NBA Free Agency 2011: One Player Each Team Hopes They Can Afford This Summer
The dream of a NBA championship is only alive for a handful of teams, with just eight teams remaining in the 2011 playoffs. As a result, the majority of the league is already looking towards next year and planning on what they want to do in NBA free agency.
While this year's free agent class doesn't possess the same star power that last year's class did (or next year's, for that matter), there is still plenty of value to be had. Teams will be looking to fill the final few holes on their roster in hopes of making a run at the title in 2012.
With that said, let's take a look at each team and one player that team hopes to be able to afford this summer.
Atlanta Hawks: Tyson Chandler
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The Hawks could go a number of ways here.
In the 2005 NBA draft, the Hawks skipped over both Chris Paul and Deron Williams with the No. 2 overall pick and have desperately needed a point guard ever since. The player that they took with that pick, Marvin Williams, has developed into a solid role player, but hasn't been the type of player the organization was expecting when they took the North Carolina product.
However, the Hawks acquired veteran Kirk Hinrich midseason via trade, and he had been playing well until he recently sustained an injury. He will return next season, though, as he is under contract for one more year.
Instead, the Hawks could choose to address their needs in the post.
Ever since being drafted by the Hawks, Al Horford has repeatedly been asked to play out of position. By adding a true center, it would allow the 6'10" Horford to move back to power forward, which is his natural position. It would also allow Josh Smith to slide over to small forward.
The Hawks likely won't have enough money to sign Tyson Chandler as well as bring back Jamal Crawford, meaning they will be forced to choose between the two players. Still, Chandler would fit in very well with Atlanta.
Boston Celtics: Joel Przybilla
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Ever since the the Celtics traded away Kendrick Perkins, their center position has been a revolving door.
Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal and Nenad Krstic have all had opportunities to take over for Perkins, but it is becoming obvious that none of them can bring what Perkins did to the C's.
Perkins averaged 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his impact on the Celtics was much more than stats. His defensive presence, attitude, swagger and energy were invaluable to the team. Even though they swept the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, they still don't seem quite like the Celtics of recent years.
Joel Przybilla, a tough defensive player in his own right, would be a nice addition. Krstic will likely be elsewhere next season, and the two O'Neal's have shown they simply can't stay healthy. That being said, Przybilla will need to solve some of his own injury woes as well.
Charlotte Bobcats: Carl Landry
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The Bobcats have a few young pieces that have showed promise, including D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson, but they have no real post presence to speak of.
Landry, a very productive player when given minutes, would help Augustin continue to develop. He is a very good mid-range shooter and is lethal in the pick-and-roll.
The Bobcats still don't seem to know which direction they are going in and have a number of holes on their roster. A player like Landry would be a good start, however.
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Chicago Bulls: J.R. Smith
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The Chicago Bulls have Derrick Rose, who was recently named MVP, a very good frountcourt in Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, as well as a myriad of depth. Their roster has just one major hole: shooting guard.
Smith, an absolute sharpshooter, would add the shooting abilities that the Bulls have been lacking since the days of Ben Gordon. With Rose running the show, Smith would get countless open looks, which is a scary thought. He can really fill it up from distance.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jason Richardson
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The Cavaliers had a dismal season, but there is reason for optimism.
J.J. Hickson continues to blossom, the team will have Baron Davis for a full season, Anderson Varejao will be back and healthy and the team has a pair of lottery picks in the upcoming draft.
Richardson, who will be one of the best free agents available, would be a huge upgrade at the shooting guard position for Cleveland. The experiment in Orlando really didn't work out well for either side, so Richardson will likely be moving on.
Dallas Mavericks: Tyson Chandler
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Chandler is currently enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career, averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Dallas is also happy to have him, and team continues to make noise in this year's playoffs.
The combination of Chandler and Brendan Haywood has worked very well this year, and the Mavericks first priority should be to re-sign their starting center.
Denver Nuggets: Nene
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Nene can opt out of his current deal at the end of this season, but it remains to be seen if he will do so. He has a player option of $11.6 million next season, and with the uncertainty of the new collective bargaining agreement, he could choose to exercise that option. On the other hand, Nene might just be the best big man available, so he could earn far more than that on the open market.
Denver had a disappointing playoff series against the Thunder, but that shouldn't overshadow how well the Nuggets played after the team traded away Carmelo Anthony. Nene was the anchor for the Nuggets down low, and the team can't afford to lose another top player.
The Nuggets need to make an effort to reach a contract extension with Nene before he tests the free agent waters.
Detroit Pistons: T.J. Ford
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The fact that the Pistons had Tracy McGrady running the point in a number of their games should tell you everything you need to know about the point guard situation in Detroit.
Rodney Stuckey will also be a restricted free agent, and he has had a number of problems with the coaching staff in just a few seasons with the Pistons.
Although he isn't flashy, T.J. Ford can be a very effective point guard when he is healthy. He has a pass-first mentality, which is the kind of player the Pistons really need.
Golden State Warriors: DeAndre Jordan
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Jordan will be a restricted free agent, and although the Clippers aren't likely to let him get away, he would be exactly what the Warriors need.
Scoring has never been an issue with Golden State. With Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and David Lee, this team has a variety of ways to score. Their problem has always been defense.
Last year, they drafted Ekpe Udoh to be an anchor in the middle, and although he showed flashes, he was wildly inconsistent. Jordan really came into his own last year, especially when Chris Kaman was out of the lineup for Los Angeles.
He is a 6'11" center with freakish athleticism and is an excellent shot-blocker. He also has the ability to get out and run with the up-tempo Warriors.
Houston Rockets: Marc Gasol
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The Rockets will have a good amount of money to spend this offseason and also are in major need of a center. They spent the majority of the season starting Chuck Hayes, who is 6'6", in the middle.
Marc Gasol, who will be a restricted free agent, continues to improve and has shown he is capable of becoming a dominant big man. He is going to cash in on a big payday soon, especially if he continues to excel in this year's postseason. If Memphis doesn't show him the money, someone else will.
Indiana Pacers: Kenyon Martin
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The young Pacers impressed a lot of people this postseason with the way they played the Bulls. Although they lost the series in five games, they were in every game and never stopped competing.
With Darren Collison, Paul George and Danny Granger, this team has a bright future.
By adding Martin, they would not only fill a need at power forward, but they would also add a veteran leader with big-game experience. When healthy, Martin is still a very good player who can get it done.
The Pacers need to realize that Tyler Hansbrough isn't quite ready to play a major role on the team, and Martin could help fill the gap until he is ready.
Los Angeles Clippers: Tayshaun Prince
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The Clippers are quickly becoming one of the league's most exciting teams and are just a few pieces away from becoming a winning ballclub as well.
Eric Bledsoe and Eric Gordon are excellent in the backcourt, and Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan form one of the most athletic frontcourts in the entire league.
Now the team needs to add a veteran wing player who can provide a defensive mindset as well as effective leadership to guide this young team. A guy like Prince would be a very nice fit.
Los Angeles Lakers: Mickael Pietrus
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The Lakers don't have a ton of money to play with, but they don't really need it. There is a reason that they have won back-to-back championships and might be on their way to a third title in a row: they have very few weaknesses.
Matt Barnes hasn't exactly worked out in Los Angeles, although he will likely exercise his player option and return for another year. Still, a player like Pietrus would be a nice add for the Lakers. He is known as one of the better defenders in the league and can also step outside and knock down shots from beyond-the-arc on a consistent basis.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol
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The Grizz have already given Mike Conley, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph huge paydays, and they would love to lock up another member of their young nucleus.
The only problem is that they may not be able to afford the big man, especially given the uncertainty of the new collective bargaining agreement.
But Memphis will be keeping their fingers crossed that they can get something done with Gasol, as they don't want him hitting the open market.
Miami Heat: T.J. Ford
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The Heat are another team that will have very limited money to spend in the offseason. However, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who needs free agents?
Well, the Heat do.
They have an excellent core, and with Joel Anthony and a healthy Udonis Haslem, they also have a very effective frontcourt.
However, Miami still needs a solid point guard who can run the team and get everyone else involved. Mario Chalmers is a free agent after this season, and Mike Bibby doesn't seem to have much left in the tank. The Heat could really use T.J. Ford and his pass-first style of play.
Milwaukee Bucks: David West
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The Bucks are built around Andrew Bogut down low and Brandon Jennings at the point, and they are surrounded by a number of players who can play on the wing.
What this team needs now is an effective low-post scorer who can play alongside Bogut and help carry the scoring load. Although West is coming off knee surgery, he has always been a very good post player with an above-average jump shot. He is another player who excels in the pick-and-roll, which would also do wonders for Brandon Jennings.
Because there is some uncertainty surrounding West due to his injury, the Bucks could get West relatively cheap.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Samuel Dalembert
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The Timberwolves are going to have a good amount of money to spend, although attracting some of the better free agents to Minnesota may be very difficult.
The 'Wolves are going to have one of the top picks in this year's draft, meaning they will be able to address a major need. That player, along with Kevin Love, Wesley Johnson and Michael Beasley will form a very promising core.
Darko Milicic played well at times, but was far too inconsistent for Minnesota's liking. A defensive-minded player like Dalembert could really help this team.
New Jersey Nets: Andrei Kirilenko
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The Nets biggest need is someone who can play on the wing and finish around the rim.
They already have one of the league's best point guards in Deron Williams, as well as one of the game's best young centers in Brook Lopez.
Travis Outlaw was brutal in his first season with New Jersey, but still has four years remaining on his five-year, $35 million deal. But the Nets have a good amount of money to spend, and they will try and get it right this time.
Kirilenko seems like a good fit, as he still is one of the better defenders in the league and is a very underrated scorer.
New Orleans Hornets: J.R. Smith
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This season, the Hornets could not find anyone who could come in and knock down shots from downtown and space the floor for Chris Paul.
Marco Belinelli, in particular, really struggled with his shot. Other players such as Trevor Ariza and Jarrett Jack are not known for being good outside shooters.
J.R. Smith would be a perfect fit with the Hornets, as he is one of the top shooters in the entire NBA and could really help free up room for Paul.
New York Knicks: DeAndre Jordan
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The Knicks would love to get their hands on Marc Gasol, but realistically they won't have enough cap space to sign to Memphis big man. Even if they did, they would likely choose to hold off in hopes of signing either Chris Paul or Deron Williams after next season.
Instead, they could go after Jordan. The Knicks played the entire season without a true center, which really hurt them in the end. Jordan would give them the body and defensive presence they lacked this season and would be a perfect fit alongside Amar'e Stoudemire.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Caron Butler
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The Thunder have two of the league's youngest and brightest stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and with the addition of Kendrick Perkins, also has the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA. They are just a piece or two away from contending for a title.
Okalahoma City could still use some depth behind Kevin Durant, however. James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha aren't really natural small forwards, and the team doesn't have too many other options. A veteran like Caron Butler would be a nice addition to the Thunder's lineup.
Orlando Magic: Anthony Parker
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The Magic are in a terrible spot.
Not only does it seem likely that Dwight Howard will be leaving Orlando after next season (if not sooner), they also have a bunch of money tied up in players that frankly aren't very good. Gilbert Arenas is officially done, and Hedo Turkoglu hasn't looked like the same player that he was with the Magic a few years ago.
It can't hurt to add a player like Parker. He is a solid role player who can shoot and gets after it defensively. There isn't anything special about his game, but he could give the Magic more than Arenas can, and for about $18 million less.
Philadelphia 76ers: Tyson Chandler
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The 76ers are another team that really need to add some size down low. Far too often, Elton Brand was asked to play center instead of power forward, which is his natural position.
Spencer Hawes could leave via free agency, meaning the team could lose the only real natural center they have on their roster.
Chandler would fill a major hole and also bring a defensive presence to an up-and-coming team.
Phoenix Suns: Jamal Crawford
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The easiest decision of the offseason will undoubtedly be made by the Phoenix Suns: to decline Vince Carter's $18 million option.
Grant Hill will also be a free agent, and he could choose to move on to a contender in hopes of getting a championship ring before he retires.
The Suns are going to be in the market for a player who can score and score in bunches, and Crawford will be the best pure scorer available. It seems like a natural fit.
Portland Trail Blazers: Glen Davis
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The Blazers have a very solid starting unit, but lack any real depth, especially along their frontline.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis would be an excellent fit coming off the bench for the Blazers. The team has no real offensive weapons in the low-post aside from LaMarcus Aldridge, but Davis would definitely change that.
Sacramento Kings: Wilson Chandler
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The Kings have a very good foundation in Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, but they still lack an explosive, versatile player on the wing who can score in a variety of ways and contribute defensively.
That would all change if the team could land Chandler, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. He is one of those players that isn't great at any one thing, but is very good at a number of things. He has added range on his jumper, can get to the rim with ease and also create for his teammates. He can also defend a number of different positions.
San Antonio Spurs: Carl Landry
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If Tim Duncan decides to return to the Spurs, which he almost certainly will, the Spurs still have what it takes to make another run at a championship.
They could use some depth up front, and Landry would provide just that. He is an excellent mid-range shooter and a very good rebounder. He can step into the starting lineup or come off the bench and lead the second unit.
Toronto Raptors: Wilson Chandler
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The Raptors are another team that are in need of an athletic swingman who can play alongside Jose Calderon and DeMar DeRozan.
In addition, they have a very good young player in Andrea Bargnani, so they have some good young pieces. Chandler would be a great addition to the starting lineup and would make this team better both offensively and defensively.
Utah Jazz: J.R. Smith
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The Jazz will be another team in need of a sharpshooter, and as we have discussed, Smith will be the best one available when he hits free agency. He would be a good fit alongside Devin Harris and Gordon Hayward in the starting lineup.
Washington Wizards: David West
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The Wizards have a major hole at the power forwards spot, and West would form a very good duo with John Wall, especially in the pick-and-roll. He would also provide a good veteran presence on a very young, yet talented team.
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