Top Five NBA Players With 2010 Early Termination Options

The summer of 2010 has been hyped as one of the greatest free agency summers in NBA history ever since 2006, when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh all signed contract extensions that would simultaneously expire on July 1, 2010.

Contrastingly, the biggest names to sign free agent contracts this past summer were Vince Carter, Hedo Turkoglu, and Ben Gordon. Needless to say, I'm taking Team A in a three v. three pickup game.

With three perennial, game-changing All-Stars like Bron, Wade, and Bosh coming off the books in 2010, most of the focus has fallen upon them.

Along with those three, guys like Ray Allen, Carlos Boozer, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, and Marcus Camby will all become free agents after this season. There's a reason the summer of 2010 gets so much publicity in the sports media.

But there's one group of players that appear to be flying under the radar—those with Early Termination Options in their contract.

A player with an Early Termination Option has the power to opt out of his contract early, becoming an unrestricted free agent (eligible to sign with any team he chooses) in the process.

While 'Bron, Wade, and Bosh certainly isn't a list to scoff at, the players with ETOs in 2010 have just as much power to radically change the NBA landscape.

Check out five of the finest players with ETOs next year, listed in no particular order, along with three honorable mentions (because the list is just too damn good to cut down to five!).

1. Amar'e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)

What he provides: Career averages of 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and an assist, steal, and block per game. A big man who can dominate at either PF or C. A four time All-Star who started for the Western Conference last season.

After suffering a gruesome injury last season (a detached retina? yowch!), Amar'e's been rounding back into perennial All-Star form as of late. (And he's sporting nifty new Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-esque goggles.)

Stoudemire has never had a penchant for banging around down low with the biggest of the NBA's big men. But in his past five games, he's posted five straight double-doubles, including four 20/10+ efforts (and they've faced Cleveland, Portland, and San Antonio in those past five!).

Stoudemire is a young (27-years old), commanding presence in the post, and one who will likely demand double-teams for the next five years (at least). If he opts out from his contract with the Suns at the end of the year, he would likely appear in the free agent discussion with the LeBrons and D-Wades of the world.

Where he stands: After repeatedly trying to get the Suns to offer him a contract extension before the beginning of last season, Amar'e instead found himself on the end of a rumored trade between Phoenix and Golden State that revolved around the No. 7 pick in the draft.

Stoudemire swore off discussing his contract with the team during the season, leaving the Suns with little leverage in the negotiation process at this point.

"It's going to be an exciting off-season," says Stoudemire. "I try not to think about it as much during the season. I would rather, me personally, I want to deal with [free agency] after the season. I don't want any distractions. We're off to a great start and have to keep it going. No distractions. So I prefer to wait."

With $17.7 million due to him for the 2010-11 season, and a league salary cap reportedly on the way down again, don't be surprised to see Amar'e stick with the Suns one more year (much like Carlos Boozer this past summer) simply for financial reasons.

2. Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

What he provides: One of the NBA's Top-10 players, with career stats of 22.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 8-time NBA All-Star. Potentially the league's most dangerous power forward/seven-footer, given his offensive versatility. Handles the ball well, drives hard to the basket, but also has great three-point range. Stats say it all.

Dirk has been the lifeblood of the Mavericks for the past decade, averaging somewhere around 25 points, 8.5 rebounds and three assists per game. He brought the 2006 Mavericks within two games of the NBA championship (before Dwayne Wade became "D-Wade").

This season has been no different for Dirk. He's averaging 26.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, along with a three-pointer, steal, and a block per game.

And Dirk's in the early running for the NBA's most hardcore play this season, after driving straight at Houston's Carl Landry and ending up with three of Landry's teeth implanted in his elbow. (See above. And the other most hardcore play? Manu Ginobili earning his newest moniker: Batman.)

Where he stands: Of all the players with ETOs in 2010, Dirk opting out and switching teams would be the biggest surprise.

"I've always said it wouldn't feel right if I left the Mavericks," Nowitzki told AOL Fanhouse. "I've played my heart out in Dallas for 12 years, so going somewhere else doesn't sound good to me. I'm not even sure how a championship would feel somewhere else. I know what it would feel like to do it in Dallas.

"As far as I'm concerned, I want to finish my career in Dallas. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Considering how much Mavericks owner Mark Cuban loves Nowitzki and his California surfer hair, it's almost unfathomable to imagine the two not striking a deal that keeps Nowitzki in a Dallas uniform until the day he retires. After all, this is the franchise that just committed $25 million for three years of Jason Kidd's corpse!

3. Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)

What he provides: The NBA's most physically imposing player, standing at 7'6''. No. 1 overall pick in 2002 draft (by the Rockets). Seven-time NBA All-Star. Average career stats of 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. And a great relationship with China's 1.2 billion citizens.

Unfortunately, like with most bulky centers (Greg Oden, anyone?), Yao comes with a laundry list of an injury history. He had three straight seasons cut significantly short due to an assortment of injuries to his lower body between 2005-08.

And after making it through last season relatively unscathed, Yao sustained a hairline fracture in his left foot during Game 3 of the Rockets' second round playoff series against the eventual champion L.A. Lakers.

If Yao can stay on his two oversized feet for a few whole seasons, he'd return to one of the NBA's most dominant forces down low. Sadly, that "if" has become a pretty big conditional.

Where he stands: Well, he's probably not standing at all, currently. Yikes. This is awkward.

But, as Yao continues to rehab back from his hairline fracture, his contract situation must be on the back of his mind. The Rockets have been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA this season; after losing Ron Artest to free agency and Yao and Tracy McGrady to injures (although McGrady's already back), the Rockets have managed to exceed all expectations by posting a record above .500.

What seemed like a hopeless situation for the Rockets may just be a sign of GM Daryl Morey's cunning. Morey's attention to detail (check his Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmorey) is stunning, even for a GM.

And from most reports, athletes seem to love playing in Houston.

Considering that Yao won't be back before the 2010-11, chances are that he'll be back in a Rockets uniform for similar reasons that Amare Stoudemire is likely to stay with the Suns. Yao will be unlikely to find any team willing to match his near $16.5 million 2010-11 contract and will hope for a rising salary cap and a weaker free agent class in 2011 to cash in for his (last?) big payday.

But, if someone's willing to match his current contract despite his injuries, don't be surprised to see Yao somewhere other than Houston when next season tips off.

4. Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)

What he provides: Career averages of 22.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 three-pointers and 1.5 steals per game. Seven-time NBA All-Star. A 6'7'' guard/forward who can play multiple positions and kill your team from any part on the offensive side of the court; someone who's started in all but three of his 840 NBA games over the course of his career.

Pierce has been the lifeblood of the Celtics for the past decade. In the early part of the decade, he had to singlehandedly keep the team afloat, and began playing so well that the name Larry Bird began being tossed around Boston again. Pierce started to make Boston fans forget about Len Bias.

But it didn't come without a scare. In September of 2000, Pierce was stabbed 11 times in a Boston nightclub. He went on to start all 82 games that season, averaging 25.3 points in the process.

Pierce is one of the most respected wing players in the league, and along with Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, Pierce provides the Celtics one of the (if not the) most lethal backcourts in the NBA.

Where he stands: Ask this question three years ago, and the answer is totally different.

After the 2006-07 season, Pierce was coming off a stress fracture and an injury-shortened season, while the Celtics were looking to rebound from a dismal 24-58 record that earned them the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft.

Instead, GM Danny Ainge got to some Kobe-esque work, bringing in Kevin Garnett from Minnesota and Ray Allen from Seattle, which paid immediate dividends when the Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008.

Despite a second round flame-out to the Orlando Magic in the second round of last year's playoffs (with the Celtics missing Garnett due to knee troubles), Boston's Big Three appear to love playing with each other and expect to continue the magic for another few years.

Pierce's near $20 million salary for next season virtually eliminates all possibility that he'll be opting out from the Celtics. Dare to dream, Laker fans.

5. Richard Jefferson (San Antonio Spurs)

What he provides: Career averages of 17.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. An eight-year pro who finished directly behind Pau Gasol in rookie of the year voting in 2001 (and just look at how Pau's doing now). He was Vince Carter's running mate in New Jersey for the early part of the decade, back when the Nets actually stood a chance against other NBA teams.

Jefferson's been on a bit of a move lately. After being shipped from the Nets to Milwaukee in 2008, he spent a year before being traded to San Antonio for pennies on the dollar.

Jefferson, combined with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili, had the rest of the league shaking in their boots before the season started. On paper, they looked like the only team that could match up with the defending champion Lakers.

But for some reason, talent hasn't translated into wins, and Jefferson has struggled in Gregg Popovich's system so far. His scoring average has dropped off around four points per game. He's playing fewer minutes than he has since his rookie season. Some of that comes from having the caliber of talented teammates surrounding him like he's never had before.

If the Spurs can't put it together and fall out of the playoffs early, will they decide to blow up the Ginobili/Parker/Duncan trio? And would that spell Jefferson's way out of town?

Where he stands: Considering that he's been playing for the Spurs for all of two months, he understandably hasn't made any public comments about which way he's leaning in 2010. And quite honestly, he probably hasn't decided (or thought about it).

If the Spurs break up their own version of the Big Three, it wouldn't be surprising to see Jefferson scoot off to another contender, albeit for less money. He's due slightly over $14 million next season, but if Hedo Turkoglu and Ben Gordon can command 5-year, $50 million+ offers in last year's economy, Jefferson can too.

Owners have been planning for the summer of 2010 for a few seasons now. The ones that don't strike gold with the LeBrons and D-Wades will likely be more desperate for any decent remaining scraps. Enter Richard Jefferson.

But if the Spurs keep their core together, and start playing more cohesive defense in the second half of the season, then Jefferson will likely stay for Year Two of the Spurs experiment.

Honorable Mention: Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)

What he provides: A gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Career averages of 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 three-pointers and a steal per game. Deadly three-point specialist who loves knocking down huge shots in clutch situations.

Redd's biggest red flag is the fact that he's returning from a torn ACL and MCL that he suffered in January.

That shouldn't be enough to deter suitors. Redd is fifth in Milwaukee scoring history all-time, and he led the Bucks in scoring for five straight seasons in between 2003-2008.

For any team looking for a reliable three-point option (Miami? Cleveland?), Redd would be the perfect teammate to catch-and-shoot threes all day.

Where he stands: Redd has only recently worked his way back into Milwaukee's starting lineup after missing most of the beginning of the season with knee tenderness.

Redd's absence in the lineup gave rookie PG Brandon Jennings the opportunity to assert himself, and the results were better than anyone could have reasonably expected. Jennings, who skipped college to play a year of pro ball abroad instead, has taken over the Bucks and made them one of the early surprises of the season.

When's the last time basketball was relevant in Milwaukee? With Brandon Jennings on the team, casual NBA fans have started to take notice of the Bucks.

That could spell trouble for Redd's future with the team. He's due over $17 million in 2010, and the Bucks have reportedly consigned themselves to turning the team over to Jennings and young center Andrew Bogut, who they drafted No. 1 overall in 2005.

Considering that there's nearly no chance the Bucks re-sign him after next season, they will likely consider shopping him around. If Redd's taste of Olympic gold has him hungry for an NBA title as well, he may save the Bucks the trouble and opt out of his contract, choosing to take less money to head to a contender.

Honorable Mention: Kenyon Martin (Denver Nuggets)

What he provides: Career averages of 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and more than a block and a steal per game. (In other words, a fantasy player's mid-draft dream.) No. 1 overall pick by New Jersey in 2000. Helped bring Nets to NBA Finals in back-to-back years from 2001-2003, along with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.

Martin gives the Nuggets a banger down low to pair alongside the Nuggets' backcourt of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

Furthermore, he's been a consistent defensive nightmare over the course of his career, harassing opponents into taking low percentage shots or into forcing turnovers.

He'd provide any team a key defensive player, energy guy, and great No. 2 or 3 option.

Where he stands: With nearly $16 million due in 2010, and the Nuggets' cap number projected around $79 million (aka approximately $26 million above the project salary cap for 2010-11), K-Mart is likely to become a cap casualty, unless Denver intends on paying a significant fortune to keep their roster intact.

The Nuggets did make the Western Conference finals last year and did provide a challenge for the Lakers. They also have maintained their furious pace early this season, looking like the West's early contender for the juggernaut that is the 2009-10 Lakers.

If the Nuggets can maintain their pace, win around 55 games, and meet the Lakers in the Western Conference finals once again, it'd likely leave the ownership much like one Detroit faced earlier this decade. Keep a possible championship team together? Or blow it all up and rebuild around Carmelo?

If the Nuggets choose option B, K-Mart is likely the first player out the door.

Honorable Mention: Tyson Chandler (Charlotte Bobcats)

What he provides: I'm not gonna lie. I've got a soft spot for Ty. And that's because he brings an alley-oop machine to any team he'll be joining.

While he was on the Hornets, he and Chris Paul teamed together for the most dynamic, undefendable alley-oops in the NBA. Every time I watched a Hornets game, it felt like they scored 10 points a game on freaking alley-oops. And there's very few things more fun than watching NBA players getting de-pantsed by vicious alley-oops.

He's also the No. 2 overall pick from the 2001 draft. While his career statistics of 8.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks per game don't jump off the page like some of the other guys, keep in mind that he did average 10.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in his first two years in New Orleans.

In the right situation (aka with Chris Paul or a point guard with a similar passing acumen), Chandler can easily become one of the most dominant centers in the Western Conference. When he's sharing space with Yao Ming, Andrew Bynum, and Tim Duncan(?), that's saying something.

Where he stands: Chandler found himself on the wrong end of a straight-up swap for Emeka Okafor between the Hornets and Charlotte before the season.

Considering that he's due nearly $12 million next season and that the Bobcats are projected to be approximately $6 million over the cap despite likely having a lottery team, Chandler's name will be flying in trade rumors over the next few months. (Remember, the OKC Thunder almost got Chandler last February in a swap for Chris Wilcox and change, before Chandler failed a physical.)

Again, considering Chandler's play in New Orleans alongside Chris Paul, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he could command a five-year, $50 million deal next summer. Considering that he's averaging near career-lows this year, with only 6.6 points and seven rebounds per game, he should be thinking about finding a more suitable situation, before falling off the NBA landscape entirely.