Post by Juju Erving on Dec 3, 2010 10:07:43 GMT -5
Free Agent Class of 2011: SF cont., SG & PG
Vince Carter
Previous Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 34
Ratings: B+ A- B- A- C C
Statistics: 38.7 MPG, 21.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.7 SPG
Carter is 34 years of age and fresh off of a Slam Dunk Championship. Safe to say he has been able to maintain his physical dominance at the wing position and this is why he will be so highly coveted in spite of his age. Carter is still good for 21, 7 and 4 as well as nearly 2 steals and a block - All-Star caliber numbers. In this thin free agency class I expect Carter to receive a lot of attention as he is very capable of putting a team on his back night in and night out.
Kelenna Azubuike
Previous Team: New York Knicks
Age: 28
Ratings: B- A- C C+ C+ B
Statistics: 29 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG
Azubuike was getting a ton of love as new, good scorer on the scene in earlier sim threads. Although his numbers have gone down from then, he still had a very successful season. The LLE signing averaged nearly 15 points a game nearly 48% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from downtown. At 28 years of age, he is old as hell considering this is just his 2nd season in the league. However if his last training camp is any indication, he does have some potential in him and at the end of the day... who cares about his age if he can continue to score like this?
Jared Dudley
Previous Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 26
Ratings: B- A C B+ C B
Statistics: 38.3 MPG, 16.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG
While Dudley is far from being the best player in this class when looking at ability alone, he does have the great looking ratings and the age that could very well earn him a max deal. Whether or not he is worth a max deal is a hard call for me. At 6'7 235, he has amazing size for a shooting guard and he also boasts a top 5 3PT shooting percentage at 49.1%. 6.5 rebounds from the 2 spot is a huge plus and we also have to factor in Dudley fighting with both Gerald Wallace and Kobe Bryant for shots. Who knows what he would possibly average in an outside offense with him being one of the main options? Dudley is one of the players that I'll definitely have my eye during the upcoming free agency period and season.
Guillermo Diaz
Previous Team: Chicago Bulls
Age: 26
Ratings: B A- C B- D+ C
Statistics: 35.2 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG
Diaz is an under the radar type of player. I'm not sure if he can become a starter on a championship level team but he certainly seems like he could be an excellent 6th man type of guy. In starter’s minutes with the Bulls this past season, Diaz was able to average nearly 16 points on good efficiency everywhere. Diaz also stole the ball nearly 2 times a game. Sure it's not an out-of-this-world number, but that sure as hell makes the B- defense rating look a whole lot better.
Jason Richardson
Previous Team: Utah Jazz
Age: 30
Ratings: B+ A- B- B+ C C
Statistics: 37.7 MPG, 21.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 SPG
A couple of years removed from playing point guard, Jason Richardson has proven that he still has big impact on games while not being the primary ball handler. In 73 games this past season, Richardson averaged a line of 21/6/4. Honestly what more could you ask for out of your two? He can score with or without the ball and from inside or outside. He's a good rebounder and passer and he's not a slouch defensively. Very valuable player in the sense that he should be able to fit on any team.
Marcus Banks
Previous Team: Orlando Magic
Age: 29
Ratings: C A- A A+ C C
Statistics: 38.3 MPG, 12.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 11.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 4.3 TO
Normally a point guard with A- A A+ set of ratings would not have been available for the MLE. Many general managers stayed away from Banks in last year's free agency because he is a major turnover whore. With a league leading 4.3 turnovers in his first big time minute season since 2004, Banks has shown the league just how big of a whore he really is. Luckily for the Magic, their other significant players were great at taking care of the ball and thus they were able to make things work in spite of Banks problem with taking care of the ball. Being a top assist man in the league as well as playing some of the best defense you could get from the 1 position is a plus also of course.
Steve Nash
Previous Team: Detroit Pistons
Age: 37
Ratings: C- A B+ C- D F
Statistics: 24.1 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 5.4 APG
Nash was a bad inside scorer, defender and rebounder when he was in his prime and those deficiencies are even more magnified now in his old age. Despite all of that, he's still such a good shooter and passer that it his weaknesses can still be overlooked. His averages of nearly 15 points and 5.4 assists in just 24 minutes a game for the Pistons last year verifies this. There is a very high chance that Nash just says fuck it and calls it quits this off-season. If he does not, he'll be sick in limited minutes for a contender.
Chauncey Billups
Previous Team: New Orleans Hornets
Age: 35
Ratings: C A- A- B C- C
Statistics: 37.9 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.5 SPG
Chauncey averaged just under 10 assists a game for the first time in 11 years this past season. Talk about a remarkable run. All good things must come to an end however. Luckily for whoever signs Billups this off-season, Billups is still a top flight assist man. He also hasn't skipped a beat as a shooter, averaging just over 15 points a game on 46/41/90 percentages for the New Orleans Hornets this past season. Contenders will be scrambling in an attempt to get this guy on their bench for the upcoming season.
Allen Iverson
Previous Team: Toronto Raptors
Age: 36
Ratings: B+ A- C+ A C- C
Statistics: 38.5 MPG, 29.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.8 SPG
The FA of the sick old heads continues. Should he decide to stick around for the upcoming season, Allen Iverson is definitely the best player to test the waters this year. He has got to be the best example of a hall of fame talent not skipping a beat in old age as he averaged a whomping 30 points per game this past season. The 36 year old guard out of Georgetown still has the ability to carry a team to a championship like he has done 3 times before. I personally hope a shit team signs him and tries to flip him because I need him.
Jamal Crawford
Previous Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 31
Ratings: C+ A+ C+ B- D D
Statistics: 38.1 MPG, 28 PPG, 8.5 APG, 1.7 SPG
Crawford's ratings are underwhelming but statistically he is one of the most dominant players that we have in the league. Doing 28 PPG on 49/45/89 efficiency is nothing short of amazing. He manages to get 8.5 assists and 1.7 steals on just C+ handle and b- defense which is gravy. He only turns the ball over just under 2 times a game as well which is cranberry sauce. Not much else to say about Crawford. It will be interesting to see just how much money he commands in the market.
Sebastian Telfair
Previous Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 26
Ratings: B- B A- B D C
Statistics: 37.7 MPG, 9.8 PPG, 9.5 APG, 1.7 SPG
Telfair is a bad scorer and an even worse rebounder. However if you're looking for the ultimate game manager (read: high assist guy that does not turn the ball over), Telfair is your guy. The B defensive rating isn't overly impressive but he does average nearly 2 steals a game which is good. And at the very least he can hit his free throws so he's not a complete liability late in the game. Rock solid player here.
Luis Flores
Previous Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 30
Ratings: B A- C+ C D+ C
Statistics: 20.6 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.6 SPG
Flores is a dog. Averaging about 11 points and 3 assists in just under 21 minutes of play is nothing short of amazing. Maybe even more remarkable than that is the fact that he also contributes 1.6 steals in this time as well. Talk about hasty work. He is the spark plug off the bench that every team would love to have. Excellent 6th man.
Other Notables:
Bobby Simmons (Previous Team: Memphis Grizzlies)
Delonte West (Previous Team: Dalas Mavericks)
Ray Allen (Previous Team: Houston Rockets)
Mike Miller (Previous Team: Washington Wizards)
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