the full MLE but wouldn't get my hopes up in regards to whether or not he'll accept it.
Matt Barnes, (29 years old) ($9.0-$10.0 million, 3 years) -
Barnes just came off a season where he played for the minimum; I doubt he gets anywhere close to the full MLE but he should get more than peanuts this offseason, as an added bonus the Suns are looking to cut costs (some things never change do they?). It is my opinion that Barnes is in search of a big (guaranteed money) payday. You always have to be careful signing a player as volatile as Barnes but with no risk there's no reward.
Rodney Carney, (25 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
I see no reason why the Timberwolves would resign Carney given that they have 3 first-round picks and are expected to have Corey Brewer make his return by the start of the regular season. A former 76'ers first round pick, Carney ended the season with a bang scoring in double-digits in 11 of his last 15 outings.
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There are some caveats to all of the above which I'll post later. Also for the record I'm not saying sign all of these guys.
Here's a list of 2009 free agents from ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... ents-09-10
---
Note:
The Bi-annual exception for next year is $1.99 million, the exact number for the MLE has not been released but let's put it at $5.50 million.
---
Out of that list here are a list of guys I'd be interested in if they can be had for the "right price" (and whom there is actually some chance of signing):
ROSTER FILLER / MINIMUM CONTRACT PLAYERS:
Lindsey Hunter, (38 years old) (League minimum, 1 year deal) -
He'd be the third-string point guard Thorn and Kiki have talked about for a while now.
Gerald Green, (23 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
Might as well take a flyer on him... I'd be willing to give Green a multi-year deal with the second year being completely non-guaranteed... Though I'm doubtful he ever puts things together.
Morris Almond, (24 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
A a former first round pick, I figure we can run this guy through summer league and possibly even training camp and see what he's all about...
Quinton Ross (28 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
He's coming off a bad season, and has already peaked, however I'd be fine with Ross sitting on the bench and getting spot minutes as he defends with intensity...
Kareem Rush, (28 years old) (League minimum 1 year deal) -
Rush is a shooter... Which makes it kind of ironic that the Sixers refused to play him... In limited minutes Rush can be effective, at the very least he gives the Nets another player who can knock down the numerous good three-point looks that their current offense generates.
PLAYERS WORTHY OF PART OR ALL OF THE BAE / MLE:
Brandon Bass, (24 years old) ($18.0-$19.0 million, 3 years + 1 year player option) -
He's not one of my favorite players (as he sometimes suffers from a case of Zach Randolphitis), and I'm not sure I want to hand out a contract that will significantly cut into the 2010 cap space... Still Bass is the type of banger that could give this team the shot in the arm that it needs.
Anthony Parker, (33 years old) ($4.0-4.3 million, 2 years) -
AP means more to the Raptors than he does to a team like the Nets (or most other teams for that matter), so my guess is that he resigns with Toronto. Still there's no harm in making a reasonable offer to him...
Ime Udoka, (31 years old) ($2.0-$2.2 million, 2 years) -
He's regressed a bit since his time in Portland but still defends well and hits the three... Udoka made around $1 million last year so I'd offer him a contract that pays him similarly for this year and the next.
James Singleton, (27 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
A gritty hard-nosed defender who posted career highs across across the board in 2009. I feel like he could be a nice sleeper-pickup in the mold of Jarvis Hayes.
Dahntay Jones, (28 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
Another good defender who carved out a niche for himself this season. One thing though... He actually posted worse stats than James Singleton, which is a bit unexpected considering the amount of hype he's gotten as of late. My guess is that Jones resigns with Denver but for the sake of completeness I included him on this list anyway.
Trevor Ariza, (23 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
Like Jones I doubt Ariza leaves his current team, if the Nets are to pry Ariza away from the Lakers it's going to take the majority of (if not the entire) MLE... I'd throw an offer at Ariza for less than the full MLE but wouldn't get my hopes up in regards to whether or not he'll accept it.
Matt Barnes, (29 years old) ($9.0-$10.0 million, 3 years) -
Barnes just came off a season where he played for the minimum; I doubt he gets anywhere close to the full MLE but he should get more than peanuts this offseason, as an added bonus the Suns are looking to cut costs (some things never change do they?). It is my opinion that Barnes is in search of a big (guaranteed money) payday. You always have to be careful signing a player as volatile as Barnes but with no risk there's no reward.
Rodney Carney, (25 years old) (N/A (will update later)) -
I see no reason why the Timberwolves would resign Carney given that they have 3 first-round picks and are expected to have Corey Brewer make his return by the start of the regular season. A former 76'ers first round pick, Carney ended the season with a bang scoring in double-digits in 11 of his last 15 outings.
---
There are some caveats to all of the above which I'll post later. Also for the record I'm not saying sign all of these guys.