The following is a list of the power forward free agents. Some, have early termination options (player & team), others are restricted free agents (any team that makes them an offer can be matched by their current team) and lastly unrestricted free agents.
This is a look at all the possible power forward free agents and isn’t necessarily a list of players that the Timberwolves need to target, but rather a list of the potential free agents and what they could bring to the table for Minnesota.
-Tim Duncan (ETO): Tim Duncan in any other color besides black, white & silver!? I don’t believe it! You shouldn’t either. Duncan does have an early termination option and there’s a good chance he could opt out of his contract this summer. The aging superstar was knocked out of playoffs early last week after his Spurs were defeated by the Memphis Grizzlies. The big man could opt out, much like Richard Jefferson did last summer: to sign a long(er) contract for more money. I wouldn’t expect to see the ‘Old Fundamental’ playing anywhere else next season.
-David West (ETO): West has an early termination option this offseason as well. I don’t see that happening however. West had that season-ending injury late last season, putting him out for the playoffs, where the Lakers beat the Hornets in 6 games. Before the injury, the thought was that West would almost certainly opt-out, however, since that injury his value has decreased substantially. The Hornets have said they want to bring him back and that’s what you’ve got to expect.
-Boris Diaw (PO): Diaw of the Charlotte Bobcats is a solid versatile forward. He’s a solid three-point shooter who has the ability to bang on the block and shot from the outside. A lot of his teammates say he has a very easy-going attitude, maybe to easy-going, saying, if he was a little more dedicated he could potentially be a star in this League. There is no doubt however, that he’ll pick up his player option worth over $9M. He will be a Bobcat for at least one more season.
-Louis Amundson (PO): Amundson a former-Phoenix Sun signed with the Golden State Warriors last offseason and this summer he’ll have the opportunity to re-up with the Warriors or opt-out. Amundson is a solid role player, nothing really special. He plays hard and makes plays. I’d expect him to resign with the Warriors, if he doesn’t, I’m sure there’ll be a plethora of teams looking for a stretch 4-5 guy.
-Brian Cook (PO): Brian Cook also has a team option for next season for the Los Angeles Clippers. Cook isn’t a great player by any means, he’s a bit of a shooter, but beyond that, there’s nothing. If he does decide to opt-out, I don’t see to many interested teams waiting in the wings.
-Jeff Green (R): Jeff Green is a restricted free agent this summer and you can be certain that if the Boston Celtics don’t resign the swingman to a lengthy deal, the town of Boston may riot (after they gave up fan-favorite Kendrick Perkins to acquire him). Green is supposed to be one of the integral parts of their rebuilding process. Green is a young swingman with a lot of talents as a point forward. However, being a restricted free agent, you better believe he will get more than his far share of offers from various clubs around the League.
-Carl Landry: Carl Landry has made two NBA Trade Deadline moves in the past two seasons. He was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Sacramento Kings two seasons ago and this past season he was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the New Orleans Hornets. He’s a talented, still youthful forward with a knack for getting it done in the paint and mid-range. Landry will certainly get some other offers, but the Hornets have been vocal in saying they hope to retain him. He’s a good player, but he just wouldn’t fit with the players the TWolves currently have.
-Kenyon Martin: Kenyon Martin, the former #1 pick is a free agent this offseason. The Nuggets could certainly look to renew his contract with the team and continue starting him at the 4-spot. However, there’s no doubt he won’t be making the near-$16M he did last season. Martin is a physical power forward, he can handle the best in the paint. Known mostly as a banger as well. Martin is a veteran big that will garner some interest and I definitely see him moving elsewhere this summer. The Nuggets are going younger and he’s not the answer at the four. Expect him to jump somewhere like New Jersey [this is a possibility, but this is the team he was drafted by just under a decade ago (as the #1 pick)].
-Troy Murphy: Troy Murphy was traded to the New Jersey Nets and then thrown to the inactive list for the majority of the season. Before the Trade Deadline he was traded to the Warriors and then waived, later signing with the Celtics. He’s got minimal minutes, but he’s a great shooter especially for a big man as well as a capable rebounder. He could be a starter for a lot of teams, but he’s currently a third-string forward for the Celts, needless to say, I see him signing elsewhere this offseason. The Wolves? It’s a possibility, but not a very likely one, the Wolves already have Love, Randolph & Tolliver at the 4, Murphy wouldn’t see much more play time for Minnesota. I could see him in Miami? LA Lakers? All possibilites.
-Kris Humphries: I wrote an article a few weeks back discussing Kris Humphries, the Minnesota-native, possibly coming to play for his hometown-TWolves. Humprhies basically said that he likes playing for the Nets and they’ll be moving to Brooklyn and they’re getting a new arena and he wants to be a part of that, head coach Avery Johnson wants him to be a part of that, and the Nets organization wants him to be a part of that. I think the indications are pretty obvious, I’d expect you to see Kris back with the Nets for long-term.
-Glen Davis: Glen Davis is a young forward for the Boston Celtics. This is the third Celtics power forward free agent this summer! Clearly they can’t keep them all, however, Glen Davis should be back in Bean Town for a lengthy contract. The big young forward is a HUGE spark off the bench and could even be a starter for some of the teams around the League. Glen Davis will likely be a Celtic long-term.
-Vladimir Radmonovic: Radmonovic, the power forward shooter. A deep reserve for most teams, Vlad is currently a member of the Golden State Warriors. He’s a below-average player in almost every facet of the game. However, his shooting is valuable, that along with his size, will certainly get him an offer this summer, most likely, not fromt the Warriors, or the TWolves, but some team.
-Solomon Jones: Jones is currently and Indiana Pacer, I haven’t seen him play much and I do watch a lot of NBA games. He’s a young player who actually got some significant minutes this season and last. With Tyler Hansborough for most of two seasons ago and Troy Murphy gone this past season, Solomon has gotten some bigger more minutes, however, I remember reading something that Head Coach (at the time) Jim O’Brien said, that he wouldn’t be starting anymore because of his inability to rebound the basketball. If, however, he was playing significant minutes for a playoff team, he could certainly get a contract offer [granted the Pacers were the worst team in the playoffs (record-wise)].
-Josh McRoberts: McRoberts, another Pacer power forward will also be a free agent this offseason. If you remember, the Pacers nearly traded McRoberts and one of their draft picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for…O.J. Mayo!! Mayo is quite obviously MUCH more talented than McRoberts. I could see Josh resigning with the Pacers this summer. He’s a big guy with a solid inside game, nothing great, but a valuable reserve for any squad. I anticipate Indiana to keep him as a 2nd-stringer behind Hansborough.
-Reggie Evans: Evans, the biggest threat to Kevin Love for the rebounding title last season before he broke his foot. He’s an great rebounder, beyond that, NOTHING. Evans could certainly garner some interest because of that, but I don’t know how many teams are interested in a big man who can rebound and do nothing else.
-Jared Jeffries: From New York to Houston and back to New York once again. That’s the story for Jeffries who was a part of the Houston-New York deal that sent Tracy McGrady to New York and Jordan Hill & Jared Jeffries to Houston. Jeffries was waived around this past season’s trade deadline after the Rockets had to free up roster spots for Smith, Thabeet, Carroll etc. Jeffries then hopped back onto the Knicks and even started a few games at center, of course the Knicks were swept in the 1st round by the Celtics. Jeffries could resign to a few places, but I’d expect him to stay in New York, however, wherever he goes, he won’t get a whole lot of playing time.
-Leon Powe: Leon Powe was waived by the Cavs and later signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s a great young player who has been part of a few championship-caliber teams: Boston & Cleveland. Leon garnered some interest after he was waived and I would expect the same this summer. Wherever he goes, I’d expect him to sign with a solid team that’ll give him some play time, but not likely a team of championship-caliber, the Grizzlies? Perhaps, however, they’re looking more championship-caliber every game out in these playoffs (currently 1-1 against OKC).
-Steve Novak: Novak, like Radmonovic a tall three-point shooter and nothing else. He’s had stints mostly with the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. Beyond three-point shooting Novak wouldn’t be in the NBA. I’d expect him to catch on as a bench warmer for some team, but I couldn’t tell you who.
