NBA Free Agency 2012: 10 Bold Predictions

Dwight Howard's announcement that he will remain with the Orlando Magic reverberated through the Twitter universe. All eyes are now on Deron Williams.

There are several good players who will be free agents after the season, but no one will command the attention and interest that is bound to be linked to Williams. For good reason.

With the new NBA collective bargaining agreement setting a cap of roughly $59 million, teams are going to be seeking players who can contribute but not break the bank. Some of those teams are title contenders, while others are simply looking to make the playoffs. 

Note: The following list includes only unrestricted free agents, who have maximum capability to move anywhere they want.

Deron Williams

Deron Williams will undoubtedly command the most attention this offseason, though signs point to 2011-12 being his only full season with the New Jersey Nets.

Without Dwight Howard to team up with next season and with the lack of overall productivity currently in New Jersey, it is doubtful that Williams will remain with the struggling franchise. 

The three-time All-Star will want to win right away, and that is simply not going to happen in New Jersey (or Brooklyn, at least not in the foreseeable future).

Heeding a call from his home state of Texas, Williams most likely will be paired with Dirk Nowitzki next season. The Dallas Mavericks are legitimate contenders already, and with Williams added to the roster, their chances of another title run only increase.

Jason Kidd

With Deron Williams likely to take over as the starting point guard in Dallas next season, Jason Kidd will need to look for a new team to run. Though he is getting old at 38, Kidd still has a couple of years left in him.

After averaging more than 36 minutes per game for a decade and totaling more than 50,000 minutes-played overall, Kidd is going to need a place where he can split the time at point guard.

After having won an NBA title last season, he is not going to want to start all over again with a franchise that is rebuilding. If he continues, he will want to be on a contender.

One destination could be the Miami Heat.

Though LeBron James recently mentioned that Derek Fisher may fit the Heat’s needs, Kidd makes more sense. He is a better passer and rebounder than Fisher, and their shooting percentages mirror one another.

Kidd would be a better facilitator for James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade and would be able to play fewer minutes alongside Mario Chalmers. 

Steve Nash

Steve Nash’s future is a big question mark.

Though the Phoenix Suns have started winning again with Nash at the helm, he (like D-Will) also will want to be on a team that has a chance to challenge for a title.

Possible destinations include the Oklahoma City Thunder (doubtful), or the Orlando Magic could make a run at Nash in an attempt to appease their flip-flopping center, if Dwight Howard actually is as loyal as he claims and remains in Orlando.

What better way to say that the franchise truly is interested in pursuing a championship than to sign Nash this offseason?  The Magic do not have the cap space to simply add Nash, but making room for him may appease Howard and entice him to stick around beyond 2013.

Jeremy Lin

Will Jeremy Lin return to the city where he earned his economics degree?

Rajon Rondo has ruffled enough feathers in Boston to make this scenario a possibility, though it all depends on the mix of players that the Celtics could surround him with.

Chances are the big three in Beantown are not going to remain intact beyond this season. But does Lin’s connection to New York keep him playing at Madison Square Garden?  Chances are good that he remains a Knick, but swapping point guards with the Boston Celtics is not out of the question.

Looking at basic economics, the Knicks have a better launching pad for a global brand, and that could ultimately decide Lin's future.

[This section was added in response to multiple comments calling me insane for even suggesting that Boston should consider Lin and dump Rondo]

In Rondo's second season (2007-08), after playing over 23 minutes per game in his rookie campaign, he averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In Lin's second season (this year), after averaging less than 10 minutes per game in only 29 appearances, he is averaging 14.9 points, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals.

Further, Rondo shot 26 percent from behind the arc in his second year (Lin is shooting 32 percent), and Rondo only made 60 percent of his free throws (compared to Lin's near 80 percent).

Rondo is definitely better right now, but he also has five full season under his belt.

The Celtics could save a bunch of money and still have a good point guard if they go after Lin, one tha could arguably be better than Rondo at the same stage in his career. Add on top of that the fact Lin is marketing gold, and this possibility only increases.

Ray Allen

One of the more intriguing story lines of the upcoming summer could involve Ray Allen.

Depending on how things shake out with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Derek Fisher, the Thunder could have their eyes set on acquiring Allen to provide veteran leadership and help spread the floor for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Just the thought of seeing these three players, along with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, on the floor together should make opposing teams wince. 

Nicolas Batum

As one of the top small forwards available in the free agent class this summer, Nicolas Batum should have plenty of offers to explore.

This season he is averaging 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  Further, his PER of 17.73 and his 40 percent three-point shooting should attract plenty of attention when the season ends.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently rank last in offensive production from the small forward position. Though they already are squeezed in terms of the salary cap, adding a capable small forward should be high on their priority list. 

They have the cash to spend, but can they lure Batum away from the Portland Trail Blazers?

Gerald Wallace

The New Jersey Nets picked up Gerald Wallace to prove to Deron Williams that hey are interested in chasing a championship, or at least building a competitive team.  Whether Wallace stays beyond this season is a big question.

Everything hinges on whether Williams decides to stay as part of a rebuilding process in Brooklyn. But with signs pointing to Williams' departure to Dallas, Wallace also probably will leave.

That 1-2 punch of losing Williams and Wallace is going to sting, causing the Nets to rebuild without any proven stars.  Sadly, the Nets are at the mercy of Williams. Until he decides, they probably will not get a commitment from Wallace.

Ryan Anderson

Though Dwight Howard has been the focal point in Orlando this year, Ryan Anderson’s performance should not be overlooked.

Anderson has averaged 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this season. At only 23 years old and sporting a PER of 21.69, Anderson is likely to be in position to sign a much larger contract than his current $2.2 million deal.

If the Orlando Magic are serious about keeping Dwight Howard around, they also should seriously consider signing Anderson to play alongside him.  If nothing else, the Magic would end up with Anderson, who they can start to build around.

Kevin Garnett

Boston's Kevin Garnett will be one of the top unrestricted free agents this summer. Several teams are bound to show interest in acquiring him.

Like teammate Ray Allen, Garnett is going to want to be on a contender.  Most teams with the greatest need for a power forward are at the bottom of the NBA barrel, so it really depends on whether Garnett will take a significant pay cut in order to chase another championship.

The usual suspects would then be in play, including the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.  Chances are he stays in Boston and finishes his career as a Celtic.

Boston Celtics

Though there already has been a disproportionate focus on the Boston Celtics, it boggles the mind how many players they have that are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.

Highlighting the group are Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, but they have players at every position who could potentially walk in a couple of months.

Exactly what the Celtics plan to do to rebuild the franchise should largely shape what goes on this summer.  With only $35 million tied up in contracts next year, the Celtics have serious flexibility and can make a run at some of the marquee stars available.

It could be a completely different Boston squad come next season.