FanNation

Key: ETO = Early Termination Option; P = Player Option; T = Team Option; '07 QO's = BOLD

Dallas Mavericks

Restricted: Jose Juan Barea

Unrestricted: Malik Allen, Devean George, Eddie Jones (P), Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, Jamaal Magloire, Antoine Wright

Limited Salary Protection: Brandon Bass

My Thoughts: This is the time and year for Dallas to start thinking about the fututre, but not neccessarilly rebuilding. They brought in a new coach to try to win a championship NEXT SEASON! Brandon Bass was a reliable player off their bench and he would be one of the players to keep and work with to develop. I also see Antoine Wright contributing to this squad next season. There are a couple of proven veterans that could help them as well, like Magloire, Allen, Jones, Howard, and Lue. That is a lot of classic veterans on that team. Devean George is a nuisance, and I'd hate to have him on my team right now. As for Jose Juan Barea, he is a third-stringer at best. The reason they need to sign these veterans, ecspecially on short-term deals, is that they want to win now more than ever.

Denver Nuggets

Restricted: Yakhouba Diawara, J.R. Smith

Unrestricted: Anthony Carter, Allen Iverson (ETO), Eduardo Najera

Limited Salary Protection: Bobby Jones, Taurean Green

My Thoughts: Allen Iverson can possibly opt out of his current contract, but I don't really see that happening with all the talent Denver has. As for J.R. Smith, I believe he really wants to be a starter for a team in this league, and that is why he will leave Denver for a team that needs a SG, such as Orlando. He can bring you double-digits scoring on any given night. Eduardo Najera is a nice competitor to have on your team because of his defensive ability and hustle plays. One thing that Denver needs to start doing is to play defense, and you can't do that if you have Anthony Carter and Allen Iverson as your two starting guards. If you are even thinking about inserting Anthony Carter into your starting rotation, then don't even think about keeping him, because you'll have to move A.I. to the point. Also, Diawara and Green could become solid bench players.

Golden State Warriors

Restricted: Kelenna Azubuike (P), Andris Biedrins, Monta Ellis, C.J. Watson

Unrestricted: Matt Barnes, Austin Croshere, Baron Davis (ETO), Patrick O'Bryant, Mickael Pietrus

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: First off, I want to acknowledge that Baron Davis will be able to opt out of his contract. In my opinion, for some reason, I believe he will depart the bay area. It just doesn't look like he is having fun playing for Nelson and the coaching staff. There are many important players here they need to keep: ex. Monta Ellis, Matt Barnes, and Mickael Pietrus. But Azubuike and Biedrins, if they wanted to, could possibly receive a lot more mony if they wanted to test the market. They are very young and talented players who could even start for a team here and there, ecspecially Biedrins. If they want to keep running the fast-paced offense they do currently, they need to change the personell. Austin Croshere has basketball talent, but he just doesn't fit in. Patrick O'Bryant is a center they could use in the future and C.J. Watson is just a D-League player.

Houston Rockets

Restricted: Carl Landry, Steve Novak (T)

Unrestricted: Dikembe Mutombo

Limited Salary Protection: Mike Harris, Loren Woods

My Thoughts: Carl Landry is the most crucial player to resign this offseason for what he did when Yao Ming went out with his injury. He averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds this season in limited minutes. And without questioning if Mutombo will retire, he would be a keeper to backup Yao Ming, in case somethin like that injury happened again. Steve Novak and Mike Harris are 12th men at best, while Loren Woods is basically finished with he NBA career, although he had a pretty good campaign. Don't count on the Rockets to look smooth at the beginning of next season because basically their entire starting lineup has had surgery in the past week or so (Battier, Alston, and McGrady).

Los Angeles Clippers

Restricted: Paul Davis, Nick Fazekas, Shaun Livingston, Marcus Williams

Unrestricted: Elton Brand (ETO), Dan Dickau, Corey Maggette (ETO), Smush Parker, Quinton Ross

Limited Salary Protection: Josh Powell

My Thoughts: This will be one of the most intruiging offseasons this offseason. They have three of their four best players eligible to become free agents, one still being injured in Shaun Livingston. If they Clippers believe they can still compete for a playoff spot in the West, they can go ahead and keep Maggette and Brand. But, if they want to begin rebuilding, which I think they should, they need to dump both Maggette and Brand. That would free up cap room for the future. There are some reliable free agents they could keep, being Dan Dickau, Quinton Ross, Josh Powell, Nick Fazekas, Paul Davis, or even Smush Parker. They have sure dug themselves in a deep hole.

Los Angeles Lakers

Restricted: DJ Mbenga, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic

Unrestricted: Trevor Ariza (P), Chris Mihm (P), Ira Newble

Limited Salary Protection: Coby Karl

My Thoughts: You know this is my team, so pay close attention. First of all, Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf are favorites of mine, and I love their dedication and hard work. They need to postpone their departure, because they sure need to stay in L.A. Next if possible, keep Trevor Ariza for next season. He was injured his first year with the Lakers, so we need to see more action from him. One player I want to see withdraw from this Laker organization is Chris Mihm. I have never really liked him, and now that Andrew Bynum has developed into a star, he won't be getting that many minutes. Ira Newble and Coby Karl are just benchwarmers, but I don't want to say anything bad about D.J. Mbenga. I heard he had a black-belt. Watch out? >_>

Memphis Grizzlies

Restricted: Andre Brown, Juan Carlos Navarro

Unrestricted: Kwame Brown, Casey Jacobsen

Limited Salary Protection: Aaron McKie

My Thoughts: Kwame Brown must hate being a free agent, but Memphis loves it! They can clear over $9 million dollars now that he is leaving. Juan Carlos Navarro was in the NBA ROY picture at the beginning of the year, and their backup SG will get some extra money. Casey Jacobsen should have never returned to the NBA, while Andre Brown is just a D-Leaguer. They need a young, bruising big-man to complete that team and make them into a close-to .500 basketball team. With Gay, Miller, Conley, Warrick, and possibly Andris Biedrins, this team could acctually be prepared for the future.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Restricted: Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, Chris Richard, Kirk Snyder, Sebastian Telfair

Unrestricted: Michael Doleac

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: The list of free agents if overflowing with deserving back-ups in the NBA. All of their restricted free agents are nothing special, but they could help a team like Minnesota. Michael Doleac is just a overpaid, slow center who can't rebound or play defense. That isn't what anyone needs in the NBA. My prediction is that he won't make an NBA roster next season. Look for the same, young and inexperienced Timberwolves team as last season.

New Orleans Hornets

Restricted: None

Unrestricted: Chris Andersen, Ryan Bowen, Melvin Ely (P), Jannero Pargo (P), Bonzi Wells

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: Ryan Bowen just might be the funniest player I have ever seen play. He hops around the floor, for no reason. Anyway, Jannero Pargo is a perfect backup for Chris Paul. He is their scorer off the bench. He can put up 15 points a game most of the time. Imagine what he could do if he went to another team and got a full-time starting position? Bonzi Wells is one player they received from that Houston Rockets trade. He can help out the 2 and 3 position, where the Hornets are the weakest at. Melvin Ely and Chris Anderson could add some needed depth to the front court for New Orleans. They have one of the brightest futures in the league, and they must expand on that.

Phoenix Suns

Restricted: None

Unrestricted: Gordan Giricek, Grant Hill (P), Linton Johnson, Sean Marks, Eric Piatkowski, Brian Skinner

Limited Salary Protection: D.J. Strawberry

My Thoughts: I really have a gut feeling that Grant Hill will retire after this season, so a player like Gordan Giricek will be needed. Linton Johnson is a average bench player, along with D.J. Strawberry, who they need to fully develop. He has the skills to be a talented player. If you watch Sean Marks play, you can see that he can acctually help an NBA team. He doesn't fit in with Phoenix very well though. And while Brian Skinner is a defensive minded player, he will produce well in Phoenix, where they are converting to a more of a defensive system. And I think he will help backup Shaq, who is in foul-trouble a lot of the time.

Portland Trail Blazers

Restricted: Von Wafer

Unrestricted: James Jones (P), Raef LaFrentz (ETO)

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: Portland is one of the most bright and talented organizations in this league. They are building a great "Big 3" in Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. Raef LaFrentz will clear up much cap space so they can go after a significantly good point guard. James Jones is a forward that can help balance that offense because of his shooting ability. Von Wafer can't compare to the competition of the NBA and its guards. As long as the Trailblazers can clear up some cap space, this will be a successful offseason for them.

Sacramento Kings

Restricted: None

Unrestricted: Ron Artest (ETO), Kenny Thomas (ETO), Beno Udrih, Anthony Johnson, Lorenzen Wright

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: Ron Artest is bound to depart Sacramento. It's time for him to find a new home in the NBA. Sacramento is looking to become a younger, more rebuilding type of team. Beno Udrih would be a perfect fit as their point guard. Kenny Thomas, Anthony Johnson, and Lorenzen Wright are past their prime, but they can still be solid veteran leaders on this team. I beleive what the Kings are trying to accomplish is to get rid of Ron Artest and find a replacement who has potential for the future. They can maybe even draft a scoring forward that can step in right away and contribute.

San Antonio Spurs

Restricted: None

Unrestricted: Brent Barry (P), Michael Finley, Robert Horry, DerMarr Johnson, Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Jacque Vaughn (P)

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: This is a team that has about half-a-dozen of their key veterans testing free-agency. I think this could be a great time to start piling on those young talents and get rid of the older (or more wiser)players, ecspecially if they lose to the New Orleans Hornets in the conference semi-finals. The only players they could possibly keep are Kurt Thomas, Damon Stoudamire, and Michael Finley. Nobody else is a really big help on that roster. While we all recognize that Bruce Bowen isn't the Bruce Bower of old, the Spurs might not and if not, they need to realize that Bowen isn't starting lineup material.

Seattle SuperSonics

Restricted: Mickael Gelabale, Robert Swift

Unrestricted: Ronald Dupree, Francisco Elson

Limited Salary Protection: Adrian Griffin

My Thoughts: You know, I would have put some thought into whether or not the Sonics should resign Francisco Elson, but what is the point if you don't have a good big man? Chris Wilcox is the only potential starter that the team holds. Mickael Gelabale and Robert Swift are nice young players though. Gelabale and Swift are exciting players, and that is what the franchise needs if they want to succeed in a new town, Oklahoma City. What it all comes down to his putting talent around Durant and Green.

Utah Jazz

Restricted: C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap (T)

Unrestricted: Jason Hart (P)

Limited Salary Protection: None

My Thoughts: The Utah Jazz are one of the most confident teams in the NBA at this point. They have a nice young core. Paul Milsap and C.J. Miles are apart of that as well, and that is the main reason they need to return to Salt Lake City. Boozer and Williams are caring that team, and with the help of those important role players, they can become a very successful team in the future. They remind me so much of New Orleans, and that being that their star is a point guard, and their two next best players are a power forward and center. I hope Jason Hart finds a job in the NBA, because he will get no playing time with Deron Williams and Ronnie Price in front of him on the depth chart.

Thank you for reading.