It’s that time again…The NBA is over with Boston winning the title deservedly over the Lakers and now teams are retooling through free agency with hardly any teams with money to spend.  In free agency you have a restricted and unrestricted status with an unrestricted free agent being the kind that have real power because they can sign where offered.  A restricted free agent’s team has the right to match any offer that is presented to the player.  It’s usually a fun cat and mouse game between two teams for a players services and it isn’t uncommon for a team to force the hand of another to get them to spend more money than they wanted. 

This year is a very very down year for free agents.  I thought I’d list who my top restricted and unrestricted free agents are and what will probably happen with them.

Unrestricted: 

1.  Gilbert Arenas:  He has to be the top guy on everyones list despite coming off a rather serious knee injury.  Arenas is a proven scorer in the NBA and with limited teams being able to give him more money he will undoubtedly sign with the Wizards.  This guy has proven to be all about the money from the moment he got into the league and I can’t blame him.  He is trying hard to maximize the amount of money he can get during his career and that’s why he’ll stay in Washington.

2.  Michael Pietrus:  I think this guy is going to get some serious money here.  He’s a great athlete and can defend more than one position.  He was developing as a shooter but for some reason couldn’t get a ton of time of the Warriors bench.  Some team is going to take a chance on him and pay him some money and he’s going to leave Golden St.  It may be a stretch to have him at 2 on my list but he has some upside here and is still very young.

3.  Antawn Jamison:  I have him third because he’s a tough productive player and despite his age is a great player.  He’s 32 now but is a proven scorer and option in the NBA.  What will the Wizards do here?  Clearly they will make a more concerted effort over Arenas and you can’t blame them so do they let Jamison walk?  I don’t think so.  With the Grizzlies, Clippers and 76ers under the cap it gives Jamison little flexibility and negotiating power.  At this stage of his career he is looking for that last big contract and to play for a winner and his best bet is to stay and try to get that.

 Tomorrow we will go over the restricted free agents and probably already have some idea as to what will happen with them.

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