2012 NBA Free Agents: Top Young Forwards on Market

It's getting close to the NBA's offseason, and teams are already looking at the available free agents on the market, whether they be restricted or unrestricted.

There are several intriguing, young forwards that will be on the market in the summer, including a member of the Milwaukee Bucks who has quickly made a name for himself in the league.

Here's a look at my top five young forwards on the market this offseason.

5. Michael Beasley, SF

Michael Beasley has his fair share of character concerns, but he does have the ability to light up the scoreboard—teams tend to like that. While he doesn't offer much else than scoring, his ability to get the ball in the hoop should have several teams calling, including some playoff contenders who could use him off the bench. 

4. Landry Fields, SF

I'm guessing the New York Knicks will hold on to Landry Fields, who is a restricted free agent this offseason, but you never know. 

Fields, a second-round pick in 2010, had a promising rookie campaign. He started out 2011 in disappointing fashion, but he rebounded after Jeremy Lin jump-started the team. He shot 46 percent this season, but his three-point percentage was way down.  

3. J.J. Hickson, PF

J.J. Hickson, No. 19 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008, has begun to blossom in Portland. In April, he averaged 14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks for the Trail Blazers. You have to believe once he becomes a restricted free agent, the Trail Blazers will try to retain him, but it's possible somebody else comes in and tries to swipe him away. At 6'9", 242 pounds, Hickson is just beginning to realize his potential.

2. Nicolas Batum, SF

While J.J. Hickson is just beginning to realize his potential, Nicolas Batum already has in Portland. In Batum's fourth year in the league, he averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, one block and one steal, while playing at small forward and shooting guard for the Trail Blazers. The 23-year-old out of France will likely be retained by the Trail Blazers, but plenty of teams will come knocking on the door.

1. Ersan Ilyasova, PF

It would be devastating to the Milwaukee Bucks if they lost Ersan Ilyasova, who blossomed this season. Ilyasova suffered through concussion issues last season, but he took the NBA by storm this season, averaging 13.0 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three-point range.

There's also this little nugget from BehindTheBuckPass.com: Going back to the 1979-1980 season (when the three-point line was added), Ilyasova is the only player to shoot 48 percent or better from the field, 44 percent or better from three-point range and grab at least 16 percent of available rebounds when on the court in a single season. He averaged 27 minutes this season but still put up big numbers.

The Bucks would love to keep Ilyasova, but the word is out around the league that he's already a very good basketball player.

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