NBA Free Agency 2011: Worst-Case Signing for Every Team This Summer
Every team enters the free agency period with hopes of signing an elite talent that will take their team to the next level.
What happens though when a team makes a horribly wrong decision on which free agent should be brought into the fold? The only player that your team did not need is now an integral member on the roster.
The acquisition may make sense to the powers that be, but in reality the move is the polar opposite of logical.
Here is the worst possible scenario that could unfold for each team as we near the beginning of the summer free-agency period.
Atlanta Hawks (Glen Davis)
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If Atlanta should be looking for free agency help anywhere, it should be in the backcourt.
Jamal Crawford is a free agent this offseason, and it is uncertain as to whether Crawford and his 14.2 points per game will return to the Hawks next season.
The addition of Glen Davis would be silly considering that Josh Smith is the established starter at the power forward position for Atlanta. Signing Davis to play in a backup role to Josh Smith would be illogical.
Glen Davis would be an excellent free-agent acquisition for an NBA franchise, but it would need to be a team that has a hole at the aforementioned power forward position. Davis would be an expensive acquisition that would not be able to contribute nearly as much as he would be paid.
Boston Celtics (Rodney Stuckey)
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Glen Davis and Troy Murphy will both be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Kevin Garnett meanwhile is 34 years old and is at the tail end of his NBA career.
So what would be the most illogical move that Boston could make in free agency?
I know, how about dishing out huge amounts of cash to lure restricted free agent Rodney Stuckey to “Beantown.”
Stuckey does average 15.5 points per game at point guard, but as an overall talent, he has no business being in the Celtics’s backcourt.
Rajon Rondo is arguably the top point guard in the NBA. He is playing 40 minutes a game in the postseason. Rondo does not need another high priced point guard to come in and share time with him.
As I said earlier, Boston should focus their efforts on the uncertainty surrounding their frontcourt. Point guard is the last position that Boston needs to address.
Charlotte Bobcats (Troy Murphy)
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To say that Charlotte is offensively challenged would be an understatement. The Bobcats only average 93.3 points per game and have a lack of prolific scorers on their roster.
Troy Murphy is the epitome of a solid basketball player. Murphy has a high basketball IQ, rebounds the ball well and is a veteran presence in the locker room.
With that being said, Murphy will not provide the type of scoring punch that Charlotte will need to take the next step in the Eastern Conference.
Besides, the Bobcats already have two quality power forwards in Boris Diaw and Tyrus Thomas.
If Charlotte seriously wants to tinker with their frontcourt, they should move over to the center position which is being held down by Kwame Brown.
Chicago Bulls (Aaron Brooks)
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Aaron Brooks has carved out a solid NBA career despite his small 6’0 161 lb frame. Brooks has blazing speed and provides a scoring punch at point guard for the Phoenix Suns.
With that being said, Brooks loves to look for his shot. He puts up 10 shots a game during his average 20 minutes on the court. Derrick Rose is the NBA MVP and is obviously an all-around better player than Brooks.
Chicago rounds out their depth at the point guard position with the smaller contracts of C.J. Watson and John Lucas. Brooks is a restricted free agent, and the worst thing Chicago could do is get in a bidding war for the point guard’s services.
Cleveland Cavaliers (DeAndre Jordan)
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At 19-63, various free agents could help Cleveland next season. The Cavaliers need a proven player who will instantly contribute night in and night out upon arrival.
The question is, who would be the opposite of what I have just described? The answer to that question is DeAndre Jordan.
DeAndre Jordan was drafted early in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2008 NBA draft despite producing very little during his one collegiate season at Texas A&M. Jordan has unbelievable potential, and at 6’11", 265 lbs, he possesses the body of an elite NBA center.
With that being said, Jordan has not yet developed into the impact prospect that Los Angeles envisioned. He has put up career totals of 5.6 points and 5.7 rebounds throughout his two seasons in the league.
The worst case scenario is that Cleveland envisions Jordan as being the next breakout center. He is acquired as an upgrade to Ryan Hollins in the post and is tasked with being one of the leaders of the Cavaliers revival.
Dallas Mavericks (Greg Oden)
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Dallas allows burgeoning big man Tyson Chandler to leave as an unrestricted free agent. The Trailblazers are tired of waiting for Greg Oden to come around and refuse to sign the qualifying offer to retain him. The Mavericks swoop in and sign Oden off the free-agent market making him their big man of the future.
The 7-foot, 285-lb center has all the ability to be a dominant big man in the NBA. Injuries have killed Oden’s career though. In his four seasons, Greg has only played in 82 games.
Ideally, Dallas’s number one focus should be resigning Tyson Chandler. Chandler has been a solid contributor all season for the Mavericks, including in the playoffs. During his last 10 games he has averaged 9.3 points and 9.5 rebounds.
In this bizarre scenario though, the organization does not see Chandler as having long-term value with the franchise. Instead, he is replaced by the injury riddled Greg Oden.
Detroit Pistons (Rodney Stuckey)
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It is time for Detroit to part ways with Rodney Stuckey.
Stuckey is a solid scorer for the Pistons, but he looks for his scoring too much. Detroit would do better with a pass-first point guard directing the Pistons’s offense.
Will Bynum is not the long term answer at point guard. Detroit could find a young floor general via the draft. I do not see many free agents that fit Detroit’s needs.
Stuckey is still scoring at a high clip at 15.5 points per game, but his scoring at point guard has not translated into consistent winning for Detroit.
Detroit should not bend over backwards to retain the restricted free agent’s services. Now is the time for the franchise to go in another direction.
Denver Nuggets (Aaron Brooks)
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Instead of focusing on resigning free agent talents J.R. Smith and Nene Hilario, Denver signs restricted free agent Aaron Brooks. At 6-foot, 161 pounds, the undersized Brooks is eerily similar to Nuggets point guards Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton.
Aaron Brooks’s presence creates a logjam at the point guard position. The loss of Nene Hilario does far more harm to the franchise than the addition of Brooks does good.
Aaron Brooks’s scoring mentality is not as valued on a Nuggets team that has surrounding scorers on offense.
Ultimately, Denver should be more concerned about retaining their players. Yes, there are free agents available that are of value to Denver, but Aaron Brooks does not fit into that category.
Golden State Warriors (Yao Ming)
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Golden State does not have a dominant big man in Andris Biedrins or Epke Udoh.
It might be tempting for the franchise to attempt to sign the high profile Yao Ming to man the center position. Ming has averaged 19 points per game over the course of his career and is a top-tier big man when healthy. Ming’s contract demands and injury history are too much baggage for the Warriors to take though.
Andris Biedrins is an imposing defensive presence for Golden State. Biedrins has been prone to injury throughout his past few seasons with the Warriors though. Udoh is slightly undersized but showed flashes of his potential towards the end of his rookie campaign.
Yao Ming is a big name and Golden State does not have elite talent at the center position. Golden State would be well served to stay the course with the duo of Udoh and Biedrins at this point though.
Houston Rockets (Caron Butler)
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Chase Budinger and Terrence Williams are solid but not spectacular for Houston at the small forward position. The franchise may feel a need for an upgrade here.
Caron Butler is a pure scorer as evidenced by his 16.6 points per game. Butler commands a hefty salary though. The Rockets would be better suited to stick with their pair of young prospects rather than splurge on the 31-year-old Butler.
Budinger in particular looked spectacular in Houston’s regular season finale versus Minnesota scoring 35 points.
Teams sometimes have an inherent urge to want to upgrade with new talented prospects during free agency. In this case though, Houston should pass on Butler’s contract and stay the course with their two young prospects in Budinger and Williams.
Indiana Pacers (J.R. Smith)
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At first glance, it might seem like a good idea to add J.R. Smith to the mix in Indiana. Smith combines a strong drive to the basket with a feathery touch from the outside on offense. He is the type of player that can provide a jumpstart to a flailing offense.
With that being said, J.R. Smith might not make the most seamless transition into the Pacers locker room. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports!, Chicago in particular is skeptical about Smith’s character.
Paul George played out of position at shooting guard, but he still gave Indiana solid minutes at the position during the playoffs. Smith definitely has the talent to help Indiana, but the Pacers must be careful not to disrupt the young nucleus they have established.
Los Angeles Clippers (Marcus Thornton)
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Marcus Thornton has played stellar basketball during his time with New Orleans and Sacramento. Thornton was a mid second-round pick in the 2009 draft and appears poised for a big pay day this offseason.
Los Angeles could be inclined to make a play at the young prospect, but that would be a mistake.
Thornton will be a much higher priced commodity than he was two years ago. He is a restricted free agent, but regardless, there will still be an ample amount of interest in the young talent. Also, he is more of a natural shooting guard rather than a point guard.
While the Clippers are lacking at the point guard position, they have one of their top talents on the team holding down the two spot in Eric Gordon.
Marcus Thornton is only 23 years old. In a sense, he would be a good fit for a Clippers franchise that is building around youth. Overall though, Thornton’s move to Los Angeles would be illogical.
Los Angeles Lakers (Marc Gasol)
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The Gasol connection worked out splendidly for the Lakers the first time, so why not try to go back to the well again as they say.
There is no doubt that Marc Gasol is an excellent young talent. He has great size at 7’1" and 265 lbs. Also, Gasol is only 26 years old and has a long NBA future ahead of him.
Los Angeles must not get too greedy though and settle on a big man from the class of 2011. It is widely thought that the 2012 free agency class will be the summer where the Lakers make their move.
Dwight Howard is thought to be the number one center on the Lakers wish list. The best course of action for Los Angeles would be to stay patient and wait until next summer.
Yes, teaming up the Gasol brothers would be a nice story. Marc is also a great young player in his own right. Los Angeles would be foolish to settle on an expensive big man now when they are only one year away from the heralded class of 2012.
Memphis Grizzlies (losing Marc Gasol)
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Ideally every team would like to improve during the free agency period. Memphis must focus their efforts on retaining their low post tandem of power forward Zach Randolph and center Marc Gasol.
The Grizzlies have already completed the first half of the battle by re-signing Zach Randolph to a four-year contract extension. This is great news for Memphis, but the franchise needs to keep Gasol on board as well.
Memphis recently just won their first playoff series in franchise history. The aforementioned duo along with players such as O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley are leading this Grizzlies revival.
Marc Gasol will be a restricted free agent. The Grizzlies will have the first opportunity to hammer out a deal with their talented center.
The Grizzlies have a perfect blend of young talent. If the Grizzlies can add a free agent that can add to their current rotation then by all means they should do that. The number one priority for the Grizzlies should be to keep their established core nucleus intact.
Miami Heat (Troy Murphy)
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There was talk that Troy Murphy might sign on with the Heat during the middle of the season. Murphy ultimately signed with the Celtics.
Troy Murphy will once again be a free agent over the offseason, but Miami should avoid signing him.
Chris Bosh has been manning the power forward position just fine throughout the playoffs. Udonis Haslem will also be back in the fold for next season after suffering a foot injury earlier this season.
Murphy meanwhile produced very little towards the end of the season for Boston and was slowed by an ankle injury. Yes, Murphy is a solid player, but he is not a prospect that the Heat need to seek out.
Miami already has solid depth at power forward moving forward, the addition of Murphy would not be a game-changing move.
Milwaukee Bucks (David West)
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David West is a former All-Star and one of the top tier power forwards in the game today.
West has an early termination option on his contract with the Hornets, so there is a chance that he could hit the market this summer.
David West would be a powerful presence at the power forward position where the Bucks do not have one dominant player.
West’s contract would likely be too high for the franchise to take on. Add in the fact that David West is coming off a torn ACL injury, and you will see why there is risk associated with this acquisition.
As I stated earlier, Milwaukee is not set at this position by a longshot. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is an undersized power forward and Drew Gooden is an aging talent. Signing the recovering West to a huge contract is not the Bucks answer to their problem at power forward though.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Jason Richardson)
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Jason Richardson could provide even more scoring in the backfield for a Minnesota team that did not struggle to put the ball in the basket last season.
Richardson’s athleticism and length could be an asset defensively for the Timberwolves as well. As good as Minnesota was scoring the ball last season, their defense was atrocious.
At age 30, Richardson still has a lot of bounce to his game. He would be a great player for point guard Jonny Flynn to play alongside as well.
With that being said, this move would not be in Minnesota’s best interest by a longshot. Richardson would come with an expensive price tag that the Timberwolves would not want to take on.
Also, the organization just made a major investment into the shooting guard position last year by drafting Wesley Johnson out of Syracuse.
New Jersey Nets (Shane Battier)
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Adding a veteran small forward such as Shane Battier appears to be a smart play on the surface.
Battier would be an upgrade over Travis Outlaw and Damion James at the small forward position. He would also give this fairly young Nets team a calming veteran presence as well as a lockdown defender.
Battier will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he will be listening to offers all across the league.
New Jersey does have cap space, but they should wait before making another move. The Nets recently picked up Deron Williams’s massive contract.
If New Jersey is going to make a splash in the free agency market, they should wait until the 2012 class rolls around next summer.
This move makes sense in theory, but now is not the right time for the Nets to take on another salary.
New York Knicks (Marcus Thornton)
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Marcus Thornton would be a great young prospect for the Knicks to add in the backcourt, especially with the emergence of Toney Douglas at point guard.
Thornton has emerged as a fine young player. Landry Fields has given the Knicks good minutes at shooting guard though. Fields averaged 9.7 points as a rookie last season, and he gave the Knicks solid rebounding from the guard position.
New York has been one of the biggest movers throughout the past 12 months, bringing in Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
New York does have some cap space left. New York should wait until the 2012 free agency period rolls around to make a move though. This is the same strategy that Los Angeles and New Jersey will likely implement.
Donnie Walsh has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be aggressive during the summer of 2012. It is in New York’s best interest to patiently wait until that moment arrives.
New Orleans Hornets (Carl Landry)
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New Orleans has important decisions on the horizon regarding the futures of power forward David West and point guard Chris Paul.
West has an early termination option on his contract for 2011, while Paul has an early termination option for 2012.
David West is coming off a torn ACL, and despite the injury, his re-signing should be a top priority for the Hornets.
Carl Landry came over to the club midseason in a deal with Sacramento. Landry provided good minutes for the club against Los Angeles in the playoffs.
With that being said, New Orleans will be fine to drop Landry’s contract. David West will likely return next season, and Landry does not provide as much rebounding help as I would prefer out of a power forward (only 4.6 boards per game).
Oklahoma City Thunder (Rodney Stuckey)
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Oklahoma City signs Rodney Stuckey in the hopes of adding a second proven point guard behind star Russell Westbrook. Eric Maynor is currently taking on some of the minutes at point, but Maynor is inexperienced and largely unproven.
Stuckey would add more of a scoring punch to the Thunders lineup, but that is just the problem. He would look for his shot too much within the offense. Kevin Durant wants to be fed the ball at the forward position. Westbrook has mastered a perfect blend of passing and shooting that Stuckey does not do.
I can understand Oklahoma City’s possible desire to add more depth behind Westbrook at point guard. The Thunder do not need to acquire a free agent just to play behind Russell Westbrook though. If anything, the organization should give Eric Maynor more time to develop at the position.
Orlando Magic (Glen Davis)
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Glen Davis would add some muscle to Orlando’s front line playing alongside Dwight Howard. The LSU product provides an extra low post scoring option for an Orlando team that was only mediocre offensively.
Davis will be a much pricier prospect then he was a few years ago coming out of college. The Magic would be better off not investing so much cash into “Big Baby.” Orlando already has as solid power forward in Brandon Bass.
Besides, Jason Richardson will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. It will be wise of Orlando to either focus on re-signing Richardson or target one of the quality shooting guards on the market.
Philadelphia 76ers (David West)
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Elton Brand is aging and power forward is one position that Philadelphia could make a move in.
David West would no doubt be a great addition for Philadelphia at power forward. West averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for New Orleans before a torn ACL ended his season.
Philadelphia would be well suited to avoid the large contract that comes with West though.
At age 32, Brand still gives the 76ers great play at the power forward position. Brand is averaging 15 points per game this season for the club. Philadelphia’s depth at the position is not the great, but having two high priced stars play the same position would be ludicrous.
Philadelphia might add a rugged forward via the draft, but bringing in a high priced star in free agency is definitely not the answer.
Phoenix Suns (Sasha Vujacic)
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Grant Hill is at the tail end of his career at age 38. Hill’s departure will leave the Suns lacking at shooting guard. Mikael Petrius and Josh Childress are solid players, but neither is the long-term answer at the position.
Sasha Vujacic is a reliable guard who has experience on championship Lakers teams. Vujacic is a solid all-around player, but he is not the scorer that Phoenix needs at this position. Vujacic is only averaging 9.8 points per game this season.
Phoenix needs a more assertive guard to play alongside Steve Nash in Phoenix’s backcourt. Sasha Vujacic will be a solid fit for some team, but that team is not Phoenix.
This would be a situation where J.R. Smith might be a better fit for the Suns.
Portland Trailblazers (Greg Oden)
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Portland certainly has the money to keep Greg Oden with the team, but extending the former No. 1 pick’s contract is a gamble that the franchise should not take.
In Oden’s four seasons in the league, he has played in only 82 games. The knee injuries that have kept Oden off the court have consistently plagued the big man.
As a restricted free agent, Portland will have the first opportunity to keep Oden with the team into the future.
There is no question that the No. 1 pick has loads of potential. When Oden has been on the court, he has been great averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
The obvious problem is that Oden has not been able to log nearly enough minutes. The Trailblazers will have to make a decision on this one, but I say that it is time to let Greg Oden go.
Sacramento Kings (Tyson Chandler)
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Tyson Chandler will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The thought of adding bulk at center has to be tempting for the Kings.
This would be the wrong move for the franchise to make though. Samuel Dalembert is not going to any All-Star games in the future, but the veteran is still a dependable low post presence. He averaged 8.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season.
Sacramento should also be focused on re-signing Marcus Thornton. Thornton is one of the Kings bright young prospects, but he will be a restricted free agent this summer.
If Sacramento is going to make a move in free agency, they should consider adding depth at point guard. Beno Udrih is serviceable at the point, but an upgrade could definitely be made.
San Antonio Spurs (losing Tim Duncan)
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Even at age 35, Tim Duncan is still an invaluable member of the San Antonio Spurs organization. The Spurs need to do everything in their power to keep him.
Duncan is still under contract with the team, but he does have an early termination option.
Duncan averaged 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds last season for San Antonio. I understand that Tim Duncan’s torch will have to be passed on at some time, but he definitely still has good years left in him.
The biggest mistake San Antonio could make during the offseason is undervaluing Duncan’s skill set and value to the organization.
There are other younger power forwards on the market, but none would be a better fit than Duncan on the Spurs roster next season.
My gut says that San Antonio will not even let Tim Duncan’s contract situation become a situation, but his departure would be the worst possible situation.
Toronto Raptors (DeAndre Jordan)
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Toronto gave up 105.4 points per game last season which ranked 26th in the NBA.
The Raptors might look into acquiring a more vaunted shot blocking presence for next season. Andrea Bargnani is a great player, but he is hardly a feared defensive enforcer. Bargnani only blocked 0.7 shots per game this past season.
DeAndre Jordan is on the market as a restricted free agent. Jordan has the frame and potential to be the strong defensive presence that Toronto needs, but he has yet to put it all together yet.
Toronto should instead consider looking ahead to the upcoming NBA Draft for a low post presence that can play alongside Bargnani.
A better option for Toronto in free agency would be Tyson Chandler should they attempt to make a move this offseason.
Utah Jazz (Aaron Brooks)
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Utah picks up Brooks to add another option to the backcourt mix, specifically at point guard.
Yes, Devin Harris is a solid floor general for the Jazz, but Earl Watson and Ronnie Price do not inspire confidence as backups. Aaron Brooks is a high volume shooter, but he will add an extra dimension to Utah’s offense.
This does not work because Utah needs to focus on priority number one, which should be resigning Andrei Kirilenko. Ideally, the Jazz would like to add more depth to the point guard position behind Harris.
Andrei Kirilenko’s return will be of the utmost importance for Utah though. The loss of Kirilenko would far trump the significance of almost any free agent that Utah would be able to bring on board.
Washington Wizards (J.R. Smith)
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Washington adds J.R. Smith as a scoring complement to John Wall and Nick Young in the backcourt. The thinking is that Smith’s outside shooting and penetrating ability will add another dimension to the Wizards offense.
What Washington would fail to realize if they follow this logic is that they already have a burgeoning young talent in Jordan Crawford.
Crawford played excellent in place of the injured Nick Young during the final stretch of the regular season. The rookie out of Xavier averaged 11.7 points last season. As I said earlier, he really hit his stride at the end of the season.
It is tempting to add a scoring guard such as J.R. Smith here, but as the old saying goes,
“If it aint broke, don't fix it.”
Washington already has an ample amount of young backcourt talent, and it would be silly to pay a high price to add Smith into the fold.
