Steve Nash and the 10 Best Veteran Free Agents
Available This Summer
Steve Nash and a horde of other famous veteran NBA players are set to become free
agents this summer. Along with Nash, this year's crop of veteran free agents is
vast. It's not often teams can find talented players with playoff experience in
free agency. This year, teams can.
Starting July 1, teams may begin negotiating with free agents. On July 11,
teams can officially sign free agent players to contracts. Unlike the last free
agency period, teams won't be rushed to sign players because of the sudden
uplifting of the NBA lockout. Things are back to normal, except now teams will
have considerably less to work with.
The teams that progress year-to-year make smart offseason moves. Here's a
list of the 10 best veteran free agents this summer. If the right teams sign
these players, it could be the difference from a second round playoff
elimination and an NBA championship.
(Note: This list features veteran, unrestricted free agents only. If the
player is a restricted free agent, he will be absent from the list. The same
goes for the younger free agents. E.g. Goren Dragic.)
10. Carl Landry
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
One of the best back up power forwards in the NBA could be available for the
right price.
Carl Landry is an effective scorer, but needs to improve
his rebounding skills to justify giving him a lucrative
contract. In the right situation, Landry could be the piece that separates a
team from being good to great. Worst case scenario for Landry would be taking
the money and squandering his talents away on a bad NBA team.
On the outside, Landry looks like this year's free agent candidate
most likely to be grossly overpaid. Just ask the Toronto Raptors if
they regret giving Amir Johnson a five-year, $34,000,000
contract. Johnson, who averaged 7.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game
in 2011-12, will make $6 million next season. Whoops, wonder if the Raptors
wish they could have a mulligan.
This is what NBA teams need to realize about Landry. He is a good, reliable
NBA post player. If a team can get him for the right price, Landry's a great
piece to build with. But if a team expects to pay Landry starting power forward
money, they're going to be disappointed.
Rule No. 1 about NBA free agency—never pay an above average player like an
All-Star when he's not.
Best Fit: New Orleans Hornets or Boston Celtics
9. Andre Miller
Harry How/Getty Images
You know that older guy at the local gym who shows up everyday to hoop? He
looks out of shape and everyone hopes he's on the opposite squad when they're
shooting for teams. Then you watch him play and instantly recognize he's a
natural born baller.
That's Andre Miller. Some guys are just meant to play basketball.
Miller could be a mammoth upgrade at point guard for numerous title
contenders. Following the Denver Nugget's postseason elimination by the Los
Angeles Lakers, Miller said he would keep his free agent options open:
“I’ll keep my options open,” Miller said. “At this point in my career, if
I’m going to be a backup, I’m going to be a backup on a championship-caliber
team. Obviously, this team is a good team that’s going to get to the playoffs,
but the thing is if they are committed to getting to that next level to compete
for that championship.”
On May 18, Benjamin Hochman from the Denver Post reported
that Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri said, "Andre Miller told us plain and simple that he
wants to come back and play here."
Sounds optimistic.
The Nuggets have made smart moves to rebuild their roster following the
departure of Carmelo
Anthony, but they're still a few years away from becoming one of the elite
teams in the Western Conference.
Miller will realize this once he begins to test free agency. Miller
still has the ability to take over games, a rare skill. Expect him to sign with
a contender that he can start for.
Best Fit: Miami Heat
8. Kris Humphries
Chris Chambers/Getty Images
Forget everything you know about Kris Humphries. Forget how he was used as a
publicity tool for Kim Kardashian's "famous for being famous" career.
Forget all the jokes and recognize this: Humphries is beast in the low post and
he'd be a great addition to any team that struggles to get rebounds.
Humphries finished the 2011-12 season averaging 13.8 points and 11
rebounds per game. The point total may be deceiving because Humphries played on
a terrible New Jersey Nets team. But you can't deceive rebounding stats.
Rebounding averages are the most accurate and reflective of all the basic NBA
stats. Eight players averaged double-digit rebounds this year. Humphries was
one of them.
Unlike Landry, Humphries could start for an NBA title contender. If the
Lakers decide to trade either Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol, Humphries would be a
great player to add to their roster. Humphries works hard and has a real NBA
skill that will keep him in the game for a long time—rebounding.
Best Fit: Los Angeles Lakers
7. Ray Allen
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Imagine if the Oklahoma City Thunder had a sharpshooter like Ray Allen. The
Thunder could spread the floor with Allen's range, making them nearly
impossible to guard.
Allen's shooting ability is something every team needs. A sharpshooter can
spread the floor, keeping defenders on their toes and opening up driving lanes.
Teams that are weak at shooting guard will jump all over Allen in the offseason.
That is, if Allen can fully recover from his his right ankle injury that's been hobbling him in the playoffs.
Allen's bum ankle is preventing him from getting the lift necessary in order
to consistently sink jump shots. Who knows if it's a long-term
problem, but an Allen with no jump shot is a player that may be out of the
league in a year.
Teams should be wary of offering Allen a contract longer than two years.
Allen could recover and become a key player on a contender. If he fails to
recover fully, Allen's ability to be a game changer could be more of a pipe
dream than a reality.
Best Fit: Los Angeles Clippers
6. Jamal Crawford
Harry How/Getty Images
Jamal Crawford joined the Portland Trailblazers hoping to be Brandon Roy's
replacement. He was anything but. Crawford failed to shoot consistently for the
Blazers, 38 percent from the field, but led the NBA in free throw
percentage, shooting 92 percent.
Crawford has a five million player option. If he chooses to become a free
agent, it's unlikely he'll get the same type of money elsewhere. Crawford is an
11-year NBA veteran and could decide that winning is more important than the
money. Of course, staying in Portland could be the best option for Crawford.
The Blazers netted the sixth and the 11th picks in the upcoming NBA draft
and could retool quickly.
Crawford is best as an energy guy off the bench this stage in his career.
Like Jason Terry, Crawford
can get hot at anytime. That type of player is dangerous come playoff time.
They're the wild cards. The most important thing to remember when signing a
wild card player—don't overpay for them.
Best Fit: Chicago Bulls
5. Gerald Wallace
Chris Chambers/Getty Images
Best-case scenario for Gerald Wallace: a contender where he's the fourth
option. That way, if it's not Wallace's night, the team doesn't have to rely on
him to carry them to victory.
Wallace is a hustle guy who relies on his supreme athleticism to
be effective. If a team expects Wallace to be a reliable scorer, they're
looking at the wrong player. Like Allen, teams should caution signing Wallace
to a long-term contract. Next season will be Wallace's 11th year in the NBA and
because of the way he plays, he could lose his effectiveness over night. Once
Wallace's spring is gone, he'll be a significantly less impactful player.
That being said, Wallace is a glue guy. If Wallace is willing to take less
money to play for a title contender, he could be the key piece in some team's
championship run.
Best Fit: Utah Jazz
4. Jason Terry
Brett Deering/Getty Images
There aren't many players in the NBA who have hit more big shots than Jason
Terry.
Terry reeks of NBA playoff experience. Just a year ago, he was one of
the key players for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.
It's unlikely that Terry will end up back in Dallas. After letting Tyson
Chandler bolt following their improbable NBA championship run, the Mavericks
appear to have their eyes set on the holy grail that is Deron Williams.
Whichever team does land Terry will not only get a clutch performer, but a
leader in the locker room. It's rare to find veterans with playoff experience
who can still ball at a high level. Wherever Terry does end up, you're going to
hear his name come playoff time.
Best Fit: Miami Heat
3. Kevin Garnett
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
How much does the "Big Ticket" have left in the tank? With the way
Kevin Garnett's been
playing this season, he could continue to play at a high level for the next
three seasons. Barring an injury, of course.
Garnett averaged 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in
the regular season. It's the best Garnett has played since his first
year in Boston. Garnett's intensity is unmatched. Not only does Garnett bring
toughness, but also he's a NBA champion and a future first ballot Hall of Famer.
You can't pick up someone like Garnett off the yearly waver wire.
The best thing about Garnett is he's flexible. He can play either center or
power forward because he has the ability to guard both positions. When Garnett
plays center, his ability to hit midrange jumpers brings defenders out of the
paint, opening up scoring lanes. Garnett would fit perfectly with on a team
with slashers.
Overall, the best place to see Garnett end his career would be Boston. He's
a true Celtic now. It would be special to see him retire with the team he
helped lead to an NBA championship.
Best Fit: Boston Celtics
1. Deron Williams
Chris Chambers/Getty Images
No Dwight Howard? No
Deron Williams.
I would love to know who Adrian Wojnarowski source is bc he knows more about
what I'm thinking then I do😏 maybe they can help me decide?
— Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) May 30, 2012
Despite killing the claims of "Dwight or Bust," it's hard to see
Williams re-signing with the Brooklyn Nets unless they somehow do a serious
roster makeover. The odds seem unlikely.
The Nets lost their first-round draft choice in the Gerald Wallace trade.
The Nets also have very little to offer in a trade. There's no way the Magic
trade Howard to the Nets because the Nets don't have anything that comes close
to the offers the Magic can get elsewhere.
Williams is the only perennial All-Star that's
an unrestricted free agent. He doesn't want to waste his prime
playing for a bad Nets team. If the Lakers can deal Bynum to Orlando for Howard
and swap Gasol out for other pieces, it'd be interesting to see if Williams
would play for the purple and gold.
Best Fit: Los Angeles Lakers
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