OSFA 2014 - A Look Ahead
Apr 11, 2014 22:22:59 GMT
Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, and 3 more like this
Post by Ian Noble on Apr 11, 2014 22:22:59 GMT
OSFA 2014 - A Look Ahead
There's a star-studded cast in this year's free agent crop! But is it really worth cashing-in this year?
Plenty of franchise players abound on the list below but Bird Rights are going to play a massive factor in whether it's worth pursuing them. Let's break down some of the biggest names and see what's what!
90 - Dirk Nowitzki
88 - Blake Griffin
89 - Paul Pierce
93 - Kobe Bryant
88 - James Harden
87 - Steph Curry
Centers
Power Forwards
Small Forwards
Shooting Guards
Point Guards
There's a star-studded cast in this year's free agent crop! But is it really worth cashing-in this year?
Plenty of franchise players abound on the list below but Bird Rights are going to play a massive factor in whether it's worth pursuing them. Let's break down some of the biggest names and see what's what!
90 - Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk's currently leading the league in scoring this season at 29.9ppg and shows no signs of slowing, either here or in real life where he just passed Oscar Robertson for 10th on the all time scoring list!
Unfortunately for the punters this year, Nowitzki's faithful Mavs have kept him as their captain and they're currently 3rd Seed in the West. With the addition of Rajon Rondo this year and a ratings increase to Evan Turner, Dirk's perhaps not the best guy to pursue!
88 - Blake Griffin
The Clippers have been the Melo and Blake show for two seasons now, crowning themselves Western Conference Champions last season, so is it likely that the Bird Rights veteran will lob himself elsewhere this Summer? It all depends on the Clippers season record!
Just like Melo's Knicks in real life, Melo's Clippers have struggled this year and currently sit in 9th Seed, just outside the ominous Tankings zone! Maybe Blake might be worth a gamble this year? It all depends on whether LA qualify for the playoffs and how deep they go!
89 - Paul Pierce
Since shipping their two 2013 picks for KG and Paul Pierce last season, Cleveland have done a good job to build around the pair but still show signs of struggle even though they're in the East!
The Cavs also have their younger prospects to worry about; both Serge Ibaka and DeMar DeRozan are expiring this season! Can the Cavs retain Pierce on the cheap or has Dan Gilbert built a one-and-done team?
93 - Kobe Bryant
The Lakers are more poised than perhaps anyone not only to re-sign Mamba, but also to add to his supporting cast in this year's free agent crop. Bryant's still playing for the team that drafted him almost two decades ago and the Lakers have the cap space, and the free agent pull, to really make a push for this off season.
Magic Johnson acquired Goran Dragic just at the right time and, with a front court that comprises Vucevic, Gortat, Zach Randolph and Harrison Barnes, clearly have the kind of team Player Agents just love to slot championship hungry veterans into. The Lakers are looking strong in the West and are perhaps overperforming, all of which makes it look unlikely that Kobe will leave LA unless Magic somehow forgets to send the message or something.
88 - James Harden
Prodigious 2-guard, James Harden forms part of the all-star trio that Alex English has put together in Denver that won him EOTY honours last year.
Harden was acquired way back in July 2012, which technically does give Denver his Bird Rights, which is just as well because the Nuggets are already scheduled to come in at $74m cap in the off season. Denver's performed roughly as anyone would expect them to perform this year and should make a push for the championship in the Playoffs. Harden will be a major part of that push and it will surely take a monumental deal to steal him from Denver.
87 - Steph Curry
The Warriors have had four GMs over the years but somehow Curry has remained. Chris Mullin thrust himself into EOTY contention last off season by making both the biggest signing and the luckiest draft pick, giving his team an off season for the ages, and the Warriors just refuse to lose this season.
Alongside Dwight, Curry headlines a team that's only got the championship to lose. Is it likely he'll stay in Golden State? Calling it a forgone conclusion would be an understatement.
Centers
90 Dirk Nowitzki
82 Emeka Okafor
82 Andrew Bogut
81 Marcin Gortat
78 Chris Andersen
72 Kurt Thomas
72 Jeremy Tyler
71 Joel Przybilla
71 Andris Biedrins
71 Ian Mahinmi
70 Nazr Mohammed
70 Kwame Brown
70 Johan Petro
70 Greg Oden
69 Hamed Haddadi
68 DeSagana Diop
66 Cole Aldrich
65 Jason Collins
65 Festus Ezeli
64 Greg Smith
62 Hassan Whiteside
61 Goran Suton
61 Patrick O'Bryant
Power Forwards
89 Pau Gasol
88 Blake Griffin
83 Shawn Marion
82 Serge Ibaka
80 Boris Diaw
78 Metta World Peace
78 Taj Gibson
77 Charlie Villanueva
77 Marvin Williams
76 Kenyon Martin
75 Hakim Warrick
75 Jason Smith
75 Byron Mullens
74 Vladimir Radmanovic
74 Jianlian Yi
72 Matt Bonner
72 Ivan Johnson
72 Tyler Hansbrough
72 Dante Cunningham
71 Reggie Evans
71 Gustavo Ayon
70 Shelden Williams
70 Jordan Williams
69 Joey Dorsey
68 Jeff Adrien
67 Taylor Griffin
67 Quincy Acy
64 Jeff Pendergraph
60 James Mays
Small Forwards
89 Paul Pierce
84 Luol Deng
83 Tyreke Evans
79 Stephen Jackson
79 Josh Howard
79 Richard Jefferson
79 Trevor Ariza
79 Michael Beasley
78 Danny Granger
77 Hedo Turkoglu
77 Carlos Delfino
76 James Johnson
75 Mikael Pietrus
75 Quentin Richardson
75 Francisco Garcia
75 Linas Kleiza
75 Luc Mbah a Moute
75 Omri Casspi
74 Chris Singleton
73 Chris Wright
71 James Jones
71 Austin Daye
71 Tyler Honeycutt
69 DJ White
69 Renaldo Balkman
69 Julian Wright
66 Luke Walton
65 Jeff Taylor
64 Kevin Murphy
61 Brandon Wallace
Shooting Guards
93 Kobe Bryant
88 Andre Iguodala
88 James Harden
84 Monta Ellis
83 Jason Terry
82 Ben Gordon
81 Caron Butler
80 Rodney Stuckey
80 MarShon Brooks
79 Shane Battier
79 DeMar DeRozan
78 Vince Carter
78 Lance Stephenson
77 Thabo Sefolosha
76 Kelenna Azubuike
76 Gerald Henderson
75 Ronnie Brewer
75 Courtney Lee
75 Daequan Cook
74 Nick Young
74 Terrence Williams
74 Jodie Meeks
72 Marco Belinelli
71 Willie Green
71 Wayne Ellington
71 Malcolm Lee
70 Keith Bogans
68 DeAndre Liggins
68 Cory Joseph
66 Jared Cunningham
60 Frank Robinson
Point Guards
87 Stephen Curry
83 Ty Lawson
83 Brandon Jennings
83 Jrue Holiday
80 Isaiah Thomas
79 Kirk Hinrich
79 Mario Chalmers
79 Jeff Teague
78 Kyle Lowry
77 Darren Collison
76 Luke Ridnour
76 Ronnie Price
75 C.J. Watson
74 Eric Maynor
73 Chris Duhon
73 Toney Douglas
73 Rodrigue Beaubois
72 Earl Watson
72 Shaun Livingston
71 Steve Blake
70 A.J. Price
70 Darius Morris
69 Smush Parker
69 Marcus Williams
68 Nolan Smith
68 Nolan Smith
66 Marcus Williams
64 Marquis Teague
60 Jared Jordan