Wednesday Insider

[Admin]

In reply to:

---

Tradition is nice, but it's getting harder and harder to call this summer a free agent frenzy when basically nothing is happening.

Maybe we should name this summer's market after Kelvin Cato.

The free agent jack squat. It doesn't really have the same ring though, does it?

Players like Keon Clark, Devean George, Chauncey Billups and Jerome James were in the news . . . but they call all go to the Knicks.

Today, we'll take a look at the team needs of the Midwest Divison. With several of the teams undergoing a major rebuilding effort, there should be plenty of signings this summer. Is Bonzi Wells the answer to the T-Wolves' woes? Would Billups feel at home in Denver? Could George find a new home in Memphis? We've got the answers . . .

Also see: East Conf. Team Needs | Depth Charts

Updated Free Agent Watch | Complete list of free-agents

MIDWEST DIVISION

Dallas Mavericks

Team Needs: Rebounding, inside toughness

Cap Situation: Ugly. They have $58.9 million in committed payroll, meaning they are right on the verge of paying the luxury tax. Of course, Mark Cuban doesn't care.

Top 3 prospects: Raef LaFrentz, Malik Rose, Scott Williams

The Skinny: The Mavs don't have much to worry about. They'll spend the majority of their summer trying to get their own free agents under contract. LaFrentz will command more than he's worth because he's really tall and Mark Cuban can afford it. The Mavs also want Eduardo Najera, Greg Buckner and ZhiZhi Wang back. Najera and Zhi Zhi should be locks to return; they're both restricted free agents. Buckner is having serious discussions with the 76ers and may want to spread his wings a bit. With their mid-level exception, expect the Mavs to make a run at a tough inside player like Rose or Williams. Having a bunch of big guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Bradley and LaFrentz is nice. But none of them do the dirty work the Mavs need. Free agents Danny Manning and Johnny Newman can start packing.

Denver Nuggets

Team Needs: Point guard, shooting guard

Cap Situation: Getting better. They have $47.3 million in committed payroll, meaning they're below the luxury-tax threshold. Next year they'll have major cap room.

Top 3 prospects: Chauncey Billups, Larry Hughes, Michael Redd

The Skinny: GM Kiki Vandeweghe has already rid this team of most of the sins of Dan Issel. He isn't about to start adding big salaries now. The Nuggets could be an incredible $20 million under the cap next season. With a couple of key free-agent signings from a very good 2003 class and the right bounce of a Ping-Pong ball in next year's draft, the Nuggets will be back in business. Still, the Nuggets have major issues in their backcourt. They're in the process of shipping Mark Jackson out, leaving them with only Kenny Satterfield (also a restricted free agent) and James Posey (who they are shopping) to play in the backcourt. There may be a few bargains out there right now that may be worth pursuing. Billups is a hometown guy who stepped up last year when Terrell Brandon went down. Hughes still has talent and could be worth a one- or two-year experiment. Redd has the makings of star two guard. The Bucks will likely match any offer, but he may be worth taking a shot. As far as the Nuggets' free agents go, Voshon Lenard, Calbert Cheaney, Tim Hardaway and Scott Williams will all be playing elsewhere next year. Ryan Bowen and Chris Anderson have a shot of returning on one-year contracts.

Houston Rockets

Team Needs: depth everywhere

Cap Situation: Not bad. They have $48.7 million in committed payroll, meaning they're below the luxury-tax threshold.

Top 3 prospects: Rashard Lewis, Oscar Torres, Greg Buckner

The Skinny: The Rockets are pretty set. They have 12 players with guaranteed contracts and are attempting to re-sign Oscar Torres. If Tito Maddox makes the team, that will make 14 players. Free agents Walt Williams, Kevin Willis, Dan Langhi, and Tierre Brown aren't expected back. However, one player still intrigues them -- Rashard Lewis. Lewis has openly pined for a return to Houston. Given the Rockets cap situation, the most they could offer Lewis is the mid-level exception. If he's willing to take it, it's hard to see the Rockets passing up on him. They could also work out a sign-and-trade, but it would likely cost them Eddie Griffin and/or Bostjan Nachbar. That may be too steep for the Rockets. If they do plan to spend some money , Buckner is a tough defender who would fit well.

Memphis Grizzlies

Team Needs: Center, small forward, point guard

Cap Situation: Bad. They have $56.9 million in committed payroll, meaning they're paying the luxury tax, but still have a losing record.

Top 3 prospects: Devean George, Rasho Nesterovic, Pat Garrity

The Skinny: Jerry West is the new sheriff in town and he's cleaning house. He has already added another power forward in Drew Gooden and two more shooting guards in Wesley Person and Gordan Giricek. What's next? West was the guy who drafted George, and he still has the jones for him. Would George be willing to share the spotlight with Shane Battier? If anyone can sweet talk him into it, West can. If George does something else, Garrity would give the Grizzlies the long-range shooter they crave. There's also talk of the Grizz sending Stromile Swift and Brevin Knight to the Magic for Mike Miller. Center is the most up-in-the-air position for the Grizz. Lorenzen Wright will play there in a worst-case scenario, but he's not a center. Nesterovic would give them some size and some shot blocking. Jerome James and Michael Doleac will also get a look. As for their own free agents, Grant Long, Rodney Buford and Antonis Fotsis are gone. Will Solomon and Eddie Gill have a chance to be re-signed if they play well this summer.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Team Needs: Point guard, athletes

Cap Situation: Not so hot. They have $51.4 million in committed payroll, meaning they're staring at the luxury tax.

Top 3 prospects: Chauncey Billups, Bonzi Wells, Devean George

The Skinny: They need a point guard in the worst way. With Terrell Brandon coming off season-ending knee surgery and Billups opting for free agency, their point-guard situation couldn't be more unstable. The good news is Brandon's rehab is going well and he recently told the Wolves he should be good to go by training camp. The Wolves will focus on trying to re-sign Billups, but he's looking for a commitment to be the starter. Right now, the T-Wolves aren't ready to go that far. Jeff McInnis or Travis Best would fit in nicely if Billups goes elsewhere, but the team really pines for a top-flight guard such as Andre Miller or Baron Davis. The T-Wolves have dangled Wally Szczerbiak in an attempt to get into the sweepstakes, but right now no one is biting. They may also see what it would take to pry away an athletic scorer like Bonzi Wells. With chemistry killer Szczerbiak now demanding a maximum extension, the Wolves may want to move him now, before it's too late. Wells is a scorer like Wally, but has more athleticism. A Wally, Brandon and Anthony Peeler for Wells (in a sign-and-trade) and Damon Stoudemire trade makes a lot of sense for both teams. Wally would give the Blazers the shooter they're looking for. The Wolves would get a top athlete to play shooting guard and dynamic (and healthy) point guard to run the floor. The team also loves native son George. However, the T-Wolves would have to move Kevin Garnett back to power forward if they were to bring him on board. The T-Wolves also want to keep Loren Woods, Gary Trent and Felipe Lopez. Other free agents such as William Avery, Robert Pack and Sam Mitchell will likely be gone.

San Antonio Spurs

Team Needs: Center, small forward

Cap Situation: Safe. They have $40.9 million in committed payroll, meaning they're just a shade under the salary cap.

Top 3 prospects: Malik Rose, Bruce Bowen, Donyell Marshall

The Skinny: They're ready to sign former second-round pick Emmanuel Ginobili, which should shore up their backcourt. They'd love to bring Bowen and Rose back, but only if their demands are reasonable. They're protecting cap room for next summer when Tim Duncan becomes a free agent. With David Robinson headed to the naval graveyard, signing a top-notch power forward like Marshall on the cheap makes some sense. The Spurs' other free agents, Terry Porter, Stephen Jackson and Jason Hart, will probably not be re-signed.

Utah Jazz

Team Needs: Power forward

Cap Situation: Pretty good. They have $40.8 million in committed payroll, meaning they're barely under the salary cap.

Top 3 prospects: Donyell Marshall, Malik Rose, Bruce Bowen

The Skinny: It looks like Raul Lopez is close to working things out with Real Madrid. The Jazz need that insurance just in case John Stockton decides to hang them up. Of more concern, two top players, Marshall and Bryon Russell, are free agents this summer. The team hasn't made major efforts to re-sign either player, but Marshall is considered a bigger priority than Russell. The Jazz also want to re-sign last year's second-round pick Jarron Collins. The team won't bring back other free agents such as Scott Padgett, Quincy Lewis, John Starks and John Crotty unless it's for a one-year deal. That gives the Jazz plenty of roster flexibility. The team doesn't have to worry about the luxury tax, but the always-frugal Jazz probably won't be major players. They'd love to get their mitts on Devean George, but he hasn't shown much interest. Rose would give them a solid backup power forward if Karl Malone is traded and Bowen has that defensive tenacity that coach Jerry Sloan loves.

Mavs open talks with free agents

Art Garcia / Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Nugs await outcome of free-agent market

Marc J. Spears / Denver Post

Wolves ponder plans for revamped roster

Steve Aschburner / Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Griz ready to go after free agents

Ronald Tillery / Memphis Commercial-Appeal

Will he still be San Antonio's Rose?

Johnny Ludden / San Antonio Express-News

3 Spurs choose freedom

Johnny Ludden / San Antonio Express-News

Patience is the key for the Jazz

Tim Buckley / Deseret News

Wally to the Max?

Add Wally Szczerbiak to the growing list of players from the class of 1999 looking for a maximum deal.

Szczerbiak's agent, Gary Wichard, said Wally will push for a six-year, maximum-contract extension this summer.

"This isn't any sort of line in the sand. We're in this thing together," Wichard told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Wally has been as important to his team as any of the guys who came out [in 1999]. Of that class, let's take a hand count of All-Stars."

Only Elton Brand, Baron Davis and Steve Francis have been to the All-Star Game out of Szczerbiak's draft class. All three are also seeking maximum deals.

The problem, of course, is that the Wolves don't believe Szczerbiak is a franchise player. His ball-hogging ways have disrupted the team's chemistry and it's no secret that he and Kevin Garnett don't get along.

Making things even more complicated, the Wolves are on the verge of the luxury tax. With Garnett also looking for an extension and Chauncey Billups exploring the free-agent waters, the team is loathe to commit a huge chunk of its cap to Szczerbiak.

That's why Szczerbiak's name has been mentioned so prominently in trade rumors for the last year. The team wants to get value for him now, before he bolts. Of course, his contract demands aren't helping the situation. Insider talked to six GM's who like Szczerbiak but wouldn't trade for him because of his unrealistic contract demands.

"Too many guys think they're max players," one GM told Insider. "A max player should be the most dominant player on his team. Wally isn't even close in Minnesota. He's a great scorer, but what else does he bring? I'm not sure who will touch him as long as he keeps asking for that much money."

When asked what Szczerbiak would be worth, several GM's put him at about six years for $50 million.

Agent says Szczerbiak will seek maximum salary

Steve Aschburner / Minneapolis Star Tribune

Free Agent Update: Pistons still searching for point

The Knicks' search for a Marcus Camby replacement is well underway. GM Scott Layden formally expressed interest in free-agent centers Keon Clark, Jerome James and Rasho Nesterovic, the N.Y. Post reported.

Since all three players are restricted free agents, Layden has to figure out what the most attainable target is. The Wolves have already given indication to teams around the league that they will match any reasonable offer for Nesterovic, several GM's told Insider Tuesday.

Clark may be easier to pry away from Toronto. The Raptors are struggling with the luxury-tax ramifications of re-signing Clark -- especially given his lack of focus on the court. Still, the Raptors will try to hang on to him if they can.

"We're trying to find a way to work it out," Raptors GM Glen Grunwald told The Post. "We're waiting on more information. Keon's our first priority. We knew there would be a lot of interest. He had a good year last year."

As for James, the Sonics would love to keep him, but if he gets anything close to the full mid-level exception, the team won't match. With Calvin Booth already on board and tough negotiations with Rashard Lewis underway, they just can't afford it.

GM Joe Dumars said Tuesday he has made preliminary contact with the representatives of free-agent point guards Jeff McInnis, Travis Best and Chauncey Billups.

"We have a specific area we are targeting in free agency," Dumars told the Detroit News. "I think everybody is well aware that we are looking for a point guard to help Chucky [Atkins, last year's starter]."

According to Dumars, there are eight to 12 teams all offering the three point guards similar contracts -- the $4.6 million mid-level salary cap exception.

"Because the money is the same, it really comes down to intangibles," Dumars said. "It comes down to where they want to play. It comes down to playing time, will they be able to start. It comes down to the direction the team is heading, is it winning or losing, does he fit in with the coach and the system -- those kinds of things."

The Nets may go a different route this summer when they address their backup point guard needs. It looks like the Nets and Nuggets are discussing how to send Mark Jackson (who was traded to Denver in the Antonio McDyess deal) back to the East Coast.

According to the N.Y. Post, Denver GM Kiki Vandeweghe, a former teammate of Jackson's, will "accommodate" Jax if he wishes a trade or contract buyout. A source familiar with the Nets' thinking told the Post that if Denver buys out a portion of Jackson's contract and he becomes a free agent, the Nets would be willing to give him the $1.4 million cap exception for each of the next two years.

Knicks Explore Center Options

Marc Berman / New York Post

Pistons still seek point guard

Chris McCosky / Detroit News

Jax May Fill Role As Kidd's Back-Up

Marc Berman / New York Post

Peep Show

Sixers: The team came to terms with Greek big man Efthimios Rentzias. Rentzias, who was drafted in 1995 by the Nuggets will be paid as if he was drafted with the 23rd pick in the draft this year. Rentzias will get approximately $2.4 million over three years from the Sixers, based on this season's rookie scale. "I am excited that this initial step [of signing Rentzias] has been taken," Sixers general manager Billy King told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The next step is getting him acclimated to the NBA style of basketball. Efthimios is a versatile big man who can make shots from the perimeter. He will be a nice addition to our team."

Heat: Mini-camp will include rookies Caron Butler and Rasual Butler along with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, former USC forward David Bluthenthal, last year's second-round pick Ken Johnson, and two players who were in Miami's training camp last season, Kimani Ffriend and Sean Lampley as well as current Heat players Malik Allen, Mike James and Ernest Brown.

Pistons: The Pistons released their summer league roster on Tuesday. As expected, Mehmet Okur, Rodney White, Prince, Brian Cardinal and Ratko Varda were on it. Others include former Wizards guard David Vanterpool, who was the Pistons' final cut two years ago, three-year NBA journeyman guard Brandon Williams, former Suns and Warriors forward Ruben Garces and undrafted rookies Brian Brown (guard from Ohio State) and Rashid Hardwick (7-1 center from East Oklahoma State).

Suns: The Suns will begin mini-camp this weekend. Rookies Amare Stoudemire and Casey Jacobsen along with Alton Ford, Joe Johnson, and Jake Tsakalidis are expected to attend. A couple of undrafted free agents, like Oklahoma State's Maurice Baker and Utah's Chris Burgess, are also on the Suns mini-camp roster.

Grizzlies: Obviously the Grizz didn't give a geography test to Drew Gooden when they brought him to Memphis a month ago. The Kansas City Star asked him if he planned to visit Graceland, Memphis' most famous landmark. "I didn't even know Elvis was from Memphis," he said. "I thought he was from Tennessee."

---

[Hawksfreak]

It would be nice to get Kevin he is from Atlanta ya know he would bring us somemore energy and power in the low post

[Admin]

If they are willing to work a deal for a future draft choice or two, Nachbar would sure be great for us. He could come in and start right away at SF for us and he would give us some good size.

[Hawksfreak]

I think we should stay with the team we got now becuase David Andersen in a year will be helpful.