THE BASKETBALL ORACLE

The 2009 Offseason has started to heat up with the contract agreements of Ron Artest with the Lakers, Hedo Turkoglu with the Raptors, and Trevor Ariza with the Rockets, and Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva with the Pistons, but there are still many top-level free agents available that could mean the difference between a championship and disappointing June for many teams.  For example, the Lakers are no guarantee to repeat if they aren’t able to re-sign Lamar Odom, and the Celtics will be low on big men and wins if they can’t sign Glen Davis or Rasheed Wallace.

Among the biggest names still available are Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Paul Millsap, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby, though it is reported that Bibby with reach an agreement to return to the Hawks soon.  Jason Kidd has recieved interest from the New York Knicks and his team last season, the Dallas Mavericks.  Most likely he will reach a deal soon, or go to the Lakers or Cavaliers for the veteran minimum for a chance to win a ring.  After a disastrous 08-09 season, Allen Iverson is looking for a team that will take him.  Last season, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, the team instantly got worse and barely made the playoffs while the Nuggets instantly got better and become championship contenders.  Iverson has been reported to be interested in the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats, two lottery teams that aren’t anywhere close to championship contention.

Most likely, Lamar Odom, Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Ramon Sessions, Andre Miller, and Glen Davis will re-sign with their teams, but free agents such as Shawn Marion, Anderson Varejao, Leon Powe, Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Rasheed Wallace are looking for a new home.  Wallace has received a ton of interest from the Boston Celtics and their Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, while also getting calls from the Orlando Magic.  The Celtics have already said that they will not be re-signing Leon Powe because he is injured, so expect him to sign with a team part-way through the season once he is healthy.  Glen Davis on the other hand, did excellent for the Celtics in the postseason in place of the injured Garnett and will be demanding the mid-level exception from teams.

Now onto the more famous free agents who will most likey being changing addresses.  Anderson Varejao, Shawn Marion, Nate Robinson, and David Lee are all going to be signing with a new team this offseason due to cost-cutting.  Nate Robinson and David Lee both played extremely well for the Knicks last season, but since the Knicks are gearing up for the 2010 offseason they don’t want to waste any cap room before then.  Nate Robinson is being pursued by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the runner-up Orlando Magic.  David Lee is being pursued by the Memphis Grizzlies, who are building a good, young nucleus.  Anderson Varejao hasn’t been rumored to be in talks with any teams, but most likely many teams have called hoping to add his good flopping defensive skills to their team.  Shawn Marion used to be an all-star with the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns, but ever since his trade to the Miami Heat, and then the Toronto Raptors, he hasn’t been able to find a groove in a half-court offense.  He is a player who bases his game off of his athleticism, but he can’t shoot or create his own shot so he is limited in a slow game.  He is also 31, and as everyone knows, players athleticism starts to deteriorate when they get older.  The Raptors were interested in re-signing him, but with the addition of Turkoglu they no longer have the money.  The Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Cleveland Cavaliers would be good fits for him, but so far only the Cavaliers have shown interest.

Best Free Agents Still Available: