As of July 30th, most of the big name free agents have been signed. The biggest names left are Shaquille O'Neal (in my opinion he should retire, but he's still serviceable enough to get a contract), Tracy McGrady (disappointed at a workout for the Bulls), and Allen Iverson (should stay retired.). But there are a few bargain bin options for teams still looking for some extra depth.
I will be using Sports Illustrated 2010 NBA Free Agent Tracker and also looking at the teams that still have space left, and still have roster spots left. The minimum amount of roster spots a team must have is 13. The maximum is 15. Currently some teams (like the Heat who I mentioned yesterday) are over that 15 mark, because the cuts will be made during training camp.
Today I'll be looking at the Eastern Conference, and Monday we'll be taking a look at the West. So lets see which teams have roster spots and money available, and which unsigned players might fit best.
Atlanta: 12 players, over the cap
Boston: 15 players (including Rasheed), over the cap
Charlotte: 14 players, over the cap
Chicago: 11 players, under the cap
Cleveland: 12 players, over the cap
Detroit: 12 players, over the cap
Indiana: 14 players, over the cap
Miami: 16 players, over the cap
Milwaukee: 13 players, over the cap
New Jersey: 14 players, under the cap
New York: 11 players, under the cap
Orlando: 11 players, over the cap
Philadelphia: 14 players, over the cap
Toronto: 15 players, over the cap
Washington: 11 players, under the cap
The teams with 15 players likely aren't going to sign anyone else so we'll ignore them for now. The teams over the cap can only offer parts of their exceptions (if they have them still) or the minimum. Let's take this by a team by team basis.
Atlanta: Atlanta really likes athletic players that can get up and down the court, and can make an impact on both ends. They also have been searching for some big man depth (considering Shaquille O'Neal for instance), but instead have opted for guys like Jason Collins and Josh Powell. Of the free agents left, the Hawks probably make the most sense for Shaq if he doesn't retire, but his presence will slow the tempo up for the Hawks. Still, it would allow Horford to play his natural position of PF, and Smith to slide to the 3. Joe Alexander might also be worth taking a flier on, because although he's been disappointing, he does still have some potential. Lou Amundson makes some sense as well, and a versatile wing like Ime Udoka or Jerry Stackhouse could bring some depth to those positions in case of injury.
Charlotte: The Bobcats have a pretty full roster, and are way overpaying for it too. But Larry Brown loves guys that can play defense, so if they make a signing expect it to be for a defensive guard (the one position they don't really have a stopper). Ime Udoka or Keith Bogans could be a fit here.
Chicago: Finally we come to a team that still needs to add players. The Bulls definitely filled a need by signing Kurt Thomas (big man depth), and now they need versatile guards that can shoot (and perhaps another playmaker). Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown could both be in play for the Bulls (less so on Morrison, as the Bulls have the much better Korver), as could point guards Jason Williams and Jamaal Tinsley. The Bulls could also opt for another Power Forward (Boozer and Gibson being the only ones on the roster), and I think Sean May or Brian Scalabrine could be a good fit here. Both have a nice jump shot that could complement Rose, Brewer and Deng. Another possibility is Anthony Tolliver or Ike Diogu for another defensive presence.
Cleveland: The Cavs desperately need some Big Man help. Right now Ryan Hollins is their only Center (meaning Varejao will likely play as an undersized Center a lot) and that is not a good place to be. JJ Hickson is a talented young guy, but he plays no defense whatsoever. The Cavs could make a run at Restricted Free Agent Kyrylo Fesenko, who is currently having trouble coming to an agreement with the Jazz, but that could get complicated because of the restricted status. Safer bets could be Kwame Brown (who is an underrated defender), DJ Mbenga or Etan Thomas.
Detroit: Detroit is another team with a dearth of big men. Detroit does have a bit more defensive oriented PFs though in Wilcox and Maxiell, that they can go with some more offensive oriented Centers. Fabricio Oberto comes to mind, as does Earl Barron, who had some stellar minutes playing for the Knicks last year. The Pistons are not lacking at all in the guards and wing department so I'll be very surprised if they add another one.
Indiana: Indiana has been looking for another Point Guard. After Summer League they might be playing Lance Stephenson there a bit (although he's more of a score first point guard). If the Pacers want another distributor, they might do well to re-sign Earl Watson for a year, or try Marcus Williams again, until a better one comes along in a trade or in the draft.
Milwaukee: If Milwaukee is lacking in one thing, its back-ups to Andrew Bogut, and with him missing extended time in both the last two seasons, he'll need some backup. With Milwaukee and Skiles, defense is key, so look for a signing like Mbenga, Foyle, E. Thomas, or Kwame Brown.
New Jersey: New Jersey's roster is basically set and I'll be surprised to see them add anyone else.
New York: New York definitely needs some more guard depth. Felton, Douglas and Walker are the only real guards on the roster (although Azubuike can play the 2). The Knicks like to run as well, so it needs to be someone that will fit into that type of system. Shannon Brown would be a nice fit, as would Roger Mason Jr. Flip Murray or a re-signing of J.R. Giddens could also work. Also another big man would be useful, and Lou Amundson might be the best fit.
Orlando: Orlando could use some guards and wings. Patty Mills could be a nice 3rd option at the Point Guard, especially since it looks like Portland wouldn't match an offer, and there is also the option of re-signing Jason Williams, who had a pretty successful season with Orlando last year. Losing Barnes hurts too, but a cheap replacement could be found in an Ime Udoka, Matt Barnes or Trenton Hassell.
Philadelphia: Philadelphia's roster is basically set, but if they were to sign anyone else it'd likely be a defensive-oriented big.
Washington: The Wizard's are definitely lacking in the wings. Roger Mason, Shannon Brown, Flip Murray, Sasha Pavlovic, Adam Morrison, all these guys could be option for the Wizards. John Wall's range is a little iffy at this point, but his penetration and distribution are already fantastic, so the Wizards should surround him with shooters.
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