NBA Free Agency 2011: Tyson Chandler & the 5 Most Coveted Players on the Market

The 2011 NBA free agent class certainly lacks the sexiness of 2010, but there are still plenty of quality players available.

Whenever the free agency period begins (damn you, lockout), some of the league's best role players could be switching teams. And while no acquisition will be as documented as Miami's formation of the Big 3, or even New York's signing of Amar'e Stoudemire, a few lucky teams will make major improvements this offseason.

Here are the five best players from the free agent class of 2011.

David West

David West is one of the league's most underrated power forwards.

He has been a model of consistency during his eight year career, posting at least 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over the last six years.

West was his usual steady self last season, before suffering a torn ACL on March 25.

The injury will slightly hurt his value, but luckily for West, his style of play isn't too dependent on explosiveness. Rather, he gets his points via a highly refined mid-range game and an ever-expanding repertoire of post moves.

I'd expect West to re-sign in New Orleans, but other possible options are the Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets.

Jason Richardson

It's odd to think about, but Jason Richardson has been in the league for a decade now. It seems like just yesterday he was blowing minds in the dunk contest.

The 30 year old shooting guard still has some pretty good hops and puts up points in a very efficient manner. Last season, he averaged 15.6 points per game with excellent shooting percentages (44.7 percent on field goals, 39.5 percent on threes).

Richardson has said that he wants to play for a championship contender if he can, although that would require him taking a pay cut.

Possible destinations, if he is willing to sacrifice some money, are Chicago and Boston.

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford has several notable achievements to his name, including dropping 50 points in a game with three different teams, winning the 2010 Sixth Man of the Year award, and becoming the NBA's all-time leader in 4-point plays with 24.

He's also the godfather of the Shake-'n-Bake move, which is just plain filthy.

Last season, Crawford was very effective coming off the bench yet again. He averaged 14.2 points per game on 42.1 percent shooting from the field.

Should he choose to leave the Hawks, possible destinations include Dallas, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, and Indiana.

Nene

Like West, Nene is one of the most efficient, consistent, and under appreciated big men in the league.

Nene averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season for the Nuggets.

A deeper look into the stats show that he was one of the most efficient players in the league. He had the second highest true shooting percentage (weighted to account for free throws, field goals, and threes) of all players who appeared in at least 40 games and played at least 15 minutes per game.

The 28 year old Brazilian should still perform at a high level for at least six or seven years, and will likely receive a contract worth about 12 million dollars per year.

Possible destinations, if he chooses to leave Denver, are San Antonio, Indiana, New Jersey, and Golden State.

Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler was a beast in the paint for the Dallas Mavericks and was one of the main reasons they were crowned 2011 NBA champions.

His numbers of 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game aren't exactly mind boggling, but it's the intangibles of Chandler's game that make him so special.

His sheer presence on the defensive end is enough to prevent opponents from attacking the rim, and he will likely be the most sought after free agent because of it.

In today's NBA, every serious title contender needs an elite defensive big man. It's no coincidence that the four conference finalists last year employed Chandler, Joel Anthony, Joakim Noah, and Serge Ibaka.

I doubt he will leave Dallas since they just won the title, but if he does, look for him to sign with either New York or New Jersey.