ESPN: Best "Cheap" Free Agents

http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/aldridge_david/1576175.html
Thursday, July 3

Shopping for free agency's best bargains

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By David Aldridge
Special to ESPN.com


About six years ago, I wrote a column predicting that the next great class of free agents would come in the summer of 2003, when guys like Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Juwan Howard and others were completing their (then) just-signed contracts. I remember getting an e-mail response from a guy who thought I was nuts, that the aforementioned men would be talent-stripped geezers by that time.

Well, here comes Summer '03, and it's the old guys that give this free-agent class some pizzazz. No diss to J Kidd, but his is a three-team derby between incumbent New Jersey, San Antonio and Dallas -- three of the NBA's final four teams. It's a battle of the haves and the … haves, a fight in rarified air. Kidd's destination will shift the balance of power, but only a little. The Nets and Spurs just played each other in the Finals, and the Mavericks were two wins short of getting there. If Dallas and San Antonio don't wind up with the game's best point, it's not like they won't have a chance next season. (The same can't be said for the Nets; a Kidd departure would devastate their future.)

One thing is for certain: With the luxury tax coming down for real this summer, there are too many good players to fit into too few slots. Almost everyone will have to accept some part of the mid-level exception, which will almost certainly be somewhere between $4.5 and $4.8 million, depending on what the final cap number is. Whether players like it or not, with only four teams (Nuggets, Spurs, Jazz and Heat) possessing or potentially possessing significant cap room, they're going to have to be much more cooperative with teams on contracts.

But that's a good thing.

That means there's more hope for more teams to add good players at reasonable prices. Teams that only have the exception should still get someone good, and teams with a little more may be able to steal a player that they otherwise would never have a shot to get. The Nuggets, doormats in the West for so long, have a real chance to recast the direction of their franchise. The Lakers' flaws finally did them in; now, they can call the bluff of all those guys who've said that winning is their prime motivation: Prove it. Take a million dollars to play with Shaq and Kobe.

Our goal, though, is not to tell you that your team can sign 'Zo, or Jermaine O'Neal, or P.J. Brown. As always, we want to point you in the direction of guys that won't break the bank, but can help your team break through. So here's our annual Best Of column, two per position. The Kidds and Paytons will take care of themselves.


Point guard
1. Speedy Claxton, Spurs. The knock is that he's not durable enough to be a starter, nor is he good enough defensively. All we know is that he played great when the Spurs needed him the most, in the bright lights and heat of the Finals. He took over in Games 4 and 6 for an ineffective Tony Parker, running the offense, making shots and calming his team down. The Wizards have already called, and that's a smart move.

1A. Jason Terry, Hawks. He's restricted, but given that it may take a while for David McDavid to be formally approved by the league's Board of Governors, you wonder if the Hawks would match an offer sheet right now. I have never thought JT was a point, but a scoring one in the Iverson mold; play him next to a bigger guard like a Jamal Crawford, and you'd have a pretty good backcourt.


Shooting guard
1. Lucious Harris, Nets. He makes shots, he defends, he just helps you win a lot of games. No wonder Kidd wants to see what New Jersey does with him before deciding what he'll do for himself. He's the kind of pro that could give KG some trusted firepower off the bench in Minnesota.

1A. Jon Barry, Pistons. He has never met a shot he wouldn't take, and he can play clubhouse lawyer with the best of them. But this is a guy that never takes a night off, plays with manic energy and knows the game. And crowds love him. With his size and shooting ability, he'd make a lot of sense playing the triangle for the Lakers.


Small forward
1. Stephen Jackson, Spurs. By no means a finished product. Jax still breaks off plays and makes very strange decisions with the ball. But he's learning. He's worked hard on his deficiencies and his Spurs teammates swear by him, which is the only standard that should matter. The Grizzlies are certainly in need of someone who can occasionally stop the other team from scoring.

1A. Scottie Pippen, Blazers. He's at the point of his career where he's not interested in big bucks, only in playing and helping a team get over the top. He might relent to Phil Jackson's inquiries and wind up with the Lakers, but it's honorable that Pippen has said he doesn't want to just leech on somewhere with a squad that's already won. That's why it would make sense for the defensively-challenged Suns to give him a call.


Power forward
1. Derrick Coleman, Sixers. It was a contract year, to be sure, but DC played his best basketball in years in Philly this past season. He rebounded, blocked shots and played out of position when his team needed him. Now he can go back to manning the four spot for a team that gets pushed around in the hole. Seattle would be a solid destination.

1A. Gary Trent, Timberwolves. Why doesn't this guy get more burn? He throws his body around, and yours, too. I know he's not a star, but he should be in somebody's rotation on the regular. The Magic could do a whole lot worse than getting in touch with Shaq of the MAC.


Center
1. Elden Campbell, Sonics. He was injured and out of shape for most of last season; one would think he'd be ready to give max effort at this stage of his career. He may be not a starter any more, but he's still more than capable of providing low-post scoring and the occasional blocked shot. If Riles can't get Nesterovic or Olowokandi, he could make a short-term investment in Campbell.

1A. Kevin Willis, Spurs. Showed he's still capable in spot duty for the champion Spurs, who would like to bring him back. If San Antonio can't make it happen, the Hornets -- who'll likely lose P.J. Brown -- should pick up the white courtesy phone.



The Magic may soon part ways with Darrell Armstrong; they've been worried about burning him out for the last couple of seasons. If he's best used in limited minutes, and can still get after folks, then there should be a role for him in Houston backing up Steve Francis.