The NBA has roughly one week before both sides of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (i.e. the NBA team owners and the NBA players association) resort to a stalemate that, like the 1998-99 NBA season, shortens the regular reason considerably.
Experts are not going so far as to predict the loss of a season like the NHL experienced in 2004-05, however the situation looks glum. Best case scenario, the lockout lasts until around September, allowing teams to enter training camp and be ready for opening weekend at the tail end of October.
The casual fan probably doesn’t care that the NBA will be locked in negotiations for the next three months, as it won’t affect games. But the hardcore fan loves this time of year Last year we were treated to the most loaded free agent class since 2004 (when Shaq and Kobe parted ways, and Kobe was less than 24 hours away from becoming a Los Angeles Clipper), which led to New York becoming NBA relevant again through Amar’e Stoudemire, and the formation of one of the most despised trios in NBA history – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
This year, the free agency class is much less star-powered; however it is still quite intriguing. Over the next week, prior to the lockout being official, teams can make moves to improve their teams or cut payroll. With last week’s draft said and done, those players selected can also be used as trade pawns.
So this week I’ll be covering all 30 teams, division-by-division, detailing their free agents this off-season, and the moves they need to make to improve their rosters. We begin with the Central Division:
CHICAGO
Free agents: Rasual Butler, Brian Scalibrine, Kurt Thomas (unrestricted).
Chicago had a fantastic regular season in 2010-11, and don’t lost much in this free agency class. Their most glaring weakness was exposed during the playoffs, when a guard to pair with MVP Derrick Rose was sorely missed.
Deal they should make: sign JR Smith with the mid-level exception. Smith can be a head case at times; however he can also catch fire from deep and has explosive athleticism, two qualities that were lacking from Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer. Bogans and Brewer are both fantastic defenders, and with Smith coming in to help and relieve one of them or Luol Deng, the Bulls would have a potent scorer off the bench that can be on the floor in crunch time along with Rose.
CLEVELAND
Free agents: Ryan Hollins, Anthony Parker (unrestricted).
With no cap room and no all stars, Cleveland is in a transitional period. New number one draft pick Kyrie Irving and fellow rookie Tristan Thompson will help ease the transition, but the fact remains that Cleveland fans won’t see much success this coming year. The Cavs have some great trade assets at their disposal this year, including Antwan Jamison’s $13 million expiring deal, as well as Anderson Varejao’s cap-friendly four-year contract.
Deal they should make: Ben Gordon for Antwan Jamison’s expiring contract. Gordon cannot be happy with his experience thus far in Detroit, especially with the recent acquisition of Brandon Knight in the draft. Now the guard depth chart is even more crowded, with Stuckey, Knight, Hamilton, Bynum and Gordon. A fresh start would be good for BG. Jamison would fit in well replacing Tayshaun Prince in Detroit, and would add scoring to their second unit, allowing Austin Daye to start.
DETROIT
Free agents: Jonas Jerebko, Rodney Stuckey, DaJuan Summers (restricted), Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Wilcox (unrestricted).
Detroit has a huge logjam at guard mentioned earlier, and the expiring contract of Prince will free up playing time for Austin Daye and Charlie Villanueva. The drafting of Brandon Knight was an interesting choice, albeit the best one as he was by far the best player available at pick eight.
Deal they should make: Charlie Villanueva and Richard Hamilton for Elton Brand. Detroit have lacked an inside presence since the departure of Rasheed Wallace, and Villanueva has proven that he is not the answer for them.
Brand would provide a solid presence, and would allow them to get rid of Hamilton, who was vocal about his playing time last year to the point that it hurt the team. A starting line-up of Monroe-Brand-Daye-Gordon-Stuckey, with Knight, Will Bynum, Maxiell and Ben Wallace off the bench would allow the Detroit coaching staff to better manage minutes and develop their young players.
Philly would be able to trot out Hawes-Villanueva-Iguodala-Hamilton-Holiday, with Williams, Turner, Meeks, Nocioni and Speights off the bench, which is a decent second unit and would make them better offensively.
INDIANA
Free agents: Mike Dunleavy, TJ Ford, Jeff Foster, Solomon Jones, Josh McRoberts (unrestricted).
The Pacers did better than most expected them to, in making the playoffs and winning one game against the first-seed Chicago Bulls. With interim coach Frank Vogel looking like getting the permanent position, the Pacers will have some stability next season and a new sixth man in San Antonio’s George Hill, whom they traded for on draft night.
Deal they should make: With Ford and Dunleavy gone, Indy now has some cap space to pick up a free agent. The two players that they should pursue are Jason Richardson and Kris Humphries. Richardson was clearly frustrated in Orlando last year, and with a mid-level exception-type contract, he could be a real asset at shooting guard, adding scoring and veteran presence.
Humphries was great for the Nets last year, and can add the rebounding that the Pacers lacked with a paper-thin power forward duo of Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts. They should also look to add a bench big man in addition to Hansbrough such as Nazr Mohammed or Samuel Dalembert.
MILWAUKEE
Free agents: Chris Douglas-Roberts, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (restricted); Earl Boykins, Michael Redd (unrestricted).
With Michael Redd’s $18 million off the books, the Bucks will have some cap space this off-season. The recent trade to acquire Stephen Jackson gives Scott Skiles a starting group of Bogut-Gooden-Mbah a Moute (provided they re-sign him) Jackson-Jennings, and a bench of Sanders-Ilyasova-Delfino-Udrih-Dooling, plus rookie big Tobias Harris. They have the potential to be a playoff team, but are lacking at the wings after Captain Jack.
Deal they should make: Sign Tayshaun Prince. He’s long, good defensively, decent offensively, and would give them a clear starter at small forward. If you can pay the mid-level for Prince, jump on him.
Tomorrow, I’ll cover the Atlantic Division, including Boston, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
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