Post by A2J on Mar 8, 2008 12:37:31 GMT -5
The 2003 Free Agency list lacks a true superstar, but still has a number of gems at every position. With a disproportionately large number of teams having cap space, expect those who want to land a stud to pony up a bunch of cash in exchange for talent. This article will break down the top players at each position and list others who will likely command attention on the FA market.
Center
Theo Ratliff - B- C- C A B- C
Theo is one of the leagues premier shotblockers, something that contending teams always desire to have in their frontcourt. He`s coming off of a solid year where he averaged 10.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per contest,solidifying him as one of the top defensive big men in the league. While he`s 30 years old and his game is somewhat one dimensional, a high value but short term contract could be in store for Ratliff.
Others Commanding Attention
Chris Mihm - B- C- D- B+ B- B
Primoz Brezec - B- C C- B+ B- C
Nazr Mohammed - C D+ D- A- B- B
Vlade Divac - B- D+ B- B B C
Power Forwards
Joe Smith - B+ C- C B- B B
In a talented PF class, Rasheed Wallace and Raef LaFrentz could also be considered the top guy, but neither has shown the ability to produce that Joe Smith has. Coming off of a 20 and 10 season, the big man has a well rounded set of ratings, has shown the ability to score at will and crashes the glass hard. At age 28 and with a scouted B potential, he also has the ability to improve in the coming seasons and add to an already lethal skill set.
Others Commanding Attention
Rasheed Wallace - B+ C+ C A- C+ C
Raef LaFrentz - B- C+ C A- B- B
Brian Grant - B- C C- B+ B+ C
Ernest Brown - C+ D+ C- A- B C
Small Forwards
Lamar Odom - B- C+ C+ B+ C+ C
Look at all those C+`s. Odom might not have the most impressive ratings set in this SF class, but his age and intriguing all around game will make him the most coveted player within it. Averaging 19, 7 and 4 last year, Lamar has already shown the results of his well rounded ratings set, and will likely show more improvement as the years go on. With the ability to play multiple positions, his young age and do-everything ratings, Odom is a building block that any team would love to land.
Others Commanding Attention
Eddie Jones - B B C+ A C- D
Latrell Sprewell - B- B C+ A- C- B
Larry Johnson - B- B C B- B+ C
Jalen Rose - B- B B B- C D
Shooting Guards
Rip Hamilton - B- A- C+ B C- B
Probably the premier player in the entire FA class, Hamilton has shown the potential to be one of the leagues strongest guards. His scoring ratings are already fantastic, with a high handles rating allowing him to score 18.4 PPG while only turning the ball over 1.4 times per game. Only 25 years old, and with a scouted potential of B, watching Hamilton expand upon his already studly game will be a luxury for whichever team lands him, and especially for the Suns if they`re able to bring him back.
Others Commanding Attention
Quentin Richardson - B- A- C- C C A
Michael Finley - B- B+ C+ B C C
Jerry Stackhouse - A- B C C+ C- C
Stephen Jackson - C+ A- C B C B
Point Guards
Gary Payton - B- B- A A C C
The Glove may be 35, but he still has one of the nicest ratings sets in the league at the PG position. His A in handles and defence combines with a valuable B- inside rating to make GP lethal point on both sides of the floor. He`s got the ability to get steals and dishes the ball extremely well, while scoring at an efficient rate. Much like Ratliff, I wouldn`t expect teams to give GP a long term look, but a high money contract for 2-4 years is likely awaiting him.
Others Commanding Attention
Jason Williams - C B+ A- B D+ C
Steve Francis - B- B+ B B C B
Sam Cassell - C A- A C+ D+ C
Lindsey Hunter - C B- B- A- D C
Center
Theo Ratliff - B- C- C A B- C
Theo is one of the leagues premier shotblockers, something that contending teams always desire to have in their frontcourt. He`s coming off of a solid year where he averaged 10.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per contest,solidifying him as one of the top defensive big men in the league. While he`s 30 years old and his game is somewhat one dimensional, a high value but short term contract could be in store for Ratliff.
Others Commanding Attention
Chris Mihm - B- C- D- B+ B- B
Primoz Brezec - B- C C- B+ B- C
Nazr Mohammed - C D+ D- A- B- B
Vlade Divac - B- D+ B- B B C
Power Forwards
Joe Smith - B+ C- C B- B B
In a talented PF class, Rasheed Wallace and Raef LaFrentz could also be considered the top guy, but neither has shown the ability to produce that Joe Smith has. Coming off of a 20 and 10 season, the big man has a well rounded set of ratings, has shown the ability to score at will and crashes the glass hard. At age 28 and with a scouted B potential, he also has the ability to improve in the coming seasons and add to an already lethal skill set.
Others Commanding Attention
Rasheed Wallace - B+ C+ C A- C+ C
Raef LaFrentz - B- C+ C A- B- B
Brian Grant - B- C C- B+ B+ C
Ernest Brown - C+ D+ C- A- B C
Small Forwards
Lamar Odom - B- C+ C+ B+ C+ C
Look at all those C+`s. Odom might not have the most impressive ratings set in this SF class, but his age and intriguing all around game will make him the most coveted player within it. Averaging 19, 7 and 4 last year, Lamar has already shown the results of his well rounded ratings set, and will likely show more improvement as the years go on. With the ability to play multiple positions, his young age and do-everything ratings, Odom is a building block that any team would love to land.
Others Commanding Attention
Eddie Jones - B B C+ A C- D
Latrell Sprewell - B- B C+ A- C- B
Larry Johnson - B- B C B- B+ C
Jalen Rose - B- B B B- C D
Shooting Guards
Rip Hamilton - B- A- C+ B C- B
Probably the premier player in the entire FA class, Hamilton has shown the potential to be one of the leagues strongest guards. His scoring ratings are already fantastic, with a high handles rating allowing him to score 18.4 PPG while only turning the ball over 1.4 times per game. Only 25 years old, and with a scouted potential of B, watching Hamilton expand upon his already studly game will be a luxury for whichever team lands him, and especially for the Suns if they`re able to bring him back.
Others Commanding Attention
Quentin Richardson - B- A- C- C C A
Michael Finley - B- B+ C+ B C C
Jerry Stackhouse - A- B C C+ C- C
Stephen Jackson - C+ A- C B C B
Point Guards
Gary Payton - B- B- A A C C
The Glove may be 35, but he still has one of the nicest ratings sets in the league at the PG position. His A in handles and defence combines with a valuable B- inside rating to make GP lethal point on both sides of the floor. He`s got the ability to get steals and dishes the ball extremely well, while scoring at an efficient rate. Much like Ratliff, I wouldn`t expect teams to give GP a long term look, but a high money contract for 2-4 years is likely awaiting him.
Others Commanding Attention
Jason Williams - C B+ A- B D+ C
Steve Francis - B- B+ B B C B
Sam Cassell - C A- A C+ D+ C
Lindsey Hunter - C B- B- A- D C