NBA Free Agents 2011: 10 Best Big Men Available Now That Yao Ming Has Retired

As the lockout continues, as sports fans we have very little to look forward to. This upcoming season is filled with uncertainly. However we cannot forget the free agents. There are a group of big men available once this dreaded lockout comes to an end.

Nenad Krstic has gone over to Europe and Yao Ming has hung up the jersey after a career filled with unfortunate injuries but there is still a group of centers available that would be an asset to any team.

Here are the 10 best NBA unrestricted free agent centers, enjoy!

No. 10: Alexis Ajinca

He may not look like a center but this 7'2" French national could be a great backup for many teams.

Alexis played 34 games last season and in limited minutes was able to contribute 4.8 points  and 2.5 rebounds per game.

He is young and extremely raw but has great upside. He needs to play a more disciplined game as he often finds himself in foul trouble.

With that said, when looking at value he could be a major asset to many teams looking to take the the pressure off starting centers with a quality and cheap backup.

No. 9: Tony Battie

A cheap aging center who will give you 10 quality minutes a night are as not as common as they sound.

Yet Tony Battie fits the role perfectly and brings a great level of physicality .

To put things in perspective, he has very similar numbers to Erik Dampier who averages six minutes more than Battie.

A quality center indeed.

No. 8: Joel Przybilla

This backup center spent most of the 2010-11 season on the bench with injuries, particularly a torn tendon in his right knee but he can definitely dominate the boards in a limited amount of time.

In 36 games last season Joel was able to grab four rebounds in 14 minutes per game. He lacks offensive production but could be a nice fit in the backup role.

No. 7: Aaron Gray

Unlike Battie who will probably earn a one year contract, Gray is young, talented and is looking better with each game.

Gray is another quality backup except he has only been in the league for four years. He is still relatively raw with only 190 games under his belt but he was a great asset for the Hornets on the floor, shooting .692 percent from the field in the six playoff games.

He has some upside and will be a great fit for the right team.

No. 6: Kurt Thomas

This 16-year veteran would be an asset for many teams, particularly on the offensive side of the glass where he dominates.

Thomas played 22.7 minutes per game last season and despite being 39 years of age, he was still able to grab almost 6 boards a game.

Another good center that will be just fine for the right team. The Knicks are said to have him on their radar.

No. 5: Nazr Mohammed

He had a horrible post season but don't be fooled, this 13 year veteran could play. In 51 games last season for Charlotte, Mohammed 7.3 points and five rebounds per game.

He is capable of starting some games and has an excellent shooting percentage from the field.

No. 4: Kwame Brown

Another player supposedly on the Knicks radar, Brown is another player capable of adding plenty to a team.

He has been laughed at his entire career because he never lived up to the hype but Kwame Brown did not choose where he was picked. He is capable of giving you roughly eight points and seven rebounds a game.

He will grab two offensive rebounds a game and will come at a relatively cheap price.

No. 3: Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Dalmbert would be a great addition to a contending team. He is capable of giving you eight points and eight rebounds per game. His offensive rebounding is excellent and he averages 1.4 blocks per game.

He needs to work on his shooting as he makes just 47 percent of his shots but defensively, he makes a big difference and every team would love to have him.

No. 2: Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler is not only a winner, he started 74 games for the Dallas Mavericks this past season.

This 10 year veteran averaged four offensive rebounds per game during the post season and was a big reason why the Mavericks won the NBA championship.

His individual performances were great and he is capable of going just under 30 minutes a night.

No.1: Nene

In this year's list of unrestricted free agent centers, you cannot find a better center than Nene. He was great in the playoffs averaging 15 points and nine rebounds per game.

He will give you 30 minutes a night averaging nearly 15 points and eight rebounds. He started 75 games last season for the Nuggets and would be a tremendous asset for any team.