Post by GP on Dec 1, 2007 5:44:50 GMT -5
In this second edition of the BBS Free Agent Rundown, we’ll take a peak at the top centers and most undervalued bigs in this season’s off-season. With two for sure impact type centers, the amount of bigs ready to make a splash are light but some can still contribute to your team right away. (BTW, I had the Forwards edition ready to go, but I accidentally pressed back on my browser and lost it. Damn you Cookies, so decided to write the shorter one first.)
Best Available Centers[/i]
1- Eddy Curry, 28—Last Team: Seattle
Curry is coming off winning his second title with the Sonics and could not be any happier with his situation. One of the best centers in the league on the market and due for another raise. Curry will surely demand the max from a team out there but early indications are that GM Pig will try to bring back Curry somehow, someway.
Salary Demand: Max dollars
Potential Suitors: Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix, Orlando, Washington
Most Likely Going To: Chicago. Curry is a hometown guy and would love to come back to the Windy City. Also can Pig retain Wade and Curry at potentially the same cost? I believe the big FA steal will be Curry to the Bulls in what seems like the best situation for the seven-footer.
2- Hasheem Thabeet, 24—Last Team: Miami
After spending his last max on Shuan Livingston, Miami GM Kevin was hesitant to max Thabeet and was hoping he would resign. Thabeet thought otherwise. Now the former UConn star is looking for the best offer but also might like to play for a winner. With young legs and room to grow, Thabeet should get max dollars from some team out there with the cash.
Salary Demand: Max Dollars or close to
Potential Suitors: Miami, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix
Most Likely Going To: Miami. However with the signing, the Heat will be very close to the hard cap should Thabeet be offered the max. Zach Randolph is still on the books this year and needs to be moved should the Heat have room for Thabeet. Other lucrative situations can reside in Phoenix or Cleveland.
3- Ousmane Cisse, 28—Last Team: Orlando
Cisse had a another nice season last year for the Magic averaging nine points a game and two block a game. However he was still grossly overpaid for his production as last year he made over 15 million. This year, a team will probably not spend as much but he is nice role player or solid starter for some team out there.
Salary Demand: 7-9M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Portland
Most Likely Going To: Orlando. They need Cisse back because they need a center and he’ll be one of the best left after Thabeet and Curry are gone. Houston and Atlanta are also possible destinations along with Portland but are unlikely to offer enough to Cisse’s liking.
4- Josh McRoberts, 24—Last Team: Golden State
McRoberts has become a sub-par starter and potential super sub since being drafted out of Duke in 2007. Last season, McRoberts posted career highs in minutes, points, rebounds and blocks. Surely, McRoberts can be paid by a team this year and whether it will be in Golden State or another team.
Salary Range: 6-8M, possibly more/less
Potential Suitors: Golden State, Indiana, Phoenix, Cleveland
Most Likely Going To: Golden State. Although they rejected the initial offer for extension of McRoberts, they’ll be able to bring him back for a reasonable price. There will be other teams interested in McRoberts because he is young and has good ratings but in the end he should end up back in the Bay area.
5- Eddie Griffin, 30—Last Team: Atlanta
A career 2.7 blocks per game player, Griffin can bring his defensive tenacity and 3 Point shooting to a contender this off-season. The Hawks may not be able to re-sign the big man because of hard cap concerns and filling of the rest of the roster but should they get him back, it will boost their bench surely.
Salary Range: 5-7M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland
Most Likely Going To: Philadelphia. Griffin will bring his masturbating and shot blocking abilities to the city of brotherly love because it just seems fitting doesn’t it? Not to mention he’s a hometown guy and will give that team a much needed punch off the bench. Other teams that might seek Griffin are Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Bargain Bin:[/i]
1- Jamaal Magloire, 33—Last Team: Minnesota
Nearly averaged a double double in limited minutes last season for the T-Wolves, Malgoire is a nice big man off the bench for most teams. Magloire has bounced from team to team since being drafted by the Blazers in 2000, but has become a consistent rebounder and scorer inside since developing.
Salary Range: LLE or MLE possibly
Potential Suitors: MLE or LLE Teams
Most Likely Going To: LLE Team. Magloire might drop off the radar after Day 1 or 2 of free agency and will have little or no MLEs left for him. An LLE should be enough to nab the former Kentucky standout. However how much gas will be left on him after this year will be the question for Magloire.
2- Tiago Splitter, 26—Last Team: Dallas
This Brazilian big man unlike his counter-part Nene, was not waived this year but chose to explore the free agent market after four seasons with the Mavs. GM Greg seems to want Splitter back but for what price? With considerable amounts of money invested in Robert Swift and Roy Hibbert, perhaps Splitter may be low-balled opening him up for other teams.
Salary Demand: 5-7M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Dallas, Houston, Washington, Toronto, Detroit
Most Likely Going To: Dallas. It has bird rights on Splitter and should be able to get him back at the right price. However should Splitter turn to the dark side and really decide to ‘Split’ he could look at offers from the Wizards, Raptors, and Rockets among others.
3- Glen Davis, 25—Last Team: Memphis
At 6’8, 315 pounds, Davis is a load to handle down in the low post. As a second round pick three year ago, Davis had a standout rookie year and repeated it last season. Now, it looks like Davis could see interest from other teams after showing signs of improvement last year.
Salary Demand: 4-6M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, MLE Teams
Most Likely Going To: New Orleans. Davis is from the Big Easy and could be a nice addition to the Hornets front court which would be stacked with Okafor and Ibaka. Although GM Martinez may be able to wiggle out enough cash if Davis seems worthy of a raise from 1.2 million of last season.
Best Available Centers[/i]
1- Eddy Curry, 28—Last Team: Seattle
Curry is coming off winning his second title with the Sonics and could not be any happier with his situation. One of the best centers in the league on the market and due for another raise. Curry will surely demand the max from a team out there but early indications are that GM Pig will try to bring back Curry somehow, someway.
Salary Demand: Max dollars
Potential Suitors: Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix, Orlando, Washington
Most Likely Going To: Chicago. Curry is a hometown guy and would love to come back to the Windy City. Also can Pig retain Wade and Curry at potentially the same cost? I believe the big FA steal will be Curry to the Bulls in what seems like the best situation for the seven-footer.
2- Hasheem Thabeet, 24—Last Team: Miami
After spending his last max on Shuan Livingston, Miami GM Kevin was hesitant to max Thabeet and was hoping he would resign. Thabeet thought otherwise. Now the former UConn star is looking for the best offer but also might like to play for a winner. With young legs and room to grow, Thabeet should get max dollars from some team out there with the cash.
Salary Demand: Max Dollars or close to
Potential Suitors: Miami, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix
Most Likely Going To: Miami. However with the signing, the Heat will be very close to the hard cap should Thabeet be offered the max. Zach Randolph is still on the books this year and needs to be moved should the Heat have room for Thabeet. Other lucrative situations can reside in Phoenix or Cleveland.
3- Ousmane Cisse, 28—Last Team: Orlando
Cisse had a another nice season last year for the Magic averaging nine points a game and two block a game. However he was still grossly overpaid for his production as last year he made over 15 million. This year, a team will probably not spend as much but he is nice role player or solid starter for some team out there.
Salary Demand: 7-9M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Portland
Most Likely Going To: Orlando. They need Cisse back because they need a center and he’ll be one of the best left after Thabeet and Curry are gone. Houston and Atlanta are also possible destinations along with Portland but are unlikely to offer enough to Cisse’s liking.
4- Josh McRoberts, 24—Last Team: Golden State
McRoberts has become a sub-par starter and potential super sub since being drafted out of Duke in 2007. Last season, McRoberts posted career highs in minutes, points, rebounds and blocks. Surely, McRoberts can be paid by a team this year and whether it will be in Golden State or another team.
Salary Range: 6-8M, possibly more/less
Potential Suitors: Golden State, Indiana, Phoenix, Cleveland
Most Likely Going To: Golden State. Although they rejected the initial offer for extension of McRoberts, they’ll be able to bring him back for a reasonable price. There will be other teams interested in McRoberts because he is young and has good ratings but in the end he should end up back in the Bay area.
5- Eddie Griffin, 30—Last Team: Atlanta
A career 2.7 blocks per game player, Griffin can bring his defensive tenacity and 3 Point shooting to a contender this off-season. The Hawks may not be able to re-sign the big man because of hard cap concerns and filling of the rest of the roster but should they get him back, it will boost their bench surely.
Salary Range: 5-7M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Portland
Most Likely Going To: Philadelphia. Griffin will bring his masturbating and shot blocking abilities to the city of brotherly love because it just seems fitting doesn’t it? Not to mention he’s a hometown guy and will give that team a much needed punch off the bench. Other teams that might seek Griffin are Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Bargain Bin:[/i]
1- Jamaal Magloire, 33—Last Team: Minnesota
Nearly averaged a double double in limited minutes last season for the T-Wolves, Malgoire is a nice big man off the bench for most teams. Magloire has bounced from team to team since being drafted by the Blazers in 2000, but has become a consistent rebounder and scorer inside since developing.
Salary Range: LLE or MLE possibly
Potential Suitors: MLE or LLE Teams
Most Likely Going To: LLE Team. Magloire might drop off the radar after Day 1 or 2 of free agency and will have little or no MLEs left for him. An LLE should be enough to nab the former Kentucky standout. However how much gas will be left on him after this year will be the question for Magloire.
2- Tiago Splitter, 26—Last Team: Dallas
This Brazilian big man unlike his counter-part Nene, was not waived this year but chose to explore the free agent market after four seasons with the Mavs. GM Greg seems to want Splitter back but for what price? With considerable amounts of money invested in Robert Swift and Roy Hibbert, perhaps Splitter may be low-balled opening him up for other teams.
Salary Demand: 5-7M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Dallas, Houston, Washington, Toronto, Detroit
Most Likely Going To: Dallas. It has bird rights on Splitter and should be able to get him back at the right price. However should Splitter turn to the dark side and really decide to ‘Split’ he could look at offers from the Wizards, Raptors, and Rockets among others.
3- Glen Davis, 25—Last Team: Memphis
At 6’8, 315 pounds, Davis is a load to handle down in the low post. As a second round pick three year ago, Davis had a standout rookie year and repeated it last season. Now, it looks like Davis could see interest from other teams after showing signs of improvement last year.
Salary Demand: 4-6M, possibly MLEs
Potential Suitors: Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, MLE Teams
Most Likely Going To: New Orleans. Davis is from the Big Easy and could be a nice addition to the Hornets front court which would be stacked with Okafor and Ibaka. Although GM Martinez may be able to wiggle out enough cash if Davis seems worthy of a raise from 1.2 million of last season.