NBA Free Agency 2012: 10 Players Who Will Have Teams Battling for Their Services

The June 30 NBA draft won't solve every teams' needs, so this summer's free-agency period is going to be nothing short of hectic.

Many of the highly rated players available this year are restricted free agents, but that won't stop opposing GMs from offering those players exorbitant contracts in an attempt to woo them from their current teams.

With a full offseason for the first time in two years, there figures to be a fair amount of player movement in July. As we get set for the madness, let's take a look at 10 players who will have teams competing for their services.

10. Jeremy Lin

If you thought the Linsanity was over, you haven't seen anything yet. Once teams are allowed to make offers to restricted free agents, expect more than a few to inquire about the services of the young New York Knicks point guard.

Lin dazzled the Madison Square Garden crowds with his electric play last season and was a global star before suffering a knee injury late in the year. With Steve Nash and Goran Dragic on their radar as well, the Knicks will have to move fast if they want to keep Lin, who figures to get a pretty sizeable pay raise this summer.

9. JaVale McGee

In more ways than one, JaVale McGee is the type of NBA player YouTube was made for. One moment, he'll run back on defense while his team has the ball. The next, he throws down a ridiculously athletic dunk for a man who is listed at 7'0".

The 24-year-old McGee has an enormous amount of natural ability, and if harnessed correctly, the Denver Nuggets center could be one of the most feared big men in the NBA. But one thing you can't teach is height, and for that reason alone a handful of NBA teams will be working the salary cap in an attempt to sign McGee this July.

With his inconsistent play, a center as skilled as McGee will command a hefty salary on the open market.

8. Gerald Wallace

New Jersey's late-season trade to acquire Gerald Wallace was a head-scratcher, but all is not lost as long as the team can convince him to make the trip to Brooklyn next season.

Wallace isn't suited to be the primary option for any team, but he is a versatile player who can consistently put up 15 PPG and seven RPG to go along with his above-average defense. Nets GM Billy King is already on record saying that the team is willing to extend Wallace, but the 6'7" small forward may look to join a contender this summer.

7. Goran Dragic

This year's free-agent point guard class is loaded, but Houston's Goran Dragic still figures to do just fine this summer.

The 26-year-old shined for the Rockets this season, averaging 11.7 PPG and 5.3 APG. With Kyle Lowry out of the lineup due to injury, Dragic took full advantage of his increased opportunity and continued to build on the success that he had earlier in his career as a member of the Phoenix Suns.

Dragic may turn out to be a pretty decent consolation prize for the team that misses out on the Deron Williams sweepstakes.

6. Ryan Anderson

Whether or not Ryan Anderson is deserving of the NBA's Most Improved Player award is a topic of intense debate. What isn't in question is the fact that the 6'10" shooter is one of the more intriguing names on the market this summer.

No one in the NBA made more three-pointers this season, and the sweet shooting Anderson also collected 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with his 16.1 PPG. The true definition of a stretch 4, Anderson has the size to play down low, but the touch to extend opposing defenses out to the three-point arc.

Orlando has said that it is willing to spend whatever it takes to keep Anderson in a Magic uniform: We'll soon find out if they plan on backing up that bold statement.

5. Ersan Ilyasova

Ersan Ilyasova is a blossoming NBA star, yet he can walk down the streets of virtually any city in America without being recognized.

That may change next year, as Ilyasova figures to cash in on his impressive 2011-12 campaign. The 6'10" power forward averaged 13.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and helped keep the Milwaukee Bucks alive in the postseason race until the final week of the season.

His name may not be familiar to most people, but every NBA general manager is well aware of what the addition of the Turkish star could possibly mean for their team.

4. Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert may be the best center in the NBA not named Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum. But Hibbert is definitely the best free-agent center available this summer. 

"Available" is somewhat of a misnomer, however. Hibbert is a restricted free agent, but the Indiana Pacers have a ton of cap room and appear willing to match any reasonable offer. So unless a team desperate for a big body offers Hibbert well over $12 million a year, expect the former Georgetown Hoya to be manning the paint for the Pacers next season.

3. Eric Gordon

The 2011-12 season was pretty much a wash for New Orleans point guard Eric Gordon, but teams will still be lining up at the door for his services once the NBA offseason officially kicks off this summer.

The 23-year-old Gordon has a skill set similar to that of a young Ray Allen, and in the right situation, the 6'3" guard can easily average 20 PPG. The Hornets have more than enough money to retain his services (Gordon is a restricted free agent), but there may be a general manager out there willing to give Gordon a deal that New Orleans simply won't match.

2. Steve Nash

Typically, 38-year-old point guards don't cause too much excitement when they hit the free-agent market. Then again, no 38-year-old point guards have been as prolific as Steve Nash, a 16-year veteran who managed to average 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game this past season.

Nash is likely to link up with a contender for one last run at a title, and the New York Knicks are clearly interested. However, don't be surprised if Nash ends up in Dallas, Los Angeles or Miami once all is said and done.

1. Deron Williams

With Dwight Howard choosing to remain in Orlando (at least in the short term), Deron Williams is the Hope Diamond in this year's free-agent class.

Many assumed that Williams wouldn't be making the trek to Brooklyn along with the rest of his teammates, but the 6'3" point guard recently spent time in Turkey and Russia with members of the Nets' front office.

Trans-Atlantic journey aside, pretty much every team with a healthy amount of cap space will still figure to make a run at Williams, with the Dallas Mavericks being his most eager suitors.