NBA Free Agents 2011: Power Ranking the Top Free Agents

If you take a look at the list of NBA Free Agents, you'll notice that the list is far from elite. So, it begins to make sense that players like Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are so highly sought after.

Still, just because the list doesn't have the elite names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Amar'e Stoudemire and Chris Bosh doesn't mean that there aren't any impact players available. 

Certainly, there are several players available in free agency that will make a big impact wherever they sign. 

With the free agency bonanza set to begin shortly, let's take a look at the players from each position that will make the biggest impact in their new (or old) homes.

PG: Rodney Stuckey (Restricted)

This doesn't seem like a tremendous name, but Stuckey is actually a solid player. Over each of the last three seasons, Stuckey has averaged around 15 points and five assists per game, which is really solid production from the point guard.

Stuckey will be 26 in April, so he still has some good years left in him. 

The next best option would be J.J. Barea, but Stuckey is clearly the better option. Barea is two years older than Stuckey and isn't reliable to get you any more than about 20 minutes a night. 

Stuckey is certainly the best point guard available in free agency, although he is restricted. 

SG: Jamal Crawford

This is another position that doesn't produce a tremendous amount of depth. It really comes down to Jamal Crawford and Jason Richardson. 

While Richardson's offensive numbers are better than Crawford's, Crawford is the better player because he's far more reliable to be on the court. 

When we're dealing with two men that have already enjoyed their 30th birthday, the one who's been traditionally able to stay on the court has a huge advantage.

In addition to that, Crawford is actually more than capable of getting the ball in the net. In any given game, I would take Richardson to score more points, but the complete package gives Crawford the edge. 

SF: Tayshaun Prince

Not unlike point guard, this is a position where the actual best available "free agent" is restricted. Unlike point guard, there actually are proven options in the unrestricted realm, which gives Prince the edge over restricted guns like Thaddeus Young and Jeff Green.

Prince is reliable to score in the 13-15 points per game area. He's not anything more than that, but he isn't anything less, either. He's strong defensively and far from a liability on offense. 

Shane Battier provides similar positives to what Prince did, but Prince is more proven as an integral player on good teams. 

Caron Butler is another player to think about, but he can't be overpaid for. Butler's history of injuries means that he has to be short term and relatively cheap to be considered a viable option. 

Overall, the edge belongs to Prince.

PF: David West

If you're looking at true power forwards, this position is not even close. The one drawback to West is his age, but at power forward, that's not a huge concern. 

West has grabbed rebounds and scored points at a consistent rate for each of the last seven seasons. In that run, he's failed to play in 70 or more games only once. 

If you're looking for reliable production from an important position, West is not only the best power forward in this class, but just the best player.

C: Nene

While Tyson Chandler would be a reasonable option, he hasn't been anywhere near Nene. Nene's best seasons were better than Chandler's, and he's been the far more consistent player. 

Nene will get you between 12-15 points a game and around eight boards. It's hard to imagine this, but not many centers can be depended on for that kind of consistent production.

At only 29, Nene has several good years of production left. He's also played in 75 or more games in each of the last three years. Chandler's only done that once over that stretch.

So, while Chandler would be a nice move for a team, he's not the player that Nene is.