NBA Free Agents 2011: Marc Gasol Signing with Grizzlies Makes Market Shallow

The Memphis Grizzlies reached a four-year, $58 million dollar agreement with their much sought after center and restricted free-agent Marc Gasol yesterday. While this is no surprise it further thins the already shallow pool of quality big men even more. 

There are essentially two big men still worth noting on the market, Nene and Samuel Dalembert, and one still on the trading block in Dwight Howard. 

The Grizzlies have snapped up Gasol, the Pacers inked David West and the Knicks got the biggest prize of all with Tyson Chandler. 

The problem is that there are more than three teams looking to add one of them. The New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors have all been in the hunt for a big man and the Denver Nuggets have been desperately trying to retain their star center, Nene. 

The Nets seem to be in the driver's seat as Nene would pick them over the remaining teams if the Dwight Howard deal goes through. It appears that the Nets retaining Arron Afflalo (which is a deal that has not yet been done) might also factor into things. 

Provided that Nene goes to New Jersey or Denver, Samuel Dalembert's preference appears to be Houston at this point. 

That would leave Golden State out in the cold. After seeing the Clippers match their offer sheet on DeAndre Jordan, they signed Kwame Brown today. 

That means that either Denver or Houston could be left without a big man. As hard as Houton as tried, it's a good chance they suffer again this year, and this time they don't have Chuck Hayes to help through.