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The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

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Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

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  • Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

    If someone does post it thanks in advance.
    Never half-a** two things. Whole-a** one thing.

  • #2
    Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

    NBA fans, whet your appetites. The free-agent feeding frenzy has begun.

    Starting at midnight on Friday, teams could finally pursue free agents. Here's what we're hearing so far:

    The Clippers are making a big push to bring Ray Allen to L.A. With talks still rocky between Allen and the Sonics, the Clippers could be his final destination once the process works itself out. If the Clippers could pull it off, they would be serious playoff contenders next season.

    The Knicks also are trying to make a splash by making a move for Kwame Brown. The Cavs have Michael Redd atop their list.

    Insider made a plethora of phone calls Thursday to get you the very latest on what your team is doing in free agency. A few quick pointers before you get into the full list.

    The salary cap this year is expected to come in between $48 and $51 million. For purposes of this article, we've split the difference and used an estimated $49.5 million figure.

    Teams that are under the cap can sign players up to the cap. Teams over the cap must use a cap exception to sign free agents. Among the most popular are the Larry Bird exception (which allows a team to go over the cap to re-sign their own free agents as long as they've been under contract for three consecutive years) and the mid-level exception (which gives teams a $5 million cap exception to sign players).

    Teams are allowed to negotiate with free agents, but aren't allowed to sign them officially until July 22. That means that all deals are done in principle only until July 22. Players also cannot be traded during the 22-day moratorium.

    Under the new collective-bargaining agreement rules, teams now have seven days to match any offers for restricted free agents. Previously it was 15 days. This rule change should encourage teams to make offers to restricted free agents.

    A new luxury tax amnesty rule will go into effect July 22. Teams will have until Oct. 1 to release one player from their roster. They still have to pay the player their full salary, but the salary won't count against their cap for luxury-tax purposes. For teams that have very high payrolls, it could free them up to be aggressive in the market. It also means that players like Michael Finley, Allan Houston and Jalen Rose could be on the free-agent market as early as late July. Some teams may choose to wait to spend their money until they see who is available.


    Key: (R) = Restricted free agent

    ATLANTA HAWKS
    Players they might lose: Tyronn Lue

    Players they might pursue: Samuel Dalembert (R), Tyson Chandler (R), Eddy Curry (R), Kwame Brown, Stromile Swift, Ray Allen, Earl Watson, Marko Jaric (R)

    Current cap position: $24.8 million ($24.7 million under the cap)

    Analysis: For the second straight year, the Hawks have a ton of cash to spend. But will anyone take it?

    They desperately need help at both the point guard and center positions. Look for them to make a huge offer to Dalembert, Chandler or Curry -- whichever they believe has the smallest chance of being matched. Sources claim that they contacted Dalembert on Friday, but not Chandler or Curry. They also might use Al Harrington as trade bait for a potential sign-and-trade for Curry.

    Brown will be an interesting play for the Hawks too. The Wizards won't be willing to spend much to re-sign him, making him an attractive restricted free agent if they're willing to gamble. The Georgia native is only 23 years old and desperately needs a change of scenery. Atlanta appears to be the perfect place for him to land.

    Swift is an unrestricted free agent, so he's a safer bet to help fill out the Hawks' need at the four.

    Ray Allen's agent claims the Hawks also like his guy, but given that teams like the Clippers, Sonics and possibly the Cavs will go after him, why would he sign in Atlanta? Still, sources say Allen got a call from the Hawks on Friday.

    The point-guard pickings are pretty slim, which is why I'm a little surprised they didn't go that route in the draft. Watson is the primary target and is a good fit in the up-and-down style the Hawks want to play. However, I think Jaric would be a better pick for Atlanta.



    BOSTON CELTICS
    Players they might lose: Gary Payton, Antoine Walker

    Players they might pursue: Stromile Swift, Earl Watson, Marko Jaric (R), Sarunas Jasikevicius, Ronald Murray (R)

    Current cap position: $49.3 million ($198,799 under the cap)

    Analysis: The good news is that, with the tax savings built into the new rules, Danny Ainge will be allowed to spend the C's full mid-level exception this year. The bad news is that the free-agent point-guard class isn't great and Ainge has made no secret about his desire to add a point guard to this squad. It's unlikely that Payton will return and though the team likes their two young pseudo-points -- Delonte West and, to a lesser extent, Marcus Banks -- they know they need someone with more experience running the show.

    Watson is probably the best fit for the style that Ainge wants to play, but Ainge is going to have competition from a number of other teams for Watson's services.

    The Celtics also need another big man, especially if they're not bringing back Walker. Swift also could be an interesting pick. The Celtics still need athletes at the four and five positions and Swift is near the top of the heap. But he may command more cash than the Celtics have to offer.

    If nothing materializes soon, don't be surprised if Ainge starts trading guys to keep upgrading his squad.



    CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
    Players they might lose: Gerald Wallace (R), Brevin Knight, Kareem Rush, Jason Kapono (R)

    Players they might pursue: Joe Johnson (R), Bobby Simmons, Vladimir Radmanovic (R), Ronald Murray (R)

    Current cap position: $25.2 million ($12.1 million under the cap -- because the Bobcats only have 75 percent of the regular cap this year)

    Analysis: The Bobcats have a ton of cash to spend and have only six players under contract for next season. Look for them to make a strong effort to retain Wallace, Knight and Kapono in free agency. After that it's anyone's guess.

    The plan has been to continue to be bad for one more year, earn one more high draft pick and then use the cap room in 2006. However, if I were Bernie Bickerstaff, I'd be tempted to make an offer to a young player like Johnson, Simmons or Radmanovic. Any of the three would fill a need and would be young enough to grow with the team. If nothing pans out, they will wait till next year. I also wouldn't be surprised if they make a smaller run at Murray. He's an intriguing combo guard that shouldn't take much to pry out of Seattle's hands.



    CHICAGO BULLS
    Players they might lose: Tyson Chandler (R), Eddy Curry (R), Chris Duhon (R), Othella Harrington

    Players they might pursue: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall, Udonis Haslem, Bobby Simmons, Marko Jaric (R), Toni Kukoc

    Current cap position: $35.6 million ($13.8 million under the cap)

    Analysis: In 2001, the Bulls drafted Chandler and Curry, the two pillars in Jerry Krause's misguided quest to rebuild MJ's Bulls. Four years later, they still aren't sure exactly what they have. They know enough to know that they'd prefer not to lose either at this juncture in their careers. But they also know enough to know that both guys are still big risks at this point.

    If the Bulls re-sign both, their free agent money will dry up. Of the two, Chandler is the most likely to get a big contract offer from the Bulls (and from lots of other teams).

    Curry, with his heart problems, both literally and metaphorically, is on shakier ground. If the Bulls decide not to re-sign Curry, they still wouldn't be that far under the cap, which means they could try to do a sign-and-trade.

    No one expects them to be too busy on the free-agent market. The two guys to keep an eye out for are Abdur-Rahim and Marshall. The Bulls want a veteran four, especially if Curry bolts town and they have to move Chandler to the five. Abdur-Rahim is the best on the board that might be willing to take the mid-level exception. Abdur-Rahim, however, seems to be leaning toward the Nets. The Bulls loved Marshall the last time they had him and think he'd add some veteran toughness to their front line. Haslem is a lower cost option that has the type of work ethic that GM John Paxson loves.

    The Bulls could also use some veteran size in the backcourt. They're huge fans of Simmons, but know he's probably out of their price range unless the Clippers sign Allen and no longer have room for him. They're also big fans of Jaric who would give them versatility, experience and size in the backcourt. The team also wants to re-sign Duhon.



    CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
    Players they might lose: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jeff McInnis, Dajuan Wagner, DeSagana Diop (R)

    Players they might pursue: Michael Redd, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson (R), Tyson Chandler (R), Samuel Dalembert (R), Bobby Simmons, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vladimir Radmanovic (R), Marko Jaric (R), Antonio Daniels, Sarunas Jasikevicius

    Current cap position: $23.2 million ($26.3 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Cavs have more cap room than any other team in the league. What will they do with it?

    New GM Danny Ferry is a fan of Ilgauskas and plans on throwing some of that cash his way. Expect $10 million to $12 million to be used on Z.

    How they spend the rest will be interesting. No one is sold on Drew Gooden and the Cavs have already called Chandler and Dalembert. Abdur-Rahim is another possibility.

    Most expect them to spend the rest of the money upgrading their backcourt. Redd has been a target for six months, but it sounds like he's returning to Milwaukee. Allen would help immediately, but given his age, he might not be the best fit. Johnson would be perfect, but the Suns sound adamant that they're matching any offer. If all of that falls through, expect them to carve up the money in smaller amounts. Simmons is a nice all-around fit next to James. Radmanovic is a more affordable shooter, and a veteran like Daniels, Jaric or Jasikevicius would be a nice upgrade at the point.



    DALLAS MAVERICKS
    Players they might lose: Darrell Armstrong, Alan Henderson

    Players they might pursue: Stromile Swift, Kwame Brown (R), Jerome James, Dan Gadzuric (R), Zaza Pachulia (R), Reggie Evans (R), Sarunas Jasikevicius, Arvydas Macijauskas, Kyle Korver (R)

    Current cap position: $87.6 million ($38.1 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Mavs have their mid-level exception to spend and will likely use it. That's based in part on Shawn Bradley's pending retirement and the possibility of waiving Michael Finley and getting some major luxury tax relief in the summer.

    The team has two big needs. They need more veteran size at the four and five. Swift would be the ideal fit -- an athletic shot blocker who runs the floor, but he might be out of the Mavs' price range. Brown is a bigger risk, but he may be more affordable via a sign-and-trade with the Wizards.

    A player like James, Gadzuric or Pachulia would be a nice addition and backup for Erick Dampier. Evans is a fantastic rebounder who could help on the boards.

    They also could use a lights-out shooter in the backcourt, especially if Finley is waived. Macijauskas is the best long-range shooter in Europe and a guy Donnie Nelson Jr. (who coaches the Lithuanian national team) knows well. They could also make a run at Korver, one of the best shooters in the NBA last season.

    And don't rule out Jasikevicius. He's another tough Lithuanian that the Mavs have coveted for some time. They still have needs at the point and no one in free agency is tougher or more experienced than Jasikevicius, who has won three straight Euroleague titles.



    DENVER NUGGETS
    Players they might lose: Greg Buckner, DerMarr Johnson

    Players they might pursue: Michael Redd, Joe Johnson (R), Bobby Simmons, Keyon Dooling, Ronald Murray (R), Arvydas Macijauskas, Travis Hansen

    Current cap position: $44.4 million ($5.1 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Nuggets seriously miscalculated their cap position for this summer at the trade deadline when they traded for Eduardo Najera. Had they not made that trade, they would've been looking at between $7 million and $9 million in cap room. Instead, they just have around $3.5 million, no more than the mid-level exception that every team in the league has.

    It will cost them in their pursuit of their biggest need, a sharpshooter in the backcourt. If they want guys like Redd or Johnson, they're going to have figure out a way to do a sign-and-trade (perhaps using Nene as bait) or pick up a guy like Michael Finley from the NBA amnesty program that allows each team to waive one player.

    On the cheaper end are guys like Dooling, who started to impress some scouts this year with his play in Miami. Dooling is a combo guard that could be a good fit in Denver. Ditto for Murray, who had a breakout year two seasons ago while Ray Allen was on the injured list.

    Macijauskas is more affordable and a good, veteran fit on the team. He played in the Euroleague Final Four this year and has rare experience for someone so young.

    Hansen, the former BYU star, was on the same team with Macijauskas and at times looked like the better NBA prospect because of his superior athleticism.



    DETROIT PISTONS
    Players they might lose: Ronald Dupree, Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham

    Players they might pursue: Michael Finley, Bobby Simmons, Bonzi Wells, Gerald Wallace (R), James Jones (R)

    Current cap position: $53.8 million ($4.3 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Pistons are just looking for depth at this point. Their top six players are rock solid and they're looking for another Antonio McDyess-type player who can give them something off the bench. If Michael Finley gets waived in the NBA's new amnesty program, they will be very interested. If not, an all-around player like Simmons or a local guy like Wells could give them some scoring punch immediately. Jones, who had a few shining moments for the Pacers this year, would make sense as well.



    GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
    Players they might lose: Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Rodney White

    Players they might pursue: ?

    Current cap position: $55.8 million ($6.3 million over the cap)

    Analysis: By my count the Warriors now have 14 players under contract (including their three first rounders on Tuesday night) and don't have a lot of gaps to fill. They're two deep at every position and the franchise is in the best shape it's been in a decade. After a few early hiccups (hopefully he'll waive Foyle or Fischer in the amnesty program) everything Chris Mullin has touched is turning to gold. Their great draft really absolves them from making a big run at anyone.



    HOUSTON ROCKETS
    Players they might lose: Jon Barry, Dikembe Mutombo

    Players they might pursue: Marko Jaric (R), Stromile Swift, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall, Reggie Evans (R), Jay Williams

    Current cap position: $53.9 million ($4.4 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The team is getting pretty deep in the backcourt with the addition of Luther Head in the draft (and the possibility of bringing over last year's second-round pick Vasilis Spanoulis, who had a great year in Europe), but that might not stop them from going after a point guard in free agency. They like Jaric a lot and because of his versatility could easily play him alongside Head in the backcourt.

    More intriguing is their interest in Williams, who has just begun playing five-on-five. If he continues to show improvement, he could be in training camp this year. Williams' agent also represents Yao Ming, which is why there might be a connection here.

    The Rockets also need more size and toughness up front. Swift is athletic and a good shot blocker. Abdur-Rahim is talented, but may be too much of a Juwan Howard duplication. Marshall is an old standby who doesn't out-jump anyone anymore, but has strung together a couple of impressive seasons of late. Evans is a beast of a rebounder, something the Rockets desperately need on their front line.



    INDIANA PACERS
    Players they might lose: Dale Davis, James Jones (R)

    Players they might pursue: Sarunas Jasikevicius, Dan Dickau, Zaza Pachulia (R)

    Current cap position: $74.3 million ($24.8 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The team is trying to figure out a way to hang onto Jones, but are worried the Pistons or Spurs might steal him away. They also want to bring back Davis if they can. The Pacers have made no secret about their passion for Jasikevicius. The question is whether they can afford to offer him the type of contract it's going to take to get the star point guard from Maccabi Tel Aviv to leave Europe for the NBA.

    If they can't, Dickau would be a strong backup. Pachulia is a guy the Pacers have always liked who could add some depth to their front line.



    LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
    Players they might lose: Marko Jaric (R), Kerry Kittles, Zeljko Rebraca, Bobby Simmons

    Players they might pursue: Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Larry Hughes, Joe Johnson (R)

    Current cap position: $33.1 million ($16.3 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Clippers are going to swing for the fences and try to get the one true All-Star in this free-agent class. Allen fits a need and would propel them into heights never experienced by Donald Sterling. According to sources, Sterling has OK'd the move even if it costs him upwards of $75 million to sign him. Will Allen reciprocate?

    If they can't get him, they may make a move for Redd, Hughes or Johnson or just stick to re-signing their own free agents. Simmons is a priority as long as the bidding war doesn't get out of control. Jaric isn't as high on the list. He wants to play point guard and that's not happening in L.A. Look for the Clips to work out a sign-and-trade for him this summer.



    LOS ANGELES LAKERS
    Players they might lose: Luke Walton (R)

    Players they might pursue: Donyell Marshall, Antonio Daniels, Tyronn Lue

    Current cap position: $69.7 million ($20.2 million over the cap)

    Analysis: If the Lakers are going to make radical changes this summer, they're going to have to make them via trade. Their lottery pick, Andrew Bynum, won't be ready for a few years. They have only the mid-level exception to work with in free agency.

    A forward like Marshall is a possibility, but the real need is at point guard. Daniels is the type of big, tough point guard who will stick to the system. Lue is a super quick guard who thrived in L.A. during his last stint.



    MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
    Players they might lose: Stromile Swift, Earl Watson, Bonzi Wells

    Players they might pursue: Marko Jaric (R), Jerome James, Dan Gadzuric (R)

    Current cap position: $56.7 million ($7.1 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The problem for Memphis right now is that the team is overextended financially and needs to cut payroll. That means that Swift, Watson and Wells probably won't be re-signed or replaced. The Grizzlies have had one of the deepest teams in the league and it's unlikely they'll spend too much money trying to restock it this year.

    They're also trying to trade Jason Williams, so point guard is a need, but who on the market would really make sense for them? With the exception of Marko Jaric, I'm not sure.

    If they do spend money in free agency, they still need to get a center who will rebound. James and Gadzuric are the best in their price range.



    MIAMI HEAT
    Players they might lose: Udonis Haslem (R), Keyon Dooling, Damon Jones, Steve Smith

    Players they might pursue: Antonio Daniels, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stromile Swift, Bobby Simmons, Donyell Marshall, Robert Horry

    Current cap position: $57.9 million ($8.4 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Heat have some tough decisions to make. They'd like to keep their own free agents -- Haslem, Jones and Dooling -- but doing so would price them out of the rest of the free-agent market. Drafting Wayne Simien made Haslem expendable. Jones opted out of his contract with the idea that the Heat would re-sign him to a multi-year deal. Dooling is expected to play the market.

    In the past, team president Pat Riley has been reluctant to spend the entire mid-level exception on one player. But with guys like Abdur-Rahim, Swift, Simmons and Marshall potentially willing to settle for the mid-level exception, the Heat may have to go for it. Each one of those guys would be a big upgrade over what the Heat had this year.

    Horry, looking to grab a seventh ring, also is in the Heat's sights. He knows playing with Shaq will give him a shot at winning it all again.



    MILWAUKEE BUCKS
    Players they might lose: Marcus Fizer, Dan Gadzuric (R), Toni Kukoc, Michael Redd, Zaza Pachulia (R)

    Players they might pursue: Ray Allen, Stromile Swift, Kwame Brown (R), Shareef Abdur-Rahim

    Current cap position: $33.9 million ($15.1 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Bucks' position is pretty simple. They want and feel like they have to re-sign Redd this summer. They're willing to throw the max his way, which will be more than any other team in the league can offer. He's said on multiple occasions over the past few months that he's willing to give the Bucks the first shot at signing him. GM Larry Harris will soon find out, with a Cavs blitz expected to come today. Will Redd really choose to return to a rebuilding team with no head coach, when he could return home, play alongside LeBron and have a chance at a championship? We have our doubts.

    If the Bucks lose Redd, then they'll have some serious free-agent money to spend. Wooing Allen back to Milwaukee is the backup plan, though it seems obvious that Allen has at least two better options on the table right now (Clippers, Sonics).

    If Allen is gone, the Bucks could go in a completely different direction. They could move Desmond Mason to the two, play Jiri Welsch at the three and try to land a big, athletic forward to play the four. Swift, Brown and Abdur-Rahim are all options.

    The Bucks will also try to sign one of their two backup centers. It sounds like Gadzuric is their first option, though Harris called Paculia Friday as well and might find that he'll get stiff competition for both players' services.



    MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
    Players they might lose: Eddie Griffin, Ervin Johnson, Mark Madsen, Latrell Sprewell

    Players they might pursue: Marko Jaric (R), Antonio Daniels, Ronald Murray (R), Kwame Brown (R), Dan Gadzuric (R)

    Current cap position: $55.1 million ($5.5 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Wolves aren't expected to make Sprewell a significant offer to return after he turned down two huge contract extension offers by the Wolves. Spree's in real trouble now. The Wolves went in a different direction on draft night, bringing in rookie Rashad McCants, and no longer need him.

    The team still needs help at the point and at center. They've been trying to move Sam Cassell all summer and will need to find a replacement at the point either via trade or free agency. Jaric, Daniels and Murray, all big combo guards, would be good fits.

    As far as bigs go, Brown and Gadzuric both would be good fits if they can afford them. With Ervin Johnson out of the mix and Michael Olowokandi being Michael Olowokandi, they still need a lot of help in the middle.



    NEW JERSEY NETS
    Players they might lose: Cliff Robinson

    Players they might pursue: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stromile Swift, Donyell Marshall

    Current cap position: $53.2 million ($3.7 million over the cap)

    Analysis: Now that the Nets have shored up their backcourt by adding rookie Antoine Wright, the challenge will be to find someone, anyone to replace what the lost last summer when they let Kenyon Martin leave town.

    Luckily the Nets have options. They've been flirting with Abdur-Rahim for almost an entire year and see him as a great veteran complement to the team. Abdur-Rahim will likely have to sign for the mid-level exception somewhere, and the Nets seem like the best fit. Abdur-Rahim has never been on a winner and the Nets offer him a good shot at changing that. Look for Abdur-Rahim's strong relationship with Jason Kidd and Lawrence Frank to seal the deal.

    Swift might be a little better fit for New Jersey. The way he gets up and down the floor is very appealing, but he also is less consistent than Abdur-Rahim. If both guys are priced out of the Nets' range, a player like Marshall might be a cheaper option.




    NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
    Players they might lose: Dan Dickau, Casey Jacobsen, Lee Nailon

    Players they might pursue: Samuel Dalembert (R), Joe Johnson (R), Bobby Simmons, Vladimir Radmanovic (R), Stromile Swift

    Current cap position: $31.3 million ($18.2 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Hornets struck quickly on Friday, working out deals for two lesser free agents, Chris Andersen and Bostjan Nachbar.

    Even after those signings, they have enough cash to make a max offer to someone, and they still have a big need at small forward.

    But will ownership be willing to spend the cash? It's questionable.

    The Hornets tried to pull off a big draft day deal that landed them extra picks for Jamaal Magloire. The theory was that they'd be better off paying young players less money since they weren't going to win or sell many tickets anyway.

    As it stands now, they have some nice pieces with the addition of Chris Paul, and Brandon Bass and might be better than people think if they can add one big name to the mix.

    As far as free agents go, Johnson, Simmons or Radmanovic all make a lot of sense here. Johnson, however, is likely to have his contract matched by the Suns and Simmons has said he wants to go back to L.A. or land with a contender. That could make Radmanovic their guy. The Sonics won't overpay him because he's a backup there and Radmanovic wants to find a team willing to start him. It's a good fit for both sides.

    The Hornets also placed calls to Dalembert and Swift on Friday. The word is that P.J. Brown is on the block and neither David West nor Bass are ready to step in and play immediately. Both Dalembert and Swift would give the Hornets some much-needed athleticism and Swift could become a full-time starter for the first time in his career.



    NEW YORK KNICKS
    Players they might lose: Jermaine Jackson, Bruno Sundov

    Players they might pursue: Kwame Brown (R), Antoine Walker, Stromile Swift, Jerome James, Dan Gadzuric (R)

    Current cap position: $114.3 million ($64.8 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The hottest rumor Thursday night was that the Knicks were targeting Brown and offering to do a sign-and-trade with Washington that would send back Michael Sweetney to the Wizards. It's clear the Knicks still need to get bigger and they also need to thin out the undersized corps of power forwards that they have.

    Going after Brown makes a lot of sense for the Knicks. They need to swing for the fences and at the age of 23, Brown still has plenty of untapped potential.

    The problem is that playing in New York might not be the best fit for Brown. He probably needs a smaller market with less, not more, attention. He also needs to play in an offense that gives him the ball once in a while. He played with shot-happy guards in Washington and didn't enjoy it. The Knicks may offer the best money, but if Kwame wants to resurrect his career, he should probably do it somewhere else.

    Walker is another attractive option for the Knicks.

    If the Knicks can't land Brown, Swift would be another good option. Put him on the floor with Channing Frye and the Knicks would be flying up and down the court again. If both guys opt for more money or different environments, James and Gadzuric are serviceable big men who could help clog up the middle.

    Tim Thomas doesn't have a future in New York and will likely be traded to a team that wants his expiring contract.



    ORLANDO MAGIC
    Players they might lose: Andrew DeClerq, Brandon Hunter

    Players they might pursue: Marko Jaric (R), Earl Watson, Antonio Daniels, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Udonis Haslem (R), Jerome James

    Current cap position: $70.2 million ($20.7 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Magic helped themselves in the middle on draft night by grabbing Fran Vazquez. Now they need to find a point guard that would allow them to move Steve Francis to the two full-time.

    Jaric might be the best fit for the Magic. He's can play both the one and the two and has the toughness and size the Magic are looking for at the point. Daniels also may be a good fit if Jaric commands more money elsewhere.

    The Magic also have shown interest in Abdur-Rahim and have him near the top of their wish list, according to sources. If they were to land him, I would expect them to move Dwight Howard to the five. Haslem has been another target for them.

    James also is an interesting pick here. If he plays like he did in the first round of the playoffs, he could be a real steal this summer. However, if he plays like he did most of the last three seasons, he could be the biggest bust.



    PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
    Players they might lose: Samuel Dalembert (R), Willie Green (R), Kyle Korver (R), Rodney Rogers

    Players they might pursue: ???

    Current cap position: $66.2 million ($16.7 million over the cap)

    Analysis: At this point, the Sixers are concentrating heavily on re-signing their own free agents. They really want to bring back Dalembert, Green and Korver and are ready to break the bank to do it.

    Bringing back Dalembert is the team's biggest priority. The Hawks and Cavs both could make major offers to him and other teams like the Mavs and Suns would love to do something via sign-and-trade. Two months ago it looked like Dalembert was gone. But now that head coach Jim O'Brien is out and Mo Cheeks is in, everyone expects the Sixers to match any offer.



    PHOENIX SUNS
    Players they might lose: Steven Hunter, Joe Johnson (R), Jake Voskuhl

    Players they might pursue: Samuel Dalembert (R), Vladimir Radmanovic, (R), Raja Bell, Nikoloz Tskitishvili

    Current cap position: $45.7 million ($3.8 million under the cap)

    Analysis: Priority No. 1 for the Suns is re-signing Joe Johnson. They've already made one drastic move this summer (sending Quentin Richardson and their No. 1 pick to New York for Kurt Thomas), proving that they'll do what they can to keep him. Johnson will likely get big offers elsewhere, but at the end of the day, it looks like the Suns are prepared to match. The Suns also want Hunter back, but won't overspend to get him.

    The Suns have other lofty ambitions, including landing a shot-blocker like Dalembert or sweet-shooting small forward like Radmanovic. To get either guy, they'd have to work out a sign-and-trade. It appears that Shawn Marion, once again, will be the trade bait.

    As far as their mid-level exception, the Suns agreed to spend most of it on swingman Raja Bell Friday.



    PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
    Players they might lose: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Damon Stoudamire

    Players they might pursue: ???

    Current cap position: $54.8 million ($5.3 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Blazers will have a different strategy than most teams coming into the free agent season. They have two free agents they don't want back (Abdur-Rahim and Stoudamire) that they'll try to use as sign-and-trade bait.

    The team also is dangling Nick Van Exel's non-guaranteed contract this summer and Darius Miles in hopes of landing a star-caliber small forward.

    Both plans mean that the Blazers won't be making a lot of late-night free agent calls but could be the most important trade broker in the league this summer.



    SACRAMENTO KINGS
    Players they might lose: Maurice Evans (R), Cuttino Mobley, Darius Songaila (R)

    Players they might pursue: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Bobby Simmons, Marko Jaric (R), Ronald Murray (R), Arvydas Macijauskas, Anthony Parker, Travis Hansen

    Current cap position: $57.3 million ($7.8 million over the cap)

    Analysis: With Mobley deciding to opt out, the Kings could go in a different direction, though you have to wonder why Mobley would opt out without some assurances that he had another deal in place with the Kings.

    The Kings could make a run at Abdur-Rahim, a guy who would be a perfect fit in the Kings' system. They have some assets they could use in a sign-and-trade with Portland, meaning they could give Abdur-Rahim more money than most teams.

    The situation at two guard is also an issue. Simmons would be a great fit if they could afford him. So would Jaric, though he may have a hang-up about not playing the point full-time. Macijauskas, Parker and Hansen would all be excellent additions at the two from across the pond.



    SAN ANTONIO SPURS
    Players they might lose: Devin Brown (R), Robert Horry, Glenn Robinson

    Players they might pursue: Luis Scola, Shareef Abdur-Rahim

    Current cap position: $54.8 million ($5.3 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Spurs want to re-sign free agents Brown and Horry but their No. 1 priority this summer is finding a way to get Scola, a 2002 second-round draft pick, on the team.

    Scola is considered the best young power forward in Europe and will command much more cash than most second-round picks. The Spurs will have to dig deep into the mid-level exception to bring him over. Expect him to settle for a minimum of $2.5 to $3 million starting salary.

    That really limits what else they can do in free agency. There's some thought that the team may make a run at Abdur-Rahim, offering Rasho Nesterovic to the Blazers in a sign-and-trade, but Abdur-Rahim (and the Blazers) might have better options elsewhere.




    SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
    Players they might lose: Ray Allen, Antonio Daniels, Reggie Evans (R), Jerome James, Ronald Murray (R), Vladimir Radmanovic (R), Damien Wilkens (R)

    Players they might pursue: Everyone

    Current cap position: $25.8 million ($23.7 million under the cap)

    Analysis: No one is in a bigger free-agent quandary than the Sonics. They have six significant players heading into free agency and they can't afford to pay them all. Negotiations with Allen have been rocky for months, and with the Clippers putting on the full-court press, the chances of losing Allen are very real.

    Daniels and James are also likely to leave. Daniels wants a starting point-guard gig somewhere and James feels like he needs a fresh start.

    Radmanovic is trickier. He's a restricted free agent who needs to get an offer significantly above the mid-level to convince Seattle not to re-sign. The Hornets may be his best option. If he gets a big offer there, the Sonics probably won't match.

    If all of those guys leave, the good news is that the Sonics could have as much as $22 million to spend in the free-agent market. They could make a run at a top shooting guard like Michael Redd, Larry Hughes or Joe Johnson. Or they could decide to just hang onto Murray and use the money on a big like Tyson Chandler, Samuel Dalembert or Eddy Curry. They've been making a lot of calls lately, telling agents that the chances of re-signing Allen are 50-50. If Allen bolts look for them to start over.



    TORONTO RAPTORS
    Players they might lose: Matt Bonner (R), Donyell Marshall, Milt Palacio

    Players they might pursue: Dan Gadzuric (R) or Zaza Pachulia (R).

    Current cap position: $56.2 million ($6.7 million over the cap)

    Analysis: The Raptors will make a strong run at re-signing Bonner, but will likely lose Marshall and Palacio in free agency.

    The Raptors know that free agents won't flock to Toronto. They need a center badly, but there isn't one on the free-agent market, other than someone like Gadzuric or Pachulia.

    Toronto's real work this summer will be trying to work on some trades that move players like Eric and Aaron Williams, Lamond Murray and possibly Rafer Alston. They need depth everywhere and trades may be the best option for Toronto.



    UTAH JAZZ
    Players they might lose: Raja Bell, Howard Eisley

    Players they might pursue: Earl Watson, Brevin Knight, Chris Duhon (R), Dan Dickau, Dan Gadzuric (R)

    Current cap position: $48.7 million ($810,477 under the cap)

    Analysis: The Jazz landed Deron Williams in Tuesday night's draft, but still need help at the point. With Raul Lopez and Howard Eisley leaving, they're still thin at the position. The plan before landing Williams was to make a run at Marko Jaric and Watson. With Jaric unlikely to come now that they've drafted Williams, they'll probably have to set their sights a little lower. Guys like Knight, Duhon and Dickau come cheaper and might be willing to share time with Williams.

    Their other real need comes in the paint, where they could use a legit center to play alongside Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer. Only one guy, Gadzuric, makes a lot of sense for them right now.



    WASHINGTON WIZARDS
    Players they might lose: Steve Blake (R), Kwame Brown (R), Juan Dixon, Larry Hughes

    Players they might pursue: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stromile Swift, Donyell Marshall

    Current cap position: $40.6 million ($8.9 million under the cap)

    Analysis: The Wizards' top priority is re-signing Hughes. Hughes will generate significant interest in the free-agent market and the Wizards likely will have to pay big to keep him.

    Next, they have to figure out what to do with Brown. Brown caused enough disruptions during the playoffs to secure his departure from the Wizards this summer. Washington would like to get something back in return for him. They've had their eye on Abdur-Rahim for a while and it's possible that a sign-and-trade sending Brown to Portland could work out. The Knicks are also after Brown and are dangling Michael Sweetney. Brown, however, could just decide to bolt to a team like the Hawks that already has the money to pay him.

    If they can't work out a good Brown trade, guys like Swift and Marshall could be targets.

    http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/colum...had&id=2098094

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

      Redd and Allen head a deep free-agent classBy Chad Ford
      ESPN Insider
      Archive

      Now that the draft is behind us, NBA teams quickly switched gears Wednesday and began preparations for the 2005 free-agent frenzy.

      Who will have the cap space to make a difference in this summer's free-agent market?

      Assuming there's a $49.5 million cap (based on the latest projections with the new collective-bargaining agreement), the Cleveland Cavaliers will have roughly $28 million in cap room. The Atlanta Hawks and Seattle Sonics will have $25 million, the Charlotte Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets roughly $20 million. The Los Angeles Clippers will have about $16 million. The Chicago Bulls will have about $15 million. The Milwaukee Bucks have cleared about $12 million.

      Will they really want or be able to use it? The Sonics, Bucks and Bulls likely will spend all of their room re-signing their own free agents. The Cavs will use roughly $10 million to $12 million of theirs in an attempt to re-up Zydrunas Ilgauskas. And the Bobcats likely will save much of their cap space for summer 2007.

      That leaves the Hawks, Cavs (roughly $16 million to $18 million, if they sign Ilgauskas), Hornets and Clippers as the big players in the free-agent market. Since only one of those teams, the Cavs, has shown it can compete for the playoffs (though the Clippers are getting close), the free-agent destinations for top veterans will be very limited.

      This year's list of free agents isn't top-heavy, but it's deep. Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antoine Walker and Ilgauskas top the list of unrestricted veterans. Of that group, Allen, Walker and Abdur-Rahim are the most likely to bolt for new teams.

      The restricted free-agent class looks much better, but remember, going after restricted free agents in the summer is always a dicey proposition. Only two top restricted free agents changed teams last summer. The Nuggets swiped Kenyon Martin from the New Jersey Nets (the Nets eventually agreed to a sign-and-trade) and the Phoenix Suns pried Quentin Richardson away from the Clippers.

      Here's Insider's look at the free-agent class of 2005. The names on the board might leave fans (and GMs) breathless. Whether most of these guys actually will switch teams is another question.



      Top 20 2005 Free Agents
      Key: R = Restricted free agent | PO = Player Option | TO = Team Option

      1. Ray Allen, SG, Sonics



      AllenThe skinny: Of the top-tier guys on the list, Allen has the best shot at leaving. He tried to work out a big extension with the Sonics all season, to no avail. The two sides essentially bickered over whether the last year of a five-year deal would be guaranteed. Allen has threatened to bolt if the Sonics don't up their offer … but where would he go? Look for the Clippers to show up at his door step at midnight on Friday. The Clippers believe Allen could make them a serious playoff contender in the West. And head coach Mike Dunleavy has the OK of owner Donald Sterling to make a big offer. Cleveland is also a possibility. If the Cavs don't land Michael Redd, Allen would be an attractive option. Allen hasn't ruled out a return to Milwaukee, either, though that happens only if Redd bolts. Allen's agent says he also expects the Hawks to show interest, though it's tough to imagine Allen being willing to join such a bad team. The rest of the teams with money will look for someone younger. All this means that if the Clips or Cavs don't come through, Allen's options will be limited to either signing with Seattle for less money or working out a sign-and-trade with the Sonics. Under those last two scenarios, the Sonics get something back in return.
      2. Michael Redd, SG, Bucks (PO)



      ReddThe skinny: On July 1, 2005, Redd might be the hottest free agent on the market. He's making just $3 million in Milwaukee this year and tried to bolt the team two summers ago when he signed a three-year offer sheet with the Dallas Mavericks. Since then, he has become one of the league's best shooters and an All-Star. He'll command a huge raise, and the Bucks are prepared to pay it. There has been talk all season that Redd would leave the Bucks for the Cavs. However, since then, Redd has given strong indications to the Bucks that his first choice is to re-sign with them as long as they give him a big deal. Still, look for the Cavs, Clips and possibly the Hawks to make a big push this summer. The Cavs could have the best chance to land him. The opportunity to return to his home state and play with LeBron might trump the extra year and bigger raises the Bucks can offer.
      3. Samuel Dalembert, PF/C, 76ers (R)



      DalembertThe skinny: Of all the talented big men from the class of 2001, Dalembert is the most coveted. His breakout performance in April 2004 (12.3 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 4.8 bpg) got teams drooling. In 2004-05, his performance was all over the board, from stunning to awful. However, most NBA scouts blame former head coach Jim O'Brien more than Dalembert for the center's inconsistent numbers. In the playoffs, Dalembert redeemed himself to an extent, averaging an NBA-high 12.8 rpg in the first round against the Pistons. Dalembert has the size, athleticism and work ethic to be a force somewhere down the road. Good centers don't come along too often. When the good ones are on the free-agent market, teams usually are willing to overpay to get them. The Sixers told everyone as the trade deadline came and went that Dalembert's untouchable and that they plan to re-sign him this summer … but at what price? Sixers GM Billy King is a big fan, and made it clear after firing O'Brien and hiring Mo Cheeks that re-signing Dalembert was a top priority. The Hawks are willing to throw near-max numbers at him. The Cavs and Sonics also are interested, as are teams willing to do a sign-and-trade, such as the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks. Dalembert is going to get paid somewhere … the question is whether it will be in Philly.
      4. Tyson Chandler, PF/C, Bulls (R)



      ChandlerThe skinny: Chandler had another up-and-down season for the Bulls. He has stayed healthy, was terrific on the boards again and showed signs that he's an emerging shot blocker. But his offensive game has really stagnated. He still hasn't developed a low-post game, getting most of his shots off offensive rebounds and a nice little 10-foot jumper. However, he was very good in the playoffs, which surely will help his stock. Bulls GM John Paxson loves Chandler. He has a great work ethic both off and on the court that Paxson admires. But what will the GM pay him? Chandler's history with injuries and his limited offensive potential might keep Paxson from throwing the bank at him. Then again, with it looking more likely that Eddy Curry could leave, the Bulls don't want to lose both of these guys. Teams like Cleveland or Atlanta also are considering throwing a max-type deal Chandler's way. In the end, however, it probably would be fruitless. Paxson has said he'll match any deal for Chandler, and I believe it. He's too important to the Bulls' future, and he has the potential to turn into a Ben Wallace-type defensive force (except Chandler is five inches taller) as long as he remains healthy.
      5. Larry Hughes, G, Wizards



      HughesThe skinny: Hughes picked a great time to have a career year. He averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals and was well on his way toward an All-Star berth before suffering a midseason injury. There's no question the Wizards want him back and will be willing to pay him. Hughes just turned 26 and seems to be in the prime of his career. The Wizards likely will have competition from the Bucks (if Redd doesn't re-sign), the Cavs and possibly the Clippers. But at the end of the day, the Wizards can offer the most money and seem inclined to do it.
      6. Joe Johnson, G, Suns (R)



      JohnsonThe skinny: People talk about Redd and Allen as the league's premier shooters, but what about Johnson? He ranked second in the league in 3-point percentage this season and seventh in 3-pointers made. Yes, he gets a lot of open shots considering that most defenses are preoccupied trying to contain Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash – but Johnson has proved repeatedly that he can take over a game when needed. The fact that he's versatile enough to play backup point doesn't hurt his stock, either. The Suns want him back and own his restricted rights. Suns GM Bryan Colangelo told Insider several weeks ago that the team is prepared to match any offer for him. The recent Quentin Richardson-for-Kurt Thomas swap was made, in part, to clear up some long-term cap room to facilitate the re-signing of Johnson. The Cavs also will strongly consider Johnson if Redd doesn't sign with them. He's also likely to get some love from the Bobcats and possibly the Clippers.
      7. Eddy Curry, C, Bulls (R)



      CurryThe skinny: Curry is one of this crop's biggest enigmas. He's a talented low-post scorer who still seems to be growing as a player. But questions about his work ethic have haunted him (how can a guy his size play so many minutes and grab so few rebounds?). The relationship between Curry and the Bulls has waxed and waned considerably the past three seasons. There were several points this year when it seemed like a lock that Curry would be back in a Bulls uniform next season. Right now, his return is far short of certain. Curry had a heart problem toward the end of the season that forced him to miss the playoffs. After months of testing, Curry has been cleared by doctors to begin playing again, but in the meantime, his value might have dropped considerably. The Bulls like Curry, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf doesn't sound ready to commit to a huge guaranteed deal for him. If Curry can persuade a team such as the Cavs (LeBron has been recruiting him), Hawks, Clippers or Sonics to roll the dice and offer him a big deal, will the Bulls match? GM Paxson says yes, but it might depend on how the collective-bargaining negotiations turn out. If Curry can get a mere four-year deal somewhere else, the Bulls might be willing to take the risk.
      8. Stromile Swift, PF/C, Grizzlies



      SwiftThe skinny: Swift took the Grizzlies' one-year tender offer last summer so he'd be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Expect him to take advantage of it. The Grizzlies drafted Hakim Warrick, in part, because they know Swift is gone. He has never quite performed up to expectations in Memphis. Still, Swift has the athleticism, shot blocking and rebounding skills many teams covet. He might never be a great offensive player or a particularly smart player, but on an up-tempo team that likes to get out and run, he could be very, very good. Look for the Hawks, Hornets, Bucks, Nets, Knicks, Mavs and possibly the Cavs and Sonics to show interest.
      9. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF, Blazers



      Abdur-RahimThe skinny: Abdur-Rahim is an enigma. Every year, he puts up great stats for whatever team he's on, but he has never played on a team with a winning record. Never. The chances of his returning to Portland are slim. He knows that Zach Randolph is the Blazers' future at the four and doesn't want to keep playing out of position on one of the NBA's most dysfunctional franchises. At 28, Abdur-Rahim still has plenty of juice left. But who's going to offer him the cash? Most of the teams with money are already set at his position or are looking for someone young. A number of veteran teams – including the Nets, Timberwolves and Heat – would love to get their hands on him, but all they can offer is a mid-level exception. The Blazers might be willing to do a sign-and-trade, but given how chaotic things in Portland are right now, who knows what the team will do?
      10. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Cavs



      IlgauskasThe skinny: It's pretty rare when an All-Star-caliber center appears on the unrestricted market, but Ilgauskas has issues. He turned 30 in June and, despite having played relatively injury-free basketball the past few seasons, he has a history of foot injuries that could scare away any team doctor. However, his ability to score in the paint and block shots makes him a coveted commodity. The Cavs want to re-sign him, but for no more than a four-year deal that pays him roughly $44 million. If Ilgauskas pushes for more, the Cavs might wait him out this summer. Like Abdur-Rahim, the Lithuanian native doesn't have many potential suitors among the teams that have cap room, and the Cavs have no interest in a sign-and-trade, closing off that avenue. If Ilgauskas has to choose between taking $5 million in the mid-level exception and taking $10 million from the Cavs, what do you think he'll choose?
      11. Bobby Simmons, G/F, Clippers



      SimmonsThe skinny: Simmons stands to be one of the more coveted free agents on the market because he is an unrestricted free agent, plays for the Clippers and shouldn't break a bank account to get signed. Simmons' production made a major leap this past season. In February, he averaged 20 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 57 percent from 3. He is versatile, a great rebounder for his size and one of the league's best free-throw shooters. He's a hardworking kid who just turned 25 in mid-June, so what isn't there to like about him? Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy told Insider several weeks ago that he wants him back badly, but the Clippers are likely to get some serious competition from the Bobcats, the Hornets, Bulls and possibly the Cavs. If a team offers Simmons more than the mid-level exception, however, don't be so sure the Clippers will match. Dunleavy likes him, but he's not willing to break the bank to keep him.
      12. Marko Jaric, PG, Clippers (R)



      JaricThe skinny: When Jaric has been healthy, he has looked solid. The pickings are slim at the point guard position, which should bode well for Jaric. A number of teams – including the Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Wolves, Suns, Jazz and Raptors – are interested, but none of them has more than the mid-level to make something happen. The Cavs have more to offer and are interested, but might be unwilling to lock up their cap space for seven days while they wait for the Clippers to match. Los Angeles is inclined to keep him anyway, as long as the bidding doesn't get out of control for both Jaric and Simmons, and Jaric wants to return. Dunleavy told Jaric in his exit interview that he'd have to accept that Shaun Livingston would be the Clippers' full-time point guard and that Jaric would spend most of his time at the two. That's something Jaric has bristled at in the past, but he has warmed to the idea, partly because he loves L.A. and partly because the Clippers appear to be on the verge of the playoffs.
      13. Kwame Brown, PF/C, Wizards (R)



      BrownThe skinny: Despite all of Kwame's problems, teams are still interested. In fact, since the Wizards suspended him in the playoffs, the interest has gone up. Before, many GMs felt that Washington would match any offer for Brown. Not anymore. Brown, an athletic 7-footer who's still just 23, has value. A team such as Atlanta, desperate to turn around its fortunes, might just send a significant contract his way. Brown played high school ball in Atlanta and still has a fan base there. Given the loads of cash the Hawks have to work with, they might be able to afford him, Dalembert and a point guard such as Earl Watson Look for the Knicks and Blazers to make a serious run at him using Michael Sweetney and Abdur Rahim as trade bait..
      14. Vladimir Radmanovic, F, Sonics (R)



      RadmanovicThe skinny: Radmanovic 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. He'd like to get out of Seattle and move to a team willing to give him a starting role. Although there are a number of teams that would be interested, Radmanovic's problem is the competition at his position going into the summer. According to a number of teams Insider talked to, Redd, Allen, Hughes, Johnson and Simmons all rank higher on the boards of teams that have money to spend. If a number of other options fall through, teams such as New Orleans, Cleveland, Milwaukee and possibly Atlanta are interested. However, if those teams find help somewhere else, Radmanovic might be forced to take the mid-level exception. A number of teams would be interested in giving it to him, but at that point it's likely the Sonics would match. A sign-and-trade might be Radmanovic's best option if he wants out of town.

      15. Antoine Walker, F, Celtics



      WalkerThe skinny: Walker's re-emergence in Boston was supposed to pay off for him this summer. However, after the Celtics tanked in the first round (and Walker was less than stellar), the 29-year-old seems to be right back where he was in Atlanta. Walker put up decent numbers all season, but many teams are writing them off as meaningless. His abysmal plus/minus numbers for the Hawks, among the worst in the league, haven't helped his cause. In Walker's defense, he was a spark for the Celtics, helping Paul Pierce be happy again and making GM Danny Ainge look like a genius for about a month. But the effect was short-lived. What happens this summer? No teams with cap room will show serious interest in Walker. The Celtics might be willing to re-sign him, but not for anything near the $14 million he made this season. Cut that number to less than half, and the Celtics might start talking. Walker might have no choice but to take it or take a bigger pay cut for another team's mid-level exception (the Knicks are said to be very interested) or work out a sign-and-trade with the Celtics.
      16. Antonio Daniels, PG, Sonics (PO)



      DanielsThe skinny: Daniels was a contender for the Sixth Man Award and likely will try to bolt Seattle this summer looking for a starting gig. He has posted two solid seasons with the Sonics, is one of the best point-guard defenders in the league and has improved his jump shot. He has become increasingly comfortable as a point guard the past two seasons and should become a solid starter on a team such as the Cavs or Rockets, who are looking for more size and leadership at the position.
      17. Kyle Korver, SF, 76ers (R)



      KorverThe skinny: Korver has turned himself into one of the NBA's sweetest long-range shooters and should get a lot of attention from teams willing to use their mid-level exception. The Sixers want to keep him and can match any offer up to the mid-level. However, if a team offers more, the Sixers cannot match (they own only Korver's early Larry Bird rights). That's unlikely, though, especially with his poor performance in the playoffs.
      18. Earl Watson, PG, Grizzlies



      WatsonThe skinny: Watson remains one of the most underrated point guards in the league and should generate significant interest this summer. He has played backup to Jason Williams most of his career, but his player efficiency ratings make him, at the very least, Williams' equal. He's one of the best defensive point guards in the league, and he keeps turnovers to a minimum. He won't score a lot of points with that faulty jumper, but he definitely can run a team. Teams such as the Hawks, Bobcats, Bucks, Blazers, Cavs, Jazz, Rockets and Magic all have shown interest. Memphis won't be able to re-sign Watson unless West finds a taker for Jason Williams (who is being shopped hard by the Grizzlies). Given Watson's desire to be a starter, it's unlikely he would choose to re-up with Memphis unless Williams were traded.
      19. Sarunas Jasikevicius, PG, Maccabi Tel Aviv
      The skinny: Jasikevicius is the best point guard playing in Europe and has led his team to three straight Euroleague Championships. The former Maryland star is an incredible passer, has deep range on his jumper, and plays with lots of emotion and grit. If he were more athletic, a better defender and four or five years younger (he's 29), he'd be near the top of the list. As it stands, he'd be a great mid-level pickup for a team trying to compete for a championship. A number of teams have shown interest, but the rumor is that the Pacers are leading the pack.

      20. Donyell Marshall, F, Raptors



      MarshallThe skinny: Marshall became one of the most coveted guys on the trading block this past fall and likely will get a lot of interest (for the mid-level exception) from the same teams that pursued him then: the Bulls, Rockets, Heat and Sixers.
      21. Udonis Haslem, PF, Heat (R)
      The skinny: The Heat are worried that Haslem, a restricted free agent, might get an offer that exceeds the mid-level exception from a team such as the Cavs or Hawks. If he does, Miami won't be able to match. That's why it drafted Wayne Simien on Wednesday night as insurance. While Haslem is coming off a good season, a contract starting at more than $4 million a year would seem excessive. Had he not been playing next to Shaq, his numbers probably would not have been as high.

      22. Damon Stoudamire, PG, Blazers
      The skinny: He had another up-and-down season for the Blazers, and his run in Portland is likely at an end. Still, Stoudamire would be a great mid-level pickup for a team that needs a solid backup combo guard who can shoot the ball.

      23. Gary Payton, PG, Celtics
      The skinny: It has become evident that the Celtics are unlikely to bring back Payton next season. He still has some juice in the tank and would be a solid addition on a team that needs some veteran help at the point. Don't be surprised if the Sonics make a run at him should they decide to spend some money this summer and re-sign their free agents. The Wolves and the Heat also are options for Payton.

      24. Jerome James, C, Sonics
      The skinny: After James played terribly all season, it looked as though his run in the NBA was in jeopardy. However, a solid postseason in which he averaged 12.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg really resurrected his stock. No one will break the bank for James, but a veteran team in desperate need of some size (such as the Knicks, Grizzlies and Suns) might spend up to the mid-level exception and give him another chance.

      25. Dan Dickau, PG, Hornets
      The skinny:With Chris Paul headed to New Orleans, Dickau has to search for a new home. Dickau was unexpectedly solid for the Hornets this season, averaging 13.3 ppg and 5.2 apg.

      Best of the rest

      Player/Team Option: Darius Songaila, F, Kings (PO); Cuttino Mobley, SG, Kings (PO); Bonzi Wells, SG, Grizzlies (TO); Nick Van Exel, PG, Blazers (TO); Devean George, SF, Lakers (PO)


      Unrestricted: Latrell Sprewell, SG, Timberwolves; Jeff McInnis, PG, Cavs; Chris Anderson, PF/C, Hornets; Dale Davis, C, Pacers; Kerry Kittles, SG, Clippers; Robert Traylor, PF/C, Cavs; Glenn Robinson, SF, Spurs; Jahidi White, C, Bobcats; Bo Outlaw, F, Grizzlies; Ervin Johnson, C, Timberwolves; Raja Bell, G/F, Jazz; Mark Madsen, F, Timberwolves; Tyronn Lue, PG, Rockets; Darrell Armstrong, PG, Mavericks Clifford Robinson, F, Nets; Greg Buckner, G, Nuggets

      Restricted: Gerald Wallace, G/F, Bobcats; Dan Gadzuric, C, Bucks; Zaza Pachulia, C, Bucks; Reggie Evans, F, Sonics; Ronald Murray, G, Sonics; Luke Walton, F, Lakers; Jason Kapono, F, Bobcats; Willie Green, G, Sixers; Matt Bonner, F, Raptors

      European Free Agents: Maceo Baston, PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv; Arvydas Macijauskas, SG, TAU Vitoria; Anthony Parker, SG/SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv; Travis Hansen, SG/SF, TAU Vitoria; Nikola Vujcic, C, Maccabi Tel Aviv; Jose Manuel Calderon, PG, Tau Vitoria; Dimitris Diamantidis, PG, Panathinaikos; Demos Dikoudis, SF, CSKA Moscow

      Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

      http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/colum...=2097694&num=0

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

        Originally posted by Unclebuck
        1. Ray Allen, SG, Sonics

        AllenThe skinny: Of the top-tier guys on the list, Allen has the best shot at leaving. He tried to work out a big extension with the Sonics all season, to no avail. The two sides essentially bickered over whether the last year of a five-year deal would be guaranteed. Allen has threatened to bolt if the Sonics don't up their offer … but where would he go? Look for the Clippers to show up at his door step at midnight on Friday. The Clippers believe Allen could make them a serious playoff contender in the West. And head coach Mike Dunleavy has the OK of owner Donald Sterling to make a big offer. Cleveland is also a possibility. If the Cavs don't land Michael Redd, Allen would be an attractive option. Allen hasn't ruled out a return to Milwaukee, either, though that happens only if Redd bolts. Allen's agent says he also expects the Hawks to show interest, though it's tough to imagine Allen being willing to join such a bad team. The rest of the teams with money will look for someone younger. All this means that if the Clips or Cavs don't come through, Allen's options will be limited to either signing with Seattle for less money or working out a sign-and-trade with the Sonics. Under those last two scenarios, the Sonics get something back in return.
        We should make a play for this guy. No reason we couldn't get in on this.
        This space for rent.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

          Originally posted by Anthem
          We should make a play for this guy. No reason we couldn't get in on this.
          I don't think it will happen. With all the cap space that Seattle will have, why would they want to work a sign and trade with us? They would be better off letting him walk and pursuing some of the other big-name SG's like Hughes or Johnson. (Redd just got offered the max from the Bucks, I think he stays)
          You, Never? Did the Kenosha Kid?

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

            19. Sarunas Jasikevicius, PG, Maccabi Tel Aviv
            The skinny: Jasikevicius is the best point guard playing in Europe and has led his team to three straight Euroleague Championships. The former Maryland star is an incredible passer, has deep range on his jumper, and plays with lots of emotion and grit. If he were more athletic, a better defender and four or five years younger (he's 29), he'd be near the top of the list. As it stands, he'd be a great mid-level pickup for a team trying to compete for a championship. A number of teams have shown interest, but the rumor is that the Pacers are leading the pack.
            This sounds good!
            "Just look at the flowers ........ BANG" - Carol "The Walking Dead"

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

              I find this the most interesting: we are want Zaza Pachulia
              Here, everyone have a : on me

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

                Thanks for posting. Appreciate it
                Never half-a** two things. Whole-a** one thing.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

                  Does anyone no if we are seriously considering pursuing any of the top free agents (allen, redd, finley, etc)? Honestly i don't think the pacers need any of these guys but i don't know anyone in Indiana who wouldn't mind having another consistent scorer around (for a reasonable price of course)
                  Never half-a** two things. Whole-a** one thing.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Can Someone Post The ESPN insider top free agent list?

                    DETROIT PISTONS
                    Players they might lose: Ronald Dupree, Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham

                    Players they might pursue: Michael Finley, Bobby Simmons, Bonzi Wells, Gerald Wallace (R), James Jones (R)

                    Current cap position: $53.8 million ($4.3 million over the cap)

                    Analysis: The Pistons are just looking for depth at this point. Their top six players are rock solid and they're looking for another Antonio McDyess-type player who can give them something off the bench. If Michael Finley gets waived in the NBA's new amnesty program, they will be very interested. If not, an all-around player like Simmons or a local guy like Wells could give them some scoring punch immediately. Jones, who had a few shining moments for the Pacers this year, would make sense as well.
                    I think I'd cry if that happened.

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