NBA Rumors: Likely Destinations for Top Remaining Free Agents

NBA free agency is always an interesting time of the offseason.  Free agents fly around and fly to the biggest contract they can get their hands on. 

After a few days of free agency, the free agency talent board looks like something out of a war movie.  General Managers and NBA front office executives look over the bodies that are left and try to find talent that has been misused or overlooked.

Obviously, certain positions remain stronger than others.  This offseason, in particular, has really left the scrap heap of point guards looking thin and weak. 

But there still are players out there that can contribute and help your favorite NBA team. 

So let’s take a look at the handful of remaining NBA free agents and where their possible landing destinations could be for the 2012-2013 NBA season.

Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee has had one of the more interesting off seasons of any free agent.  He received a qualifying offer from the Houston Rockets which was to only be rescinded last week, making him an unrestricted free agent. 

Even with the O.J. Mayo signing, Courtney Lee’s market seems to be the same as it was. 

Lee is widely regarded as being a well-rounded basketball player that can contribute off the bench for any organization. 

HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy speculates that five teams are still interested in Lee.  According to Kennedy, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns are both interested in signing Lee as a free agent. 

Kennedy continues to report the Rockets are continuing negotiations with Lee in the hopes of resigning the free agent. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities with Lee and the Rockets. 

Barring an unforeseen problem or injury, Lee looks to be one of the top free agents remaining.  Whatever team finally obtains the rights to 6’5’’ 26-year-old Lee will find a solid contributor to their franchise.

Likely Destination: Minnesota Timberwolves

Carl Landry

Landry will not be returning to the New Orleans Hornets anytime soon.  Any chance of Landry resigning with New Orleans vanished when the Hornets acquired Ryan Anderson in a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic.

Reports by Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group speculate that the Golden State Warriors are picking up discussions with Landry’s camp.

Last season, the 28-year-old averaged 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 64 games with the Hornets.

Likely Destination: Golden State Warriors

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee is the prototypical example of why so many people hate the NBA.

The 7’0’’ tall 24-year-old has never lived up to the potential that his body and skill set have promised. 

Even though McGee has made few headlines this offseason with buzz of a big contract coming his way, the youngster who played last season with the Denver Nuggets has already been offered a contract worth roughly $10 million a season.

Multiple media outlets including Eric Freeman of Yahoo! Sports are reporting that the Nuggets have been negotiating with the young center and have offered him a five-year deal worth $50 million.

Although it's highly unlikely that any other team will negotiate a contract with McGee for such a payday, McGee is holding out for a bigger contract offer from another franchise.

The Nuggets realistically might be negotiating against themselves.

Likely Destination: Denver Nuggets

Andray Blatche

The amnestied Andray Blatche has always been talented, but the big man is also problematic. 

He is reportedly going to clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent.

Blatche needs guidance and a strong team environment to succeed at this point.

He is only 25 years old, so there is still a ton of talent and basketball left in his body.  He needs to get serious about his mental and physical conditioning. 

He was never going to get the needed veteran leadership in Washington, so Blatche and his agent need to look for a team that can help develop the young 6’11’’ power forward. These factors should be even more important than Blatche and his agent looking for his next big payday. 

From his next team’s perspective, Blatche is a no-lose scenario.  He will cost nothing more than a minimum NBA salary; and with the right leadership, the talented Blatche has all the skills to succeed in the NBA.

Blatche and his advisers need to really consider his next NBA stop as a place to rehabilitate his image and his NBA career. 

At 25-years-old he has plenty of time to sign another lucrative contract.  But without Blatche rehabilitating his image and NBA reputation, that next payday will never exist.

Likely Destination:  San Antonio Spurs

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison is a professional in every sense of the word.  Jamison has played for some terrible teams over his career and has never complained. 

The 6’9’’ forward has been looked to be a mentor of younger players and to produce on the floor as both a starter and a reserve.

He has received plenty of interest this offseason from some teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Bobcats. 

The Brooklyn Nets (whom seem to have interest in every veteran free agent) have also explored the possibility of a sign-and-trade for the 36-year-old Jamison.  

Last year, Jamison averaged 17.2 points on 40 percent field-goal shooting and 6.3 rebounds in 65 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There were conflicting reports about Jamison’s free agent status earlier in the month.  David Aldridge tweeted,

"

 Source confirms "strong interest" by Jamison in Lakers, says deal not done.  Charlotte Observer says Jamison "will" be a Laker, per source.

"

Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak responded to the rumor by stating, “We're not about to do anything.  I would know.”

Likely Destination: Los Angeles Lakers