2012 NBA Free Agents: Where Top Players at Each Position Will Land
Everyone is wondering where Steve Nash will land when NBA free agency kicks off in 2012. He is the top unrestricted-free-agent point guard, and he headlines the list of elite players who are hitting the open market.
Signing a top-notch free agent is complex business. General managers can't just pick a player who has played well in the past for another team, plug him into their roster and expect the same results. Players have to complement one another, and it's imperative that they go to teams who will fit their style of play.
Here is where I see the top free-agent players at each position fitting in the best for the 2012-2013 NBA season.
Point Guard: Steve Nash to the Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks were an early exit in this year's playoffs, partly due to the fact that they don't have a true point guard running the offense. Jeff Teague is a promising young star, but he is better off as a shooting guard than a point guard.
Steve Nash would be a perfect addition to this young team. His experience, leadership and passing prowess would enhance their offense to greater heights next season.
The Eastern Conference is wide open next year. Teams like the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics will surely be right there at the end, but a team like the Hawks could also make some noise, given the right tools with which to work.
Nash's arrival would usher in an offensive revival for a team that struggled to score points last season. Combined with its tough defensive frontline, Atlanta would be a difficult team to defeat.
Shooting Guard: Nick Young to the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers couldn't find anyone to score from their shooting-guard position. Daniel Gibson was their top scorer at the 2, putting up 7.5 points per game from the bench. Anthony Parker is certainly not the long-term answer, either.
Unsurprisingly, the entire offense struggled to put up points as a result.
Kyrie Irving needs a running mate in the backcourt, and Nick Young is the perfect man for the job. He is a big guard, at 6'7", who loves to slash into the lane and doesn't require the ball in his hands to be effective.
Young is also capable of hitting the three when he's open, and he will have plenty of opportunities to do so when Irving drives the ball into the paint.
Small Forward: Grant Hill Re-Signs with the Phoenix Suns
Although Grant Hill missed the final 17 games of last season due to knee issues, he has no plans of retiring, according to NBA.com. He has been a constant presence at the Suns' facilities lately, as he works to get healthy for next year.
“I’m feeling good and I’m getting some rest,” Hill said. “I’ll be here most of the summer working and getting ready for next year.”
It's hard to believe that at the age of 39, Hill is the top unrestricted small forward this summer. He can still ball out, though, and I see him sticking around for another season or two at a discounted rate in Phoenix.
Power Forward: Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett Aren't Going Anywhere
I don't understand why in the world Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan were allowed to become free agents in the first place, but then again, I'm not an NBA general manager. Perhaps their teams are waiting to tackle their contracts until after they have a clearer picture of the rest of their rosters.
It won't matter. Neither player is going to go to another team. That would be sacrilegious.
Duncan and Garnett are aging, but both players have a couple of good years still in their bones. They will both be back with their respective teams, the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics, when the 2012-13 NBA season kicks off next fall.
Center: Spencer Hawes Signs with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland desperately needs a center that can haul in rebounds and make intermediate shots. They struck out badly with the pick of Greg Oden a few years ago, especially with the hindsight that they could have landed Kevin Durant instead.
Hasheem Thabeet has been terribly disappointing, and the other two centers on their roster are both aging badly.
Spencer Hawes would be a perfect complement to power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who is an athletic big man that needs someone who can step back and hit the 12-foot jumper from the elbow.
Hawes can hit that shot, and his passion to fight for rebounds and loose balls will do wonders for the general attitude and demeanor of the entire team.
