With the NBA regular season mere hours away from finishing it will not only signify the end of the line for many a teams but it could also mark the end of many a players current tenure with their club. Although open season on the free-agents won’t officially start for a while yet the speculation on potential departures will run rampant until signatures are obtained on new contracts.
There are many unrestricted free-agents set to hit the open market and although the soon to be free-agent crop pales in comparison to next year’s potential roster, it still has some solid acquisitions in it.
Aside from the restricted free-agents and those who have player options heading into the offseason, the true free-agent class boasts some fairly big names. This offseason there figures to be a significant number of movement as the free-agent period shakes out.
Given the sheer volume of free-agents ready to hit the market we will break down the potential movers by Conference. We started in the Eastern Conference and now it is off the West where we have once again identified the top ten free-agents.
Vince Carter - Dallas Mavericks
We start in Dallas as they have the most impactful free-agents this offseason. Just one of many set to hit the open market is Vince Carter. The 37-year old will be entering his 16th NBA season and he has shown that he can still play and contribute at his ripe old veteran age. It is highly likely that Carter will receive and sign a contract with the Mavericks. He is comfortable in Dallas and he has come to embrace his role with the club. What that level of comfort is worth to both Dallas and Carter remains to be seen, but a two year deal for around $3 million per should be in the ballpark.
Devin Harris - Dallas Mavericks
Despite playing in only 40 games this season and averaging a measly 20 minutes of action a night; Harris has played well enough to earn another chance this offseason. How much it will garner him remains to be seen but it won’t likely be more than a couple million on a one year deal. Teams in need of a veteran point guard to come off the bench might just take a flier on Harris. Interest won’t be too great but expect Harris to leave Dallas for a veteran club.
Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
The most intriguing free-agent to be coming out of Dallas isn’t likely going to be fielding offers or making trips out of state. Dallas will be offering Dirk a fair contract to ensure that he finishes out his career where it started. There should be little excitement around this as it is a foregone conclusion that Nowitzki is happy to re-up with the Mavs; only question remaining is how generous will Mark Cuban be to his franchise player?
Shawn Marion - Dallas Mavericks
The ‘Matrix’ is finishing out a contract that saw him get paid over $9 million this year. That marks a considerable over-valuing for a player who averaged 10.4 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Marion has been in Dallas for five years and he is probably going to stay put, albeit on a much lower contract. Marion is a shadow of his former self and he will have to accept the fact that his market is considerably limited at this point in his career. Only way I see Marion leaving Dallas is if he wants to take a crack at a championship; in which case he could accept a mid-level contract to sign with say the Miami Heat.
Steve Blake - Golden State Warriors
Blake’s value has been skewed over the latter part of this season as he has been underused and under-appreciated on the bench of the Warriors. There is little question that Blake will bolt the Bay City as soon as possible as he will be eager to show his worth to a new club. Blake has never been a prolific player by any stretch; however, he is a serviceable reserve who provides a consistent option off the bench. He is likely to land on a playoff ready team that is in need of a backcourt mentor.
Darren Collison - Los Angeles Clippers
Collison has been a pleasant surprise for the Clippers this season as he managed to start 35 games in Chris Paul’s absence. He managed to post averages that were fairly consistent with his career numbers despite playing only 20 minutes a night. Collison has a player option for next season worth $1.9 million with the Clippers. I do think that Collison will decline this option as his playing time and role seems destined to decrease with the Clippers during the playoffs. Collison should be able to generate some interest on the open market and will likely be able to get a bit more job security than just the one year deal with the Clippers.
Glen Davis - Los Angeles Clippers
Another Clipper with a player option for next season who is definitely going to decline it is ‘Big Baby’ Davis. He left Orlando after a buyout to join the Clippers for a run at a championship. Regardless of how that goes he will bolt Los Angeles after the season ends. Davis will definitely get some interest on the open market as teams will see his productivity as an everyday starter in Orlando.
Danny Granger - Los Angeles Clippers
Granger is basically playing for the Clippers in hopes of winning and raising his profile for this free-agent period. It will be tough for a team to offer Granger much of a guaranteed contract given that he hasn’t been able as of yet to regain his form prior to his injury. A team will take a look and figure that it is worth the chance in offering a two year deal but Granger won’t be seeing any big bucks like he was getting in Indiana. No need to feel too sorry for Granger as he has made over $66 million in career earnings to this point so a couple more years at around $1.5 million per might be as good as it gets.
Pau Gasol - Los Angeles Lakers
Gasol is wrapping up his seventh season with the Lakers and he is now set to test the open market. He is coming off a tumultuous season that was a huge disappointment for both Gasol and the Lakers. Although General Manager Mitch Kupchak is saying all the right things it might not be enough to convince Gasol to stay. One thing is for sure is that there is no way that any new deal for Gasol will see him being paid over $19 million per year like this past season. He is still a very good NBA star who would be a big addition to any club; what that is worth on the open market remains to be seen.
Jordan Hill - Los Angeles Lakers
Hill is finishing out his two year deal with the Lakers that saw him get paid $7.1 million over that time. He has played well enough to not only be a coveted player in free-agency but he will also get a decent pay raise on his next deal. The fact that Hill finished out the season on such a high note will only serve to peak the interest of general managers around the league. Hill’s numbers aren’t far off of Larry Sanders from the 2012-13 season that saw him ultimately sign a fat contract worth $44 million over four season. J.J. Hickson on the other hand came off a season where he averaged a double-double for Portland and he only got $5 million per year from Denver in free-agency. Given Hill’s play and his abolity to shoot a consistent jumper he could very well get an offer somewhere in between Sanders and Hickson’s deals.