NBA Free Agents 2011: Predicting the 12 Fattest Contracts Signed This Summer

While this summer's period of free agency has been anything but exciting due to the recent lockout, once league activity does resume, fans can definitely expect to see some big money contracts.

The 2011 free agency class may not be as exciting as the 2012 class, of which Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Kevin Love are a part of, but 2011 has more than its share of potential blockbuster deals. 

Sixth men, former All-Stars, Slam Dunk Champions and even a former first overall draft pick populate the 2011 market, all of whom are more than capable of making instant impacts on prospective teams or filling in a much needed role.

Whether teams are looking for a capable shooter or are willing to take a risk on a player who was predicted to become a franchise player, teams have quite a few options to take a look at. 

However, once the lockout ends, with it, will come a new collective bargaining agreement, which will definitely make an impact on which players teams will be able to sign, especially when it comes to contracts. 

After the lockout though, it will become a very realistic possibility that super teams or loaded rosters like the Miami Heat and NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks might not look the same post-lockout. 

That being said, there are at least a few players who could definitely walk away from free agency with a new team and a lot more money in their pockets. 

Here, in no particular order, are 12 fat contract possibilities you could see this summer.

Jason Richardson

While Jason Richardson may not be the high flying, above the rim scorer he used to be, the former Slam Dunk Contest Champion has gone the route of his fellow rim attacking shooting guards, relying primarily on his jump shot now.

Back with the Golden State Warriors, Richardson established himself as a dynamic scorer who could slash to the rim.

After stints in Charlotte and Phoenix, Richardson's arrival in Orlando landed him a new role as a secondary scoring presence to compliment the Magic's superstar center Dwight Howard.

As part of the 2011 free-agent class, Richardson is available primarily as a shooter, a role almost any team could use and given his wider range of ways to score than the average shooter, he's definitely a hot commodity. 

Paid a little over $14 million last year, Richardson's performance last season may not garner a huge salary, but there is a possibility he could make even a little more than last year. 

Caron Butler

Despite not participating in the Dallas Maverick's championship playoff run last season due to a knee injury, Caron Butler is now on the open market.

While the former All-Star hasn't seen on court action in a while and is a bit of a risk due to his possibility of injury, Butler still has the offensive ability he's had since his play in Washington.

An aggressive scorer and well rounded player, Butler can definitely command a higher level salary just based on his past performance, but at 31 years of age, it's tough to predict him making more than $20 million to $25 million, which is even then a bit of a stretch. 

However, with a new collective bargaining agreement looming, the more even stretch of talent across the board due to the CBA could possibly guarantee him a better contract than some of his teammates. 

Jamal Crawford

Former Sixth Man of the Year, Jamal Crawford is one of the most popular free agents available on the market solely because of his scoring ability. 

A clutch shooter down the stretch with the ability to score in bunches off of the bench, Crawford has an offensive talent that makes him tantalizing for so many teams that are eager to acquire a solid scorer.

He could definitely pull one of the higher salaries on a smaller market team looking to draw in some offensive talent and for that case, its not hard to imagine him ending up with a solid $8 million per year for a three- to four-year contract. 

Glen Davis

After some stellar improvement over the last couple seasons, Glen Davis has become one of Boston's most valued assets and an ideal post player in light of Kendrick Perkins' absence.

Last year, Davis was earning $3 million, but come next season, he should definitely be making more, especially after proving his worth in Boston and sticking out on a team full of Hall of Famers and All-Stars.

The question is, can the Celtics, who have already committed to their Big Three, afford to keep their younger up and comers like Davis with the new collective bargaining agreement in the works?

Either way, regardless of where Davis goes, there is almost no way he could be making any less than a three-year, eight-figure deal. 

Marc Gasol

Already well on his way to surpassing his brother as the more talented Gasol, Marc Gasol is on no better team to do so.

The young, up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies established themselves last season as a force to be reckoned with, upsetting the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs, then proceeding to push the Oklahoma City Thunder to the limit in the semifinals. 

The Grizzlies have the option to match any offer other teams might throw at Gasol, and given the $3 million he earned last season, they can definitely expect other teams to make a run at him. 

Five years younger than his brother and already putting up numbers comparable to Pau's first playoff appearance, Marc has shown a wealth of potential worth more than $3 million. 

Nene Hilario

On yet another team full of young talent, Nene Hilario and Kenyon Martin have both established themselves as solid post presences. 

While Martin is also a free agent, Nene is the more desired of the two and has shown to be, alongside probably Marc Gaso and Tyson Chandler, one of the best centers available this summer in free agency. 

Averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and at least one block per game, Nene has already had many teams courting him even before free agency and this time around, he can expect a lot more if the Nuggets can't find a way to keep him. 

David West

After choosing to opt out of the final year of his contract to test the free-agency waters, David West will definitely be drawing some attention. 

The former All-Star missed the playoffs due to injury and the New Orleans Hornets suffered because of it and as a result, Chris Paul was without his primary scoring option. 

While his injuries will definitely factor in to how teams will look at West, he can definitely garner at least $11 million per year for three to four years on any team. 

Greg Oden

As one of the biggest risks in free agency this summer, Greg Oden poses an interesting question for a lot of teams in the league. Can he get past injuries and perform up to his potential?

Drafted first overall in the 2007 NBA draft, Oden was expected to become one of the best defensive centers and was one of the hottest prospects following his first return from injury. 

After that, his knees became a nagging issue, and come last season, he missed it in its entirety while his Trailblazers made a run in the playoffs. 

Now the big issue becomes, are teams willing to take a risk on him to see if he can bounce back from injury, and if so, how much is he worth? 

Mainly due to how much hype surrounded his intimidating defensive presence, he will probably get one of the larger contracts in free agency as certain teams won't be able to resist trying to make a bid for him, resulting in a shorter deal making around $20 million to $25 million. 

Jeff Green

After establishing himself as one of the key pieces for the Celtics moving forward into a post-Big Three era, Jeff Green raised his stock value remarkably. 

Making the All-Rookie First Team alongside then teammate Kevin Durant, Green came to Boston in the hopes of building him, off the bench behind Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, into an eventual starter. 

Making around $4 million last season, Green can definitely expect at least $20 million next season as alongside Rondo, he'll be an integral part of the Celtics' future. 

Kenyon Martin

Making about $16 million last season with the Nuggets, Kenyon Martin rose to his position as team captain, helping to lead a young team in their playoff push. 

Along the way, Martin averaged almost eight rebounds a game in addition to 11 points per game. 

While they may not be the types of numbers he was putting up during his prime years in New Jersey and the early part of his time in Denver, he is still a solid power forward and defender. 

In the free-agency market, teams will definitely look to pursue him to fill a defensive role in their power forward slot and based on his toughness, he is definitely worth decent money, even in his later years. 

Martin though is one of the few players you can expect to maybe pull out a larger contract than he's worth mainly due to his hard working style of play. 

J.J. Barea

On this list mainly due to his fantastic playoff performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, J.J. Barea is one player who almost doubled his stock going into this summer. 

Now a free agent alongside a few of his 2011 NBA Champion teammates, Barea will be sticking out over most of them due to his ability to penetrate, which is sure to entice teams. 

Barely 6-feet tall, the little underdog Barea made a name for himself on a roster boasting two future Hall of Famers and a wealth of former All-Stars. 

It seems now, that he'll be one of those players who the Mavericks desperately want to keep around, but teams would be willing to throw a little more money at.

Making $1 million last season, Barea will most likely see a fat paycheck increase this upcoming season. 

Tyson Chandler

As probably the most sought after center this summer, Tyson Chandler will be one of the biggest names thrown around once league activity resumes. 

Arriving in Dallas with another handful of veterans, Chandler's defensive presence overshadowed almost all and was one of the deciding factors in the Mavericks' championship run. 

Bringing the defense to a team full of offense made Chandler worth the $12 million he earned last season, but come next season, expect teams to be throwing money at him. 

With a new collective bargaining agreement, Dallas will have to be more picky with how they spend their money, but Chandler will definitely be a priority to keep. 

This results in a big paycheck for Chandler and probably one of the biggest if not the biggest free agency paycheck for the 2012 season.