NBA Free Agents 2011: Top 10 Most Attractive Destinations for Veterans
If it wasn't for the NBA lockout, we'd be fully embroiled in free agency talks right now. This year's class isn't anywhere near as good as last year's, but it does have one thing in common.
There are plenty of veterans of the league who are eager for one last shot at glory. These guys have spent years toiling away without the ability to put a championship ring around their finger (or in some cases it's just been a while). They want that feeling.
Because of that, the veterans want to flock to certain teams.
Read on to find out which ones.
10. Portland Trail Blazers
1 of 10After a very good 48-34 regular season, the Portland Trail Blazers bowed out of the 2011 NBA Playoffs in the first round after a six-game series with the Dallas Mavericks.
While Portland may not be the most glamorous location for a veteran, the Trail Blazers will remain a true contender for at least the next few years, especially if Brandon Roy somehow overcomes his injury problems and regains his old form.
Should-have-been All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge and do-everything forward Gerald Wallace will lead the charge in 2011-2012 with young players like Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum hoping to make the jump to stardom.
It's not like veterans will find themselves all over ESPN with this team, but it could be a very good choice.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
2 of 10While the Memphis Grizzlies are another team that lacks the glamour and glitz of some of the NBA's more popular franchises, they are not lacking in talent by any stretch of the imagination.
Fresh off a 46-36 campaign, the Grizz stormed into the playoffs and shocked the world. After a win over the mighty San Antonio Spurs in six games, Memphis turned its attention to the also up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies put up a fight worthy of their namesake animal, but in the end the Thunder proved to just barely be too much. It took two overtime contests and seven games, but they were finally eliminated.
Now Memphis won't be satisfied with just another second-round appearance in the playoffs, especially if restricted free agent Marc Gasol re-signs with the team. The Grizzlies already have two great players in Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay along with young talent in O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley.
A veteran could be a very valuable contributor to this team's cause next season.
8. San Antonio Spurs
3 of 10I hate to say it, but I'm afraid that the San Antonio Spurs' championship window is in the process of closing if it's not already been slammed shut.
Tim Duncan is on his last legs and Manu Ginobili is definitely starting to show some signs of wear and tear. But as long as those two play on the same court as Tony Parker, the Spurs will remain contenders.
We've simply come to expect greatness from this model franchise on a yearly basis. What veteran wouldn't want to spend at least some of his career with that type of organization?
7. Dallas Mavericks
4 of 10It's pretty much common sense that the defending champions are going to be an attractive destination for veterans in search of either a first or a final ring to slip onto their fingers as they gloriously ride off into the sunset.
But the reason the Dallas Mavericks are so low on this list is that I don't feel as though too many people expect for them to be able to repeat? It's simply a fact of age as Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry have yet another year under their belts.
Make no mistake here, the Mavs will be very good next year. But they may not be quite as great.
Still, playing with Dirk and for Mark Cuban has too be appealing to a lot of veterans.
6. New Jersey Nets
5 of 10While you may be surprised to see this team above the Dallas Mavericks, you shouldn't be.
The New Jersey Nets are soon going to become the Brooklyn Nets and play in a much larger market, thus almost automatically increasing their popularity.
They have an All-Star point guard in Deron Williams, a good young center in Brook Lopez and an owner who's willing to make things happen in Mikhail Prokhorov.
While they aren't contenders at this point, they will be sooner rather than later. This is a chance to hop on the bandwagon just before it starts to take off.
5. Chicago Bulls
6 of 10After posting the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls had high hopes for the 2011 NBA Playoffs, especially because they boasted the regular season MVP.
Derrick Rose's stellar play continued, albeit not quite to the same level, but the Bulls were eliminated by the Miami Heat in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
But the postseason wasn't a complete failure as it showed Bulls fans just how good Taj Gibson could become if he wasn't being blocked by Carlos Boozer, who didn't exactly live up to the expectations placed upon him during the 2010 free agency bonanza.
With Gibson, Boozer and Rose, the Bulls are looking to add a shooting guard who can help take some of the scoring load away from the All-Star point guard. If Rose can keep up his level of play, the Bulls will definitely have another fabulous season.
4. New York Knicks
7 of 10The New York Knicks have two major things going for them here.
1. There isn't a much bigger market than the one that New York City provides. If you want to get recognized, even as a veteran bench player or fringe starter, The City That Never Sleeps is a good place to do so.
2. The Knicks are undoubtedly on the rise after the free agency acquisition of Amar'e Stoudemire and then the trade for Carmelo Anthony. With those two All-Stars in place, the Knicks are one big piece (cough Dwight Howard or Chris Paul cough) away from being true contenders.
It's going to be awfully tempting for veterans to sign for less than they may deserve and play at Madison Square Garden.
3. Miami Heat
8 of 10While veterans may have to take a little less money in order to take their talents to South Beach and join LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, it may definitely be worth it.
The championship pursuit of the Miami Heat came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, but they'll be back in the Finals at least once more. It's hard not to call the Heat the favorites to win the next title.
Who wouldn't want to play with the two best players in the NBA and have an almost guaranteed playoff berth?
2. Los Angeles Lakers
9 of 10As long as Kobe Bryant is still wearing that No. 24 jersey in purple and gold while playing at the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers will remain title contenders.
DId they get swept by the Dallas Mavericks in a series that saw many players lose their tempers? Yes.
Did they make quite clear that they need one more piece? Yes.
Does Kobe Bryant have one more season of wear and tear preventing him from playing like his early 2000s self? Yes.
But they're still the storied Lakers franchise and the allure of that is too great for veterans to want to stay away.
1. Overseas (Except China)
10 of 10When Deron Williams signed his one-year, $5-million deal with the Turkish club Besiktas, he became the first NBA superstar to ever decide to spend part of his prime overseas. We've seen mediocre players like Josh Childress make that decision. We've seen washed up superstars like Allen Iverson make their way across the pond. But we've never seen someone of Williams' caliber spend their glory days in a league other than the NBA after beginning their career there.
A ton of players have already signed contracts in leagues other than NBA. Check out Ethan Norof's article if you want to see where everyone has gone. More players are undoubtedly going to follow in these players' footsteps.
Honestly, it may be the best idea for veterans.
The lockout is dragging on and no end appears to be in sight, especially with David Stern now threatening to cancel the entire 2011-2012 season.
If there is no NBA, it makes sense for the old guys to enjoy their last years with the ability to contribute by, well, contributing. It's not the best for us NBA fans, but it's best for the players we've enjoyed watching for the last decade or so.
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Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
