NBA Free Agents 2012: Top Big Men Still on the Market

NBA free agency is now in its second week, and many of the best prizes are already off the market.

Center, the hardest position to fill, has already seen the likes of Roy Hibbert, Chris Kaman, Spencer Hawes and others already sign with contenders.

While most of the big names are taken, some talent still remains for the right price.

Here are the best free agent centers still available.

5. Kenyon Martin

2011-2012 Salary: $2,500,000

Age: 34

2011-2012 Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Possible Teams to Join: Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat

Martin latched on with the Clippers in February after spending much of the lockout playing professionally in China.

While he's certainly not the K-Mart of old, Martin is still a good defender to come off the bench and add some toughness to a team.

At 34, he'd likely sign for a veteran minimum with a contender.

4. Robin Lopez

2011-2012 Salary: $2,862,602

Age: 24

2011-2012 Team: Phoenix Suns

Possible Teams to Join: Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers

Lopez is a restricted free agent, and it remains to be seen how much Phoenix really wants to bring him back.

Playing in a reserve role behind the underrated Marcin Gortat, Lopez has an impressive career line of 14.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes of play.

While his post game definitely needs work, Lopez is still a young and capable seven-foot defender, so teams should definitely have interest.

3. Jordan Hill

2011-2012 Salary: $2,855,760

Age: 24

2011-2012 Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Possible Teams to Join: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks

The Knicks selected Hill with the eighth overall pick of the 2009 NBA draft. He has also spent time with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

While never averaging more than 16.2 minutes per game in any of his four seasons, Hill has shown flashes of being an impact player at either post position.

For example, in the three games in the 2012 Western Conference opening round against the Denver Nuggets, Hill recorded 10 or more rebounds three times.

In those three games, the Lakers were 3-0.  In the four games he didn't reach double digits, LA was only 1-3.  Look for Los Angeles to bring him back, even though Minnesota is reportedly interested, according to Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD.

2. Elton Brand

2011-2012 Salary: $18,160,355

Age: 33

2011-2012 Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Possible Teams to Join: Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets

The latest victim of the amnesty clause, Brand is a brand new free agent who still has a few good years of basketball left in him.

After a few brutal years with the Sixers, Brand has played much better in a more limited role the past two seasons, posting a PER of 18.5 in 2010-2011 and 18.0 in 2011-2012 respectively.

The Mavericks are supposedly being very aggressive in their efforts to sign Brand after posting a dull offseason thus far, Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas reports.

The Nets remain an intriguing option he would be willing to play for the veteran minimum, especially with Kris Humphries possibly leaving.

1. JaVale McGee

2011-2012 Salary: $2,462,400

Age: 24

2011-2012 Team: Washington Wizards / Denver Nuggets

Possible Teams to Join: Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets

While McGee won't get the $14 million per year he originally wanted, it does appear he'll wind up with a very nice contract from the Nuggets.

Denver is reportedly offering a deal averaging $10 million per season, according to The Denver Post, although they may have to up the ante to compete with the Trail Blazers.

Portland recently offered Roy Hibbert a max contract of four years and $58 million that was matched by the Indiana Pacers. While they may turn to plan B in McGee, it's tough to offer anyone much more than $10 million a year who has their own not-top plays highlight reel.