NBA Free Agents 2011: Top Offensive Spark Plugs Still Available

With free agents being snapped up on a near-daily basis the pickings are getting thinner and thinner, particularly when you are looking for the guy who can spark your offense. 

With one exception, there aren't really any players left who can ignite a starting lineup, though there are still a few who can help get the second team going and play the sixth-man role. 

Carlos Arroyo

That Carlos Arroyo is now on this list is an indication of how thin the list has gotten more than it is of how good Arroyo is. Arroyo once had a decent game and his per 36 minutes were good but not great. However, the last few years his numbers have really tailed off. 

Last year he averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 assists. While that's not enough to get anyone to come running, he's still better than most of the players that are still out there if you're looking for someone who can ignite an offense. 

Willie Green

Willie Green was a nice player coming off the bench last year for the New Orleans Hornets, averaging 14.5 points. 

Green is a player who moves well with the ball and can score, but turns the ball over a lot and makes bad decisions too. 

Green is a reach, but at least he's avoidable. 

DeShawn Stevenson

DeShawn Stevenson is a solid defensive player and can hit the three. He's decent with the ball but he's not great getting to the rim. 

He's posted 12.2 points per 36 minutes over the course of his career, which isn't great by any stretch. However he's also posted .343 three-point percentage and is coming off a .378 average from deep last year. 

Stevenson can be a nice contribution to a team in need of spacing. 

Rodney Stuckey

Rodney Stuckey can play either guard spot, but he's better as a point guard because he has a huge size advantage over most points, and he doesn't really have the speed or explosiveness of most other guards.

Stuckey is a restricted free agent, and while Detroit is expected to match any offers, they've been having trouble reaching an agreement with Stuckey. Most recently there have been rumors of a sign-and-trade being a possibility though it's still a small one. 

Nick Young

Nick Young is the best offensive player left on the market. He's not the best ball-handler but where he excels is in catch-and-shoot situations. Last year Young averaged 19.7 points per 36 minutes with an effective .497 field-goal percentage. 

He averaged 1.18 points on the spot-up jumper, one of the best numbers in the NBA. 

While Young would be a coveted free agent if he were honestly obtainable, the problem is that he's a restricted free agent and the Wizards are likely to match any offers given to him. His other option might just be to play for the qualifying offer this year and be an unrestricted free agent next year.