Post by bankz on Oct 26, 2010 14:55:34 GMT -5
Free Agency Preview
Center
1. Kendrick Perkins
Grades: B D C- A- A- A
Potential Contract: 7 year, Max
Perkins will be the best center to hit the market this year. His grade set is very impressive and at only 20 it looks like he still has room to grow into an even better player. The question will be is someone going to offer Kendrick the max? With that grade set I would think it’s very likely. It looks like the Celtics have positioned themselves for the loss of Perkins and I fully expect to see Perkins test the market.
Next Team:
2. Chris Kamen
Grades: B C- C A- B+ A
Potential Contract: 4 years, 8m per.
Chris has not put up the most impressive stats so far in his career. But he is a talented big man and could be very useful to teams in need of filling a hole at center. The Grizzlies have both centers coming off the books and may have to choose between Kamen or the Candy Man. If Kamen test the FA waters I don’t think the Grizzlies can afford a bidding war. So the Grizzlies must pray he wants to come back at a cap friendly number, but will he?
Next Team:
3. Desagana Diop
Grades: C D D A- B A
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5.5m per
Desagana is a borderline starter in this league. He is a defensive presence but has not developed like Sim owners would like thus far in his career. The Magic took a chance on him and I am not sure they are sold he is enough. Some teams may only look at Diop as a backup but he still sports A potential so maybe we see an owner fork over a little more than the mid level exception in hope that he finally develops
Next Team:
4. Samuel Dalembert
Grades: B D F+ A- B B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5.5m per
Sammy is a defensive force. He still is raw on the offensive end of the court and that is what keeps him so low on my list. It’s also why I consider Sammy a role player and not a starting 5 center. Since Sammy is only 25 I can see him being a very attractive option to a host of teams in the sim league.
New Team:
5. David Harrison
Grades: B- D+ C- B B- B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5m per
David has done a good job coming off the bench for the Bulls. I think a lot of sim owners were disappointed they did not make a run at David in free agency and GM Bankz was able to sign him for the LLE @ 1.2m. I don’t think Harrison is a starter in this league but his is a good backup.
Next Team:
Power Forwards
1. Chris Bosh
Grades: A- B- C A- A- B
Potenial Contract: 7 year, Max
Chris Bosh is one the prime targets on the market. A young stud down low he is already putting up starts worthy of max money. His grade set is very good and he could be a corner stone to any team in the league. History of the league says that star players on good teams don’t leave. But it’s clear the Kings are in a full rebuild mode. So when he is offered a 7 year, max deal do you think he leaves?
Next Team:
2. Rafel Araujo
Grades: B+ D+ C- A- A- B
Potential Contract: 6 Years, 10m per
I have a feeling Mr. Araujo is going to get paid. Call him the Tyson Chandler of this free agent market. History has proven no one wants to play for the Dumptime lead Dallas Mavericks. Will Araujo break the mold and start a new trend of winning in big D? Or will the lure of playing for a team with a long history of winning break dumptimes heart once again?
Next Team:
3. Marc Jackson
Grades: B- C C- B+ B+ C
Potential Contract: MLE
Marc is a proven veteran. He is very undervalued in sim league but he will make some owner very happy if he signs on the dotted line. I think Marc is a great piece on a contending team and considering his age I think you can rule out a few of the rebuilding teams in this league. So you may be able to steal Marc at a good price.
Next Team:
4. Udonis Haslem
Grades: B- C C- B- B- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 7.5m per
Udonis was cut earlier in the year. He signed with the Pistons but has not been given proper playing time. A very solid PF he will definitely be a nice option for any team in the league. Haslem is my hidden gem of this free agent class. He has proven to put up nice stats when given proper playing time.
Next Team:
5. David West
Grades: B C C B B+ B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 6m per
Power forward is a rather deep position. You can find many solid options to slide into your rotation. David West is a very nice option who might slip to a day 3-4 signing. So if you missed out on some big time targets West could soften the blow. A double double guy this year some GM’s might want to really think if he is just playing for a contract or if he has finally turned the corner.
Next Team:
Small Forwards
1. LeBron James
Grades: A- A- A- A- B- B
Potential Contract: 7 Years, Max
Any team who lands LBJ would feel like they just hit the lottery. Even if LBJ mirrors his RL form and is without a title James is about as good as it gets. You could argue that he is the best player in Sim league. Everyone with cap room will offer, but will this free agent decision mirror his RL decision?
Next Team:
2. Carlos Boozer
Grades: B B- C B+ A- C
Potential Contract: 6 years, 10m
Is Carlos really a small forward? I think he may be playing out of position. Would not shock me to see the next team move Carlos down low to power forward. Boozer has not played to his potential and has been a disappointment so far in his career. But I think that is more about the system he was in rather than the player.
Next Team:
3. Mike Dunleavy
Grades: B B C B B- B
Potential Contract: 4 years, 8m per
Mr. Consistency, a lesser Shane Battier if you will. Mike has gone under the radar since entering the league. His grade set is solid across the board and maybe he won’t become a superstar but he will help any team win. Stuck on a bad Pacers team I am sure Mike is ready for a change of scenery.
Next Team:
4. Mickael Pietrus
Grades: C+ A- C B+ C A
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9m per
I love Pietrus. And I am sure other GM’s around the league will feel the same way. A key player on the Boston Celtics, Mickael does all the small things for the C’s. Still A potential to grow into Pietrus could be the best small forward prospect on the board not named LeBron. I can see a young rebuilding team make a run for Peaches.
Next Team:
5. Travis Outlaw
Grades: B- B C B+ B- B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 6m per
Outlaw is only 20 but some fear he may be near his peak. None the less his grade set will be welcomed on most teams. Having the best year of his career averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds a game Outlaw has shined on the Wizards.
Next Team:
Shooting Guards
1. Thomas Lister
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Grades: B- A- C B+ C- B
Potential Contract: MLE
Lister is the best shooting guard on the market. But truth be told this is a very weak year for shooting guards. Putting Lister at number 1 is more about his potential more than is on the court results. For some reason no team is willing to give Thomas more than 10 min a game. Hopefully he will find a new team that will give him starter’s minutes.
Next Team:
2. Kareem Rush
Grades: C+ A- B- B- C+ B
Potential Contract: MLE
Last year’s Thomas Lister found a home and starters minutes in Chicago. To say the Bulls are disappointed in his on court results would be a understatement. Rush has not taken advantage of playing with big man Kevin Garnett and has underperformed this year. His market could shrink if GM’s have been watching him close. Still his grade set would lead you to beilve that at some point the light should turn on.
Next Team:
3. Ime Udoka
Grades: C+ A- C A+ C B
Potential Contract: 2 years, 6m per
Can knock it down from deep and will lock down the opponents best player. Contending GM’s need some napkins to stop the drool. Udoka will be turning 30 so long term big money contract is probably not in the works. I can see someone going as high as a MLE for Udoka.
Next Team:
4. Jalen Rose
Grades: B- B A- C+ C- D
Potential Contract: MLE
Jalen has been a solid player in the sim league for years. GM Herky has decided that Jalen should ride the bench this year and his numbers have taken a hit. But his grade set is solid and a vertarn like Jalen should be used more then 10 minutes a game.
Next Team:
5. Bonzi Wells
Grades: B+ C+ B+ B C D
Potential Contract: MLE
Bonzi still puts up solid numbers. His minutes are down this year yet his stats have not suffered as some might think. Bonzi could still slide into a starting 5 and help you win. And it looks like he also could be an excellent 6th man.
Next Team:
Point Guards
1. Dwayne Wade
Grades: A- B+ A- A- C B
Potential Contract: 7 years, Max
Best player in the NBA…. Check, Multiple Sim League Champion……….Check, MVP…….Check, what more could you honestly want? Well if you are Poetic you want him to re-sign for less than the max. I think he does re-sign but he will more then likely be a 7 year max if this year’s class follows the trend set by previous years.
Next Team:
2. TJ Ford
Grades: C+ C+ A A- C- A
Potential Contract: 6 year Max
TJ is a interesting player. Is he max worthy? I am not sure. He is young and his grade set is impressive so I could see him getting offered max. I don’t think he will be re-singed in Memphis. They clearly have made the choice that he does not figure in their future plans by sending him to the bench. Memphis could deal Ford but rumors around the league have Memphis asking for the world.
Next Team:
3. Erik Barkley
Grades: C+ B- A- B+ D- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9m per
Barkley has found a nice home in Seattle. And with Thick moving everyone and their mother out of town he needs to start the rebuilding process somewhere. Well re-singing your top PG is a good move. If he lets him walk I think the people in Seattle will riot.
Next Team:
4. Mo Williams
Grades: C+ B+ A- B+ C- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9.5m per
Mo has taken the next step in his career. Now a top PG, Clown is very happy to have Mo and his 19 points and 7 assist. I am sure he would like the almost 3 turnover per game to come down, but for now I am sure he will live with it. A center piece of the Wizzards moving forward Clown will do all he can to re-sign Mo.
Next Team:
5. Leandro Barbosa
Grades: C B A- B C B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 6m per
The Brazilian will have plenty of attention in the off-season. More of a combo guard then pure point he could be an excellent 6th man. Still young and some potential to get better Barbosa could fit in with a number of teams looking for some scoring punch and defense.
Next Team:
Top 10 Free Agents
1. LeBron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Chris Bosh
4. Kendrick Perkins
5. Carlos Boozer
6. Reafel Araujo
7. TJ Ford
8. Chris Kamen
9. Mike Dunleavy
10. Mickeal Pietrus
Center
1. Kendrick Perkins
Grades: B D C- A- A- A
Potential Contract: 7 year, Max
Perkins will be the best center to hit the market this year. His grade set is very impressive and at only 20 it looks like he still has room to grow into an even better player. The question will be is someone going to offer Kendrick the max? With that grade set I would think it’s very likely. It looks like the Celtics have positioned themselves for the loss of Perkins and I fully expect to see Perkins test the market.
Next Team:
2. Chris Kamen
Grades: B C- C A- B+ A
Potential Contract: 4 years, 8m per.
Chris has not put up the most impressive stats so far in his career. But he is a talented big man and could be very useful to teams in need of filling a hole at center. The Grizzlies have both centers coming off the books and may have to choose between Kamen or the Candy Man. If Kamen test the FA waters I don’t think the Grizzlies can afford a bidding war. So the Grizzlies must pray he wants to come back at a cap friendly number, but will he?
Next Team:
3. Desagana Diop
Grades: C D D A- B A
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5.5m per
Desagana is a borderline starter in this league. He is a defensive presence but has not developed like Sim owners would like thus far in his career. The Magic took a chance on him and I am not sure they are sold he is enough. Some teams may only look at Diop as a backup but he still sports A potential so maybe we see an owner fork over a little more than the mid level exception in hope that he finally develops
Next Team:
4. Samuel Dalembert
Grades: B D F+ A- B B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5.5m per
Sammy is a defensive force. He still is raw on the offensive end of the court and that is what keeps him so low on my list. It’s also why I consider Sammy a role player and not a starting 5 center. Since Sammy is only 25 I can see him being a very attractive option to a host of teams in the sim league.
New Team:
5. David Harrison
Grades: B- D+ C- B B- B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 5m per
David has done a good job coming off the bench for the Bulls. I think a lot of sim owners were disappointed they did not make a run at David in free agency and GM Bankz was able to sign him for the LLE @ 1.2m. I don’t think Harrison is a starter in this league but his is a good backup.
Next Team:
Power Forwards
1. Chris Bosh
Grades: A- B- C A- A- B
Potenial Contract: 7 year, Max
Chris Bosh is one the prime targets on the market. A young stud down low he is already putting up starts worthy of max money. His grade set is very good and he could be a corner stone to any team in the league. History of the league says that star players on good teams don’t leave. But it’s clear the Kings are in a full rebuild mode. So when he is offered a 7 year, max deal do you think he leaves?
Next Team:
2. Rafel Araujo
Grades: B+ D+ C- A- A- B
Potential Contract: 6 Years, 10m per
I have a feeling Mr. Araujo is going to get paid. Call him the Tyson Chandler of this free agent market. History has proven no one wants to play for the Dumptime lead Dallas Mavericks. Will Araujo break the mold and start a new trend of winning in big D? Or will the lure of playing for a team with a long history of winning break dumptimes heart once again?
Next Team:
3. Marc Jackson
Grades: B- C C- B+ B+ C
Potential Contract: MLE
Marc is a proven veteran. He is very undervalued in sim league but he will make some owner very happy if he signs on the dotted line. I think Marc is a great piece on a contending team and considering his age I think you can rule out a few of the rebuilding teams in this league. So you may be able to steal Marc at a good price.
Next Team:
4. Udonis Haslem
Grades: B- C C- B- B- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 7.5m per
Udonis was cut earlier in the year. He signed with the Pistons but has not been given proper playing time. A very solid PF he will definitely be a nice option for any team in the league. Haslem is my hidden gem of this free agent class. He has proven to put up nice stats when given proper playing time.
Next Team:
5. David West
Grades: B C C B B+ B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 6m per
Power forward is a rather deep position. You can find many solid options to slide into your rotation. David West is a very nice option who might slip to a day 3-4 signing. So if you missed out on some big time targets West could soften the blow. A double double guy this year some GM’s might want to really think if he is just playing for a contract or if he has finally turned the corner.
Next Team:
Small Forwards
1. LeBron James
Grades: A- A- A- A- B- B
Potential Contract: 7 Years, Max
Any team who lands LBJ would feel like they just hit the lottery. Even if LBJ mirrors his RL form and is without a title James is about as good as it gets. You could argue that he is the best player in Sim league. Everyone with cap room will offer, but will this free agent decision mirror his RL decision?
Next Team:
2. Carlos Boozer
Grades: B B- C B+ A- C
Potential Contract: 6 years, 10m
Is Carlos really a small forward? I think he may be playing out of position. Would not shock me to see the next team move Carlos down low to power forward. Boozer has not played to his potential and has been a disappointment so far in his career. But I think that is more about the system he was in rather than the player.
Next Team:
3. Mike Dunleavy
Grades: B B C B B- B
Potential Contract: 4 years, 8m per
Mr. Consistency, a lesser Shane Battier if you will. Mike has gone under the radar since entering the league. His grade set is solid across the board and maybe he won’t become a superstar but he will help any team win. Stuck on a bad Pacers team I am sure Mike is ready for a change of scenery.
Next Team:
4. Mickael Pietrus
Grades: C+ A- C B+ C A
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9m per
I love Pietrus. And I am sure other GM’s around the league will feel the same way. A key player on the Boston Celtics, Mickael does all the small things for the C’s. Still A potential to grow into Pietrus could be the best small forward prospect on the board not named LeBron. I can see a young rebuilding team make a run for Peaches.
Next Team:
5. Travis Outlaw
Grades: B- B C B+ B- B
Potential Contract: 3 years, 6m per
Outlaw is only 20 but some fear he may be near his peak. None the less his grade set will be welcomed on most teams. Having the best year of his career averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds a game Outlaw has shined on the Wizards.
Next Team:
Shooting Guards
1. Thomas Lister
Grades: B- A- C B+ C- B
Potential Contract: MLE
Lister is the best shooting guard on the market. But truth be told this is a very weak year for shooting guards. Putting Lister at number 1 is more about his potential more than is on the court results. For some reason no team is willing to give Thomas more than 10 min a game. Hopefully he will find a new team that will give him starter’s minutes.
Next Team:
2. Kareem Rush
Grades: C+ A- B- B- C+ B
Potential Contract: MLE
Last year’s Thomas Lister found a home and starters minutes in Chicago. To say the Bulls are disappointed in his on court results would be a understatement. Rush has not taken advantage of playing with big man Kevin Garnett and has underperformed this year. His market could shrink if GM’s have been watching him close. Still his grade set would lead you to beilve that at some point the light should turn on.
Next Team:
3. Ime Udoka
Grades: C+ A- C A+ C B
Potential Contract: 2 years, 6m per
Can knock it down from deep and will lock down the opponents best player. Contending GM’s need some napkins to stop the drool. Udoka will be turning 30 so long term big money contract is probably not in the works. I can see someone going as high as a MLE for Udoka.
Next Team:
4. Jalen Rose
Grades: B- B A- C+ C- D
Potential Contract: MLE
Jalen has been a solid player in the sim league for years. GM Herky has decided that Jalen should ride the bench this year and his numbers have taken a hit. But his grade set is solid and a vertarn like Jalen should be used more then 10 minutes a game.
Next Team:
5. Bonzi Wells
Grades: B+ C+ B+ B C D
Potential Contract: MLE
Bonzi still puts up solid numbers. His minutes are down this year yet his stats have not suffered as some might think. Bonzi could still slide into a starting 5 and help you win. And it looks like he also could be an excellent 6th man.
Next Team:
Point Guards
1. Dwayne Wade
Grades: A- B+ A- A- C B
Potential Contract: 7 years, Max
Best player in the NBA…. Check, Multiple Sim League Champion……….Check, MVP…….Check, what more could you honestly want? Well if you are Poetic you want him to re-sign for less than the max. I think he does re-sign but he will more then likely be a 7 year max if this year’s class follows the trend set by previous years.
Next Team:
2. TJ Ford
Grades: C+ C+ A A- C- A
Potential Contract: 6 year Max
TJ is a interesting player. Is he max worthy? I am not sure. He is young and his grade set is impressive so I could see him getting offered max. I don’t think he will be re-singed in Memphis. They clearly have made the choice that he does not figure in their future plans by sending him to the bench. Memphis could deal Ford but rumors around the league have Memphis asking for the world.
Next Team:
3. Erik Barkley
Grades: C+ B- A- B+ D- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9m per
Barkley has found a nice home in Seattle. And with Thick moving everyone and their mother out of town he needs to start the rebuilding process somewhere. Well re-singing your top PG is a good move. If he lets him walk I think the people in Seattle will riot.
Next Team:
4. Mo Williams
Grades: C+ B+ A- B+ C- B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 9.5m per
Mo has taken the next step in his career. Now a top PG, Clown is very happy to have Mo and his 19 points and 7 assist. I am sure he would like the almost 3 turnover per game to come down, but for now I am sure he will live with it. A center piece of the Wizzards moving forward Clown will do all he can to re-sign Mo.
Next Team:
5. Leandro Barbosa
Grades: C B A- B C B
Potential Contract: 5 years, 6m per
The Brazilian will have plenty of attention in the off-season. More of a combo guard then pure point he could be an excellent 6th man. Still young and some potential to get better Barbosa could fit in with a number of teams looking for some scoring punch and defense.
Next Team:
Top 10 Free Agents
1. LeBron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Chris Bosh
4. Kendrick Perkins
5. Carlos Boozer
6. Reafel Araujo
7. TJ Ford
8. Chris Kamen
9. Mike Dunleavy
10. Mickeal Pietrus
