With a number of top tier free agents like Dwyane Wade and Paul Pierce on our 2010 Top 50Summer Free Agents List rumored to be re-signing with their original teams, a number of franchises may be forced to improve by making a trade for an elite level player or face the facts of striking out in free agency. Even though this year’s free agent crop has the potential to be one of the richest in NBA history, what will teams like New York or Miami, who sacrificed years and cleared their rosters of players for cap space do to satisfy their fan bases if most of the top tier free agents stay home? Surely New York has to be considering a back-up plan if Lebron stays in Cleveland, Wade remains in Miami, and Joe Johnson goes back to Atlanta,……..right? That plan B will have to be through making a blockbuster trade if they strike out in finding their new franchise player in free agency.
Here are my Eight Veteran Players Who Could Be On The Trading Block This Summer:
Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards
PG – 6’4 215lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 22.6 ppg, 7.2 ast, 4.2 rebs, 35% 3PT
With the player/entertainer formerly known as “Agent 0” getting more notoriety for off the court felony weapons charges, long term injuries, and being jealous of #1 pick John Wall rather than 60 point scoring games recently, the Wizards surely will listen to all offers for Arenas. Once the face of the franchise, Gilbert reportedly has bristled at all of the hoopla surrounding everyone now doing the John Wall dance in Washington. He proved last season that he can still play but Arenas has turned into a public relations nightmare and questions remain as to how he will play alongside Wall in the Wizards backcourt. Problem is, that Gilbert is still owed multiple years at more than $80 million and has a major history of injuries. Look for teams that need a high profile PG who strike out with James or Wade to do something creative to acquire Arenas.
Tony Parker – San Antonio Spurs
PG – 6’2 180lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 16 ppg, 5.7 ast, 30% 3PT
While still a key player in the Spurs aging, championship winning core along with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the Frenchman has been rumored to be on the way out of the Lone Star State virtually all season. The outstanding play of the Spurs younger heir apparent George Hill late in the season doesn’t help all the speculation of Parker’s future either. The Spurs desperately need to get younger surrounding Duncan going forward. Although seemingly older than his current age of 28, Parker remains as one of the faster PG in the league, despite a minor history of injuries where he has missed nearly 50 games over the past 3 seasons. With that being said, Parker could still be a top tier PG for the next 2-3 seasons heading into his 30’s.
Danny Granger – Indiana Pacers
SF – 6’9 228lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 24.2 ppg, 5.5 rebs, 1.5 stl, 35% 3PT
Danny has clearly established himself as one of the better small forwards in the league by averaging an impressive 23 ppg over the last 3 seasons in Indiana. So why would the Pacers selecting the intruiging SF Paul George with the #10 pick in this year’s draft. They have already stated that they have no intention of trading the pick, so where does that leave Granger? He has clearly been the best player on a bad team since the ’06-’07 season. With so many holes, why would the Pacers draft a replacement for their current franchise player? In what would be a purely cost cutting move, the Pacers have thrown Granger’s name out there as possible trade bait. With more questions than answers, the Pacers may be willing to use Granger as a bargaining chip in a trade for multiple young players or draft picks.
Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
SF – 6’8 230lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 28.2 ppg, 6.6 rebs, 3.2 ast, 32% 3PT
The supposed gem of next Summer’s free agent crop has already turned down a contract extension to remain with the Nuggets at the end of the regular season. It’s early, but could Denver decide to try and trade Anthony instead of losing him for virtually nothing as a free agent next year? That is the question that has stirred some speculation that the Nuggets may decide to move Anthony this Summer, especially considering so many teams are in search of their next franchise player. Carmelo certainly fits the bill and has established himself as a Top 5 player and one of the game’s best scorers. Melo appears to be a high maintenance player and may force the Nuggets hand to either break the bank or trade him to either a contender or a bigger market, a la New York. The balance of power in the NBA could change significantly if Anthony gets a new home as well this Summer.
Luis Scola – Houston Rockets
PF – 6’9 245lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 16.2 ppg, 8.6 rebs, 52% FG
The Rockets just love the bruising style of play that the 30 year old Argentinian displays on the court. The problem is that they love the play of Chris Bosh just a little more. Houston has already met with Bosh, who is a Houston native, to start talks about a possible sign and trade with the universally thought of best power forward in the game. Scola has been a mainstay in the Rockets frontcourt for the past 3 seasons but remains the main key in addition to another minor player or two, in what Toronto would want back fin a deal or Bosh. Bringing in Bosh to play alongside the possibly returning Yao Ming may be too enticing for Houston to pass up. If the deal cannot come to fruition, having Scola back for another 3 years is a nice fallback option.
Al Jefferson – Minnesota Timberwolves
PF/C – 6’10 260lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 17.1 ppg, 9.3 rebs, 1.3 blks
For virtually all of his 6 year NBA career, big Al Jefferson hasn’t been shown much love. Even once he started to develop as a 3rd year player with Boston a few seasons ago, the Celtics promptly shipped him to Minnesota for the aging “Big Ticket” Kevin Garnett. While in the short term the deal worked out for Boston, the Wolves could have a top tier low post threat, who is a walking double-double for the next decade. But apparently Minnesota also underappreciates the under the rim domination that Jefferson provides since he has been involved in trade rumors since before the NBA Draft. Team management also appears to be more fascinated by former draft bust Darko Milicic because they just signed the former lottery pick to a long term deal and are super high on FA David Lee. Even if he does not get traded before this season begins, Jefferson will be a hot commodity since he will be in the final 2 years of a relatively small 5 year, $65 million deal. He could be a steal for a team looking for dominating 4 or 5 man that has All-Star potential.
Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia 76ers
SF – 6’6 210lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 17.1 ppg, 6.5 rebs, 5.8 ast, 1.7 stl
Now that last year’s unanimous NCAA National Player of the Year Evan Turner is in the fold and possibly the new face of the franchise in Philly, one of the game’s most athletic players and better man defenders may be on the block. If new coach Doug Collins decides that Turner is not a good enough shooter to play the 2 guard position, he may start Turner at SF, thus making “Iggy” a lame duck player who could be in high demand around the league. Andre has been an enigma in Philadelphia as he was dealt a losing hand as the “next” franchise player to rule Philly after the iconic Allen Iverson was shipped out of Philly. Even though he is a shoddy jumpshooter, he remains an exciting, athletic player and one of the game’s best dunkers. Teams would love to add the lean and chiseled Iguodala to their team as a 2nd option but must be willing to take on the remaining 3 years, and more than $50 million remaining on his deal.
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
PG – 6’1 175lbs
’09-’10 Stats: 18.7 ppg, 10.7 ast, 4.2 rebs, 2.1 stl, 41% 3PT
Arguably the game’s best point guard may be on the move this Summer. With uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Hornets organization and with the All-Star point guard already reportedly concerned about the team’s direction with rookie head coach Monty Williams, and lack of talent surrounding him, Paul may try to force a trade to a different team for 2011. Even though the 25 year old sparkplug missed nearly half of the season with a torn meniscus, he should return at 100% for next season as an All NBA 1st or 2nd Teamer. There’s no doubting that a number of the teams with tons of money will try and pry Paul from New Orleans this Summer if they whiff in free agency, but a lot will be determined by the fate of the Hornets franchise.
Be sure to check out our 2010 Top 50 NBA Summer Free Agents List, which will be constantly updated to keep you up to date on all player movements this Summer.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
