25 NBA Players Who Will Definitely Switch Uniforms This Offseason

The NBA offseason is a period of constant flux as teams look to upgrade wherever they can. For some players, this means that a change in uniform is inevitable. 

Some of these guys are unrestricted free agents and have it easiest when it comes to switching teams. Others are restricted free agents and have to hope that their team from this season doesn't match any offer they receive, assuming they want to leave. Others still are under contract and need to be traded to get a change in scenery. 

I've attempted to throw in a healthy mix of the three possibilities here so as not to include unrestricted free agent after unrestricted free agent. 

D.J. Augustin

Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Position: PG

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.1 points, 6.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds

D.J. Augustin is an underrated young point guard, but the Charlotte Bobcats would be wise to let him move on to a different, more successful team now that he's entered into restricted free agency. 

Once they add Anthony Davis (or whoever else the basketball gods decide goes to Charlotte when the ping pong balls are revealed), the Bobcats need to fully commit to the youth movement and clear the way for Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo and the next generation. 

Nicolas Batum

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: SF

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.9 points, 1.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds

The French small forward still has tantalizing potential on both ends of the floor, especially on defense. He just has yet to truly realize that potential. 

Portland may want to retain Nicolas Batum's services for at least a few more years and let him develop on the Trail Blazers. However, there's a good chance that another team offers Batum way more money than the Blazers are willing to pay. 

Jerryd Bayless

Team: Toronto Raptors

Position: PG

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds

Jerryd Bayless is one of the better backup point guards in the league, which will make him quite attractive to teams desperate to find a capable floor general in the offseason. 

The 23-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, but he doesn't have a big enough role on the Toronto Raptors as long as he's behind Jose Calderon on the depth chart. 

Michael Beasley

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: SF/PF

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.5 points, 1.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds

The Minnesota Timberwolves have way too many capable forwards to bring back this occasional head case of a combo forward, as talented as he may be. 

Michael Beasley could only earn 23.1 minutes per game of playing time this season thanks in large part to the presence of Kevin Love, Wesley Johnson, Derrick Williams and Anthony Randolph, among others on the roster. 

Love is going to continue to receive the lion's share of the minutes at the 4 and Williams will only be seeing more floor time as his career progresses. 

Boris Diaw

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: SF/PF

Age: 30

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.4 points 3.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds

Boris Diaw has undoubtedly changed his reputation for the better by playing hard for Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs while accepting a diminished role when he switched teams in the middle of the season. 

While the versatile forward hasn't blown anyone away during the playoffs, he's likely played well enough to generate some interest around the league. 

Goran Dragic

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: PG

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.7 points, 5.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds

Goran Dragic played admirably filling in for Kyle Lowry when he went down with an injury late in the season.

In fact, he played so well that he almost assured himself of finding a permanent starting role during the offseason. That just won't be with the Houston Rockets, who already have Lowry locked in at the position. 

Expect to hear a lot about Dragic as he's an unrestricted free agent. 

Jeremy Evans

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: SF/PF

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 2.1 points, 0.4 assists, 1.7 rebounds

The Utah Jazz frontcourt is stocked with players who earn far more minutes than Jeremy Evans. Unless he's universally avoided during restricted free agency, it just doesn't make sense to retain his services. 

Evans showed off his jaw-dropping athleticism during the Slam Dunk Contest and put his name on the map, even if he hasn't been able to produce much on the court at this point in his young career.

Someone will be intrigued. 

Tyreke Evans

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: PG/SG/SF

Age: 22

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 16.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds

The Sacramento Kings don't have any idea what in the world to do with Tyreke Evans, which is a shame because they are squandering a supreme talent. 

Lining him up at point guard, shooting guard and small forward is not exactly doing wonders for his confidence and development. 

We know that the Kings are willing to listen to offers, and those offers are sure to start flowing in soon enough. 

Raymond Felton

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: PG

Age: 27

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.4 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds

Raymond Felton struggled through the 2011-2012 season, just one more disappointment in a year full of them for the Portland Trail Blazers. 

It was bad enough at one point that he lost his starting role and had to watch traditional sixth man Jamal Crawford hear his name called out in the lineup before the opening tip. 

I would be shocked if Felton hears his name called out with enthusiasm by the Portland public address announcer next year. 

Eric Gordon

Team: New Orleans Hornets

Position: SG

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 20.6 points, 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds

Eric Gordon is one of the best young shooting guards in the entire NBA, but are the New Orleans Hornets going to be willing and able to do what it takes to keep him in the same jersey next year?

After the two sides couldn't reach an agreement and extend Gordon's contract during the season, I highly doubt it. 

Kirk Hinrich

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Position: PG

Age: 31

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.6 points, 2.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds

Kirk Hinrich was a valuable backup point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, but the team will be looking to upgrade the position either in front of or behind Jeff Teague during the offseason. 

The be-goggled floor general is an unrestricted free agent and will end up providing depth at point guard for a different contender next season.  

Brandon Jennings

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Position: PG

Age: 22

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 19.1 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds

Brandon Jennings has never expressed any interest in staying with the Milwaukee Bucks for the long haul, which leads me to believe that the team will be looking to shop him during the offseason. 

Jennings is a great young talent, but you can't have too many shots coming from the backcourt each and every game.

After all, Monta Ellis is now on the roster. 

Courtney Lee

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: SG

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.4 points, 1.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds

While Kevin Martin was sidelined by the nasty injury imp, Courtney Lee played well enough to draw some interest from teams in need of assistance at shooting guard.

At the price this restricted free agent will command, the Houston Rockets won't be interested in retaining the services of Lee just to back up Martin. 

Note: This changes if Martin is traded, which as you will see in a few slides, is a distinct possibility. 

Robin Lopez

Team: Phoenix Suns

Position: C

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 5.4 points, 0.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds

With Marcin Gortat on the roster for the Phoenix Suns, there's no point in re-signing Robin Lopez while he's a restricted free agent. 

The lack of quality centers in the NBA will inevitably make the asking price a little bit too steep. 

Kevin Martin

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: SG

Age: 29

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 17.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists

Kevin Martin is going to be an unrestricted free agent in 2013, so the Houston Rockets might as well get something for him while they still can. 

Plenty of teams will have interest in this high-octane shooting guard with a knack for getting to the line. The Rockets, who are a ways away from being real contenders, have more use for young players and draft picks he could bring back in a trade. 

Wesley Matthews

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: SG

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.7 points, 1.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds

Wesley Matthews was a large part of the disappointing season endured by the Portland Trail Blazers, and the team may well choose to clean shop and get rid of him. 

When Brandon Roy was forced to retire prematurely, Matthews was supposed to take over and be the next big thing at the position. 

As you can see by his numbers, that didn't exactly happen. 

O.J. Mayo

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: SG

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.6 points, 2.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds

O.J. Mayo's playoff performance should be enough to convince the Memphis Grizzlies to finally deal away the young shooting guard. 

Mayo was the second-biggest ball hog of the first two rounds of the playoffs and only missed the first spot because of a ridiculously awful set of games by Vince Carter. 

Steve Nash

Team: Phoenix Suns

Position: PG

Age: 38

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.5 points, 10.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds

It's going to be weird to see Steve Nash wear a jersey that doesn't say "Suns" on the front, unless he somehow winds up on the Dallas Mavericks again. 

The veteran point guard still has elite-level skill and he's finally an unrestricted free agent. It would be a ridiculously bad move if Phoenix re-signed him, no matter how much loyalty he has. 

Phoenix needs young players so they can rebuild and Nash needs to win a ring. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he winds up on the Atlanta Hawks. 

Lamar Odom

Team: Dallas Mavericks (for most of the season)

Position: PF

Age: 32

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.6 points, 1.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds

Do you honestly think that Lamar Odom is going to be allowed to put on a Dallas Mavericks jersey ever again?

Tayshaun Prince

Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: SF

Age: 32

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 2.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds

The Detroit Pistons have a great young nucleus top to bottom, but that nucleus can only develop properly if the team is handed over to it. 

That means Tayshaun Prince needs to go. 

Brandon Knight is raw at point guard, but Rodney Stuckey is vastly underrated and Greg Monroe is already one of the best big men in the Association. Commitment to that trio is vital if the Pistons are going to escape the rebuilding process. 

Brian Scalabrine

Team: Chicago Bulls

Position: PF

Age: 34

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 1.1 points, 0.5 assists, 0.8 rebounds

Brian Scalabrine wasn't able to help the Chicago Bulls overcome the loss of Derrick Rose. That clearly indicates that Chicago is detrimental to his magical abilities. 

Scalabrine is too smart to let this reality slip by him and he will sign elsewhere now that he's an unrestricted free agent. 

Hasheem Thabeet

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: C

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 1.8 points, 0.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds

I'm not going to speculate about what NBA jersey Hasheem Thabeet ends up wearing next season. 

A better question would deal with which D-League uniform he will be putting on. 

Gerald Wallace

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Position: SF/PF

Age: 29

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 2.8 assists, 6.7 rebounds

It sounds like Gerald Wallace would like to return to the Brooklyn Nets for the 2012-2013 season, but that will only be the case if Deron Williams makes the same decision. 

You can probably tell by my inclusion of Wallace that I don't think Williams will stay. 

Here's what Rotoworld informed us of this past Sunday: 

"

The Nets have discussed a possible contract extension for Gerald Wallace, but they're unlikely to make any moves until Deron Williams decides where he'll play next season.

"We've had conversations with [Wallace's] representatives," said GM Billy King. "We'll leave that there." Wallace has stated his desire to return with the Nets, who otherwise gave up a lottery pick to rent him this season.

"

Deron Williams

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Position: PG

Age: 27

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 21.0 points, 8.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds

Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the world, and he has the ability to opt out of his contract and test the market. 

Why wouldn't he? Why would he choose to return to a depleted team and rely on other players to join him and hope that the chemistry works out? 

Unless Billy King makes things happen quickly, I would expect to see D-Will wearing Dallas Mavericks threads next year. 

Terrence Williams

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: SF

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 7.1 points, 2.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds

Terrence Williams isn't too far removed from being a lottery pick, but he played for the Houston Rockets, the D-League and the Sacramento Kings this past season. 

The versatile small forward still shows flashes of his prodigal talent, which should be enough for him to be signed by a team willing to pay more for the restricted free agent than the Kings, who have yet to develop any sort of attachment to him.