NBA Free Agency 2011: 7 Best Veterans on the Market

With players like Jamal Crawford and Nene Hilario headlining the NBA free-agent class of 2011, saying it doesn't compare to the highly acclaimed 2010 free-agent class would be putting it mildly.

Although these players may not be able to win you a championship on their own, they are the kinds of pieces that could push a star powered team to the next level.

Depending upon need, the players on the list all have different skills that can help eradicate the glaring weaknesses that are keeping some teams from reaching the next plateau of greatness.

7. Tayshaun Prince

Tayshaun Prince is player who has a tremendous amount of experience in the NBA. He's an NBA champion and even a gold medalist.

The role Prince played on the 2008 USA team proved the tremendous value that he brings as an elite defender and leader as well.

Prince has a tremendous wingspan which allows him to use that extension to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He utilizes his length to disrupt opponents offensive flow which in turn forces turnovers.

At 31 years old, Prince still has a lot to contribute to teams in need of a veteran leader with a scoring and defensive abilities.

Look for the Los Angeles Clippers to go hard after Prince as they can certainly use him to give them more experience and consistency at the small forward position.

6. Andrei Kirilenko

Granted Andrei Kirilenko may not have the accomplishments that Prince does, but his game is more well rounded and he is a more dangerous defensive player, rebounder and scorer.

While donning the strange No. 47 for his entire career may seem strange, combine it with his initials and you get AK-47, one of the coolest nicknames in the NBA.

His nickname tells you everything you need to know about Kirilenko, he's a weapon, and a lethal one at that.

While he may be a lankier and less muscular version of Ivan Drago from the Rocky movie series, don't let that fool you.

He is still equally as capable of annihilating his opponent on the basketball court, as Drago's character was of demolishing his opponents in the boxing ring.

Look for Kirilenko to garner interest from contenders in need of a weapon off the bench or teams who need to inject some experience into their developing young squad.

5. Jason Richardson

While Jason Richardson may not be the high-flying dunking champion he once was, he has adjusted his game properly to still be a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end.

At 30 years old, Richardson has taken his game out to the three-point line and become an efficient sniper from long distance.

Although he has played for four different teams in his career, he has contributed admirably for all of them.

Richardson is also extremely durable as he has been healthy for the majority of his career.

The Chicago Bulls will likely put a phone call through to Richardson, as they could use a shooting guard who can shoot from distance and create his own shot, to take some pressure off of Derrick Rose.

4. David West

David West was one of the most efficient shooting big men in the NBA, until an ACL tear took him out of commission for awhile.

Luckily for him, he has bounced back from that injury and is one of the best in the business at spacing the floor and knocking down mid-range jump shots at a high frequency. If he is able to stay healthy, seeing him score 20 PPG is easily within his grasp.

I expect him to leave the New Orleans Hornets since Chris Paul's bags are seemingly packed at this point. Look for the Indiana Pacers to be the most interested in West, as his ability to score nearly 20 PPG would be a great complement to the more defensive minded Roy Hibbert.

Feel free to take a look at this recent article which I wrote up on him, which delves deeper into why he will be a highly sought after free agent in 2011.  

3. Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford has become the best sixth man in the NBA, and he could certainly start on most NBA teams.

Armed with an ankle-breaking crossover and the uncanny ability to his clutch shots from just about any angle on the court, he is virtually unstoppable.

His days with the Atlanta Hawks are likely over as teams like the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks will certainly show a tremendous amount of interest in him.

It also makes more sense for him to sign with one of the aforementioned teams, as they give Crawford a better chance at winning his first NBA championship than the Hawks can.

2. Nene Hilario

With such a scarcity in elite centers in today's NBA, Nene Hilario is certain to gain interest from just about any team looking to fortify their frontline.

Hilario is extremely skilled. He is built like a mountain bear and is a force of frenetic energy and tenacity in the paint on both ends of the floor.

His rebounding numbers of nearly eight RPG could certainly be higher, but his all around skill as a big man is so rare that he makes up for it with his defense and ability to score the ball efficiently.

He shot 61.5 percent from the field last year and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line, which is respectable for a big man of his stature.

The team going the hardest after him will likely be the Miami Heat, but it is hard to imagine them having enough money to land him.

Then again, when you have the cunningly clever Pat Riley handling your business dealings, anything seems possible.

1. Tyson Chandler

Outside of Prince, Tyson Chandler is the only other player on this list with championship pedigree stamped on his resume.

Chandler was an integral component for last season's championship Dallas Mavericks.

His ability to be a vocal leader and emphatic enforcer on the defensive end are what many believe pushed the Mavericks over the top against some of the other elite competition which they had to face on their road to the 2011 NBA Finals.

Look for the New Orleans Hornets to make a run at him, since it could help them bring back Chris Paul and David West, who are the two key players on their current roster.

If they fail to sign an impact free agent whenever negotiations start up again, they will likely have to go into rebuilding mode as Paul and West are unlikely to wait around for things to improve.

Chandler will likely gain attention from many other teams in need of a big man as well, since his experience and defense are a rare combination among the big men available this summer.