2012 NBA FREE AGENCY – TOP 10 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Earlier we highlighted the top 10 restricted free agents in the NBA this summer. Here are our top 10 unrestricted players.
1. Deron Williams, PG, Brooklyn Nets: The star of this summer’s free agency. One of the league’s top five point guards. William’s situation is simple: He will either resign with the Nets or go play in his hometown of Dallas with the Mavs.
The Knicks Should Sign A Veteran Point Guard
The New York Knicks have three very talented finishers in Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler. In order to make them their best, a point guard is needed, in order to facilitate the offense. Yes, Jeremy Lin will be re-signing with the team, but he can’t play 48 minutes a game.
2012 NBA Free Agency – Top 10 Restricted Free Agents
No Lockout this summer, Knicks fans! After the long, longer and longest summer for the NBA since 1998, fans have an actual summer of free agency to look forward to. With the flirting just getting started today and actual signings not happening until July 11th, let’s take a look at the top 10 restricted free agents on the market.
Lin, Novak Retain Bird-Rights
After Kenneth Dam ruled the Knicks would win their case against the NBA for the early bird-rights to Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak, the NBA immediately revealed that they planned to appeal the decision. The two parties have been in communication in hopes of coming to a settlement before the clock struck 12:01 AM, July 1st.
Your Newest Knick, Kostas Papanikolaou
Four-hours into the 2012 NBA Draft, the Knicks’ name was finally called. With the 48th overall pick, the New York Knicks selected Kostas Papanikolaou.
This was a head-scratching pick for many Knicks fans, as Scott Machado and Darius Johnson-Odom were both still on the board. Machado and Johnson-Odom both filled immediate needs in back-up point guard and shooting guard, but the Knicks’ greek scout had his way.
Draft Profile: Darius Johnson-Odom
Darius Johnson-Odom is a 6’ 2” sharp shooting, lefty guard out of Marquette University. Johnson-Odom is built well, weighing in at 212 pounds, and possessing a sizeable 6’ 6” wingspan. Despite the lefty’s underwhelming stature, he impressed at the NBA draft combine, recording a max vertical of 41.5” (the highest noted at the event). Darius also showed off his imposing strength benching 185 lbs 17 times, a very impressive feat, especially considering his size.
The Road To Another Draft Pick
The 2012 NBA Draft is today. For the first time in a long time, the New York Knicks do not have a first-round pick and just one second-round pick. As always, there are picks available in the late first-round and scattered throughout the second round, but as the Knicks have already used up their allotted $3 million for transactions, they are in a tough spot.
Draft Profile: William Buford
William Buford spent four years at Ohio State. He played an intrinsic role in Ohio State’s success and looks to continue finding success – this time, at the NBA level. Buford’s game revolves around hitting shots, as he doesn’t possess the physical tools or athletic ability to create his own shot, which severely limit his ceiling. Kevin Pelton ran a fantastic study, which assigned Burford to be the most similar to a collegiate, Jason Kapono. Buford needs to get his shot back on track, but he has the mechanics for it to succeed. With a silky jumper, Buford will be a succesfful NBA player.
Draft Profile: Tu Holloway
The Knicks, sitting at pick 48th in the draft, have plenty more lucrative options than the 48th pick would garner in most years.
There are plenty of directions they could go with this pick; they could stash away a foreigner (Tomas Satoransky); use it to trade up; or, the more likely, use it to get immediate help.
Draft Profile: Terrance Henry
This is a guest post from Joe Genovese (@2PalsTlknSports). Be sure to follow him.
Terrance Henry is my sleeper in the second round. He had a solid four-year career at Ole Miss and in his senior season, Henry averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Henry shot 45% from the field and was an ALL-SEC second team selection. He was the only player in school history with 1,000 points and 100 blocks in his career. In his last five regular season games, Henry averaged 16.6 points a game, and in his last college game, he scored 21 points in a 96-93 loss to Illinois State in the first round of the 2012 NIT Tournament.
Draft Profile: Kim English
This is a guest post from Joe Genovese (@2PalsTlknSports). Be sure to follow him.
In his junior season, Kim English had a poor season. He averaged just 10 points a game, on 36% shooting; He wasn’t thriving in then Mizzou head coach Mike Anderson’s system, but, despite his poor season, English put his name into the hat for the 2011 NBA Draft. We often hear of college players declaring for the draft early, usually to make some cash, but in this case, English actually withdrew his name and returned to Missouri to have a stellar senior season under new head coach Frank Haith.
Linsane Bird-Rights
Earlier this afternoon, arbitrator Kenneth Damn, who was brought in to determine if the Knicks held the early bird-rights for Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak, ruled in the Knicks’ favor. Now, after this ruling, the Knicks will be able to re-sign Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak – without affecting the salary cap – WHILE retaining their mid-level exception (MLE).
