NBA Free Agents 2011: How Will Top Free Agents Fare Under New CBA?

The 2011 free agent class in the NBA might not be as star-studded as some would like, but there's no doubt about the talent that resides within the group.

Despite the lack of superstar names, there are several players who could really add value to a number of teams, and it will certainly be interesting to see which teams are the most aggressive once the market opens up for business.

Unlike previous free agents who might have gotten overpaid, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will certainly bring a more harsh set of financial restrictions to every team, and as a result will impact the deals that will eventually be signed.

Some of these 15 free agents could definitely be headed for a pay cut.

15. Marcus Thornton, Shooting Guard

2010-11 Salary: $762,195

Thornton was held hostage for a fair portion of the season in New Orleans, but he was thoroughly unleashed when he arrived in Sacramento.

After coming over via trade, Thornton established himself as a legitimate scoring threat, scoring 20-plus points with regularity and lighting it up from everywhere on the floor.

He's made no secret about his desire to return to the Kings, but after making less than $800K last season, Thornton is in line for a pay raise no matter where he lands.

14. Nick Young, Shooting Guard

2010-11 Salary: $2,630,503

Young put himself on the map last season after flourishing in an increased role with the Wizards, as he was able to find the bottom of the basket from almost everywhere on the floor.

Whether it was jump shots from the perimeter or using his solid athleticism to drive toward the cup, Young took a major step forward in his evolution as a player last season.

Like Thornton, Young has made no secret about his desire to return to his previous team, but he'll be seeking (and landing) a deal north of his 2010-11 paycheck.

13. Rodney Stuckey, Point Guard

2010-11 Salary: $2,767,126

Stuckey's a really interesting case, because despite Detroit drafting Brandon Knight eighth overall in 2011, the team has visions of the two playing alongside one another in the backcourt.

As a restricted free agent, the Pistons will have the opportunity to match any offer he generates on the open market, and his value may be perceived differently by a number of clubs due to his inconsistent play.

He's very likely to collect a higher salary than he did during the prior campaign, but the differential certainly may not be as stark as previously imagined.

12. Arron Afflalo, Shooting Guard

2010-11 Salary: $1,959,577

Afflalo is one free agent that could have flown under the radar, but nobody is going to let his presence on the market go unnoticed after his 2010-11 season.

After being entrusted as the starting shooting guard, Afflalo really took off, delivering solid play at both ends of the floor and really asserting himself as an integral part of Denver's attack.

There's no doubt that a team will reward him in an effort to lure him into the fold, but the Nuggets will have the right to match any offer, and it's hard to imagine the team letting him get away after already losing both Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith to China.

11. DeAndre Jordan, Center

2010-11 Salary: $854,389

Jordan is viewed by many to be Los Angeles' center of the future, and he finally flashed his potential on a consistent basis last season.

With Chris Kaman struggling with health problems, Jordan was pushed into a featured role for the Clippers and responded favorably, averaging 7.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over 66 games as a starter.

There's no doubt that he'll be due a serious raise from his previous salary, but with Kaman's $12 million expiring contract coming off the books in 2012, it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where the Clippers will let him get away, no matter what it costs.

10. Kris Humphries, Power Forward

2010-11 Salary: $3,200,000

The Nets have already called re-signing Humphries a priority, but that doesn't mean that he's a slam dunk to return to the team.

Beat writer Al Iannazzone expects the club to target both Tyson Chandler and Nene, and if either one is added to the fold, there's no reason to shell out a long-term commitment to Humphries.

After proving that his breakout campaign was no fluke, Humphries is expected to be seeking a starting role and a major pay increase, and his recent marriage to Kim Kardashian may very well play a role in where he's interested in ultimately signing.

9. Andrei Kirilenko, Small Forward

2010-11 Salary: $17,823,000

This one is fairly simple: there is no way Kirilenko is going to approach the $18 million mark on his next contract.

Although he played better last season than he had shown previously, Kirilenko's stock has sunk from where it was when he signed a six-year, $86 million deal with Utah, and he seems like a good bet to move on from his old club.

He's currently playing professionally in Russia, but he's got life left in his NBA career, and it will be interesting to see what type of deal he'll get stateside.

It wouldn't be surprising to see his pay cut be among the steepest of all free agents.

8. Tayshaun Prince, Small Forward

2010-11 Salary: $11,147,760

Another candidate who could be headed for a pay dip, Prince simply didn't look like the same player he had been previously for Detroit.

With both Jonas Jerebko and Austin Daye on the roster, it's more than likely that the re-building Pistons will choose to turn the page from nine-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the club.

He'll have serious appeal to any team looking for a versatile small forward capable of adapting to a variety of roles, so he shouldn't have trouble finding offers.

They just may not be as lucrative as he might have previously assumed.

7. Jeff Green, Small Forward

2010-11 Salary: $4,455,988

Green's future is somewhat in flux after his initial tenure with Boston didn't exactly go as planned, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly lost his skills.

He showed an immense amount of potential during his time in Oklahoma City, and after trading Kendrick Perkins for him midseason, it's hard to believe that the Celtics would simply let him walk out the door.

Green definitely should make more than what he earned in 2010-11, but after initial projections had his paycheck almost doubling from where it previously stood, Green may very well have to settle for something shy of that figure.

6. Jason Richardson, Shooting Guard

2010-11 Salary: $14,444,443

Richardson has already gone on the record stating that he'd accept a pay cut to play for a contender, but he's looking at a decrease in salary no matter where he lands.

As a 30-year-old veteran, there likely won't be a long list of teams eager to delve into a long-term commitment, so it's possible that Richardson may have to settle for a shorter contract in effort to land a higher annual salary.

He's still proven productive and can continue to be relied upon to score at a solid clip on a regular basis, so any competitor looking to add a scoring spark to the starting unit may be taking a careful look.

5. Jamal Crawford, Shooting Guard

2010-11 Salary: $10,080,000

Crawford has flexed between a starting role and sixth man over the course of his career, but he's illustrated an ability to remain remarkably consistent regardless.

As a volume scorer, Crawford's job on any team will be defined, but with the long-term financial commitments that Atlanta already has outstanding, it's hard to imagine the club sinking more money into another veteran player.

There are a number of competitors that could all use his services in the reserve unit as a spark off the bench, but few are likely to come close to matching his previous salary.

4. David West, Power Forward

2010-11 Salary: $8,287,500

West raised some eyebrows by deciding to opt-out of the final year of his deal with New Orleans, as he left a guaranteed $7.5 million on the table following reconstructive knee surgery.

However, he likely assumed that he would be a prominent name in a watered-down free agent market, and West will be looking to lure in a long-term commitment with major money involved.

It's likely that he's not going to get the deal that he very well may have under the old CBA, but he certainly should get a slightly more lucrative deal than he had prior.

3. Tyson Chandler, Center

2010-11 Salary: $12,600,000

Chandler was one of the most overpaid players in the NBA until he asserted himself as a dominant force beneath the bucket for Dallas last season.

After seasons of injuries limited his on-court production, Chandler looked the best we've ever seen him, and he's already indicated that he won't be accepting any sort of discount to remain with the Mavericks.

As one of the most prized free agents available, Chandler is going to get rewarded with a long-term deal and a very impressive annual salary, but it's not certain that he'll be able to find a major pay raise from where he stood.

2. Marc Gasol, Center

2010-11 Salary: $3,573,333

As easy as it is to project Kirilenko's pay decrease, it's just as simple to predict that Gasol will be in for a serious raise.

Although his regular season campaign was slightly underwhelming, Gasol came on strong in the postseason, and he rapidly established himself as one of the more skilled centers throughout the league.

Gasol has stated his desire to remain in Memphis, and although the Grizzlies handed out contract extensions to Mike Conley and Zach Randolph last season, the club is expected to retain its starting center as they'll have an opportunity to match any offer he receives.

1. Nene

2010-11 Salary: $11,360,000

Some fans still underestimate exactly what Nene brings to the table, as he's one of the more under-appreciated players around the NBA.

After shooting a ridiculous 61.5 percent from the floor last season while averaging 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one block per game, it's easy to see why he'll have obvious appeal to any and every team with cap space and a hole along the front line.

He previously battled some injury issues that limited him earlier in his career, but after missing just 12 games over the last three seasons, that's not something any team should be seriously weary of in the pursuit of upgrading the attack.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Nene make more than he collected in 2010-11 on a long-term deal.