NBA Free Agents 2011: Top Available Player Left at Every Position

With the NBA offseason now a ripe five days old, the majority of the best players have been snapped off the boards but there are still a few who remain. 

Some are left, perhaps because they are restricted free agents who are expected to be matched by their own teams, and bidders did not want to see their cap space tied up while waiting for other teams to match. 

Other players are waiting to see what happens with other deals. 

Finally some players are just the best of what's left. 

Here is the best remaining starter at every position. 

PG: Rodney Stuckey

The best point guard still on the table is Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey who last year averaged 15.5 points and 5.2 assists. He is a legitimate starting point guard, though hardly a future All-Star. He is, however, arguably better than a number of starting point guards in the league. 

The latest word on Stuckey came before the weekend according to MLive.com 

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Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars continues to negotiate with Stuckey, but the process was put on the back-burner as Dumars faced a flurry of other activity on Friday, including re-signing Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko, signing rookies Brandon Knight and Vernon Macklin, and finalizing the buyout with Hamilton. "I've talked to a lot of GMs around the league, and we all say the same thing, to have to open up, and be able to talk to free agents three or four days before training camp starts is unheard of," Dumars explained. "I think you're going to see around the league, guys not in camp. It's almost like football. That really never happens in basketball. I think you're going to see that a little bit this year because just the window to try and get everything done is a little bit tough."

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SG: Arron Afflalo

Arron Afflalo is arguably the best shooting guard left, though Jamal Crawford might have a case as well. However, when you're talking about signing one or the other up for a four year contract, the fact that Afflalo is nearly six years younger is the tie-breaker. 

Afflalo is an aggressive and effective defensive player as well as an absolute sniper form the field. Last year he shot .423 from deep and had a true shooting percentage of .620. 

The latest report from the Denver Post is this, 

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A league source also said that no deal has yet to be made with Arron Afflalo, the gritty shooting guard who is a restricted free agent. Afflalo and the Nuggets have previously said they expected to work out a deal to bring "Triple-A" back to Denver, but numerous teams have expressed interest in him (similar to Nene, the Nuggets can offer Afflalo a fifth year). For now, the Nuggets can only prepare with who actually is on the roster. And the two names that stand out are point guard Lawson and forward Danilo Gallinari. "It's going to be a big year for both of us," said Lawson, who began last season as the backup to Chauncey Billups. "We're going to take this challenge on together."

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The relative lack of actual offers probably has something to do with the reality that Denver is going to match any offer. Bidding on Afflalo does nothing more than tie up available funds. In all likelihood Denver matching any offers though a sign and trade is apparently something at least one team has considered. 

SF: Andrei Kirilenko

The best small forward still on the market is playing in Russia right now, but if he got the right offer he might be "rushin'" back over here. Over the course of his career he has proven himself to be a highly versatile player and would be a valued contribution on any team. 

Only nine players in the history of the game have greater totals than him in all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks). 

The latest report on Kirilenko comes from the Sacramento Bee, 

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Two different sources told me earlier tonight that former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who is currently under contract with CSKA Moscow (but has an out clause effective for 30 days), would seriously consider signing with the Kings if he returns to the NBA.

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PF: Carl Landry

Perhaps the toughest call in terms of "best free agent remaining" is the call between Carl Landry and Kris Humphries. Here things largely depend on what your needs on. If you need a scoring power forward, Landry is the best available. If you need help on the boards, Humphries is your man. 

I chose Landry here because of his performance in the playoffs last year when he averaged 15.8 points in 35.5 minutes of play in a tough series against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

According to the New Orleans times there are multiple teams interested. 

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Several teams, Landry said, including the Portland Trail Blazers and New Jersey Nets have expressed interest in him. 

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However, that doesn't mean that he's ruled out a return to the Hornets. 

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Free agent power forward Carl Landry said Monday afternoon the repeated inability of the New Orleans Hornets front office to negotiate a trade to accommodate guard Chris Paul has not soured him on a potential return to the team.

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C: Nene

The best free agent center left, and the best free agent remaining period, is Nene. The Nugget's center led the NBA last year in field goal percentage at .615 and is a solid defender. 

He is the most sought after free agent left, with Denver, Houston and New Jersey all coveting him. 

According to the post the Nets have made an offer of "four years and between $60-65 million for Nene, the 29-year-old Brazilian whom they would like to pair with Lopez to give the Nets’ one of the better combinations of big men in the league."