BasslineSpin.com

The BasslineSpin.com NBA free agent rankings

Restricted and unrestricted free agents. September 23, 2004

 

1.       Kobe Bryant – Kobe is the best shooting guard in the world. The Lakers retain him.

2.       Steve Nash – Phoenix snapped up the prize point guard.

3.       Carlos Boozer – Utah signed him.

4.       Brian Cardinal – Memphis is giving up the cash for Cardinal. Some will criticize. I applaud. You cannot find guys that hustle, and shoot the way he does.

5.       Marquis Daniels – The Mavs locked up the undrafted guard from Auburn.

6.       Brent Barry – The Spurs will sign Brent Barry. He can play either guard spot or small forward. He can shoot.

7.       Erick Dampier – Mavs get Damp. The prized big-man has improved to the point where he can dominate inside play. A true Center that if he doesn’t get soft after signing a new deal, could become an All-Star.

8.       Marcus Camby – Denver retains Camby. Carmelo received the headlines but Camby was the biggest reason Denver played so well last season.

9.       Kenyon Martin – The Nuggets get Martin in a sign and trade with New Jersey. He brings a presence to a team.

10.   Manu Ginobilli – Spurs re-sign Manu. Ginobilli likes to take it to the hole. We like that!

11.   Scott Padgett – Are we serious? Yes. The Rockets kept Padgett who can rebound and shoot the three-ball. Undrafted Dylan Page is also a guy like this that someone could use.

12.   Rodney White – White improved rapidly last season to the point where he was an offensive force off the bench. He is difficult to guard.

13.   Jackie Butler – Went undrafted this year. 19 years old, big, agile. 

14.   Stromile Swift – We still really like the upside of this guy.

15.   Toni Kukoc – The Bucks keep Kukoc. …Another cat that should be valued. He can shoot and pass.

16.   Rodney Rogers – His best days are behind him but Rogers can still score. – The Hornets signed Rodney.

17.   Karl Malone – Reports say he will retire. The Spurs are said to be trying to convince him to play one more year.

18.   Bob Sura – Houston made a good choice here. …Multi-dimensional guard that helps a teams overall rebounding with his hustle.

19.   Dan Gadzuric – A gazelle on the fast break. Gadzuric, in our eyes is now ready to be an NBA starter.

20.   Vlade Divac – His passing ability is an asset. His game may be better suited at power forward as the shot blocking decreases with Vlade’s age. He goes to the Lakers.

21.   Carlos Arroyo – He is an NBA starter. The Jazz will keep him.

22.   Stephen Jackson – A sign and trade will land Jackson in Indiana. …Emerged as a guy that can score in bunches. He too is ready for consistent starter’s minutes.

23.   Hedo Turkoglu – Orlando signed ‘Brother Hedo’. He improved his three point shooting last season which makes him even more dangerous on offense.

24.   Etan Thomas – Milwaukee extends an offer. If someone would play this guy alongside a Center, so he could be a power forward, he could start in the Association. He rebounds, and plays defense.

25.   Robert Traylor – Huge and efficient. Traylor hits the glass, blocks shots, and scores a bit. He would be a good backup big. The Cavs signed him.

26.   Sani Ibrahim – Undrafted Nigerian big man is two years removed from Oak Hill Academy. He played juco ball the past two years.

27.   Rod Strickland – The journeyman point guard is still better than most ‘wet behind the ears’ kids.

28.   Mehmet Okur – The Jazz made Okur an offer. He is a nice offensive player. I see him as a vital bench guy.

29.   Chris Garnett – Undrafted rookie.

30.   Chris Mihm – Mihm would be a good backup Center. Was traded to Lakers.

31.   Richie Frahm – In limited minutes, Frahm showed some serious NBA potential in Seattle last year. It’s time for him to be a contributing ‘third guard’ in Portland.

32.   Charlie Ward – A beautiful backup point guard that runs an offense, and plays hard nosed defense. Houston gets him.

33.   Brevin Knight – Another ideal backup Point Guard. Great free throw shooter. He plays D despite giving up inches. The Bobcats did well here.

34.   Mark Blount – The Celtics are keeping Blount. I see Blount as third big-man on a good team, or a starter on a bad team. He proved his toughness last season in Boston. 

35.   Luke Walton – You saw in the NBA Finals that Walton can spark a team from the bench. Sensational passing ability makes him attractive.

36.   Chris Andersen – New Orleans is getting the Birdman.

37.   Zendon Hamilton – Underrated rebounder and workhorse. He should be getting solid minutes off the bench somewhere. Milwaukee signed him.

38.   Jamal Crawford – I’m still not sold on Crawford being a star. He can explode for big numbers but his game is one-on-one. I like him as a vital scorer and third guard at this stage of his young career. Sign and trade lands Crawford in NYC.

39.   Keon Clark  – Hurt all last season.

40.   Scott Williams – No question he is slowing down but Williams understands the game, and takes up space.

41.   Christian Laettner – Miami snapped him up after he was waived by the Warriors. Nice pick up for the Heat.

42.   Rasheed Wallace – Detroit is going to re-sign `Sheed. I feel in my gut he will cost more than he is worth.

43.   Jon Barry – As a two-guard coming off the bench, “JB” still brings energy. The Hawks will get some help with him.

44.   Fred Hoiberg – Shooting skill and toughness have turned the Mayor into a fine NBA backup guard. The T-Wolves re-signed him.

45.   Damon Jones – Jones had his finest season last year. Miami signed him for this year.

46.   Oliver Miller – He’s back in the league. He can give solid minutes as a backup center.

47.   Mike James – Backup point guard with ability to score. Milwaukee signed him.

48.   Quentin Richardson – Phoenix signed him to an offer sheet. I like Q’s attitude but his price is high.

49.   Brian Skinner – Signed by Philly. Did well in Milwaukee when healthy. …A solid, solid backup PF / C.

50.   Kevin Willis – Atlanta welcomes back the vet.

51.   John Wallace – Wallace can still score.

52.   Ronald Dupree – Big time athlete is a curious small forward. The shot doesn’t look that good but it goes down more and more often lately. He is an elite finisher. Detroit signs him.

53.   Adonal Foyle – The Warriors will keep the backup Center and defensive stalwart.      

54.   Greg Ostertag- Ostertag should be ready to come off the bench somewhere. The Kings will use him.

55.   Ronald Murray – A great combo-guard that can shoot you in or out of a game. We see him as a consistent 20-minute a game guy.

56.   Steve Smith – If you saw the NBA playoffs you know Smith can still score. Charlotte signed him.

57.   Mamadou Ndiyae – Improved to the point where he could be a 15-minute a game backup Center. The Clippers signed him.

58.   Darius Songaila – Good rookie NBA season. He should play more as a backup PF in 2004-05. Kings keep him.

59.   Cuthbert Victor – Undrafted.

60.   Kyle Korver – The former Creighton star needs to pass more and shoot less.

61.   Matt Barnes – 10th man. Barnes proved in his rookie season as a part-time Clippers player that he can bring great athleticism and energy to a team.

62.   Jason Hart – The expansion Bobcats signed Hart. 10th man. 3rd point guard. Hart was a final cut of Seattle last year that made San Antonio’s roster after the year started play.

63.   Linton Johnson III – The Spurs signed him after rookie year in Chicago was good enough for him to deserve another year in the NBA..

64.   Michael Doleac – 11th man. Signed by the Heat.

65.   Jake Tsakilidis – Last BIG on a roster. Memphis keeps him.

66.   Bruce Bowen – overrated. Will be back with the Spurs.

67.   Marko Jaric – 11th man. Last guard on a roster.

68.   Rafer Alston – Toronto signed Alston who played more than he probably should have last year. He is, however, a nice 9th or 10th man.

69.   Michael Curry – 11th man.

70.   Dion Glover – 11th man.

71.   Anthony Peeler – overrated. – The Wizards sign Peeler.

72.   Gordan Giricek – The Jazz signed him. Overrated.

73.   Marcus Fizer – 11th man.

74.   Ty Lue – 11th man.

75.   Mikki Moore – 11th man. The Clippers signed Mikki.

76.   Jannero Pargo – 11th man.

77.   Loren Woods – 11th man. Signed by Toronto.

78.   Kenny Anderson – Atlanta keeps Kenny from being a possible overseas baller.

79.   Antonio McDyess – Detroit is going to sign him. Too risky to me.

80.   Troy Hudson – Good ‘safety’ guard. Minnesota is going to re-sign him.

81.   Morris Petersen – New Orleans signed Mo Pete to an offer sheet. Played way more than he should have so far. He is a solid NBA player but more like an 11th or 12th man.

82.   Anthony Johnson – If you have three point guards, he is an ideal third. The Pacers will keep him.

83.   Darius Miles – Overrated. Portland keeps him.

84.   Steven Hunter – 12th man. – Phoenix signed him.

85.   Steve Blake – 12th man.

86.   Rodney Buford – 12th man. – New Jersey signed Buford.

87.   Jason Collier – 12th man will re-sign with Atlanta

88.   Steven Hunter – Waived by Cavs. Phoenix signed him.

89.   Joel Pryzbilla – 12th man. Portland signed him.

90.   Travis Best – 12th man.

91.   Slava Medvedenko – Cuthbert Victor is better. – The Lakers re-signed Slava.

92.   Calbert Cheaney – 12th man. – The Warriors keep him.

93.   Derek Fisher – 12th man. Overrated. …Will sign with Warriors.

94.   Corie Blount – 12th man

95.   Kendall Gill –12th man

96.   Sean Rooks – 12th man.

97.   Avery Johnson – 12th man. Will go back to Dallas

98.   Lonny Baxter – 12th man.

99.   DeShawn Stevenson 12th man. – Orlando keeps him.

100.      Keyon Dooling 12th man. – Miami signed him.

101.      Jacque Vaughn – 12th man. – New Jersey is gonna suck.

102.      Lindsey Hunter – 12th man. Will re-sign with Detroit.

103.      Wes Person – 12th man. – Miami signed him.

104.      Lucious Harris – Waived by the Nets.

105.      Maurice Williams – NBDL – Signed by Milwaukee.

106.      Brandon Armstrong – NBDL

107.      Trenton Hassell – Great defender. Minnesota keeps him.

108.      Tony Massenburg –NBDL – The Spurs will deal with “Mass Media”.

109.      Greg Buckner – Was waived by Philly.

110.      James Singleton – Murray State 2003.

111.      Ron Mercer – Overrated. New Jersey signed him.

112.      Travis Hansen – NBDL

113.      Roger Mason Jr. – NBDL

114.      Donnell Harvey – As good a raw athlete as you can find.

115.      Samaki Walker – What happened? – The Wizards will give Samaki a try.

116.      Eric Williams – Overrated. – New Jersey signed him.

117.      Jarron Collins – NBDL – The Jazz will re-sign him

118.      Michael Ruffin – NBDL – Wizards signed Ruffin.

119.      Amal McCaskill – NBDL – Traded to Pistons.