http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-08-01-dupree-free-agents_x.htm Ready, set, sign: Free agent frenzy begins now The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement has finally gone into effect, and free agent signings begin at noon Tuesday. Most of the top free agents have already reached deals and will be able to sign contracts with their new teams. (Related items: Teams on the rise | Teams on the slide | Top uncommitted free agents) Michael Redd opted to re-sign with Milwaukee, which expects him to be a top scorer. By Mark Duncan, AP The salary cap will be a record $49.5 million, up $5.63 million from last season. Teams above the salary cap also will be given a midlevel exception of $5 million. USA TODAY's David DuPree looks at the teams that have made the biggest splash and those which may have taken a step backward and sizes up the remaining available free agents and their potential impact: Teams on the rise Cleveland Cavaliers New look: Have agreed to terms with power forward Donyell Marshall, shooting guard Larry Hughes and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Renewed hope:LeBron James got the help he was looking for. Hughes is a proven scorer and an all-defense first-teamer and will relieve James of some ballhandling duties. Marshall is a solid rebounder, three-point shooter and team player. Ilgauskas is a low-post presence who commands double teams. The big picture: This is a potential 50-game winner, and no team has a better young general manager-coach situation than the Cavaliers with Danny Ferry and Mike Brown. Milwaukee Bucks New look: Bucks not only re-signed sharpshooter Michael Redd, but they also agreed to terms with Bobby Simmons, have rookie center Andrew Bogut and get point guard T.J. Ford back from injury. Renewed hope: Redd should be among the NBA's top scorers this season with the help the Bucks have given him. The big picture: This could be one of the most improved teams with its size, scoring ability and versatility. Houston Rockets New look: Agreed to terms with power forward Stromile Swift. Renewed hope: They get a shot blocker and a guy to cover the backs of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The big picture: Now they can match up with any team. Indiana Pacers New look: Agreed to terms with Sarunas Jasikevicius. Renewed hope: They'll miss Reggie Miller's clutch shooting, but Jasikevicius is an impact player who can play both guard positions and is a big-time shooter. The big picture:Ron Artest returns, and Jermaine O'Neal is healthy, making the Pacers legitimate title contenders. New Jersey Nets New look: Agreed to terms with power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim and point guard Jeff McInnis. Renewed hope: With McInnis backing up Jason Kidd and Abdur-Rahim providing some inside respect, the Nets will run, run, run with Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson on the wings. The big picture: They could be the Phoenix Suns of the East. They will make opponents play at their pace. Teams on the slide Seattle SuperSonics Who's gone: Starting center Jerome James (Knicks) and sixth man Antonio Daniels (Wizards). What's left: Starting power forward Reggie Evans, reliable scorer Vladimir Radmanovic and promising shooting guard Ronald Murray are uncommitted free agents and could also be moving on to new teams. What's next:Ray Allen re-upped, but it is going to be very difficult for the Sonics to repeat last season's success. Washington Wizards Who's gone:Kwame Brown (Lakers), Larry Hughes (Cavaliers), Juan Dixon (Trail Blazers). What's left: Additions of Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler, acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers for Brown, along with Antonio Daniels, are solid, but they need a big body to keep pace in the conference. What's up: Losing players as popular as Hughes and Dixon sets team back - in eyes of fans and on the court. And giving up on Brown is a gamble. Top free agents still uncommitted Player, position Why teams are interested Joe Johnson, shooting guard Accurate three-point shooter and solid defender. Tyson Chandler, center-power forward Defensive force and solid rebounder. Eddy Curry, center Best proven post scorer still out there. Damon Stoudamire, point guard Knows how to lead a team. Antoine Walker, power forward Triple threat — scores, rebounds and passes. Vladimir Radmanovic, power forward 6-11 and can shoot threes. Stephen Hunter, center Runs the floor and blocks shots. Reggie Evans, power forward Big time rebounder and physical presence. Ronald Murray, shooting guard Prolific scorer who can get his own shot. Marko Jaric, point guard 6-7 and can defend and score.
Nice find. Good read. It had never occurred to me until now just how good the Nets look with the addition of Abdur-Rahim. They get themselves a better starting center, and they look downright scary. But even with Jason Collins or Krstic starting, the Nets could be doing a lot worse for themselves.
I am still going to be happy if we don't get a PG or a shooting guard. I am watching last season highlights and the ball movement and these guys hustling. I think we will be a very good team if we go with the lineup we got right now, and we can trade before the deadline to put us on the top of the league.
dang. tmac's arms look so huge there. reminds me of when kobe showed up with huge arms like 3 years ago and then he had to slim down
Even if we don't, we have a 60 win team...if we play as well as post-allstar-break Rox of last season (w/ Stro added to mix). I don't think any old PG is that high a priority. If we can upgrade at PG, great. But we have a solid core that can make noise.
I knew the rockets were going to go out and get a real POWER foward, but i never knew they already had him. ok, so last years tmac shut down dirk, what does this new super tmac want to do? shutdown amare?
Oh Crap everyone dont you see whats going on. T-Mac is developing the eating habits of the houstonians...
He didn't have to slim down. He lost all taht weight when he wasn't weight training during the trial. Looks like t-mac is really serious about winning, or he just pumped some iron cuz he know he was gonna wear a wife-beater
Doesn't everybody do that? pop out a couple reps before wearing a beater. LOL he is trying to show off his $#!^
we can matchup with any team but the fast paced teams will still out run out guards. upgrading even one guard position would be enough. greg buckner, payton, or sprewell for the LLE would be good.
