NBA Free Agency: Mario Chalmers and the Top 10 Restricted Free Agents

This is a rare season where the restricted free agent pool is more talented than the unrestricted free agent pool. Come July, it won't be surprising to see some teams match other teams' qualifying offers. Usually restricted free agents end up staying with their team, unless of course another team raises the qualifying offer to a level where the original team doesn't feel like they can match it.

Here are the top 10 restricted free agents of 2011. 

10. Yi Jianlian

The towering Chinese center has never lived up to the hype that surrounded him back in 2007 when he was taken sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. Part of this is because he has never really played for a good team. 

Like most big men, Yi has suffered from injury. He has never been able to stay healthy for a full season. 

However, if a team with solid players gives him a chance and creates an environment comfortable for Yi, he may finally live up to a part of his potential. He does have great size at seven feet even, and he has scored 12 points per game back in 2010, so he needs to be on a better team unlike the Nets or Wizards. 

It'll be interesting to see if a solid team gives him a shot. 

9. Aaron Afflalo

Aaron Afflalo has really developed into a solid guard. With the Nuggets rebuilding after the departure of Carmelo Anthony, they will be looking to bring back Afflalo. 

He averaged double digits in points last season with 12.6 points per game. Parts of his game can still improve, but he has been becoming better and better year after year. 

The former UCLA Bruin and Los Angeles native was stuck on a bad organization in Detroit his first two seasons. His stats were terrible. After being traded to Denver he's received a boost in stats. Because of this, it is easy to see why Afflalo will be a viable option in either a starting or bench role for the Nuggets.

8. Marco Belinelli

Marco Belinelli is another player who found himself in a difficult environment to develop in after he was drafted. With Golden State and Toronto, Belinelli never averaged more than 8.9 points per game. 

However, this season with the New Orleans Hornets, Belinelli set career highs in minutes, games and points per game. He also gave Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant a difficult time in the playoffs. Belinelli will look to once again prove himself and improve.

It will be wise for him to sign a short-term contract and put up a great season so that he can get paid big bucks when he's an unrestricted free agent. New Orleans should cling on to him because of the value he brought to the team this past season. 

7. Daequan Cook

Sure, Daequan Cook has never averaged more than 10 points per game in his career. 

Despite this, Cook possesses a game changing ability. He is unbelievable from behind the three-point arc. He shot 42.2 percent from three-point land last season, and he's a career 37 percent shooter from long distance. 

The former Ohio State product was sidelined due to injuries last season, but he makes his money from behind the arc. The Thunder have already sent him a qualifying offer, and he expects to be wearing the blue and orange of Oklahoma City next season. 

6. Aaron Brooks

There was a time when Aaron Brooks was regarded as the future of the Houston Rockets. 

The budding point guard put up a stellar postseason against the Lakers in 2009. He followed that solid postseason performance with a 19.6 point per game season. He also averaged 5.3 assists per game and shot 43.2 percent. 

Injuries slowed down Brooks, and he was eventually traded to Phoenix. His numbers slid, but it's obvious from his 2010 numbers that Brooks still has a lot of potential. Being a point guard behind Steve Nash might not be the best option for Brooks. The Suns have already given Brooks a qualifying offer, but perhaps accepting another team's offer sheet will give him more playing time so that his totals will bounce back to what they were back in 2010. 

5. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan was a welcome surprise for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. The athletic power forward put up a career-high in points with 7.1 per game this season. 

Most importantly, he was effective on the defensive end of the floor. He grabbed 7.2 rebounds per game and also averaged almost two blocks per game. 

The Clippers would be foolish to see him go, and they've already sent him a qualifying offer to bring him back. Jordan will help the rebuilding Clippers put up a fight and become relevant in a town where they are overshadowed heavily by the Lakers. 

4. Jeff Green

Many people blame the Celtics early exit this playoff season due to the fact they traded Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City. In return, the Celtics got a solid defensive player who can also score in Jeff Green. 

Green averaged 13.3 points per game this season, but his numbers significantly declined in Boston. In Oklahoma City, he was putting up over 15 points per game but in the Green and White he put up less than 10 per game.

Despite this, the Celtics would be insane not to bring him back because then it would like they got rid of Perkins for nothing. The Celtics hope that Green acclimates to Boston, which ironically is the team that originally drafted him, and puts up numbers like he did in Oklahoma City.

He's a young guy who will be very useful for the aging Celtics in the long run. He can spell for Paul Pierce who isn't getting any younger. Also, his defensively abilities will be very useful in playoff series against LeBron James and the Miami Heat down the road. 

3. Mario Chalmers

Mario Chalmers' unbelievable performance in the playoffs is going to make him a rich man. Forget his knack of hitting long distance half-court buzzer-beaters in timely moments. Chalmers played solid basketball.

Forget his numbers, too. They're overshadowed by the presence of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Also, he was playing behind Mike Bibby throughout the regular season and the playoffs. His solid play earned him a start in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. 

He was absolutely stellar in the Finals loss to Dallas putting up four games where he scored double-digit points. He also dished the ball around effectively. Miami needs to retain him and start him next year. Maybe then they'll see some rings. 

2. Greg Oden

The Human Glass.

No, this is not a compliment. 

Oden is so fragile that it's uncertain whether his career will ever come to fruition. Because of this, it's unclear whether Portland will want to send him a qualifying offer and bring him back. Have they given up on the former first overall pick already?

In his four years in the NBA, Oden has only played in 82 games. In those 82 games, he's only averaged 9.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Although his size and strength is enticing, his consistency of getting injured is going to make it difficult for Portland to want to bring him back. 

There are plenty of teams that will gamble on a center though because most teams need a big. And let's not kid ourselves, Oden can play if he's healthy. He can be a solid guy in the paint if he can manage to stay away from the IR. It will be an intriguing saga to say the least. 

1. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol was traded for his brother several years ago. He was a second-round pick in the NBA draft who was never meant to be as good as he has become.

Gasol lead the Grizzlies past the Spurs in a major first-round upset this past postseason. Then, he helped pushed the Thunder to a seventh game in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Because of this, the Grizzlies were very quick to send him a qualifying offer. Gasol will definitely stay in Memphis, and the Grizzlies are hoping to build the team around him. They have a myriad of great young players who are ready to contribute and help push Memphis over the top. 

Gasol's regular season numbers declined from 2010, but his playoff performance more than made up for that. He helped revive a city torn by floods this spring, and he is ready to become a leader for the team. 

And just look at his physique! He may be younger than Pau, but he's definitely not soft like him!