NBA Free Agency 2012: Predicting Who Stays and Who Goes

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul no longer headline the 2012 NBA free-agency class, yet there still remains a wealth of prolific options for teams to pursue.

Much like the 2012 NBA draft, this year's free-agency pool is laden with talent and proven ability.

Big names like Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Ray Allen and Roy Hibbert are just a small sample of the depth this summer's free-agency docket contains. 

With the regular season winding down and the playoffs nearly set to begin, the uncertain futures of many of the top free-agents-to-be draw closer to reaching a resolution.

Tim Duncan, C, San Antonio Spurs

Age: 35

2011-12 Salary: $21.3 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.2 points, 2.5 assists, 9.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 0.6 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 47.1 percent shooting

Tony Parker has been magnificent for the Spurs, but without Tim Duncan's continued low-post smarts, San Antonio would be a shell of the team it currently is.

Despite having lost much of his quickness, Duncan is averaging a near double-double. He continues to be an efficient scorer and is no slouch on the defensive end either.

The Spurs were not supposed to contend for a title this season, but much to their critics' chagrin, they are among the best teams in the league.

Duncan has been a pillar of the San Antonio organization for a decade-and-a-half, and the question isn't whether he'll stay or go; it's whether he'll stay or retire.

Prediction: Duncan re-ups with the Spurs

Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets

Age: 23

2011-12 Salary: $3.8 million

Free-Agency Status: restricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 21.0 points, 2.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 2.0 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 42.5 percent shooting

Eric Gordon looked to be on the cusp of stardom before being sidelined with a knee injury after just two games.

Gordon is a volume scorer with an efficient shooting percentage and also a solid perimeter defender when interested.

Though Gordon has missed most of the season, his age combined with his potential upside will be enough to sell interested teams on throwing an offer his way—one that the Hornets may not see fit to match.

Prediction: Gordon walks

Potential Landing Spots: Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets 

Gerald Wallace, SF, New Jersey Nets

Age: 29

2011-12 Salary: $10.7 million

Free-Agency Status: $11.4 million player option

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.7 points, 2.8 assists, 6.7 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 1.5 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 45.4 percent shooting

Gerald Wallace remains one of the most underrated players in the game.

The small forward can score as well as anyone and is a terrific all-around defender.

Wallace's presence alone is does not hold enough weight to enable the Nets to retain Deron Williams free and clear, but it does help more than most admit.

Wallace will soon be 30, and it is unlikely he finds a larger annual salary elsewhere. The prospect of signing another long-term deal will be appealing, but he'll opt to finish out the last year of his contract.

Prediction: Wallace exercises his player option, stays with Nets

Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics

Age: 35

2011-12 Salary: $21.2 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.6 points, 2.9 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.9 steals, 1.8 turnovers, 51.7 percent shooting

Kevin Garnett has been a fantasy owner's dream thus far, averaging numbers that don't pale in comparison to his career averages.

Garnett continues to intimidate down low and knock down open looks. His field-goal percentage is incredible, especially considering he is one of the forwards that feasts off the mid-ranger jumper and not just easy lay-ins.

That said, expect the Celtics to begin a youth movement this offseason. Boston isn't likely to throw the type of money Garrnett's way another team will, and the future Hall of Famer is even less likely to embrace a rebuilding period.

Prediction: Garnett and the Celtics part ways

Potential Landing Spots: New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks 

Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey Nets

Age: 24

2011-12 Salary: $3.1 million

Free-Agency Status: restricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 19.2 points, 1.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 0.2 steals, 1.2 turnovers, 49.4 shooting percentage

Brook Lopez can put points on the board in bunches and his 7'0" presence is enough to overshadow his rebounding and shot-blocking deficiencies.

Translation? He'll get a plethora of offers this summer, even after coming off an injury-plagued campaign.

And with the Nets' Dwight Howard aspirations nowhere near as likely as they were a month ago, New Jersey will pony up. The Nets will pay Lopez big money to move to Brooklyn and endure at least another year of Howard trade rumors.

Prediction: Lopez snags a payday from the Nets

Chris Kaman, C, New Orleans Hornets

Age: 29

2011-12 Salary: $14.1 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.2 points, 2.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 0.5 steals, 2.9 turnovers, 43.4 percent shooting

Chris Kaman remains vastly underrated. He's a proven scorer and a solid rebounder, and has developed into a solid on-ball defender.

In a center-starved league, Kaman is going to be a hot commodity. He's a proven starter and one of the league's more durable centers.

While Kaman has emerged as a pillar of stability for New Orleans, he'll be 30 this month. It's unlikely he is keen on the idea of committing to another rebuilding project.

Prediction: Kaman finds a home with a playoff contender

Potential Landing Spots: Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets 

Andre Miller, PG, Denver Nuggets

Age: 36

2011-12 Salary: $7.9 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 10.0 points, 6.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 1.0 steals, 2.6 turnovers, 44.9 percent shooting

Even at 36, Andre Miller has shown he is more than capable of handling starting point duties.

The 13-year veteran is adept at breaking down opposing defenses, getting to the rim, creating plays for his teammates and defending on the perimeter. He's also one of the NBA's most durable point guards.

Miller has fared well with the Nuggets, but there is no starting spot open in Denver as long as Ty Lawson is in the fold.

Combine that with the fact that he will be one of the league's most sought-after free agents this summer, and you have a player who's a near lock to find a home elsewhere.

Prediction: Miller does not return to Denver

Potential Landing Spots: Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz 

Ryan Anderson, PF, Orlando Magic

Age: 23

2011-12 Salary: $2.2 million

Free-Agency Status: restricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.1 points, 0.9 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 0.8 steals, 0.9 turnovers, 43.9 percent shooting

Ryan Anderson is the closest thing to a superstar teammate Dwight Howard will have with the Orlando Magic.

Anderson forces opposing teams to respect the perimeter, creating a massive defensive dilemma. He knocks down open shots and is a threat to drop 30 or more points on any given night.

While Anderson's defensive performance is underwhelming, that won't prevent him from receiving a wide range of sizable offer sheets this summer.

That said, while he may have a greater opportunity to win elsewhere, the Magic are notorious for issuing large contracts when in desperation mode. 

Prediction: Anderson re-signs with Magic

Jason Terry, SG, Dallas Mavericks

Age: 34

2011-12 Salary: $11.4 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3  rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 1.1 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 43.1 percent shooting

Jason Terry continues to be a source of instant offense for the Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki's lone consistent anchor of assistance. However, his future in Dallas is not as set in stone as many—including Terry—would like to believe.

The Mavericks will look to position themselves as favorites for both Dwight Howard and Deron Williams, the latter of which hits the open market this summer.

That said, even if Dallas misses out on Williams, it's unlikely Jet receives the multi-year deal he's looking for from a team still in the hunt for Howard. If he accepts a contract with less of a financial kick, it will be with a bona fide contender, which the Mavs simply aren't right now.

Prediction: Terry takes his talents elsewhere

Potential Landing Spots: Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat 

Nicolas Batum, SF, Portland Trail Blazers

Age: 23

2011-12 Salary: $2.2 million

Free-Agency Status: restricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.1 points, 1.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 0.9 steals, 1.5 turnovers, 45.3 percent shooting

Nicolas Batum is one of the few basketball-related issues that has gone right for the Trail Blazers—unless you count their failure to lock him up already, that is.

Batum has emerged as a versatile scorer and defender. He has become Portland's second option on offense behind LaMarcus Aldridge.

The small forward may not be too happy about the Blazers' failure to pay him earlier, but pay him they will in the summer. They'll most likely sign him to an even larger deal than it would have taken to keep him midseason.

Prediction: Batum remains with the Blazers

Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns

Age: 38

2011-12 Salary: $11.7 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 11.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 0.1 blocks, 0.7 steals, 3.6 turnovers, 53.7 percent shooting

Age knows bounds, but Steve Nash doesn't.

The veteran point guard has kept the Suns a part of the playoff conversation with his precise passing and impeccable basketball IQ. He's an efficient scorer, infallible leader and a true testament to what it means to be a team player.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, though, Nash is getting real. If the Suns cannot lure in another star over the offseason to push Phoenix to contender status, Nash told The Dan Patrick Show that he will explore his options (per ESPN).

Prediction: Nash leaves Phoenix, opts to sign with a contender

Potential Landing Spots: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers

Age: 25

2011-12 Salary: $2.6 million

Free-Agency Status: restricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.9 points, 1.6 assists, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 0.5 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 49.5 percent shooting

Roy Hibbert, a 7'2" monster, has developed into quite a force in the low post.

Hibbert has a great touch around the rim and emerged as a defensive stalwart. He blocks shots, grabs rebounds and is quick enough to come out and defend on the perimeter.

The Pacers have a solid core in place, and over the offseason, they will make re-signing Hibbert priority No. 1.

Prediction: Hibbert inks a long-term deal in Indiana

Jeremy Lin, PG, New York Knicks

Age: 23

2011-12 Salary: $762,195

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 0.3 blocks, 1.6 steals, 3.6 turnovers, 44.6 percent shooting

The overnight phenomenon that is Jeremy Lin may be sidelined after having surgery on his left knee, as reported by ESPN, but Linsanity is alive and well.

And that will continue into the offseason.

There may be a team willing to offer more than New York financially can, but under the CBA, no team can offer Lin more than the league average salary (about $5 million). The Knicks may not have his Bird rights, but they can offer that much.

More importantly, not even James Dolan is foolish enough to subject the organization to the public relations ramifications of not bringing this year's feel-good story back on an actual contract.

Prediction: New York continues to be both the origin and home of Linsanity

Ray Allen, SG, Boston Celtics

Age: 36

2011-12 Salary: $10 million

Free-Agency Status: unrestricted free agent

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 2.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 1.0 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 46.3 percent shooting

Ray Allen has aged rather well. He continues to be spot-on from beyond the arc and still has one of the smoothest shooting motions in the NBA.

Much like Kevin Garnett, though, Allen and the Celtics are nearing a crossroads.

Boston will look to rebuild after this year and bringing the seasoned veteran back is not in either party's best interests.

Prediction: Allen moves on to a legitimate contender.

Potential Landing Spots: Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs

Deron Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets

Age: 27

2011-12 Salary: $16.4 million

Free-Agency Status: $17.8 million player option

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 21.6 points, 8.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 1.2 steals, 4.0 turnovers, 41.0 percent shooting

Deron Williams is having another strong season. He's kept a depleted Nets rotation competitive and been an absolute powerhouse on the offensive end. 

While Williams has a player option he can exercise for next season, he has made it clear that he is going to opt out and explore his free-agency options. 

Though the Nets missed out on Howard, they are far from out of the running to retain their superstar. The Mavericks will pose a threat, but with Dirk Nowitzki approaching 34, New Jersey remains the favorite.

The Nets have the cap room and assets necessary to put talented pieces around Williams, and in the end, he'll be sold on their future plans.

Prediction: Williams inks a long-term deal with Nets

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