NBA Free Agency 2011: 10 Free Agents That Every Team Should Target
This year's free agency class will never be confused with the historic 2010 group that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, A'Mare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh.
With that being said, there are still plenty of talented prospects that will be on the market this summer for the taking. Players such as David West, Jamal Crawford and Tayshaun Prince headline this less-than-heralded free agent pool.
In the NBA, a franchise can never stop searching for talent to upgrade their roster. Here is my pick of 10 free agents that each team should consider.
Tyson Chandler
1 of 10
As an NBA franchise, you have to know what you are getting with Tyson Chandler.
Chandler is not a game-changing center that can elevate a middling franchise into a championship contender. No, Tyson is a reliable big man that will rebound the basketball and serve as a strong defensive presence.
The former No. 2 pick of the 2001 NBA Draft is a solid role player on a Dallas Mavericks team that is attempting to finally venture out of the first round of the playoffs.
Tyson will be an unrestricted free agent and should garner plenty of interest as one of the top big men on the market.
This free agency class will never be confused with the class of 2010, but Tyson Chandler will nevertheless be one of the more prized players on the market. Chandler can make an immediate impact on defense for whomever he signs with. He is also a serviceable scorer as evidenced by his 10.1 points per game this season.
Tyson Chandler is not a game-changing free agent by any means, but he has the skills that make him at least worth a look by all NBA teams.
Rodney Stuckey
2 of 10
Rodney Stuckey was one of the biggest sleepers in the 2007 NBA Draft coming out of Eastern Washington. Yes, Stuckey was drafted with the 15th pick, but not many people expected Rodney to average 13.4 points per game in only his second season.
The future looked bright for Stuckey, but now heading into the 2011 free agency period, he has faded into irrelevancy as a member of the Detroit Pistons.
Stuckey is a restricted free agent, so Detroit will have the opportunity to match an opposing offer and re-sign Rodney. With that being said, the Pistons are on the decline, and I do not foresee Detroit spending too much cash to re-sign its point guard.
In the right situation though, Rodney Stuckey can become a capable playmaker for an NBA team at the point guard position. Stuckey is a proven scorer, and he can also distribute the basketball and set up his teammates.
We have seen situations before where a change of scenery can revitalize a player’s career. Stuckey never developed into the team leader and floor general that Detroit envisioned him to be back in 2009, but that does not mean that other NBA teams should not take a solid look at Rodney this summer.
Yao Ming
3 of 10
Yao Ming has only played in an average 48 games per season throughout his past five campaigns with the Houston Rockets. Despite his talent on the floor, his injury history is the one gigantic red flag.
With that being said, Yao will deservedly attract an ample amount of interest from teams all across the NBA on the free agent market.
At 7’7" and 310 lbs, Yao is a dominating presence on the defensive end of the court—when healthy. Yao has career averages of 19 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. This proves that, when on the court, Yao can be high-level NBA talent.
Yao’s stature and skill set cannot be questioned. However, there is a warranted uncertainty over whether Yao can stay healthy throughout an 82-game regular season.
Yao should be at least glanced over by most NBA teams. Ultimately though, it will be the franchise that is willing to carry Yao’s injury baggage that will sign him.
Caron Butler
4 of 10
Despite Caron Butler’s season-ending torn tendon, there should still rightfully be interest from all across the league in the eighth-year veteran from UCONN.
Butler is a skilled slasher that knows how to score points. Butler was averaging 15 PPG throughout 29 games with the Mavericks in 2010. This is evidence that the 31-year-old has not lost his step.
At 6'7", Butler’s length on the wing will also help “tickle NBA franchises buying bone,” so to speak.
There will be widespread interest for Butler during the summer free agency period. The fact that he is an unrestricted free agent should only add to the drama surrounding his signing. Whoever does sign Butler will significantly upgrade their team.
Tayshaun Prince
5 of 10
It will be odd seeing Tayshaun Prince suit up in a different uniform for the first time in his NBA career next season. The eighth-year veteran was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2002, and Prince has been one of the central pieces of the franchise throughout his time in Detroit.
Prince enters the free agency period as an unrestricted free agent. Expect a multitude of different NBA teams to make a strong effort to sign Prince.
The 6’9" swingman is a great offensive asset because of his ability to both drive the basket and square from behind the three-point line, where he has shot 37 percent throughout his career. Prince brings NBA Playoff and even NBA Finals experience to whichever franchise he lands with.
Prince’s experience and leadership will be invaluable coupled with his proven skill set.
Prince will not be a savior for an NBA franchise, but he is by far one of the top available talents in this light free agency period.
David West
6 of 10
I have always felt that David West is one of those great players that simply does not get the national publicity he deserves. Regardless, West will garner plenty of attention if he hits the market this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
Technically, West's contract runs through the 2011-2012 season, but West has an early termination option in the contract, allowing him to opt out of his contract a year early and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Should West choose to hit the market this summer, he will be one of the most prized players in the pool.
West is a skilled low post scorer that will also clean the glass by pulling down rebounds. He often gets overshadowed by Chris Paul in New Orleans, but West can definitely elevate whatever team signs. It will be interesting to see whether he can still enjoy the same production without Chris Paul at point guard, though.
The fact that David is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2010 campaign might create pause for some prospective buyers. Ultimately though, West’s All-Star appearances and strong play with the Hornets should entice franchises all across the league.
West will not be the sexiest acquisition, but his presence will be felt immediately in whatever city he goes to.
Marc Gasol
7 of 10
Pau Gasol was once a dominant center for Memphis, but it was not until he came to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers that he truly became a household name.
Could Pau’s brother Marc Gasol be staring down the same situation?
In Gasol’s two seasons with Memphis, he is averaging 12.6 points and 7.8 rebounds with the Grizzlies. He looks the part of an elite NBA center, but will Marc need to follow the path of his brother Pau and move onto a top-tier championship contender?
As a restricted free agent, Memphis will have the opportunity to match any offer that an opposing team makes and re-sign Gasol. The Grizzlies will have to dig deep into their pockets, because many teams will be seeking the talented big man. If a deal cannot be reached, then Gasol will be free to sign with whichever team in the league he chooses to.
Gasol is only 26 and, barring injury, he appears to have a lot of years ahead of him on the court. As I said earlier, Memphis will have the first chance to re-sign Gasol. Regardless, this summer free agency period will equal a big pay day for Gasol.
Jamal Crawford
8 of 10
Jamal Crawford has been magnificent in the playoffs thus far. He has scored 48 points throughout Atlanta’s first two games versus Orlando.
Crawford is picking the right time to show his scoring prowess. The 10-year veteran out of Michigan will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and there will be no shortage of teams trying to sign the talented guard.
Crawford is a proven veteran who will immediately add a scoring pop to whichever team he signs with. He has enjoyed success with New York, Golden State and now Atlanta. Crawford can keep teams honest with his 35 percent shooting clip from three-point range, or he can drive to the basket on offense.
If history is any indication, then Crawford should contribute immediately with whichever team he signs with this summer.
J.R. Smith
9 of 10
J.R. Smith may be fretting over Denver’s two-game deficit to Oklahoma City in the playoffs, but Smith should find solace in the fact that he will be one of the most valued free agents on the market this summer.
The sixth-year NBA veteran will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and teams all across the league will be competing for his services.
Smith mixes a feathery touch from behind the arc with an explosive athleticism that allows him to finish at the basket. Smith is not a franchise saving talent, but he can provide an immediate scoring boost for whichever team he signs with.
Smith is averaging 12.6 points per game this season for Denver and has helped the Nuggets keep their ship righted after Carmelo Anthony bolted for the Knicks.
Smith is a great fit for any team looking for a quality scoring guard to add to its backcourt.
Troy Murphy
10 of 10
Troy Murphy has not found his stride this season as a member of the Celtics, but just two seasons ago he was enjoying great success as a member of the Indiana Pacers—averaging 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Like many other players on this list, Murphy is not a “savior” prospect who can make up for a team’s deficiencies. Instead, he is a reliable low-post presence who can contribute an ample amount of scoring and add quality depth to a team’s frontcourt.
Troy Murphy figures to get plenty of calls from teams all around the league as an unrestricted free agent. Murphy has been a solid contributor throughout his career in Golden State and Indiana. Teams will no doubt target the 6’11" power forward as a high basketball IQ post presence that can fill a role on a team.
