NBA's Top 20 Free Agents

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 11, 2007

NBA's Top 20 Free Agents

Chauncey Billups

Winning bidder: Pistons Not long after Billups' agent denied that the two sides had come to terms, the point guard did indeed come to terms with Detroit on a reported five-year, $60 million deal (with the fifth year a team option). The Pistons won the 2004 title and have been to five straight Eastern Conference finals with Billups at the controls.

Rashard Lewis

Winning bidder: Magic The 6-10 sharpshooter has committed to Orlando, which has offered a maximum contract. His pending departure from Seattle comes on the heels of the Ray Allen trade, leaving No. 2 pick Kevin Durant as the face of the Sonics' franchise.

Vince Carter

Winning bidder: Nets The Nets reportedly have agreed to a four-year, $61.8 million deal with Carter, who became a free agent after declining his $16.4 million option for next season.

Gerald Wallace

Reported winner: Bobcats Wallace, 24, has blossomed in three seasons in Charlotte, and he's capable of scoring, hitting the boards and playing active defense. Though he's never played more than 72 games in a season, his youth, out-of-the-gym athleticism and willingness to work on his game are real selling points. On July 11, exec Bernie Bickerstaff revealed the Bobcats had reached a six-year agreement, in principle, with Wallace.

Mo Williams

Potential suitors: Bucks, Cavs, Heat, Pacers This underrated QB stepped into the Bucks' starting lineup after the trade of T.J. Ford and did a solid job. The second-best point on the market (after Billups), the 24-year-old Williams will have no shortage of suitors and might be able to force a sign-and-trade if he doesn't come to terms with Milwaukee.

Andres Nocioni

Winning bidder: Bulls After being wooed by Memphis, Nocioni has decided to re-up with the Bulls for five years and $37.5 million, according to reports. Nocioni saw his development plateau last season because of a foot injury and the emergence of fellow Bulls small forward Luol Deng. But he didn't see his rate of production drop, nor did the Bulls see his under-the-skin defensive intensity slip.

Darko Milicic

Potential suitors: Rockets, Hawks, 76ers Milicic began the free-agent period as a restricted free agent, but he became unrestricted when the Magic renounced his rights in order to free up money to sign Rashard Lewis. Said one scout of the 22-year-old Milicic, who has shown flashes of potential in four seasons: ''Considering his age, his development and his potential -- and when you factor in what a lot of big men make -- $50 million for Milicic could be a bargain."

Jerry Stackhouse

Winning bidder: Mavs The Mavs are poised to bring back Stackhouse with a three-year deal that reportedly could be worth as much as $24 million. Once a primary scorer with Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington, the veteran shooting guard has made himself into a top reserve who can provide instant offense.

Mickael Pietrus

Potential suitors: Warriors, Mavericks The 25-year-old native of Guadeloupe averaged 11.1 points last season. More important, he shot a career-best 48.8 percent from the field, a previously unseen show of offensive teeth for this active defender. Although a scout worried about his lack of consistency, he added that ''as Pietrus matures ... he could be a cross between Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley.''

Anderson Varejao

Potential suitors: Cavs, Rockets, Grizzlies The 6-10 Brazilian played a key role in the Cavs' Finals run with his energy, rebounding and willingness to take charges. Varejao will be in demand, but the Cavs are in control because he's a restricted free agent. GM Danny Ferry will probably find a way to keep him in the fold.

Desmond Mason

Potential suitors: Hornets, Mavericks True, he may not hit the ocean if he were shooting from a kayak, but Mason is a classic ''intangibles guy,'' exerting himself on defense and on the glass while being agreeable to playing the third or fourth scoring option. Ask any coach and he'll tell you that low-maintenance, high-effort guys are worth their weight in wins; ask any GM and he'll tell you that players such as Mason are worth the mid-level exception.

Grant Hill

Winning bidder: Suns The classy veteran, coming off a strong comeback season in which he averaged 14.4 points on 52 percent shooting, is headed to the Suns with a two-year, $3.8 million contract. Hill, who will turn 35 during training camp, is now in position to finally advance past the opening round of the playoffs for the first time in his career.

Luke Walton

Winning bidder: Lakers Walton has agreed to a six-year, $30 million deal to remain with the Lakers, according to reports. The four-year veteran made $1.4 million last season when he averaged career highs of 11.4 points, five rebounds and 4.3 assists as an excellent fit in the triangle offense.

Travis Outlaw

Potential suitors: Trail Blazers, Bucks, Bobcats, Spurs In four seasons in Portland since the Blazers selected him out of high school in 2003, Outlaw has averaged 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes. Stretch out his production over a full 48 minutes and a player who produced 20.1 points and 7.2 boards emerges. Only 22, he has the type of ''athletic gifts,'' said a scout, that could make him a 10-year starter. But he also has the inconsistency that demands he be a supporting cast member for the immediate future.

Chris Webber

Potential suitors: Pistons, Lakers, Knicks The 34-year-old forward has said all options are open, including retirement. While he rejuvenated his career somewhat after signing with Detroit at midseason, the Pistons need to get younger and more athletic in the frontcourt. The Knicks and Lakers had interest in him a year ago. Webber might have to accept a deal for the veteran's minimum anywhere he goes.

Matt Barnes

Potential suitors: Warriors, Suns, Nuggets, Mavericks After bouncing around between four teams over his first three seasons, the 6-7 swingman found a home last year in Golden State, where he shot 36.6 percent from downtown while playing with hustle and energy. But is he a product of Nellie Ball? With so few teams able to offer anything more than mid-level money, Barnes will likely re-sign with the Warriors.

Matt Carroll

Winning bidder: Bobcats Charlotte is set to keep Carroll with a six-year, $27 million deal. Carroll was the team's fourth-leading scorer last season (career-high 12.1 points) and shot 41.6 percent from three-point range.

Mikki Moore

Potential suitors: Nets, Bulls The journeyman center found a home in New Jersey last season while filling in for the injured Nenad Krstic. Fifty-five starts, 9.8 points per game and a 61 percent shooting mark later, and Moore may have secured his financial future. But that future should be as a backup, according to a scout, especially considering the slender Moore isn't the most consistent of rebounders.

Ruben Patterson

Potential suitors: Pistons, Heat, Wizards Patterson, 31, is coming off the most productive season of his career. Granted, those statistics came on a Bucks team desperate for warm bodies, and the swingman's shooting range has always been limited, but Patterson has long been a solid dirty-work sort of player. He might find a winning team willing to take a chance on a player whose legal troubles and sharp tongue have never made him easy to slot into a rotation.

DeShawn Stevenson

Potential suitors: Wizards, Nuggets After turning down a three-year, $10 million contract offer from Orlando last offseason, Stevenson caught on with the Wizards for the league minimum. The 26-year-old shooting guard may have some more lucrative options this summer after shooting a career-best 40 percent from beyond the arc and 46 percent overall while averaging 11.2 points.

NBA's Top 20 Free Agents