NBA Free Agency 2012: 10 Bold Predictions for the Official Signing Period

The feeding frenzy that is the NBA free-agency period is only just beginning.

While we have been subject to a plethora of rumors and signings, nothing is official until the league's moratorium period is lifted on July 11.

It is then that contracts are inked, rumors are actualized or debunked and, perhaps most importantly, surprises take us by storm.

Buckle up, because the last week and a half has only been a taste of what's to come.

O.J. Mayo Signs with Minnesota Timberwolves

O.J. Mayo has flown under the radar thus far, but don't expect that reality to last much longer.

Though the shooting guard has drawn interest from the Indiana Pacers as well as the New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns, his ultimate landing spot will be with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the Portland Trail Blazers still looking to retain Nicolas Batum, Minnesota will be forced to explore other avenues in order to keep Kevin Love content and Ricky Rubio comfortable.

While the Timberwolves are still in play for Batum, Mayo provides some insurance and another shooter to feast off the drive-and-kick exploits of Rubio.

Don't worry, Mr. Love. Batum or no Batum, better days are just around the corner.

Elton Brand Clears Waivers

The Philadelphia 76ers are set to amnesty Elton Brand, leaving teams under the salary cap free to bid on his services.

That said, Brand is no longer the dominant two-way post player he once was, and there aren't many teams under the cap with deep enough pockets to make a strong commitment to him.

Ultimately, Brand will fall through the cracks of teams like the Dallas Mavericks and become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to make his way toward a championship contender.

Crazier things have already happened this offseason.

Chris Kaman Signs with Portland Trail Blazers

With the Indiana Pacers prepared to match the offer sheet the Trail Blazers extended to Roy Hibbert, Portland finds itself in the market for a center once again.

While there are no strong indications that Chris Kaman is on the Blazers' radar, the team needs a big man to relieve some of the burden on LaMarcus Aldridge's shoulders until Meyers Leonard is ready. Kaman is the perfect target.

Not only can the seven-footer score and rebound, he's also an underrated shot-blocker who can assume any role Portland must fill.

This is a union that simply makes too much sense not to happen.

Lou Williams Heads to Boston Celtics

Lou Williams won't be back with the Philadelphia 76ers next season, but he may find himself suiting up for their division rival.

The Boston Celtics have very little cap room left after bringing Jason Terry into the fold, but don't rule out a sign-and-trade option with Philadelphia.

Williams helps fill the offensive void left by Ray Allen while also providing a stopgap until Avery Bradley is ready to go.

Though boasting the likes of Bradley, Terry and Williams may seem like overkill, if the Celtics are going to run with their small-ball blueprint, they might as well do it right and embrace it to the fullest extent possible.

Raymond Felton Signs with Houston Rockets

After losing Goran Dragic to the Phoenix Suns and trading Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors, the Houston Rockets are in dire need of a point guard.

Enter Raymond Felton.

Felton is coming off a horrific campaign, yet that's exactly why he and the Rockets are a great fit. He needs a chance to revive his career, and Houston needs a capable body to run its suddenly lackluster offense.

That's a perfect pairing if there ever was one.

Chicago Bulls Amnesty Carlos Boozer

Though many hope the Chicago Bulls will not match Omer Asik's ridiculous offer from the Houston Rockets, Carlos Boozer isn't out of the woods just yet.

The Bulls are desperately trying to conserve payroll, especially heading into a season that could be all but lost with the extended absence of Derrick Rose.

Boozer is owed almost $50 million over the next three years and has proved to be a bigger defensive liability and greater disappearing act than Chicago bargained for.

There's no denying he can score, but to maintain flexibility, don't be surprised to see the Bulls part ways with the power forward sooner rather than later.

Mike Miller Remains with Miami Heat

One championship ring, a memorable Game 5 performance and a Ray Allen signing later, it appears certain that the Miami Heat will amnesty the broken -own Mike Miller.

But is it?

Though Miller is owed almost $20 million over the next three years, Pat Riley and the Heat organization aren't ones to pay players not to play for them.

While Allen has entered the fold, you can never have too many outside shooters alongside habitual rim-attackers LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Miller isn't going anywhere.

Nicolas Batum Gets His Way

Apparently Nicolas Batum and Eric Gordon are in possession of the same playbook. Unlike Gordon, though, Batum will get his way and land with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It's unlikely the Portland Trail Blazers allow Batum to just walk, so more likely than not, expect the Timberwolves to forgo a prospective contract and negotiate a sign-and-trade.

While Portland has plenty of reasons to simply retain Batum, upwards of $50 million is simply too high a price tag for a relatively unproven athlete. After the train wreck of a season the Blazers just had, allowing an unhappy player into the locker room is an unwise decision.

Portland may not like it, and the return won't be easy to sell, but Batum has played his last game with the Blazers.

Eric Gordon Changes His Tune

Speaking of Eric Gordon, his recent Dwight Howard-esque actions were nothing short of embarrassing.

But fear not, because also like Howard, there's a sudden sense of loyalty just waiting to engulf the cranky combo guard.

Though it seems impossible after his recent sentiments, Gordon will come to embrace the opportunity to play alongside Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis. It's too big of a public relations nightmare for him not to have an epiphany at this point.

Whether or not his change of heart is taken seriously is irrelevant, because publicly, Gordon will soon find himself supporting, not trashing, the New Orleans Hornets franchise.

Dwight Howard Gets Traded to a Dark Horse

Dwight Howard is on the verge of being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Stop me if you've heard that one before.

The Howard saga has dragged on for over a year, and despite reports that have him on the precipice of landing in Brooklyn, if the NBA has taught us anything, it's never to take any hearsay at face value.

Not only would the speculated deal entail multiple teams embracing the losing end of a four-team accord, but it would dictate that Kris Humphries accept another one-year deal as well.

It would also require new Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan throwing caution—and common sense—to the wind. After four years with the overly calculated and strategic Oklahoma City Thunder, don't expect Hennigan to see this through.

Whether Howard agrees to sign an extension somewhere else or not is almost irrelevant. He won't be suiting up for the Magic or Nets next season.

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