NBA Free Agency 2012: 30 Biggest Names on the Market

While the NBA trade deadline didn't see any real big names change jerseys, there are still quite a few notable players who could be switching colors as once the season wraps up—even if Dwight Howard decided not to opt out of his contract.

2012 is going to be an exciting year for the NBA offseason, as there are plenty of young guns who could be let go if an offer sheet gets too high, and there are a handful of veteran players who could sway next year's championship.

Plus, there's always that Deron Williams guy hanging out in no-man's land without a contract past this season.

So while the debate over who is going and who is staying is still very much a long way away, there's always time this early to look at who is going to be available and who is going to be worth the most to their potential new teams.

For players with team options, I've decided to include only the players likely to be let go by their teams, because it would be crazy to keep them. When it comes to player options, I'll include the guys who would be crazy to stay on at their current price (like Ramon Sessions at just over $4 million) as opposed to the guys who would be crazy to leave (like Jameer Nelson at nearly $8 million).

30. DeShawn Stevenson

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

It's amazing how little it costs to get a player who'll do the dirty work in this league, with DeShawn Stevenson pulling in just $2.5 million this year.

Sure, DeShawn isn't playing to the same level that he did last year, but if you put him on a good team and whip him into shape, he's going to be at least some version of what he was for Dallas last year.

29. Jeremy Lin

Type of Free Agent: Restricted Free Agent

Jeremy Lin will be up for a big-boy contract this summer, and it seems to me that someone is going to try to blow him away. His situation only allows for a league-average salary in his first two years, but after that, teams can back-load his contract, so the Knicks could lose him if someone decides to overpay.

Either way, when Lin sees all the zeroes that will be on his contract offers this summer, he's sure to make this face.

28. Antawn Jamison

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

While he's far from worth the $15 million he got payed this season, there's no reason to believe that Antawn Jamison can't make an impact on a good team next year.

Jamison can still shoot like he always has, but he's also started trying a lot harder this year on defense and could become a great veteran leader for any clubhouse.

Something just south of the mid-level exception could be in store for Jamison.

27. Marcus Camby

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

Marcus Camby is finally to the end of his contract that was starting to look a bit ridiculous (he's making $12.4 million this year), which mean's he'll be free to go where he pleases next year.

However, the lanky big man could end up hanging up his sneaks for good, as it's been speculated that he could retire after being traded from Portland.

26. Kris Humphries

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

If every team passes on Kris Humphries this year like they did last year, I'm going to have to go out on a limb and say that NBA GMs are insane.

Last year, everyone, and I mean everyone, looked at Humphries and saw him as the most likely over-performer in a contract year. They hesitated to give him the money that a guy who averages a double-double deserves, and he went back to the Nets at a fair price ($8 million).

This year he came out and did exactly what he did the previous season, pulling down boards and knocking down open shots. Somebody get this man a multi-year deal.

25. Nick Young

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

Nick Young went through his rookie deal and became an offensive weapon for the Wizards. However, his knuckleheadedness (no, that isn't a word, deal with it) and defensive deficiencies led them to signing him to just a one-year deal, meaning he's a rare, impact unrestricted free agent after just four years. 

Young has been up and down this year, scoring well but still not developing defensively, so he could end up having a hard time starting a bidding war for his services.

24. Jason Kidd

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

The old man is going to be free to sign anywhere he wants after this season—the only question left is whether or not the 38-year-old Kidd (freaking play on words, hell yeah) will retire.

It seems to me that he is still wise and crafty at this age and still has plenty to offer, so Dallas could re-sign him as a backup (to Deron Williams?) or another team could take a swing and see what they get from him.

23. Carl Landry

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

It seems obvious now that Carl Landry needs a point guard to be the Carl Landry that he once was (who would think that a catch-and-shoot power forward would look worse without the league's best point guard?).

However, I can't penalize the dude too much, because he has absolutely nobody creating shots for him down in New Orleans.

He's worth something, I just can't figure out what yet.

22. Grant Hill

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

A big theme of this free-agent class is going to be old guys making an impact far past their prime (you already saw Jason Kidd). When you think about the fact that Grant Hill's prime was more than a decade ago, you may start to get all nostalgic.

Hill is still capable of playing defense and scoring, as long as he doesn't have to do too much creating himself. Keep him with Steve Nash and he'll be able to play until he's 68.

21. J.R. Smith

Type of Free Agent: Player Option ($2.5 million)

There is a handful of players in the NBA that general managers always look at and feel like they can squeeze more out of than their previous teams did—think of guys like Shannon Brown.

However, the king of players who seem like they can do better to everyone on the outside is J.R. Smith, now that Al Harrington is actually doing something good.

It seems that any news of team interest will get Smith to opt out of his mediocre contract and go for the gold somewhere else.

20. Ramon Sessions

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted, Player Option ($4.6 million)

It seems as if Ramon Sessions will be able to entice a multi-year deal out of a team, especially now that he's showing that he can play well on a good team like the Lakers, rather than just put up numbers on a mediocre team like the Cavs.

Sessions can get a three- or four-year deal this summer, so it wouldn't make sense for him to stay on for another year and risk an injury or a down season.

19. Kenyon Martin

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

Kenyon Martin is turning into that guy you throw onto the court to grab rebounds, put back loose balls and just look mean. Basically, he's Reggie Evans with an offensive game and a basketball IQ.

Martin should be looking at getting more than the $2.5 million he got for the portion of the season that he played this year. Who knows if it will come from the Clippers or elsewhere.

18. Andre Miller

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

This may come as shocking news to some, but Andre Miller is fewer than 60 assists away from pushing Mo Cheeks out of the top 10 of all time. With just 57 more dimes, Andre Miller will be one of the 10 most voluminous "assisters" in league history.

That's pretty amazing when you realize that this is just his 13th year in the NBA. He seems more like a guy who's been around for the better part of two decades and ends up in the top 10 by default.

It's still unclear of whether or not Andre Miller is going to continue on in the NBA, but he's definitely got something left in there.

17. Chauncey Billups

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

Let me tell you my ultimate dream: Somebody out there needs to take Popeye Jones and make him a head coach, and then bring in Sam Cassell from the Wizards and a newly retired Chauncey Billups to create the strangest-looking coaching staff in NBA history.

However, after watching Billups in the first month of the season for the Clippers, it seems like he's still got something left in the tank, so I'll have to wait to see my dream fulfilled.

16. Michael Beasley

Type of Free Agent: Restricted 

Michael Beasley is one of the most confusing players in the NBA at this point. He isn't worth $8.3 million, which is what his qualifying offer is, but it's also not worth it for the Timberwolves to let him go.

What will probably end up happening is that Beasley will get a one-year deal with Minny worth that $8.3 million, while they decide how he fits into their future.

15. JaVale McGee

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

He's an idiot and he's extremely talented, which is one of the most dangerous combinations for general managers come time to sign free agents.

McGee's qualifying offer is just $3.5 million, but he's come out recently and said that he wants a $14 million-a-year deal. And I want to dunk on LeBron James, but that's not going to happen either, JaVale.

14. Chris Kaman

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

The Hornets decided not to trade Chris Kaman at the trade deadline, and it seems that he won't be bought out, so teams will have to wait until this summer to take a crack at the big man who can't score like a big man.

I will say one thing positive about Kaman, however: He may not be able to score down low, but he knows what he's capable of and he does nothing but execute what he can do.

13. Brandon Bass

Type of Free Agent: Player Option ($4.3 million)

Brandon Bass has most likely played himself into a higher tax bracket over the past two years, and I'm sure that he and his agent know that.

Bass should opt out of his slightly low contract and get a multi-year deal this summer from a team that appreciates him stretching the floor and playing smart defense. 

12. Brook Lopez

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

I can't take seriously a center who has become incapable of rebounding at least his height (Lopez is seven-foot even, and averaged six boards a game in his last full season), but the world still seems to have the opinion that he's a great up-and-coming center.

Lopez will get more than his qualifying offer of $4.3 million based on his ability to put the biscuit in the basket, but he needs to learn to be a big man in all facets of the game to be worth what he gets.

11. Jason Terry

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

JET is getting paid just under $11 million this year. It may just be me, but that seems to be a bit much for a sixth man, even if he was a key component of a championship team last year.

Terry will probably end up getting another multi-year deal somewhere, but I just can't say where or how much he will get.

10. Nicolas Batum

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

Nicolas Batum is one of my favorite young players in the NBA. His offensive and defensive game are evolving hand-in-hand, and he seems to have a level head on his shoulders.

However, the Blazers are going to have to decide just what they want to pay him, as his $3.2 million qualifying offer just isn't going to cut it.

Some team could come in and buy him out from under Portland, but in all likelihood he'll stay in the black, white and red next season.

9. O.J. Mayo

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

Let me go on record as saying that I have no idea what O.J. Mayo is worth. I've been jerked around by this guy so much over the past year that I can't put a finger on him. 

A level-headed Mayo could be worth his qualifying offer of $7.4 million, but just hearing the words "O.J. Mayo" accompanied by a figure that far over $5 million, just seems odd.

Only time will tell with this guy.

8. Ryan Anderson

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

For a guy who has become the second-best player for the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, you'd better bet that Ryan Anderson gets more than his $3.2 million qualifying offer this summer.

Anderson is the stretch-4 that teams have become enamored with and will pair well with a big, banging big man on a good team.

7. Ray Allen

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

The dying Boston Celtics are looking at losing at least one key component of their 2008 championship team this summer if they decide that another run with their old guys is useless.

Ray Allen is still hitting threes at a torrid pace, putting even more distance between himself and Reggie Miller on the all-time list while still playing good defense.

He's going to be a good addition to a team that needs a veteran shooter.

6. Kevin Garnett

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

I can't imagine that the Boston Celtics will try to cling to the past like some teams have recently (*cough*Pistons*cough*), so Kevin Garnett should end up in a new color next year.

There's no doubt that Garnett can be a defensive monster for a team if they don't put too much pressure on him to be a top option in their lineup.

5. Roy Hibbert

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

Roy Hibbert is looking at a $3.7 million qualifying offer from the Indiana Pacers this summer, but the sheet he signs should look like something closer to a maximum deal.

Hibbert has become one of the best young centers in the league, and if Indiana's front office has half a brain at all, they'll realize that it's damn near impossible to get a reliable big man on both ends of the floor, and they'll match whatever offer he's given.

4. Tim Duncan

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

If Tim Duncan were 55 years old, I would still sign him to a contract this summer if for nothing more than the calm that he brings and how much smarter everyone around him seems to become. Thankfully for the rest of the league, Duncan is just (yeah, just) 35 years old.

The ageless Duncan will in all likelihood continue to don a Spurs uniform beyond this year—the only question is over what they are willing to pay him.

3. Steve Nash

Type of Free Agent: Unrestricted

Hey, were we just talking about ageless basketball players who could play until they hit the retirement home? Well, I've got another one for you here.

Steve Nash is 38 years old this year, yet he's still leading the league in assists. Let that sink in for a moment.

At this point, Nash is like the old dude in a pickup game who is killing it just because he's smarter and calmer than everyone else. The only difference is that Nash is going at it with Chris Paul, and not a 17-year-old kid with a wispy mustache. 

2. Eric Gordon

Type of Free Agent: Restricted

Based on pure potential alone and the ability to alter a franchise, Eric Gordon is one of the most valuable free agents this season.

Some crazy general manager out there is going to sign Gordon to an offer sheet showing a max deal, and New Orleans is probably going to match it whether the league still owns the team or not.

1. Deron Williams

Type of Free Agent: Early Termination Option (to be terminated)

Deron Williams looks like he's going to be promenading his way out of New Jersey before the team ever moves into Brooklyn, and that could be Bad News Bears for the new kids in town.

Williams is now the top free agent with Dwight Howard sticking around, which means he'll basically have free run when it comes to which team he signs a maximum deal with.

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