http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=FreeAgents09-090709 Chad Ford says Rockets are interested in R. Sessions, M. Daniels and R. Nesterovic. Hmmm... Top remaining free agents Comment Email Print Share Insider Ford By Chad Ford ESPN.com Archive David LeeFernando Medina/NBAE via Getty ImagesRestricted free agent David Lee averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds this past season for the Knicks. The annual free-agent frenzy has begun in earnest. NBA general managers have thrown an economic crisis and a lowered salary cap to the wind and are spending big bucks again this year. Ben Gordon earned the richest deal of the group, netting a five-year, $55 million contract from the Pistons. Hedo Turkoglu, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, Rasheed Wallace, Shawn Marion, Antonio McDyess and Charlie Villanueva all changed teams quickly. And a few free agents such as Jason Kidd, Anderson Varejao and Mike Bibby decided to re-up with their teams. Despite the initial flurry, a number of free agents remain on the market. The majority of them are restricted free agents. Most GMs are reluctant to make offers to restricted free agents because they have to wait seven days to see whether the player's current team will match that offer. That fear has kept most off the market so far. With very few teams -- the Thunder, Kings, and Blazers -- significantly under the cap, most of these players will have to settle for re-signing with their own teams, the midlevel exception or sign-and-trades. Here's the latest look at which players are available and where they could land: Key: UFA = unrestricted free agent RFA = restricted free agent (teams have seven days to match any offer for a restricted free agent) 1. David Lee, Knicks (RFA) Teams interested: Knicks, Blazers, Thunder Salary range: $8-10 million per year Lee is a double-double machine who has become a favorite among New York fans and coaches around the league. The Knicks have a goal of clearing cap space for 2010, meaning they might not be in a position to match a substantial offer sheet. So Lee is the rare top-notch restricted free agent whom an opposing team might be able to steal away. At least in theory. The Grizzlies flirted with making him an offer but then backed away. The Blazers also have toyed with the idea but haven't pulled the trigger. 2. Lamar Odom, Lakers (UFA) Teams interested: Lakers, Cavs Salary range: $6-8 million per year Odom is one of the most interesting free agents on the open market. With Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum on L.A.'s roster, the Lakers don't desperately need him, especially now that they've spent $33 million on Ron Artest. Still, Odom is a great team guy who can rebound and initiate the offense, and he doesn't need the ball to be effective. He wants a lot of money to stay with the Lakers, but if they won't pay it, who will? He may have to settle for the midlevel exception if he can't make a deal with L.A. 3. Andre Miller, Sixers (UFA) Teams interested: Sixers, Blazers, Pacers Salary range: $5.5-7 million per year At age 33, Miller is coming off two of the best seasons of his career. Can the Sixers afford to lose him? Some GM who needs a veteran point guard will be willing to gamble on Miller this summer if he gives up his $10 million per season demands. 4. Marvin Williams, Hawks (RFA) Teams interested: Hawks, ??? Salary range: $5.5-7 million per year Williams has as much raw talent as anyone else in the draft class of 2005, but he has been frustratingly inconsistent in his first four seasons with the Hawks. Williams has struggled to receive any offers from a team because rival GMs are convinced the Hawks will match. Although he probably will stay in Atlanta, he hasn't played well enough to earn anything close to the $60-64 million, five-year contract that fellow '05 classmate Danny Granger signed this past fall. 5. Raymond Felton, Bobcats (RFA) Teams interested: Bobcats, Sixers Salary range: $5-6 million per year Felton has been looking over his shoulder at Larry Brown's young protégé, D.J. Augustin, who performed well enough as a rookie that it's unlikely the Bobcats would match a big offer sheet for Felton. Felton can dish out assists, but his poor shooting has hampered his career. If the Bobcats can get Felton for the midlevel exception, I think they'll keep him. Given that all the money has really dried up out there, I think his return to the Bobcats is likely. 6. Josh Childress, Hawks (RFA) Teams interested: Bucks, Pacers Salary range: $4-6 million per year Childress shocked many in the NBA by deciding to bolt for Greece last summer. He'll likely be back in the NBA eventually, but it's unclear whether he'll decide to return in the fall. However, with bad blood lingering over how his negotiations went with Atlanta last summer, he probably won't return to the Hawks, even though they still hold his rights. 7. Ramon Sessions, Bucks (RFA) Teams interested: Bucks, Warriors, Heat, Blazers, Pacers, Rockets Salary range: $4-6 million per year Teams are always in pursuit of point guards, especially ones who won't break the bank, and Sessions has caught the eye of a number of teams. With the Bucks struggling financially, they may not be able to match an offer. 8. Allen Iverson, Pistons (UFA) Teams interested: Grizzlies, Bobcats, Bulls, Heat Salary range: $3-5 million per year Iverson's late-season disappearance didn't help his reputation. He's still a good player, but two nagging questions will hurt his case for a big deal: One, with the exception of that magical season in Philly under Larry Brown, is Iverson a winner? Two, does he have much left? The answer to the first question seems to be no. The answer to the second question seems to be a qualified yes. The Grizzlies seem to have the most interest at the moment, with owner Michael Heisley pondering whether to offer Iverson a one-year, $5 million deal. 9. Nate Robinson, Knicks (RFA) Teams interested: Knicks, Kings Salary range: $3-5 million per year The Knicks probably can't afford to keep Robinson as they try to re-sign David Lee and clear cap space for LeBron James (and/or others). Look for Sacramento, among other teams, to make a run at him, especially after the Kings made a big play for him at the trade deadline. 10. Linas Kleiza, Nuggets (RFA) Teams interested: Nuggets, Knicks, Cavs, Raptors Salary range: $3-5 million per year Kleiza is an up-and-coming forward who drew a lot of interest at the trade deadline. He's physical and can score and should land a deal around the midlevel exception. 11. Glen Davis, Celtics (RFA) Teams interested: Celtics, Pistons Salary range: $3-5 million per year Davis might be expendable now that the Celtics have signed Rasheed Wallace. Still, teams are wary of giving him an offer sheet on the off chance that the Celtics could match. 12. Marquis Daniels, Pacers (UFA) Teams interested: Pacers, Rockets, Mavericks Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Daniels is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He's 28, in the prime of his career and really could help a team coming off the bench. He just has to come to grips with the fact that he won't make $7 million a year anymore. 13. Drew Gooden, Spurs (UFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Gooden's situation has been surprisingly quiet. He's big, talented and still pretty young. But he has a bad rep around the league and can't seem to find a home. 14. Joe Smith, Cavs (UFA) Teams interested: Cavs, Magic, Hornets Salary range: $2-4 million per year Smith continues to be a solid low-post option off the bench, especially for a title contender. 15. Chris Wilcox, Knicks (UFA) Teams interested: Wizards Salary range: $2-4 million per year Wilcox has enormous athletic ability and is still relatively young. However, he's struggling to find a team willing to give him big bucks. 16. Hakim Warrick, Grizzlies (RFA) Teams interested: Grizzlies, ??? Salary range: $2-4 million per year Warrick has talent, and a number of teams would target him if he weren't a restricted free agent. The Grizzlies won't match a huge offer, but I don't think anyone is inclined to give him one anyway. 17. Rasho Nesterovic, Pacers (UFA) Teams interested: Spurs, Rockets, Magic Salary range: $2.5-4 million per year Nesterovic may have lost a step or two, but he's still a pretty effective post man, especially on the offensive end. For a team that is thin at center, he could be a really nice addition to play 15 to 20 minutes a night. 18. Rashad McCants, Kings (UFA) Teams interested: ?? Salary range: $2-4 million per year McCants doesn't have the world's greatest off-the-court rep, but on the court, he's still an excellent scorer with deep range on his jump shot. 19. Ike Diogu, Kings (UFA) Teams interested: Kings Salary range: $2-4 million per year Diogu has battled injuries and struggled to crack the rotation in Golden State, Indiana, Portland and Sacramento. But when he has played, he has shown a knack for scoring the basketball. Teams won't spend much on him, but he has a skill that is in demand. 20. Carlos Delfino, Raptors (RFA) Teams interested: ??? Salary range: $2-4 million per year Delfino has great size for his position, can shoot the basketball and should come cheaply now that the Raptors have spent all of their money on Hedo Turkoglu. 21. Ronald Murray, Hawks Teams Interested: ??? Salary Range: $2-3 million per year Murray was a candidate for the sixth man of the year award last season. He's a gunner, but few low-salaried backup guards can score like he can. 22. Jamario Moon, Heat (RA) Team Interested: Heat Salary Range: Minimum to $2 million per year Moon is an athletic forward who can run the floor, defend and contribute offensively. He started 21 games for the Heat last season. 23. Johan Petro, Nuggets Teams Interested: ??? Salary Range: Minimum to $2 million per year In a league where size is hard to come by, you'd think there would be more interest in Petro. Only 23-years-old, Petro is a legit 7-footer who can block shots and rebound on a limited basis. Other unrestricted notables: Leon Powe, Celtics; Sean May, Bobcats; Stromile Swift, Nets; Robert Swift, Thunder; Keith Bogans, Bucks; Bobby Jackson, Kings; Luther Head, Heat; Rodney Carney, Wolves; Cedric Simmons, Kings; Damon Jones, Bucks; Desmond Mason, Thunder; Chris Mihm, Grizzlies; Gerald Green, Mavericks; Wally Szczerbiak, Cavs; Jason Collins, Timberwolves; Jarron Collins, Jazz; Shelden Williams, Wolves; Stephon Marbury, Celtics; Mikki Moore, Celtics; Juwan Howard, Bobcats; Joey Graham, Raptors; Maceo Baston, Pacers; Rob Kurz, Warriors; Morris Almond, Jazz. Other restricted notables: Carlos Delfino, Raptors; Aaron Gray, Bulls; Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks; Josh McRoberts, Pacers.
I like a lot of the players we're targeting. More than anyone Ramon Sessions he'd be a beast on our Run N Gun team!
Thanks for the info[as I dont have insider]. I dont see why Sessions might be a target unless Morey plans on trading Brooks or Lowry? Not to mention he is also a RFA. Daniels and Nesterovic could make sense. Depends on how long and how much we pay.
Nope not on there! Even guys like Head, Stro', and Juwan are on there hah! Looks like Von might have to settle for less than he expects.
please sign up RAMON SESSIONS. i dont care if we need a center. we're probably lottery bound anyways.
Sessions I heard was a headcase but hey would look good in a Rox uni...I think well get Rasho or Oberto...I myself want some Veterns on this team who could help out while Yao recovers next yr.
Not necessarily for us, but I think any team looking for a solid PF should seriously look at Leon Powe. There's the injury concerns, but when he's been healthy he's played very well for a championship-level team. Ramon Sessions seems like a long shot, but he's a young player who could develop into an all-star. The Rockets don't have anything to lose by bidding on him.
i know you are being facetious but its probably a good thing if you really want Von back the lack of media attention to him when he has UFA "notables" as Rob Kurz, Juwan Howard, Cedric Simmons the Swift Brothers means that Von is probably not on anyone's radar whatsoever Which means that he most likely is fielding vet min offers or slightly above vet min offers from teams if any offers at all. Which plays into Morey's hand perfectly of being able to bring him back at or below market value. Looking at the notable list I would be interested if the Rockets took a look at Rodney Carney edit: to the OP thanks for posting
I wouldn't mind getting Sessions, but like someone said earlier, would that mean Morey plans on trading Brooks or Lowry?
He is out thru ASG minimum. More likely te entire season. It's likely he'll resign with C's when healthy, at least that is what he and Danny Aint have suggested in published/aired comments. Isn't Rasho all but a Rap? Might Jennings have been a DM the GM draft target? If so, if/when RS resigns with Bux...??? Didn't Von Hawk sign up to be the KillBill sidekick in Greece???
I wonder how much that little blow up Von had during the Lakers series might have cost him this summer. He seemed well positioned for a 2-3 million dollar contract before, but maybe that changed things.
Wafer has the potential to be really good. It's just not his time yet... Wish we can keep him. I like to watch him play.
I'm really not that sold on Sessions as an upgrade to Brooks. As an upgrade to Lowry, perhaps. As another asset, in case they want to trade Brooks or Lowry to fill another need with someone else, definitely.
Sessions a headcase? Link plz. I would love to get Petro for the minimum. A young center with size would fill the void left by Yao this year.
