2005 NBA WEST Free Agency: lilnemo takes a look at prospective signings for the NBA's Western Conference.

2005 NBA Free Agent Preview

Unrestricted free agent identifies a player that can sign with any team. These players will be denoted by SpoFi green.

Restricted free agent identifies a player that can sign an offer sheet that can be matched by his current team. These players will be denoted by red.

Player option players can decide to extend his contract one year. These players will be denoted by blue.

Team option identifies a player whose team has the option to extend his contract one year. These players will be denoted by teal.

Player can terminate identifies a player who can terminate his contract after the 2004-05 season. These players will be denoted by whatever the hell that color is.

The Spurs have 2 free agents that will most likely return next year, Devin Brown and Robert Horry. The rest of the unrestricted free agents were not regularly in the rotation, and theoretically could be replaced rather cheaply. I would be interested to see if the Spurs opt to hold on to Brent Barry or to trade him in lieu of what was, for him, a sub-par season. A good shooter at a bargain price would be Wesley Person.

Abdul-Wahad will, more likely than not, opt out of the last few years of his contract and play professionally in Europe. It is unlikely that Van Horn does the same. Armstrong and Henderson may end up back in Dallas, if they are willing to play for "slightly less" than market value. The real story in Dallas is whether or not the Mavs use the CBA's new "Amnesty Provision" to part ways with Michael Finley, or more to the point, his contract. There are very few encouraging words coming from the Mavs front office about Finley coming back next year. And if the Mavs opt to use the provision Finley could not re-sign with the Mavs until his original contract expires, which would make him eligible to be a Mav for the 2008-09 season. Cuban didn't have much trouble allowing Nash to leave last year, and I expect that Finley will be let go as well.

For all the talk about Yao Ming's "ineffectiveness" last year, the Rockets did precious little to provide Yao with a buffer from other, more athletic post-men last year. Juwan Howard, Deke, and Vin Baker do not a solid PF make. The Rockets need to pair Yao off with a young, quick forward who can take his man off the dribble, hit the mid-range jumper, and run the break with T-Mac. I think that the Rockets really need Stromile Swift. Tyson Chandler would be a good second choice.

It looks as if the Grizz are looking to shed some payroll. After making the playoff push the past 3 years, West & Co. are looking for cheap young talent to replace their not quite as young and getting-more-expensive talent. Bonzi Wells is a good talent, and is probably worth the $8 Mill option, but with Jones, Battier, Miller, Posey, and possibly Cardinal, Warrick, and Roberts sharing time at SG/SF I think it's fair to say that Bonzi will be collecting checks elsewhere next season. For a few years the Grizz weren't sure whether to commit to Swift or Gasol, but Swift hasn't quite come through on the promise that his potential suggests and Gasol has surpassed expectations. It has been rumored that Jason Williams could be had in trade, if a decent PG at a decent price were received in exchange, though I'm not sure anyone is lining up to trade for Williams, or the remaining $24.5 Mill left on his deal.

The Hornets, as bad as they looked last year, could have a decent team next year if they are healthy (and if Chris Paul comes as advertised). Lynch, Magloire, Brown, and West make for a solid frontcourt rotation. Unfortunately, with the departure of Baron Davis, the Hornets backcourt is woefully short on experience. Speedy Claxton is sure to start at the point until Paul proves he can run the team. J.R. Smith has little to no competition for the starting SG slot, which is a good and bad thing. I would expect the Hornets to sign another SG before camp. Most likely they will end up signing a young, cheap shooter like Kareem Rush, Tamar Slay, or Rodney Buford.

The Sonics go into the off-season with 5 unrestricted free agents. I expect them to re-sign Ray Allen, and let the rest walk. The restricted free agents will most likely be made to wait, but will ultimately be brought back (unless someone makes an insane offer). The composition of the roster is going to drastically change, and I expect the squad to become more of a running team than they were last year. The only question this off-season is who fills in for James. Swift, and Petro are a few years away from contributing, and I'm not sure that Fortson, Evans, Collison, or a re-signed Potapenko will be enough to anchor the middle. The Sonics seriously need to consider bringing in an athletic forward to fill out the rotation. Tyson Chandler would fit well with the pressing and running style that the Sonics implement.

The core of the Nuggets rotation is fairly well set, but the bottom end of the roster may be getting a needed infusion of youth. The drafting of Julius Hodge may make Greg Buckner expendable. The same could be said of Kleiza for Mark Pope. The Nuggets are still in need of a shooter. It's possible that Person comes back for another year, but I think they would prefer a younger player. The problem is, I'm not sure how much the Nuggets would be willing to commit to a shooter. Cuttino Mobley would command a high-end salary, but I'm not sure they would be willing to oblige. Kyle Korver would be a nice pick, but I'm not sure that Billy King would give him up without a fight. That would leave Rodney Buford, Marko Jaric, maybe Richie Frahm or Sarunas Jasikevicius.

Drafting Rashad McCants allows the Wolves to effectively sever ties with Sprewell. Eddie Griffin played very well last year and will probably end up with a large chunk of their MLE. Ervin Johnson will probably be brought back as an Olowokandi insurance policy, and Mark Madsen may find himself being the odd man out. Cassell is coming off a recurring back injury and Fred Hoiberg had a pacemaker inserted, so it is likely that the Wolves will be searching for backcourt help. Anthony Carter could conceivably come back though the they will take a long look at Marko Jaric, or Sarunas Jasikevicius.

It took a few seasons but it appears that the Blazers youth movement is complete. All but a handful of "Trader Bob" Whitsitt's deals remain. Van Exel, Stoudamire, and Abdur-Rahim are all off of the books. If Martell Webster plays as well as expected you may see Patterson and/or Anderson traded by the break. The roster is fairly well balanced, but very young. A big body in the middle to supplant Przybilla and the aging Theo Ratliff is needed, because Ha Jin is years from contributing. Eddy Curry would be great (if healthy), as would Samuel Delambert. If the Blazers opt for more experience Elden Campbell, Tony Massenburg, Scott Williams, or Dikembe Mutombo are possibilities.

I like the Jazz roster. It's pretty solid. But I'm beginning to worry that Jerry Sloan is starting to become Larry Brown the Second. Last off-season the Jazz signed Carlos Arroyo to an extension just under the MLE, but after multiple injuries to the Jazz front line, and a slow start Arroyo was shipped off to the Pistons for a soon to be waived Elden Campbell. I'd really hate for Coach Sloan to get ants in his pants and take apart a promising roster. Deron Williams will get the first shot at starting PG, but between McLeod, Livingston, and Eisley I'd keep Eisley as a back up, he is the only known quantity. Raja Bell is rumored to be moving on to Phoenix, so that leaves a hole at back-up SG. Bonzi Wells or Maurice Evans would be better options than Kirk Snyder. 

There is no way in hell that the Suns let Joe Johnson walk out the door. Having said that, it is entirely possible that a few of their other free agents could be let go to make way for the return of Michael Finley. Trading Richardson for Thomas makes a lot of sense when you consider how porous their defense was last year, and how Q seemed to disappear in the playoffs. The Suns may switch out some of their "spare part" big men but, other than that I don't see the Suns making too many moves this off-season.

The Kings were somewhat exposed in the second half of the season and into the playoffs. Without Divac and Webber to create shots and movement the offense consisted of Mike Bibby and Brad Miller. Stojakovic had trouble getting off his shot, and Bibby shouldered most of the offensive burden as a result. The Kings need a big man with good hands who can pass reliably. Antoine Walker fits the bill, but I'm not sure the Kings are confident enough in his shooting or post moves to accommodate. Vladimir Radmanovic and Austin Croshere may get a look here, but it looks like the Kings may stand pat.