NBA Free Agents 2011: Players, Rumors, Likely Destinations and More

The 2011 NBA offseason officially starts on Friday, Dec. 9 and things are going to get hectic as teams race to stock up and re-tool their roster before the Christmas Day tip-off.

Teams can start preliminarily talking to players as early as today, Dec. 5.

Things are a little different this year with the new collective bargaining agreement in place, but it shouldn’t have too profound an effect on any one team's offseason plans.

Let’s take a look at the new rules that will impact how this free agent bonanza is going to shake out and some of the top players who are available and looking to sign a new contract.

Amnesty Clause

This is the most talked-about and exciting part of the new CBA. It’s been described as a “get-out-of-jail-free card” that allows each team the ability to wipe an undesirable contract off its salary cap and create room to sign new players or go under the luxury-tax line.

Teams must still pay these “amnesty casualty” players their salary, and they do not get to keep them. Instead, they go into a unique waiver process in which only teams under the cap can make a play for them.

Whichever team is willing to pay the most of the amnesty casualty’s former salary is awarded the player with the former team footing the rest of the bill.

Players like Brandon Roy, Gilbert Arenas and Travis Outlaw will more than likely be available in the near future when the amnesty provision is exercised upon them.

Midlevel Exception

The MLE has changed a bit from the 2005 CBA. Instead of all teams getting a flat, five-year average salary with eight percent increases, the league has split the way these contracts work.

Non-tax-paying teams get to offer four-year deals starting at $5 million with 4.5 percent growth while taxpayers are limited to three-year, $3 million contracts with the same annual raise. There is also a new miniature MLE that is available to teams under the cap at two years, $2.5 million to offer players.

With all of these new ways to pay players, it assures powerhouse teams like the Miami Heat and strugglers like the Charlotte Bobcats can both compete and build their rosters by offering unique advantages and disadvantages.

Contracts

Teams can sign their own Bird free agents (basically players who have played for the team for three-straight seasons) to five-year deals. All other free agent signings are capped at four years maximum.

This was smart of the NBA to stop allowing terrible GMs to cripple their franchise for years by giving five- and six-year contracts to players. It also encourages players to stay with their teams as that fifth year is by far the most lucrative compared to others.

Top Free Agents

Nene

The Brazilian big man wants to play for a contender after spending his entire NBA career with the Nuggets. An efficient post-player, he makes his team better on the defensive end and is the most complete big in a market that covets them.

A number of title hopefuls are looking at acquiring him, but he may need to take a pay cut to sign with a surefire winner.

His best bet is to re-sign with the Nuggets, as they can offer him a max contract and have plenty of room to do so with many of their players in China this season. The culture around that club is about to change and Nene can be a big part of it by staying.

Tyson Chandler

Chandler isn’t going to wow anyone offensively but he quarterbacked the defense of the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks and would be a perfect fit for a number of teams who are a piece like him away from winning.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, New Jersey, Golden State and Houston will meet with Chandler this week. The Raptors also want to add the tough center to their roster.

Marc Gasol

Pau’s younger brother was once thought of as a throw-in and a fun-fact about brothers being traded in the NBA when he went from the Lakers to the Grizzlies a few years ago.

Now he is a legitimate starter and about to be a star in this league.

As a restricted free agent, Memphis has the first crack at him but a number of teams would be interested in swooping up the Spanish center should they fail to get a deal done.

Jamal Crawford

A high-volume shooter who teams can sink or swim with on a nightly basis is always a scary proposition, but Crawford has made his living in this league for 12 years now by providing instant offense and an uncanny knack for scoring the ball.

He’s going to draw interest from teams looking to get a spark on offense off the bench and should find himself a nice little payday at age 31.

The Milwaukee Bucks are an interesting destination for Crawford, and he could become a fan favorite and push them back into the playoffs. 

Jason Richardson

Richardson is another aging shooting guard, but he is more of a complete player and doesn’t need to hog the ball to have an effect on the game.

Chicago direly needs someone like J-Rich and he would pair nicely with Derrick Rose in the backcourt with his three-point range and slashing ability.

Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert made a ton of money last season (more than $13 million) with the Kings but knows he is in line for a pay cut this year.

He’s a solid option for teams that can’t afford or get Chandler or Nene. He can still easily help a contender like the Heat and would certainly be an upgrade for them at the position despite declining production.

An 8-and-8 big man who can log more than half a game played each night and play defense never hurt a championship hopeful.

David West

The “17-foot Assassin” is going to draw interest from teams looking for a solid rebounder and second banana scorer that brings a ton to the table and doesn’t take much off.

He’s coming off an injury but it’s certainly worth the gamble for a tall PF who can knock down jumpers all day and post-up when needed. 

The Pacers would be a team that make a lot of sense for West.