Free Agents

[beav]

NBA's free agents free to sign today

Two Blazers on list; many top players already committed

FACTBOX

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

NBA players are eligible to sign free agent contracts today. But some of the most notable players already have said which teams they intend to sign with, leaving relatively few choices for the rest of the league.

Two Trail Blazers -- Ime Udoka and Travis Outlaw -- are free agents. The Blazers, who have set Outlaw as their top priority, must decide if they are willing to pay the necessary cash to retain both players.

Portland also could shop for a small forward or point guard among other free agents. Players such as Golden State forward Matt Barnes and Denver guard Steve Blake could fill needs for the team.

Top players who have expressed their intentions (with expected terms of new contract in parentheses):

Chauncey Billups, PG, Detroit (five years, $60 million). No surprise, the Pistons weren't about to allow another star, after Ben Wallace, to bolt for a second consecutive season.

Vince Carter, SG, New Jersey (four years, $61.8 million). He was rumored to be heading home to Orlando but chose to remain with Jason Kidd.

Grant Hill, SF, Phoenix (two years, $4 million). He turned down more money to leave Orlando and play for the team he thinks gives him the best chance to win his first title.

Rashard Lewis, SF, Orlando (five years, $82 million). The Magic overpaid but got the former SuperSonic to pair with Dwight Howard.

Andres Nocioni, PF, Chicago (five years, $38 million). His playoff flameout in the Bulls' series against Detroit didn't hurt his contract value.

Jerry Stackhouse, SG, Dallas (three years, $21 million). A perennial contender for the sixth-man award stays with the Mavericks.

Best of the players still waiting:

Matt Barnes, SF, Golden State. Three-point specialist made a paltry $798,112 with the Warriors last year. He's looking for a raise, but can he duplicate production in a more structured offense?

Steve Blake, PG, Denver. Former Blazer made $1.33 million last year, but his value jumped playing alongside Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony in Denver.

Derek Fisher, PG, Utah. Expected to return to the L.A. Lakers in a city with medical facilities to treat his daughter, who has cancer in one eye.

Desmond Mason, SG, New Orleans. A versatile player who can play at shooting guard or small forward. But will anyone offer him a salary near the $8.037 million he made last year?

Darko Milicic, SF, Orlando. Agent Marc Cornstein goes into a tizzy when the Magic yanks their original offer off the table after signing Lewis.

Mikki Moore, C, New Jersey. Earned extra cash after strong playoff performances.

Travis Outlaw, SF, Portland. The Blazers say they're committed to re-signing him.

Morris Peterson, G, Toronto. One of the league's better perimeter shooters is receiving plenty of attention.

James Posey, SF, Miami. Fell out of favor with Heat coach Pat Riley.

Joe Smith, PF, Philadelphia. Not worthy of the top overall pick (1995) but a solid player.

Ime Udoka, SF, Portland. Doesn't want to leave Portland, but, hey, money talks.

Anderson Varejao, PF, Cleveland. Played important role in Cavaliers' run to the NBA Finals.

Gerald Wallace, SF, Charlotte. Looking for a raise over the $5.525 million he made last season and still is coveted by many teams, but is expected to re-sign with the Bobcats.

Maurice Williams, PG, Milwaukee. He plays a shoot-first game, but there's a shortage of high-quality point guards in this market.

-- Geoffrey C. Arnold

[DrReality]

It's getting to be slim pickens with the FA. Who fits our needs that is worth a crap????