NBA Rumors: Teams Chasing After Top Big Men on the Market

In the early days of free agency, it's the big men who are taking the center stage. Whether it's through free agency or trade, there are a number of the league's top big men who are on the market.

These big men include the likes of centers Dwight Howard, Nene Hilario and Tyson Chandler. Power forward David West is a free agent and Paul Milsap, the Utah Jazz power forward, is also reportedly being shopped.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers this morning are in the news because they've made it known they would be willing to include their own star center, Andrew Bynum in "the right trade." Of course, this was a bit of a no-brainer, as the "right trade" is code for "Dwight Howard" and Bynum would obviously be involved in a Howard trade. 

However, it did change the speculation mill to the rumor mill when Jerry Buss made the announcement. The Lakers are clearly putting themsleves into the Dwight Howard sweeps.

New Jersey Nets: Yesterday, the Nets were reported to have offered the Magic Brook Lopez, two first-round picks and offered to absorb Hedo Turkoglu's offer. Those reports were later denied by the Nets GM, Billy King. 

It's apparent, though, that the Nets are very much in the market for a big man. Nene Hilario is said to be at the top of their list. There is also "mutual interest" with Tyson Chandler.

The Deron Williams story is very much hinging on the big-man deal. Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that, "Privately, Williams has made it clear that he’s far less inclined to re-sign a long-term deal with the Nets if they don’t immediately improve their roster." 

On the bright side, that means that if they do immediately improve their roster, he will be more inclined to re-sign. Look for the Nets to land one of the top big men before the season begins. Look for them to upgrade at small forward too.

Indiana Pacers: The Pacers made a late-season run and they did a nice job of making the playoffs. Then they gave the Chicago Bulls a much better fight than anyone anticipated. They have a nice young coach in Jeff Vogul and in Darren Collison they have a good young point guard. 

Now they are looking to add a preeminent big man and the rumors are they are looking to add either David West or Nene Hilario. Pairing either up with their young center, Roy Hibbert, who had a bit of a breakout season last year, would make the team better, but still perhaps a player away from "contender" status.

The Pacers are a team on the rise regardless.

Houston Rockets: The Rockets are one of the teams most aggressive in trying to land a new big man. They have been one of the most consistent names brought up in conjunction with Nene Hilario. The other player they have been considering who would probably serve as a backup plan is Samuel Dalembert.

Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers are already the owners of one of the best big men in the NBA in their Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin, so when they say that they would do "whatever it takes" to get Dwight Howard, it's a scary thing. 

A tandem of Howard and Griffin under the rim would be one of incredible strength and power and would assure the lowly Clippers of finally rising to prominence.