Monday Insider

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There were no private jets zooming across the country. Doc Rivers didn't show up at anyone's doorstep at 12:01 a.m. The hangover from the Chris Webber free-agent world tour has finally passed. And Bernie the Bull was sound asleep as the clock struck midnight.

The free-agency negotiating period got off to a whimper at 12:01 a.m. this morning. That's appropriate given the pathetic free agent market this year. A postcard and a check with seven figures will do it for most players this summer.

Teams now have until July 17th to negotiate contracts with this year's top free agents. But dire cap situations for all but three or four teams (Clipps, Bulls, Wizards, Pistons) and the looming luxury tax make things much quieter this summer. Only a handful of teams are even planning on using their mid-level exceptions this year.

For the next four days, Insider will break down each team's free-agent needs, division by division. Today, we'll take a look at the Atlantic Divison. Can the Knicks replace Marcus Camby? Can the Wizards steal away Rashard Lewis? Can the Celtics afford Rodney Rogers? We've got the answers . . .

Also see: Free Agent Watch | Complete list of free-agents

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Celtics

Team Needs: Point guard, rebounding

Cap Situation: Ugly. They have $51.7 million in committed payroll, meaning they are right on the verge of paying the luxury tax.

Top 3 prospects: Rodney Rogers, Erick Strickland, Mark Blount

The Skinny: Don't expect the Celtics to get too creative this summer. Their first and primary order of business is getting Rogers to re-sign. They were hoping to do that on the cheap, but Rogers has some value and teams like the 76ers and Lakers will show some interest. GM Chris Wallace has the OK to exceed the luxury tax to get Rogers in the fold, but after that he doesn't have much flexibility. They'd love to bring back Strickland, but he'll have to accept another minimum deal to stay in Boston. The Celtics would love to keep Blount, but they won't be able to match an offer from a team willing to pony up a million a year. Given the dearth of big men available, he may be able to get that from someone. The Celtics also need help at the point guard position. Omar Cook may or may not stick this summer, but unless they can move Kenny Anderson, they aren't really in a position to trade or sign for a decent one this summer. The Celtics' other free agents, Roshown McLeod and fan favorite Walter McCarty, aren't expected to re-sign with the team.

Miami Heat

Team Needs: Point guard, long-distance shooting

Cap Situation: Ugly. They have $56 million in committed payroll, meaning they will likely pay the luxury tax.

Top 3 prospects: Rod Strickland, Travis Best, Voshon Lenard

The Skinny: After letting Anthony Mason, Bruce Bowen and Tim Hardaway slip away last summer because of fear of the luxury tax, Pat Riley is determined to get the Heat back in the playoffs. The Heat won't start throwing around cash until next summer, but they already took a huge step in the right direction by drafting Caron Butler. That will likely kill all of the Devean George talk. Priority No. 1 is bringing back Strickland to run the point. He was on his best behavior last season and Miami needs his veteran leadership until Anthony Carter gets his legs. If Strickland wants to play elsewhere, Best is a great second option. He's flirted with the Heat for the last few years and brings an energy Riley loves. The Heat also will try to bring back Jimmy Jackson, Vladimir Stephania and Eddie House, but only if they'll re-sign on the cheap. Now that Riley will likely be allowed to use their mid-level exception, expect the Heat to add a shooter to the mix. Former Heat sharp shooter Lenard can be had cheap. And the Heat will also see how Iowa two guard Luke Recker performs in the summer league.

New Jersey Nets

Team Needs: Shooting, backup point guard

Cap Situation: Ugly. They have $56.8 million in committed payroll, meaning they will pay the luxury tax.

Top 3 prospects: Bryon Russell, Michael Redd, Jacque Vaughn

The Skinny: The Nets desperately need to improve their perimeter shooting. They would have drafted either Casey Jacobsen or Freddie Jones had either still been on the board. Now, they'll have to address the need via free agency. Luckily, ownership will allow team president Rod Thorn to go over the luxury tax to keep rebuilding. Russell has the playoff experience and versatility to play two positions. Redd is a top-notch shooter, but he'd probably cost the Nets their full mid-level exception to bring him on board. Even then, there's a good chance that the Bucks would match the offer. The Nets also need to find a more reliable backup for Jason Kidd. There aren't a lot of great point guards on the market right now. Vaughn has the experience, court savvy and energy the Nets are looking for in a backup. He'll also come cheaply. Chris Childs is another option, though he may be unwilling to play for the veterans exception. The Nets will also see what Keith Van Horn would bring on the trade market. A Russell or Donyell Marshall for Van Horn sign-and-trade isn't out of the question. The Nets other two free agents, Anthony Johnson and Donnie Marshall, better pack their bags.

New York Knicks

Team Needs: Point guard, center

Cap Situation: The Knicks have a whopping $91.3 million in committed payroll this season -- tops in the league.

Top 3 prospects: Jeff McInnis, Rasho Nesterovic, Jerome James

The Skinny: Luckily for GM Scott Layden, the team will spare no expense in trying to get back in the playoffs. The Knicks addressed their power forward needs when they traded for Antonio McDyess, but still need a starting point guard and someone in the middle to replace Marcus Camby. The Knicks are still pursuing Andre Miller, Baron Davis and Nick Van Exel in trades, but chances are they only have a shot at landing Van Exel. If they strike out there, McInnis has the size and scoring ability to run the point. Travis Best is also another solution, though he's more of a scorer. Rookie Frank Williams will also get a chance to play, but it's tough to make a playoff run with a rookie. As for replacing Camby, Kurt Thomas filled in admirably at center last season, but the Knicks would like a bigger body blocking shots and crashing the offensive boards. Nesterovic really came on for the T-Wolves last season and has the height and fundamentals. James is a much rawer prospect, but has the athleticism and shot-blocking skills the Knicks covet. As for the Knicks own free agents Lavor Postell, Felton Spencer and Larry Robinson will all likely be toast.

Orlando Magic

Team Needs: Point guard, power forward

Cap Situation: Not too shabby. The Magic have $46.8 million committed. That puts them over the salary cap but well under the expected luxury-tax threshold. However, the team won't spend too much this summer. It is still trying to clear cap space to make a run at Tim Duncan in the summer of 2003.

Top 3 prospects: Jeff McInnis, Charles Oakley, Popeye Jones

The Skinny: Doc Rivers doesn't want to wait another season to put his best team on the floor. The Magic are hoping that Stephen Hunter, Ryan Humphrey, Jeryl Sasser and Rashard Griffith all develop this season, but they can't bank on any of them. Priority No. 1 is re-signing Pat Garrity. His outside shooting and toughness saved the Magic from sinking into oblivion when Grant Hill went down last season. From there, the team has to figure out what to do to help out the rapidly declining Darrell Armstrong. McInnis would give them a solid starting point guard to platoon with the Armstrong. Jacque Vaughn would be a more affordable option. They could alway re-sign Troy Hudson, but are wary of his contract demands. They may also just decide to let Grant Hill take over the point guard duties if he's healthy. Oakley, Jones or Scott Williams would give the Magic that veteran toughness underneath they thought they were getting from Horace Grant and Patrick Ewing last season.

Philadelphia 76ers

Team Needs: Backup power forward and center, small forward

Cap Situation: Nasty. The Sixers have $59.2 million in committed salaries. They are already deep into luxury-tax land.

Top 3 prospects: Devean George, Keon Clark, Rodney Rogers

The Skinny: The good news is that the Sixers have Larry Brown and he loves to tinker. Expect them to use their full $4.5 million exception to land a more athletic small forward or power forward. The team needs more scoring punch and Brown is determined to get it this summer. The Sixers have a bunch of good options. George has the outside shooting, athleticism and toughness he's been looking for. Clark is a match-up nightmare, great shot blocker and solid rebounder, but will the Raptors let him slip away? Remember, he's a restricted free agent. Rogers is one of the best long-distance shooters available and Brown has coveted him for some time. The Sixers will even take a long look at Larry Hughes, who Brown still believes can be a point guard. As far as their own free agents go, the Sixers have tendered an offer to restricted free agent Matt Harpring. But Raja Bell, Damone Brown, Corie Blount, Vonteego Cummings, Tim James and Derrick McKey may all be looking for new homes this summer.

Washington Wizards

Team Needs: Point guard, depth

Cap Situation: Good. MJ has gotten the Wizards down to a respectable $36 million. They'll be in great shape next season if they keep spending down.

Top 3 prospects: Rashard Lewis, Devean George, Chauncey Billups

The Skinny: The first order of business will be to re-sign Popeye Jones. His toughness was the glue that held the Wizards together in MJ's absence. The team drafted a promising young combo forward in Jared Jeffries, but the Wizards won't be shy in pursuing top free agents like Lewis and George. Both are unrestricted and have indicated an interest in playing in Washington. Lewis would have to take a pay cut to play in D.C., but it isn't out of the question. The Sonics aren't thrilled about paying Lewis the max, and Lewis' eyes have been wandering for months. George is a more realistic possibility. Spending a few years under the tutelage of Phil Jackson has got to make him a Jordan favorite. The team drafted Juan Dixon to play point guard, but he's still a few seasons away. Billups would give them the size and scoring touch at a reasonable price. Look for Tyrone Nesby to lace them up somewhere else next season.

Celtics serious about Rogers

Shira Springer / Boston Globe

Luxury item? Rogers a necessity

Peter May / Boston Globe

With free agency, Heat thinking ?03

Ira Winderman / South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Heat still seeks swingmen, perimeter players

Barry Jackson / Miami Herald

Knicks to Start Shopping

Frank Isola / New York Daily News

Building a better Magic starts at home

Jerry Brewer / Orlando Sentinel

Benching plan has Armstrong feeling energized

George Diaz / Orlando Sentinel

Sixers should keep Coleman, ignore Hughes

Stephen A. Smith / Philadelphia Inquirer

Could Mr. Rogers be moving to our neighborhood?

Phil Jasner / Philadelphia Daily News

Wizards Get Set To Go Shopping

Steve Wyche / Washington Post

Did the Clipps crash Elton Brand's max party?

Just three days after Donald Sterling proclaimed that "money doesn't matter to me," it looks like the NBA's resident cheapskate isn't putting his money where his mouth is.

The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Sterling is back to his old ways.

Not only did he back out of a last-minute deal on draft night that would've landed the Clippers Baron Davis, the News reports that he also recently informed Elton Brand that he's not getting "max money." David Falk, Brand's agent, "went crazy," according to the News. The Clipps reportedly told Darius Miles the same thing.

Sterling gave a wide-ranging interview to L.A. Times columnist T. J. Simers Thursday in which he claimed that he'd re-sign Brand to the max, consider giving the max to Michael Olowokandi if GM Elgin Baylor was on board and spend whatever else it took to put the Clippers into the championship.

The L.A. Times' Mark Heisler, however, writes that Sterling's interview means nothing. His refusal to trade for either Davis or Andre Miller showed that he doesn't have what it takes to lead the Clippers to a title.

"I've got a surprise for you. If you aspire to the elite level, you're going to have to do more than sign Brand and Olowokandi. There isn't a person in basketball, within your organization or without, who thinks you'll pay the dread Third Big Salary -- which is why everyone thinks you shot these deals down.

"Both Davis and Miller are free agents next summer, but you could pay either $10 million a year, deal off a spare player or two and still be at -- not over --the tax threshold, which, we know, is your 'No. 1 objective in the universe.' "

NBA: Free Agency Puts Up Airball

Mitch Lawrence / New York Daily News

Sterling, as usual, is letter perfect

Mark Heisler / Los Angeles Times

Clippers' Sterling is ready to buck a trend

T.J. Simers / Los Angeles Times

Hornets still bullish on Baron?

Speaking of Baron Davis, the Hornets still claim they aren't shopping him.

Several reports out of L.A. claimed that the Hornets and Clippers struck a deal that would've sent Lamar Odom, Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely to the Hornets in return for Davis, but Clipps owner Donald Sterling nixed the deal at the last second.

Hornets VP Bob Bass claims he rejected the offer and said the Hornets have no interest in trading Davis under any circumstances. The Pistons, Knicks and Cavs have also shown interest.

"About a week ago Baron made some statements, and as a result people [general managers] have called a lot, but that doesn't mean we're shopping him," Bass told the New Orleans Times Picayune. "We couldn't start negotiating with him and his agent until July 1."

Hornets ready to negotiate with Davis

John Reid / New Orleans Times-Picayune

Peep Show

Rockets: GM Carroll Dawson's top offseason priority is signing Steve Francis to an extension. "You kind of take care of your own people first," Dawson told the Houston Chronicle. "Then you see." Though an extension for Francis is almost certain, it might not come quickly. The Rockets will likely expect a full physical before the deal is completed. Francis' rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and expected trip to the Mayo Clinic to investigate his headache problems might have to come first.

Blazers: Look for Bonzi Wells to be back in a Blazers uniform this year. "The only way we wouldn't have Bonzi back is if some offer is so totally out of line that we choose not to match it," GM Bob Whitsitt told the Oregonian. "That doesn't mean he can't go out and get $8 million, he just has to find a team that has $8 million who says he is worth $8 million. Then if he signs that sheet, we are in a difficult position, where we have to ask ourselves if we can fit him in our structure for $8 million, or is that too much and we have to let him go."

Jazz: Donyell Marshall says he'd like to re-sign with the Jazz. "Obviously you're going to look at every option, but the Jazz is the last team I played with, and I had a great time with them," Marshall told the Deseret News. "They have the first option of re-signing [me]," he added, "but it's going to have to be fair for both sides."

Pacers: If the Pacers are going to trade Austin Croshere, they'll probably have to wait until August 1st for his base-year compensation tag to come off. "I told Austin I'd look to see if there's a place we can make a trade, but if that's not possible he should expect to come in and compete for a job next year -- and we'd be happy to have him on our team," President Donnie Walsh told the Indianapolis Star.

Warriors: The agent for Larry Hughes confirmed late Sunday night he had not received a qualifying offer from the Warriors, meaning Hughes is an unrestricted free agent as of today, the Contra Costa Times reported. A qualifying offer for Hughes would have been worth one year, $2.9 million, which would have put the Warriors in luxury-tax danger. The Warriors could still sign and trade Hughes but that is unlikely.

Bulls: Don't expect the Bulls to make a big spash in free agency, despite all of their cap room. "We'd like to add two veterans who can play," operations chief Jerry Krause told the Sun Times. "There's no sense adding a veteran with a lot of experience whose game isn't what it once was." By the end of the week, look for the Bulls to arrange visits from Washington's Popeye Jones and Philadelphia's Matt Harpring. The Bulls also are talking about Houston's Kevin Willis, Denver's Scott Williams and the Clippers' Jeff McInnis.

Bucks: Look for the Bucks to make free agent Scott Williams an offer this summer. The Bucks traded Williams to the Nuggets last summer to clear cap room for Anthony Mason. They missed him sorely this year. Williams, apparently, missed the Bucks too. "When I left Milwaukee, the idea was that they would probably try to re-sign me down the road," Williams told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I've played golf with Ray [Allen] this summer, and that's something he'd definitely like to see happen. I know he has a little bit of the owner's and management's ear. I would say it's a possibility."

Grizzlies: The Grizzlies failed to pick up options on Will Solomon and Antonis Fotsis, but did trade for the rights to 6-foot-6 shooting guard Gordon Giricek. Giricek averaged 22.9 points while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point range in Euroleague play. "We came away totally impressed," director of player personnel Tony Barone. "He's very athletic, an outstanding shooter, and extremely tough. He's a very good defender, too, which is a little bit unique with the European guys."

Cavs: The team didn't pick up next season's qualifying offers for big men Michael Doleac ($2.8 million) and Brian Skinner ($2.1 million), allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.

Pistons: Expect international rookie Mehmet Okur to take up most of the Pistons' cap room this summer. Okur will make more than the average rookie and will command first-round cash, like Zelijka Rebraca did last season when he made $3.5 million on a three-year deal with just one year guaranteed.

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[Blunt91]

Well looks like we know where Jacque is going. Jason Kidd & Jacque Vaughn would make the best pointguard tandem in the East.

[Traceman]

in the East! Seriously though, you're right, JV would be a terrific backup PG for NJ. The problem NJ might have is that JV might not want to go there because of the likelihood that he won't play that much. Will he be happier playing 10-12 mpg behind Kidd when he could likely go elsewhere and double his PT? Time will tell I guess.

[capstone21]

Not true...

Anthony Johnson was just plain horrible.

NJ must have been afraid to give Kidd a rest becuase when he came in you just had to cringe. I always did. How he is still in the league beats me.

Although I guess you team him with Kidd and play Kidd 47 mins you have the best tandem for 48 minutes.

[Traceman]