2011 NBA Free Agency: Nick Young and 10 Top Prospects Flying Under the Radar

The 2011 NBA free-agency class is filled with players that can be very valuable to any team they sign with, despite not being superstars. This year's free agency could become quite a bizarre one if the NBA goes into a lockout like the NFL is right now, but regardless, these players will be on the market.

With all of the talk centering around Chris Paul and Dwight Howard who are set to become free agents in 2012, I'm here to tell you about the top 10 players that are flying under the radar in the 2011 class.

These players can help teams win, as many teams are one good player away from being a contending team. 

10. Glen Davis

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CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 07: Taj Gibson #22 of the Chicago Bulls moves to block a shot by Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics at United Center on April 7, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Celtics 97-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledg

Glen Davis, like Jeff Green, is a player the Celtics need to re-sign to keep some young legs on the bench, although it appears as though Davis is on his way out.

Davis averaged nearly 12 points per game last year for Boston, nearly double what he averaged in 2009. Davis has improved every season and general managers will be taking note of that. He is a good hustle player on both ends of the floor and if he continues to develop his offensive game, he could be a solid power forward for years to come.

At 25 years old, Big Baby will have a chance to sign somewhere he can get more minutes and make more money, which appears to be what he is going to do.  

9. Arron Afflalo

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DENVER, CO - APRIL 23: Arron Afflalo #6 of the Denver Nuggets scores agains the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on April 23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User

Arron Afflalo had a very strong year for the Nuggets in 2010, averaging nearly 13 points per game. Afflalo is also a good defender and at 6'5'' he can go up against nearly any team's best perimeter player, giving him added value.

Afflalo is also one of the better three-point shooters in the NBA and he averaged 1.5 three-pointers per game. 

Teams will be all over a guy they can plug into their lineup that can spread the floor with perimeter shooting and be relied on heavily to guard opposing teams' guards, and that's exactly what Afflalo brings to the court every night. 

8. Kris Humphries

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 07: Etan Thomas #36 of the Atlanta Hawks defends the basket against Kris Humphries #43 of the New Jersey Nets at Philips Arena on December 7, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by

In his sixth year in the NBA, Kris Humphries had a breakout season averaging a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while only averaging 27 minutes per game. 

Humphries is going to make a splash in free agency this year as general managers are always looking for players who can score and rebound in double digits every night. 

Now that Humphries is engaged to Kim Kardashian and he's buying multi-million dollar engagement rings, it's safe to say he'll be seeking the biggest deal he can get.

7. Carl Landry

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26: Carl Landry #24 of the New Orleans Hornets goes up for a shot against Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2011

For whatever reason, Carl Landry has been a journeyman to say the least during his first four years in the NBA. When he has been given the minutes, he has proven that he can be one of the better power forwards in the NBA.

In 2009-2010, Landry averaged over 17 points and six rebounds per game while playing for the Rockets and Kings. 

This year, Landry was the backup to David West when he was traded from the Kings to the Hornets until West went down with a knee injury, pushing Landry into the starting role where he once again didn't disappoint.

If Landry finds a team where he is a starter and gets big minutes every night, he can become a household name in the NBA.

6. Jeff Green

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MIAMI, FL - MAY 11: Jeff Green #8 of the Boston Celtics dunks over Juwan Howard #5 and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 11, 2011 in Miami, Fl

Jeff Green was averaging nearly 16 points per game for the Oklahoma Thunder before he was traded to the Boston Celtics for center Kendrick Perkins. 

Green is an exceptional athlete that can score and play strong defense. Despite struggling to find his niche in the Celtics system, Green should be a top priority for Boston to re-sign because he is one of the few young players on a Celtic team that isn't getting any younger.

If he chooses to stay in Boston, he should feel more comfortable next year in their offense and become more of the player we saw in Oklahoma City.

5. Aaron Brooks

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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Phoenix Suns puts up a shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the NBA game at US Airways Center on March 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 116-98. NOTE TO USER: User express

Aaron Brooks won the 2010 NBA's Most Improved Player Award after averaging over 19 points per game with the Houston Rockets but his number slipped this year when he was traded to the Suns as a backup to Steve Nash.

Brooks could be the the future point guard for the Suns but does he want to back up Nash for another couple of seasons?

I don't think he will at 26 years old; my bet is Brooks wants to play now. After having such a great year in 2009, it has to be frustrating to only be playing 19 minutes per game for the Suns.

Look for Brooks to see what else is out there for him and when he does, many other general managers will be pushing for him hard. When he gets the minutes, he's one of the better scoring point guards in the league.  

4. Wilson Chandler

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 27: Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Nick Collison #4 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2011 at the Ford

Wilson Chandler was putting together a great year for the Knicks before being traded to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony deal. 

Chandler was averaging over 16 points per game for the Knicks while grabbing six rebounds per contest. His numbers dipped a little when he was traded to the Nuggets but Chandler has proven he is a valuable player in the NBA.

At only 23 years old, just about every team in the NBA would jump at the chance to add a young, gifted player like Chandler that can get the job done on both ends of the floor.  

3. Marcus Thornton

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CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Marcus Thornton #23 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket on Stephen Jackson #1 of the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on February 25, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: Use

Marcus Thornton has the potential to be one of the better pure scorers in the league despite being a player casual fans have never heard of.

Thornton came into the NBA just two years ago after being drafted 13th in the second round by the Miami Heat only to be traded to the Hornets. In his rookie season in New Orleans, Thornton averaged over 14 points per game and showed great potential.

Marcus Thornton was traded to the Sacramento Kings just before the trade deadline this year, where he was given heavy minutes and he didn't disappoint, averaging over 21 points per game.

Thornton is a pure scorer that many teams will be looking to add to their roster if he chooses not to stay with the Kings. 

2. Rodney Stuckey

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 23: Rodney Stuckey #3 Detroit Pistons gets in for a dunk between Chris Bosh #1 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat at The Palace of Auburn Hills on March 23, 2011 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Miami won the game 100-94. NOTE TO US

Rodney Stuckey has become a valuable player for the Detroit Pistons over the past four seasons. Stuckey averaged over 15 points per game last year while dishing out five assists. 

Stuckey is a big point guard at 6'5'', 205 pounds and utilizes his big size with physical play to get into the paint. 

If Stuckey could develop a three-point shot (28 percent last year), he could be one of the better point guards in the East.

Rodney Stuckey is only 25 years old, so Detroit will really want him to re-sign, but the Pistons are a long ways away from being a relevant team, so Stuckey will most likely look elsewhere.  

1. Nick Young

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Nick Young #1 of the Washington Wizards and C.J. Watson #32 of the Chicago Bulls at the Verizon Center in Washington on February 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downlo

In his fourth year in the NBA, Nick Young had a breakout season last year for the Washington Wizards. Young averaged over 17 points per game and helped form a nice backcourt alongside John Wall. 

Young is a restricted free agent so it appears as if he will be staying in Washington, but with the emergence of Jordan Crawford when Young went down with an injury late in the year, Washington has to decide which way they want to go. The Wizards could elect to keep both, but they are such similar players—high-volume shooters, not great passers and neither stand out on the defensive end—that I don't see the Wizards going that route.

Either way, other teams will make nice offers to Nick and it will be up to the Wizards if they want to keep him around.