With Lamar Odom finally re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, the first month of free agency has come to a close. Teams like to get most of the work done before August but there are always stragglers. The following is a list of some of the choice free agents still on the market:
David Lee (New York Knicks) - Lee is just 26 years old, averaged a double-double this past season and shot 54.9% from the field. Unfortunately he's caught in the typical restricted free agent limbo. For teams with cap room, the safer bet is the unrestricted free agent. There weren't many teams that could spend to begin with this summer. Only the Memphis Grizzlies (who have Zach Randolph) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (unwilling to make major financial investments with their young core) have the room to make Lee an offer.
New York holds all the leverage. They have no compelling reason to facilitate a sign and trade. Lee reportedly wants at least a $10 million average while the Knicks are thought to be closer to the $7-8 million range.
If a compromise can't be reached on a long term deal, Lee may have no other option but to take the $2.68 million one-year qualifying offer.
Ramon Sessions (Milwaukee Bucks) - Another restricted free agent, Sessions has just two years in the league and only 96 games played. His career highs are impressive with 44 points against the Detroit Pistons in February and 24 assists back in 2008 against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bucks don't appear inclined to give Sessions a long term deal, drafting point guard Brandon Jennings in June.
Both the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers are interested. The Knicks have a starting spot available in a system that will play to Ramon's strengths. He'd have to come off the bench for the Clippers, which means they'd probably have to outbid New York to get something done.
Of course neither is currently willing to meet his agent's price at $5 million a season which, like Lee, could mean Sessions gets stuck playing for a year in Milwaukee for a hair over $1 million.
Glen Davis (Boston Celtics) - Notice a running theme? Davis too is a restricted free agent who can't get the kind of money he's looking for. Unlike the Knicks and Bucks, the Celtics have been open to a sign and trade.
The difficulty there is that any raise over 20% makes Davis a Base Year Compensation (BYC) player which makes a two-team trade difficult.
Davis has been linked to the New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers but so far there doesn't appear to be anything in the ballpark.
The Celtics have promised to match any affordable offer so unless Davis and Boston can find a compromise, he could be looking at the qualifying offer for about $1 million.
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Raymond Felton (Charlotte Bobcats) - Felton is a in a slightly different category than the previously listed free agents in that his qualifying offer is a lucrative $5.5 million. Of course he and the Bobcats are getting nowhere in negotiations like the rest of the list.
Should Charlotte be amenable to a sign and trade, Felton can get a starting deal at just under $5 million without BYC kicking in.
While it may be easier for Felton to get traded, that doesn't mean the Bobcats are willing to make that happen.
Nate Robinson (New York Knicks) - Robinson (restricted) explored an offer to play overseas but prefers to return to the Knicks. A deal isn't done but it's expected to come eventually, even if New York gives him a one-year contract in the $5 million range.
Allen Iverson (Detroit Pistons) - Finally an unrestricted free agent! Iverson presents a whole other set of issues. While he's reportedly open to a one-year deal, possibly at the Mid-Level ($5.85 million), Iverson has long protested the notion of coming off the bench.
He may not be an easy guy to blend into a team. The short-term gain would probably be ticket sales since Iverson remains a draw. The Knicks would seem like the perfect destination for a year but apparently New York isn't interested.
Iverson has been linked to the Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers, Miami HEAT, Charlotte Bobcats and Knicks. At this point the list may be limited to just the Grizzlies, Bobcats and even some overseas team looking to bring over one of the decade's biggest stars.
Where he lands remains a tough guess.
Leon Powe (Boston Celtics) - Powe is recovering from an ACL tear which is one of the main reasons he's in limbo. A number of teams are interested but aren't willing to invest heavily in an injured player. The Cavaliers have a strong enough core that they may be open to signing him now while waiting until January for him to suit up.
Others in Limbo
There are plenty of free agents still looking for work. Before the Lakers agreed to terms with Odom, Shelden Williams was a possibility. Now General Manager Mitch Kupchak is finding it hard to justify a 14th player on his roster considering LA will be paying roughly $21 million in luxury taxes this season.
Aaron Gray is expected to re-sign soon with the Chicago Bulls. C.J. Watson is still up in the air but one source expected him to return to the Golden State Warriors.
The Dallas Mavericks may wait for Ryan Hollins to get an offer sheet. If it's not too pricy, they may very well match.
The Denver Nuggets would like to return both Anthony Carter and Linas Kleiza but how far they're progressed remains uncertain.
Flip Murray may go to the Philadelphia 76ers after the Atlanta Hawks traded for Jamal Crawford.
Joe Smith may be the best unrestricted big man left on the market but at 34-years old, how much does have left in the tank? He may be best off staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but is giving strong consideration to the Atlanta Hawks.
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