Best Potential 2012 NBA Free Agents

SI Staff | Apr 11, 2012

Best Potential 2012 NBA Free Agents /

Best Potential 2012 NBA Free Agents

Deron Williams

The All-Star point guard has made it clear he plans to opt out of his deal and enter free agency this summer, meaning the future Brooklyn Nets and owner Mikhail Prokhorov have a lot of convincing and wooing to do. *All salaries figures taken from ShamSports.com

Steve Nash

Though the Suns are struggling, Nash is still, well, Nash. But do the Suns still want the veteran point guard?

Tim Duncan

Though he's 35, the Spurs big man does have four titles under his belt and career averages of 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. If he doesn't stay put in San Antonio, or retire, many teams could use his services in the paint.

Kevin Garnett

After the Big Three's potentially final shot at a title together, Garnett could enter the open market -- assuming Boston doesn't try to keep its aging big man.

Eric Gordon

The Hornets have until Jan. 25 to sign Gordon to an extension. Will David Stern sign off on this one?

Andrew Bynum

The Lakers' big man who was engrossed in trade rumors for Dwight Howard before the season started came out in full force, putting up some of the best numbers of his career. But Bynum's crankiness throughout the season may come back to haunt him.

Brook Lopez

The Nets' center saw his season get off to a rough start -- or no start, really. Lopez fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot three days before the season started and was shut down for the rest of the season. That could certainly pose problems for him in free agency.

Ray Allen

The sharpshooter has made it known that he wants to stay in Boston, but will the Celtics decide to keep a 37-year-old guard at his desired two years and $20 million?

Jason Kidd

He may be aging, but Kidd is still one of the league's top point guards and will could find suitors from multiple teams.

Jason Terry

"Jet" came up big for the Mavericks in their first title run, but he will be a free bird come the summer.

Roy Hibbert

The Indiana center has seen his minutes, points and rebounds go up in each of his first three seasons. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Pacers have the right to match any offer from an opposing team.

Chris Kaman

The long-time Clippers center got a new home this offseason when he was dealt to New Orleans as a part of the Chris Paul trade. Kaman could end up with another new team next season since he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Gerald Wallace

The Blazers' second-leading scorer was surprisingly sent to New Jersey at the trade deadline, but he still reportedly plans to opt out and hit the free-agent market this summer.

Elton Brand

Al Tielemans/SI

Brand's numbers dipped at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, but his Sixers sky-rocketed to a 7-2 start. Will he stay put and exercise his option, or will he enter the free-agent market?

Nicolas Batum

Batum failed to reach a contract extension with the Trail Blazers, meaning he'll enter the summer as a restricted free agent.

J.J. Hickson

The athletic Hickson is headed for restricted free agency this summer after he was waived by the Kings in the final year of his rookie deal and picked up by the Trail Blazers in March.

Chauncey Billups

The 35-year-old Billups said he was sick of getting bumped from team to team, but now that he's in L.A. with fellow new Clipper and close friend Chris Paul, he may finally be happy as CP3's backup. That is, once he's healthy. If not, he may be on the move again when free agency hits.

Mo Williams

The Clippers backup guard got off to a decent start to the season, and he can exercise a player option to stay with the Clips next year.

Michael Beasley

Beasley had a rocky start to the season, but the Wolves, who are stacked with big-man talent now, have until Jan. 25 to keep him.

JaVale McGee

The rangy center, who was shipped to Denver in a trade for Nene, has loads of defensive skill but can be a bit maddening to watch on the offensive end. He could command a DeAndre Jordan-like contract (four years, $43 million) as a free agent this summer.

Antawn Jamison

The veteran power forward told the Charlotte Observer that he'd like to finish his career with the Bobcats. We'll see if fellow UNC alum Michael Jordan extends an offer.

Andre Miller

Miller, 36, has already played for his fair share of teams, bouncing around between six NBA rosters (he was dealt to the Nuggets at the trade deadline this season) during his 13-year career. He might add an seventh to his resume when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Raymond Felton

The seventh-year point guard started his Blazers career relatively well, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 assists in his first six games with Portland. But he eventually lost his starting job (he later earned it back) and it's unclear if Portland will want him back when he hits restricted free agency.

Published Apr 11, 2012

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