potential free agents guys

Group I: The "big 10" ETO or player option candidates

These are the players with an "early termination option" or "player option" in their contracts, meaning they can opt to forgo the final year(s) of their deals and instead become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2010. Here's the star-studded lineup:

Key: player option (PO) | early termination option (ETO)

James
James

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers (PO)
The ongoing buzz surrounding LeBron's foray into free agency this summer has been the loudest in NBA history. Several teams have focused their entire strategy on having a chance to sign him or another superstar on this list.

But will LeBron actually leave Cleveland? The Cavaliers did their part in trying to convince him to stay when they pulled off a deadline deal for Antawn Jamison, who should help give LeBron his best shot at an NBA title.

Still, other teams will make a run at him, offering him a bigger market or more talented teammates.

The New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets were thought to be his biggest suitors, and they'll both have the money to pay him. But both teams are so depleted from a talent standpoint that he might not want to join them. A couple of other teams, including the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, also will be far enough under the cap to pay him if he wants to go to a team that already has a superstar (D-Wade) or potential superstar (D-Rose) on the roster. And don't count out the Los Angeles Clippers, who have a lot of talent and the cap room to pay him after their deadline moves.

While I think LeBron ultimately will stay in Cleveland, he will create some thrills and very worried Cavs fans if he shops around this summer.

Wade
Wade

2. Dwyane Wade, Heat (PO)
Wade's potential departure hasn't had nearly the same hype as LeBron's, for two reasons: (1) most people in the league believe Wade wants to stay in Miami, and (2) he turned 28 in January, so he's not the young franchise cornerstone LeBron is.

Still, there will be plenty of teams interested in Wade, especially the Chicago Bulls, who will try to court him back to his hometown. But the Heat will use Wade as a recruiter in an attempt to get one or more of the top free agents to come to Miami instead.

3. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (PO)
It's unclear whether Kobe will stay on this list. He's eligible to be a free agent in 2010 or 2011 (his choice), but there appears to be little chance he'll actually leave the Lakers, who have been working on a three-year extension with him. It's a bit mysterious that they don't already have something in place.

If things were to fall apart in L.A., any number of teams would be tremendously interested, with the Knicks at the front of the line; Kobe and coach Mike D'Antoni have a great relationship.

Bosh

4. Chris Bosh, Raptors (PO)
Bosh has been pegged since last year as the major free agent most likely to bolt his team. But the Raptors have been playing better basketball of late and decided to roll the dice and not trade Bosh at the deadline. Although Bosh has been privately pining to return to the States -- especially somewhere warm -- I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll leave. Still, the Raptors are really going to be sweating it out.

You can expect every one of the teams with cap space to make a push for him, with the Heat as the most interesting option; a Bosh-Wade combination would be very formidable. And don't count out the Bulls, who would love to add him to their young core of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah.

5. Amare Stoudemire, Suns (ETO)
When healthy, Stoudemire can compete with any other big man in the league. Still only 27 years old, he's very athletic and a monster on the offensive end. But questions about his knees, an eye injury and his attitude have hurt his stock a bit, so he won't be pursued as vigorously as the first four guys on this list.

The Suns are unsure whether they want to keep him, having tried both to sign Stoudemire to an extension and to trade him this year; neither has worked out yet. The public back-and-forth has angered Stoudemire and his agent, so it's unlikely he will return to Phoenix.

The Heat and Cavs showed the most interest in Stoudemire at the trade deadline, but teams like the Bulls and Nets could also make a play if their first options don't work out.

POTENTIAL 2011 FREE AGENTS

• Yao Ming, C, Rockets
• Tony Parker, PG, Spurs
• Tim Duncan, C, Spurs
• Caron Butler, G/F, Mavs
• David West, F, Hornets
• T.J. Ford, PG, Pacers
• Richard Jefferson, F, Spurs
• Tayshaun Prince, F, Pistons
• Jason Richardson, SG, Suns
• Andrei Kirilenko, F, Jazz
• Kenyon Martin, PF, Nuggets
• John Salmons, SG, Bulls
• Troy Murphy, PF, Pacers
• Mike Dunleavy, F, Pacers
• Nick Collison, F, Thunder
• Samuel Dalembert, C, Sixers
• Michael Redd, SG, Bucks

• Complete list of 2011 free agents

6. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (ETO)
Nowitzki, who will be 32 in June, is still playing at an All-Star level, and Dallas is hoping to get a few more quality seasons out of him. Given their commitments to Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd over the next few years, I'd expect them to lock up Dirk, too.

7. Yao Ming, Rockets (ETO)
Yao obviously would be much higher on this list if his entire career weren't in jeopardy at the moment. He had major surgery on his foot last year and has spent the entire season rehabbing it. The Rockets are hoping he has a Zydrunas Ilgauskas-like recovery and goes on to have several more productive seasons in Houston.

Given that Yao will be out the entire season, it seems unlikely he'll terminate his contract this summer. But if he does and can show he's healthy, he obviously will have interest from every team with cap space.

8. Paul Pierce, Celtics (ETO)
Pierce has been pretty adamant that he wants to be a Celtic for life, and it looks as though it will play out that way. Although he is still going strong, Pierce, who turned 32 in October, probably has only two or three more highly productive seasons left in him. Most likely, the Celtics will give him an extension.

9. Richard Jefferson, Spurs (ETO)
After trading for Jefferson last summer, the Spurs thought they'd be contending for a championship. Instead, Jefferson is having one of the worst years of his career and the team is struggling to live up to expectations. Given all that, it's highly unlikely he'll opt out; on the open market he wouldn't get anything close to the $15 million salary he's due to receive in the 2010-11 season.

10. Channing Frye, Suns (PO)
Frye is likely to opt out this summer. The Suns don't pay him much and he's had a renaissance in Phoenix as a spot-up 3-point shooter. I'm not sure many other teams could use him the way Phoenix does, but if nothing else, he's due for a raise.

Other notables: Kenyon Martin, Nuggets (ETO); Tyson Chandler, Bobcats (ETO); Michael Redd, Bucks (ETO); John Salmons, Bucks (ETO); Joel Przybilla, Blazers (ETO); T.J. Ford, Pacers (PO); Peja Stojakovic, Hornets (ETO); Vladimir Radmanovic, Warriors (ETO); Grant Hill, Suns (PO); Willie Green, Sixers (ETO); Jason Kapono, Sixers (PO); DeShawn Stevenson, Mavericks (PO); Sebastian Telfair, Cavs (PO); Eddy Curry, Knicks (PO).

Group II: The restricted free agents

Only six first-rounders from the draft class of 2006 -- Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, Andrea Bargnani, Thabo Sefolosha and Renaldo Balkman -- signed contract extensions last summer, leaving a huge number of restricted free agents this summer. As we've seen in the recent years, it's very difficult for restricted free agents to move. Don't expect things to change this year, even though there will be more teams with serious cap space.

Gay

1. Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Gay could be one of the big winners from this year's trade deadline. With so many teams now under the cap, it's pretty much guaranteed at least one of them will make a run at the 23-year-old swingman this summer. Although his game is a bit one-dimensional at the moment, he's a terrific athlete and an accomplished shooter who is having a good season.

With the Grizzlies running a bare-bones operation the past few years, it's unclear whether owner Michael Heisley is ready to break the bank to match a huge offer for Gay. The Ronnie Brewer acquisition at the trade deadline may be a sign that Memphis is hedging its bets.

2. Tyrus Thomas, Bobcats
In the midst of another rocky season in Chicago, Thomas was dealt to the Bobcats at the trade deadline. And the move seems to have reinvigorated him -- he's off to a terrific start for Charlotte.

If Larry Brown, who has a good track record of working with difficult players, can get through to Thomas, the young power forward could be in for a nice payday this summer. But even if things don't work out, Thomas will still get money from a team that hopes he matures one day.

Scola

3. Luis Scola, Rockets
A pleasant surprise for the Rockets, Scola has proven to be a legit threat in the paint. Given that the Rockets dealt Carl Landry at the trade deadline, I expect they'll re-sign Scola.

4. Ronnie Brewer, Grizzlies
Brewer's numbers aren't sexy, but he's a versatile guard who can defend and get to the basket. If he could ever figure out how to shoot a jumper, he could be really good. The Grizzlies got him from the Jazz in exchange for a protected 2011 first-round pick, and I don't think they would have given away a pick without having the intention of re-signing him.

5. Josh Childress, Hawks
After failing to be wowed by an offer from an NBA team last summer, Childress went back to Greece for a second season. He's having a solid year, which means he should be able to garner the midlevel exception from some team.

The Hawks still hold his restricted rights, but no one thinks they would actually match an offer for him now. So while Childress' European experiment paid him big bucks in the short run, it looks as though it damaged his NBA value in the long run.

Wade
Foye

6. Randy Foye, Wizards
Foye has not lived up to his lofty draft status yet and might forever be known as the guy for whom the Minnesota Timberwolves swapped Brandon Roy. But when he's been healthy, he's been a solid scorer in a combo-guard role. He hasn't had a great season in Washington and will likely be looking at a deal for less than the midlevel exception this summer.

7. Kyle Lowry, Rockets
Lowry brings energy and can be a tenacious defender, but his offensive game is lacking. I don't think anyone believes he's a starting point guard, but he still has a lot of value as a feisty backup off the bench.

8. Jordan Farmar, Lakers
Once viewed as one of the top young point guards in the league, Farmar has showed over the past two seasons that he's probably better suited to be a reserve. Still, if his future isn't with the Lakers, some team will take a flier on him. He is young and still has upside.

9. J.J. Redick, Magic
Redick hasn't made a big splash in the league, but some around the league say that's partly due to playing time. With more opportunities this season, his numbers have improved, and he's shown he can be an efficient marksman off the bench.

10. Sergio Rodriguez, Knicks
An afterthought until he was traded to the Knicks at the deadline, Rodriguez could suddenly become a hot name this summer. Young point guards who can score will always find a home in this league, and with D'Antoni (who has a way of inflating players' numbers), Rodriguez has a chance to show he's one of those guys.

Other notables: Hilton Armstrong, Rockets; Adam Morrison, Lakers; Josh Boone, Nets.

Group III: The real, honest-to-goodness unrestricted free agents

Finally, here are the guys who will be on the market with no strings attached. There is a lot of star power here, but some of the big names are on the back end of their careers.

Boozer

1. Carlos Boozer, Jazz
Everyone expected Boozer to opt out of his contract last summer, but a season full of injuries combined with a lack of attractive places to land persuaded him to stay in Utah. The Jazz explored trading him, but never got an offer that blew them away.

The good news for the 28-year-old power forward is he's healthy and putting up strong numbers again. Teams like the Heat and Bulls might take a long look at him this summer, and don't count out the Pistons, who might be willing to do a sign-and-trade involving Boozer and Tayshaun Prince in the summer.

2. Joe Johnson, Hawks
Johnson is having another terrific season in Atlanta. He has the ability to score in a lot of ways and play both backcourt positions. And he just turned 28, so he probably has four or five years left playing at a high level.

Although the Hawks have taken another step toward being title contenders this season, it's unclear whether they'll be willing to pay Johnson what a team like the Knicks or Bulls can. If he gets a max offer from one of those teams, he might bolt.

Lee

3. David Lee, Knicks
Lee was a coveted free agent in 2009, but a lack of teams with cap room combined with his restricted status forced him to sign a one-year deal with the Knicks. He should finally be able to cash in this summer as he continues to put up huge numbers in D'Antoni's system.

If the Knicks can't land LeBron, Wade and/or Bosh, they'll probably re-sign Lee. But if the Knicks strike gold on a couple of big free agents, he's probably changing uniforms.

4. Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Age and injuries are starting to catch up with Ginobili, who turns 33 in July. A number of GMs I spoke with question how much longer he can keep up his fearless style of play. He's been healthier this season (after playing only 44 games last season), but not as effective.

The Spurs will most likely sign him to an extension, but if he hits the free-agent market, he might not be able to garner as much money as you'd think.

5. Shaquille O'Neal, Cavs
Playing second fiddle to LeBron, Shaq is out to prove he can still help a team win a title. So far the results have been promising: He has played well and been on his best behavior.

If the Cavs win a title, there's probably a GM or two who would be willing to offer him lots of money on a two- or three-year contract. On the other hand, he turns 38 in March, has played more games than any other active player in the league and has many outside interests, so it wouldn't be a complete surprise if he just called it quits.

McGrady

6. Tracy McGrady, Knicks
When he's healthy, McGrady is still a heck of a player, as Knicks fans witnessed in his Garden debut. The question is, can he stay healthy? Back issues and microfracture knee surgery have limited T-Mac to just a handful of games this season, 35 last season and only 62 the season before that.

If McGrady can prove over the rest of the season that he can still be a dominant player, teams (including the Knicks) will be interested. If he pulls up lame again, he can probably kiss a long-term deal goodbye.

7. Ray Allen, Celtics
Allen is another player whose game has been in decline this season. At 34, he has become a liability on the defensive end. But he'll draw interest because he can still shoot, and that skill doesn't deteriorate much with age.

8. Raymond Felton, Bobcats
Felton was in the same boat as Lee this past summer when a lack of teams with cap room and his restricted status hurt his ability to get a real offer sheet. Given that he's still just 25 and currently having the best season of his career, he should find a team willing to give him a sizable deal -- if not Charlotte, then one of the many teams under the cap.

9. Marcus Camby, Blazers
Despite the fact that he'll turn 36 on March 22, Camby continues to be a shot-blocking and rebounding force. And he should get much more positive exposure now that he's anchoring the Blazers and in a playoff race.

Although no one is going to commit to him in a long-term deal, he could be the missing piece for a contender trying to add some size and shot-blocking in the short term.

10. Josh Howard, Wizards
Howard really struggled to adapt to his new role in Dallas this season and eventually was swapped in a multiplayer deal for Caron Butler. The Wizards hold a team option on his contract, but virtually no one thinks they'll exercise it, especially now that Howard is out for the season with a knee injury. That means he's in line for a big pay cut this summer.

Other notables: Travis Outlaw, Clippers; Al Harrington, Knicks; Mike Miller, Wizards; Nate Robinson, Celtics; Udonis Haslem, Heat; Brendan Haywood, Mavs; Luke Ridnour, Bucks; Steve Blake, Clippers; Derek Fisher, Lakers; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Wizards; Jermaine O'Neal, Heat; Brad Miller, Bulls; Larry Hughes, Kings; Kyle Korver, Jazz; Drew Gooden, Clippers; Chris Duhon, Knicks; Craig Smith, Clippers; Roger Mason, Spurs; Earl Watson, Pacers; Eddie House, Knicks; Darko Milicic, Timberwolves; Antoine Wright, Raptors; Amir Johnson, Bucks; Raja Bell, Warriors; Bobby Simmons, Nets; Rasual Butler, Clippers; Mike James, Wizards; Dorell Wright, Heat; Kwame Brown, Pistons; Joe Alexander, Bulls; Oleksiy Pecherov, Timberwolves; Javaris Crittenton, Wizards; Alando Tucker, Timberwolves; Sean Williams, Nets; Ian Mahinmi, Spurs; J.R. Giddens, Knicks.

discuss anytihing about freeagents that may come to houston or other places

credit goes out to aggie rockets fan for getting this info