2012/13 Free Agent Market

The Hoops Rumors Free Agent Tracker makes it easy to see who signed for the greatest total amount of money this summer. Just click on the word "Amount," atop the column farthest to the right, and the tracker will sort by contract value, allowing you to see Chris Paul atop the list. Still, the tool doesn't show the deals by average annual value, so that's where this post comes in.

Paul's five-year, $107.343MM pact with the Clippers is by far the most lucrative in terms of total value, but Dwight Howard has him beat when it comes to yearly take. Both signed maximum salary deals, and Paul got the extra year and higher raises because he re-signed with his club rather than bolt to another team, as Howard did. Yet, thanks to Howard's superior paychecks last season, he was eligible for a new deal with a starting salary nearly $2MM more than Paul's. The fifth year and better raises still aren't enough for Paul to make up the difference in the average annual value rankings.

The player at No. 5 on this list has the 17th most lucrative contract in terms of total value. That's because Andrew Bynum signed for two years rather than three, four or five, as everyone above him did. Bynum would rank even lower on a list of players who signed for the most guaranteed salary, since he's only assured of receiving $6MM. No one else who signed this summer agreed to nearly as much in non-guaranteed pay. 

The three players receiving $8MM annually in their new contracts all have ties to the Bucks. Milwaukee reached a deal with shooting guard O.J. Mayo within the first week of free agency, and had the same salary slot in mind for point guard Jeff Teague when they signed him to an offer sheet a few days later. The Hawks matched, making it seem as though Milwaukee was destined to re-sign incumbent point guard Brandon Jennings. The Bucks instead pulled off a surprise sign-and-trade that sent Jennings to the Pistons, and Jennings' contract details revealed an average annual value that precisely matches what Teague got. So, it seems the Bucks clearly would have preferred Teague as their point guard, since they apparently weren't willing to pay Jennings an annual salary equal to what they were prepared to dish out for Teague.

The next two names on the list are a pair of Spanish-speaking guards who signed for identical $7.25MM average annual salaries. Manu Ginobili reached his deal with the Spurs before Jose Calderon and the Mavericks came to their agreement, so perhaps Ginobili served as a model, as he so often does with foreign-born players in the NBA.

The list ends with Martell Webster, the only player to truly receive the full amount of the mid-level exception: a four-year deal with the maximum 4.5% raises on a $5.15MM starting salary equal to the value of the non-taxpayer's version of the exception. The salaries in Webster's deal, like many on the list, escalate with each successive year, so the average annual values shown here aren't necessarily a player's salary in any particular season. They're simply derived from taking the full value of the contract and dividing it by the number of seasons the deal calls for.

1. Dwight Howard, Rockets: $21.898MM
2. Chris Paul, Clippers: $21.469MM
3. Al Jefferson, Bobcats: $13.5MM
4. Josh Smith, Pistons: $13.5MM
5. Andrew Bynum, Cavaliers: $12.395MM
6. David West, Pacers: $12.2MM
7. Andre Iguodala, Warriors: $12MM
8. Nikola Pekovic, Timberwolves: $12MM
9. Tyreke Evans, Pelicans: $11MM
10. Paul Millsap, Hawks: $9.5MM
11. Tiago Splitter, Spurs: $9MM
12. Monta Ellis, Mavericks: $8.36MM
13. Brandon Jennings, Pistons: $8MM
14. O.J. Mayo, Bucks: $8MM
15. Jeff Teague, Hawks: $8MM
16. Jose Calderon, Mavericks: $7.25MM
17. Manu Ginobili, Spurs: $7.25MM
18. Kevin Martin, Timberwolves: $6.951MM
19. J.J. Redick, Clippers: $6.939MM
20. Carl Landry, Kings: $6.512MM
21. Jarrett Jack, Cavaliers: $6.3MM
22. Gerald Henderson, Bobcats: $6MM
23. Kyle Korver, Hawks: $6MM
24. J.R. Smith, Knicks: $5.982MM
25. Martell Webster, Wizards: $5.498MM

What a difference an early termination option makes. If Dwight Howard hadn't decided to waive his ETO to remain under contract with the Magic for one more season, we'd be looking forward to a free agent class headlined by the NBA's best center and a perennial MVP candidate. With Howard locked in for 2012/13, this year's group of big men loses a good deal of lustre, overshadowed by a 2013 class that could include both Howard and Andrew Bynum. Still, for teams in immediate need of a frontcourt presence, there are a number of solid options poised to hit free agency in July….

Unrestricted Free Agents

Chris Kaman was a topic of much discussion at this year's trade deadline, but ending up staying put in New Orleans, something I doubt happens again this summer. Kaman appears to be the prize of the unrestricted free agents, and should receive offers from both over-the-cap contenders and teams with cap space. It'll be interesting to see if Kaman joins a title contender or accepts the largest offer from a team desperate for size. Spencer Hawes is the other intriguing name here. Having accepted a qualifying offer from the Sixers before this season, he'll hit unrestricted free agency at age 24. An injury-plagued season hurts his stock a little, but if he can finish strong, he should still earn a big payday. The rest of this group consists of mostly young projects like Hasheem Thabeet and Ian Mahinmi or veteran contributors like Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla, and Jermaine O'Neal.

Restricted Free Agents

Teams eyeing this year's free agent centers may end up zeroing in on the restricted free agents, a group that includes plenty of players with a combination of youth and upside. The Nets should make a strong effort to retain Brook Lopez, though perhaps another team confident in Lopez's health will make things difficult. Roy Hibbert and JaVale McGee should also draw plenty of interest, though I don't think McGee will find the sort of deal he's reportedly seeking ($14MM annually). Omer Asik is a player to watch too. I expect the Bulls will want to keep Asik, but they already have $64MM+ in guaranteed money committed next season, and 2013/14's increased luxury tax penalties are looming.

Players With Options

Don't expect to find any deals here. Among the centers with options, Andrew Bynum's team option is a lock to exercised by the Lakers and DeSagana Diop's player option will certainly be picked up by Diop. Solomon Alabi is the only other center with an option, and even if the Raptors don't bring him back, he's probably too raw to have much appeal on the open market.

Previously:
Free Agent Market for Power Forwards
Free Agent Market for Small Forwards
Free Agent Market For Shooting Guards
Free Agent Market For Point Guards

There shouldn't be a ton of teams aggressively pursuing a power forward upgrade this summer, but a number of Eastern Conference playoff contenders, such as the Celtics, Nets, Magic, and Cavaliers, figure to explore the market. A handful of other teams will get involved as well, but with power forward expected to be perhaps the deepest position in this year's draft, it'll be interesting to see how the bidding goes on the top free agents in this year's class. Here's an early look at players who will be available this offseason:

Unrestricted Free Agents

This year's unrestricted free agents are a particularly intriguing group. A pair of future Hall-of-Famers, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, lead the way, though I think both players are good bets to re-sign with their current clubs. The Celtics may be entering a rebuilding period, but Garnett has said he'd like to retire in Boston, and the team will have the money to bring him back. Even if both of those guys re-sign, there will be a few more interesting names out there. Antawn Jamison and Kenyon Martin are veterans who still seem to have something left in the tank, while Kris Humphries, Ersan Ilyasova, and Carl Landry are among the younger players who could score multiyear deals. Ilyasova, in particular, may be earning himself a big summer payday, averaging 16.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and a .582 FG%  in 31.0 MPG since the All-Star break.

Restricted Free Agents

He's not a typical power forward, but Ryan Anderson is positioning himself well for this summer, averaging 16.1 PPG and a .413 3PT% as Dwight Howard's sidekick in Orlando. Anderson is a near-lock to sign the biggest contract of the restricted free agents, and might be the only legit starter of the group. But Jason Thompson and Marreese Speights have had solid seasons, and J.J. Hickson has come on recently in a new environment with Portland. Teams who are already set with a veteran starter at power forward may find a good buying opportunity, as there may be a few affordable part-time players with real upside here.

Players With Options

The list of team and player options for power forwards is fairly slim. Elton Brand has an early termination option that I can't imagine him exercising, so he'll almost certainly play one more year with the Sixers. Three other power forwards with player options could decide to test free agency though. Brandon Bass has been very productive for the Celtics, and will turn just 27 later this month, so he should field offers larger than his $4.5MM option. Ronny Turiaf's player option is worth just $1.2MM, so if he helps the Heat make a deep playoff run, he'll find a better deal on the open market. Jason Maxiell hasn't given any indication whether he'll pick up his $5MM option, but I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to Detroit for one more year.

Previously:
Free Agent Market for Small Forwards
Free Agent Market For Shooting Guards
Free Agent Market For Point Guards

The small forward class for the coming summer is perhaps the weakest of any position — few, if any, big names are poised to hit the market. Fortunately for teams with high first-round picks, the draft is heavy on wing players, but for contending teams in need of a small forward, the pickings appear slim. Let's take an early look at the market….

Unrestricted Free Agents

No small forward facing unrestricted free agency is without his blemishes. Grant Hill has played well in Phoenix, but will turn 40 in October and just underwent another knee surgery. Josh Howard also had surgery on his knee, and hasn't looked like his old self over the last two seasons. Boris Diaw clashed with his coach in Charlotte and faces constant questions about his conditioning. Each of these players, along with Matt Barnes, Carlos Delfino, Steve Novak, and Mickael Pietrus, among others, could conribute to a contender, but it's hard to imagine any of them playing a major role. Gerald Green will be an interesting free agent to watch if he continues his impressive play for New Jersey. The Nets will certainly have the cap space to bring him back, but if they pursue bigger-name free agents, perhaps another team will swoop in on Green.

Restricted Free Agents

Only three small forwards will be coming off the fourth and final year of their rookie scale contracts: Nicolas Batum, Michael Beasley, and Donte Greene. I'm not sure if Beasley and Greene will even receive qualifying offers from the Timberwolves and Kings, but Batum should be a hot commodity. With few long-term contracts and plenty of cap room, the Trail Blazers are in good position to retain Batum, though another club could make it expensive for them. Landry Fields and Danny Green highlight the rest of the restricted free agents, and each will have Early Bird rights, so their current teams could re-sign them if they so choose. Sonny Weems should return from playing overseas, and the Raptors will still hold his rights, though it's unclear if Weems is in Toronto's future plans.

Players With Options

Gerald Wallace holds a $9.5MM player option for next season and is the most interesting name here by far. If he opts out, Wallace probably won't find a 2012/13 contract that exceeds $9.5MM, but he should receive multiyear offers whose totals exceed that figure. It'll be interesting to see the Nets' approach with the veteran forward in the offseason. They won't want to have given up their first-round pick for a six-week rental, but I'm not sure whether they view Wallace as a long-term asset or perhaps an eventual trade chip for Dwight Howard. Either way, I doubt they'll want to let him hit the open market this summer.

Previously:
Free Agent Market For Shooting Guards
Free Agent Market For Point Guards

Many of the contending teams who were seeking a shooting guard upgrade at the trade deadline will once again be in the market this summer, regardless of whether they were able to make a deadline deal. The Pacers and Clippers, for instance, shored up their backcourts by adding Leandro Barbosa and Nick Young, respectively, but both players will be free agents at season's end. With a number of shooting guards poised to hit the free agent market this offseason, let's take a look at some of the options for summer shoppers….

Unrestricted Free Agents

Barbosa and Young fall into this group, as players who are still young enough to be worthwhile multiyear additions, but whose upsides are limited. Ray Allen and Jason Terry may be the top two options among this summer's unrestricted free agents. Both players will be on the wrong side of 35 next season, but they continue to provide consistent scoring and outside shooting for contenders. On the other end of the age spectrum, C.J. Miles, Shannon Brown, and Marco Belinelli are among the 27-or-younger players for teams who prefer to go younger, though the jury's still out on whether any of those guys will become more than a productive bench scorer.

Restricted Free Agents

Eric Gordon, who won't turn 24 until December, should be the prize of the restricted free agents, assuming he shows he's healthy over the season's final few weeks. The Hornets are expected to make every effort to re-sign the centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade. I'm not sure if the same can be said of the Grizzlies and O.J. Mayo though. Given all the trade rumors that have surrounded Mayo during his time in Memphis, it wouldn't be surprising to see the former Trojan sign elsewhere. I expect the Pacers to make a strong effort to keep George Hill in Indiana, but Courtney Lee, Rudy Fernandez, and Brandon Rush are candidates to be on the move.

Players With Options

The list of 2012/13 options provides at least three intriguing names at shooting guard — Jamal Crawford, Louis Williams, and J.R. Smith. All three players are able to opt out at season's end, and considering the relatively modest salaries on their option years, it wouldn't be a surprise if all of them elect free agency. The 76ers' Williams is a strong candidate for an extension, but I could see Crawford and Smith switching uniforms over the summer.

Previously:
Free Agent Market For Point Guards

The Hawks, Mavericks, Lakers, Heat, Knicks, Nets, Magic, Suns, and Trail Blazers are among the potential 2012/13 playoff contenders who could be in the market for a point guard this summer. Some of these clubs will head into the offseason looking to retain their current point guards, but there could be a handful of attractive options available via free agency. Let's take an early look at the market.

Unrestricted Free Agents

Steve Nash and Jason Kidd may be the two oldest players on this summer's point guard market, but they're a couple of the more intriguing names among this year's unrestricted free agents. It would be great to see Nash play for a title contender, but many potential suitors could only offer him the mid-level exception, and the Suns are expected to be aggressive on him. Besides Nash, there won't be any top-tier options available in unrestricted free agency, though Raymond Felton and Goran Dragic could draw a good deal of interest. Felton is young enough that a change of scenery could mean a bounceback season, while Dragic is even younger and has been impressive filling in for Kyle Lowry. Andre Miller and Kirk Hinrich are among the remaining options here.

Restricted Free Agents

While most of this summer's restricted free agent point guards are part-time players at best, a few names stand out, including Jeremy Lin. It's been widely assumed that the Knicks will use their mid-level exception to retain the marketable point guard, though we'll have to see how the rest of the season plays out to be sure. D.J. Augustin and Jerryd Bayless should also draw significant interest, and it'll cost the Bobcats and Raptors to keep them. Aaron Brooks is due to return from China in the near future, so if he and the Suns can work something out in the coming weeks, he may be off the market before the summer.

Players With Options

Although there are a number of point guards with options for next season, no decisions are nearly as important as Deron Williams'. He's expected to explore free agency rather than waiving his early termination option, and I imagine the Mavs and Nets won't be the only teams with a lot of interest. And Williams isn't the only player here who could inspire a bidding war — if Ramon Sessions keeps up his excellent play with the Lakers, he'll almost certainly be seeking a long-term deal rather than opting in for one year at $4.55MM. Most of the other point guards with player options, such as Jameer Nelson, Beno Udrih, and Mo Williams, likely won't find a better payday on the open market, so I'd expect them to exercise their options.