Lawyers are trying to end the lockout before Christmas, but what if the NBA won't re-open it’s gates untill the summer of 2012?
A whole season would be lost obviously and as long as the lawsuits are settled, meaning a deal is reached at some point early next year, existing contracts will not be voided.
It also means the 2011 FA class will flow over into the 2012 FA class. Now that superstar point guards Chris Paul, Deron Williams and elite center Dwight Howard won’t have a chance to get traded during the season, the 2012 Free Agent class rivals the 2010 "Summer of LeBron" with them hitting the open market. In fact, half the league will hit the market. A total of 253 Players will become free agents by next summer, 81 of which restricted.
Wow!
Do you realize what fun that FA class would be? Do you realize that the league as we know it could radically, drastically change?
If the owners get their way in the ongoing CBA negotiations, free agency won't be quite the same as it has been in recent years. Some sort of punitive tax will make it harder for teams to sign players and who know’s what will happen to the various exceptions. That wouldn't affect guys like Howard and Paul, imho, they will still pull top salaries, but it could severly change the overall conditions under which this super entertaining summer of free agency will unfold.
Hardcap, Flexcap, no cap, I don’t know. What I do know is that half the league will be out of a job by next summer and teams will subsequently have oodles cash to burn!
Will Ted go all-in and give Ernie a blanco check to go out and get the supporting cast John Wall deserves? Will the Celtics sign and trade for CP3 sending Rondo and Green + picks to New Orleans and then sign DHoward for the max as well as Allen and Garnett on a vet minimum? Or will the Clippers get both of them sending Bledsoe, Gordon and Aminu + picks? And what about the Wizards chasing DHoward? The possibilities are endless….
If a true hard cap is installed, every team has the same chance to sign these guys while teams with higher payrolls (Lakers, Heat, NY) will have a disadvantage.
This could be so much fun I’m almost starting to hope this season is lost in it’s entirety.
Below I included a list of FA’s per position
Here is ESPN's total list per team that I used to make this list: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-11-12
(P) = Player option
(T) = Team Option
(ETO) = Rarly Termination Option
Point Guards
Unrestricted PG's
Kirk Hinrich 2012, Hawks
Carlos Aroyo 2011, Celtics
Delonte West 2011, Celtics
John Lucas III 2012, Bulls
Jannero Pargo 2012, Bulls
Baron Davis (ETO) 2012, Caveliers
Ramon Sessions (P) 2012, Caveliers
Jason Kidd 2012, Mavericks
André Miller 2012, Nuggets
Acie Law 2011, Wariors
Goran Dragic 2012, Rockets
T.J. Ford 2011, Pacers
Mo Williams 2012, Clippers
Derrick Fisher 2012, Lakers
Mike Bibby 2011, Heat
Eddie House 2012, Heat
Earl Boykins 2011, Bucks
Keyon Dooling 2012, Bucks
Benoh Udrih (P) 2012, Bucks
Sebastian Telfair 2011, Twolves
Ben Uzoh 2011, Nets
Jordan Farmar (P) 2012, Nets
Deron Williams (P) 2012, Nets
Marcus Banks 2011, Hornets
Chris Paul (P) 2012, Hornets
Chauncey Billups 2012, Knicks
Anthony Carter 2012, Knicks
Royal Ivey 2012, Thunder
Nate Robinson 2012, Thunder
Antonio Daniels 2011, 76ers
Steve Nash 2012, Suns
Raymond Felton 2012, Trailblazers
Pooh Jeter 2011, Kings
Chris Quinn 2011, Spurs
Ronnie Price 2011, Jazz
Earl Watson 2011, Jazz
Mustafa Sahkur 2011, Wizards
Restricted PG's
D.J. Augustin 2012, Bobcats
Derrick Rose 2012, Bulls
Rodney Stuckey 2011, Pistons
Jeremy Lin 2012, Wariors
George Hill 2012, Pacers
A.J. Price 2012, Pacers
Mario Chalmers 2011, Heat
Sundiata Gaines 2012, Nets
Russel Westbrook 2012, Thunder
Jameer Nelson (P) 2012, Magic
Aaron Brooks 2011, Suns
Zabian Dowdell 2012, Suns
Patrick Mills 2011, Trailblazers
Armon Johnson 2012, Trailblazers
Ishmael Smith 2012, Grizzlies
Jarryd Bayless 2012, Raptors
Shooting Guards
Unrestricted SG's
Jamal Crawford 2011, Hawks
Von Wafer 2011, Celtics
Ray Allen 2012, Celtics
Garret Temple 2011, Bobcats
Matt Carol (ETO) 2012, Bobcats
Rasual Butler 2011, Bulls
Keith Bogans 2012, Bulls
Anthony Parker 2011, Caveliers
JJ Barea 2011, Mavericks
DeShawn Stevenson 2011, Mavericks
Jason Terry 2012, Mavericks
J.R. Smith 2011, Nuggets
Tracey McGrady 2011, Pistons
Tayshaun Prince 2011, Pistons
Charlie Bell 2012, Wariors
Dahntey Jones (P) 2012, Pacers
Randy Foye 2012, Clippers
Shannon Brown 2011, Lakers
Michael Redd 2011, Bucks
Mario West 2012, Nets
Sasha Vujacic 2011, Nets
Willie Green 2012, Hornets
Roger Mason 2011, Knicks
Jason Richardson 2011, Magic
Vince Carter 2012, Suns
Leandro Barbosa 2012, Raptors
Restricted SG's
Alonzo Gee 2012, Caveliers
Manny Harris 2012, Caveliers
Rudy Fernandez 2012, Mavericks
Arron Afflalo 2011, Nuggets
Terrico White 2012, Pistons
Courtney Lee 2012, Rockets
Brandon Rush 2012, Pacers
Eric Gordon 2012, Clippers
Trey Johnson 2012, Lakers
O.J. Mayo 2012, Grizzlies
Marco Belinelli 2012, Hornets
Landry Fields 2012, Knicks
Bill Walker 2012, Knicks
Robert Vaden 2012, Thunder
Daequan Cook 2011, Thunder
Jodie Meeks 2012, Thunder
Marcus Thorthon 2011, Kings
Daniel Green 2012, Spurs
Sonny Weems 2011, Raptors
Nick Young 2011, Wizards
Othyus Jeffers 2011, Wizards
Small Forwards
Unrestricted SF's
Damien Wilkins 2011, Hawks
Sasha Pavlovic 2011, Celtics
Dominic McGuire 2011, Bobcats
Joey Graham 2012, Caveliers
Caron Butler 2011, Mavericks
Peja Stojakovic 2011, Mavericks
DaJuan Summers 2011, Pistons
Al Thornton 2011, Warriors
Radmanovic 2011, Warriors
Mike Dunleavy 2011, Pacers
James Posey 2012, Pacers
Jamario Moon 2011, Clippers
Matt Barnes 2012, Lakers
Shane Battier 2011, Grizzlies
James Jones 2011, Heat
Douglas-Roberts 2011, Bucks
Carlos Delfino 2012, Bucks
Stephen Graham 2012, Nets
Shawne Williams 2011, Knicks
Jason Kapono 2011, 76ers
Andres Nocioni (T) 2011, 76ers
Grant Hill 2011, Suns
Mickael Pietrus 2012, Suns
Gerald Wallace (P) 2012, Trail Blazers
Marquis Daniels 2011, Kings
Julian Wright 2011, Raptors
Andrei Kirilenko 2011, Jazz
Maurice Evans 2011, Wizards
Josh Howard 2011, Wizards
Restricted SF's
Jeff Green 2011, Celtics
Wilson Chandler 2011, Nuggets
Gary Forbes 2011, Nuggets
Danilo Gallinari 2012, Nuggets
Jonas Jerebko 2011, Pistons
Reggie Williams 2011, Warriors
Devin Ebanks 2012, Lakers
Sam Young 2012, Grizzlies
Derrick Brown 2011, Knicks
Nicolas Batum 2012, Trail Blazers
Donte Greene 2012, Kings
Larry Owens 2011, Wizards
Power Forwards
Unrestricted PF's
Josh Powell 2011, Hawks
Ethan Thomas 2012, Hawks
Glen Davis 2012, Celtics
Troy Murphy 2012, Celtics
Boris Diaw 2012, Bobcats
Eduardo Najera 2012, Bobcats
Brian Scalabrine 2011, Bulls
Antawn Jamison 2012, Caveliers
Brian Cardinal 2011, Mavericks
Kenyon Martin 2011, Nuggets
Chris Wilcox 2011, Pistons
Jason Maxiell (P) 2012, Pistons
Josh McRoberts 2011, Pacers
Craig Smith 2011, Clippers
Brian Cook 2012, Clippers
Joe Smith 2011, Lakers
Leon Powe 2011, Grizzlies
Juwan Howard 2011, Heat
Ersan Ilyasova 2012, Bucks
Kris Humphries 2011, Nets
Brandan Wright 2011, Nets
Carl Landry 2011, Hornets
Jason Smith 2011, Hornets
David West 2011, Hornets
Jared Jeffries 2011, Knicks
Malik Allen 2011, Magic
Earl Clark 2011, Magic
Brandon Bass (P) 2012, Magic
Darius Songaila 2011, 76ers
Elton Brand (ETO) 2012, 76ers
Earl Barron 2012, Trail Blazers
Darnell Jackson 2011, Kings
Steve Novak 2011, Spurs
Tim Duncan 2012, Spurs
Joey Dorsey 2011, Raptors
Reggie Evans 2011, Raptors
Yi Jianlian 2011, Wizards
Restricted PF's
Magnum Rolle 2012, Hawks
Kevin Garnett 2012, Celtics
Dante Cunningham 2011, Bobcats
D.J. White 2012, Bobcats
Luke Harangody 2012, Caveliers
Derrick Caracter 2012, Lakers
Darrell Arthur 2012, Grizzlies
Luc Mbah a Moute 2011, Bucks
Michael Beasley 2012, TWolves
Kevin Love 2012, TWolves
Anthony Randolph 2012, Twolvers
Ryan Anderson 2012, Magic
Thaddeus Young 2011, 76ers
Marreese Speights 2012, 76ers
Jason Thompson 2012, Kings
JJ Hickson 2012, Kings
Jeremy Evans 2012, Jazz
Centers
Unrestricted C's
Hilton Armstrong 2011, Hawks
Jason Collins 2011, Hawks
Nenad Krstic 2011, Celtics
Jermaine O'Neal 2012, Celtics
Kwame Brown 2011, Bobcats
Joel Przybilla 2011, Bobcats
DeSagana Diop (P) 2012, Bobcats
Kurt Thomas 2011, Bulls
Ryan Hollins 2012, Caveliers
Tyson Chandler 2011, Mavericks
Ian Mahinmi 2012, Mavericks
Melvin Ely 2011, Nuggets
Nene Hilario 2011, Nuggets
Ben Wallace 2012, Pistons
Louis Amundson 2012, Warriors
Chuck Hayes 2011, Rockets
Jeff Foster 2011, Pacers
Solomon Jones 2011, Pacers
Chris Kaman 2012, Clippers
Andrew Bynum (T) 2012, Lakers
Theo Ratliff 2011, Lakers
Erick Dampier 2011, Heat
Jamaal Magloire 2011, Heat
Anthony Tolliver 2012, Twolves
Dan Gadzuric 2011, Nets
Aaron Gray 2011, Hornets
D.J. Mbenga 2011, Hornets
Shelden Williams 2011, Knicks
Ronny Turiaf 2012, Knicks
Nazr Mohammed 2012, Thunder
D Howard (ETO) 2012, Magic
Tony Battie 2011, 76ers
Robin Lopez 2012, Suns
Garret Siler 2012, Suns
Marcus Camby 2012, Trail Blazers
Samuel Dalembert 2011, Kings
Antonio McDyess 2012, Spurs
Alexis Ajinca 2011, Raptors
Francisco Elson 2011, Jazz
Kyrylo Fesenko 2011, Jazz
Mehmet Okur 2012, Jazz
Restricted C's
Omer Asik 2012, Bulls
Semih Erden 2012, Caveliers
Kosta Koufos 2012, Nuggets
Roy Hibbert 2012, Pacers
DeAndre Jordan 2011, Clippers
Marc Gasol 2011, Grizzlies
Hamed Haddadi 2011, Grizzlies
Brook Lopez 2012, Nets
David Andersen 2012, Hornets
Spencer Hawes 2011, 76ers
Greg Oden 2011, Trail Blazers
Chris Johnson 2012, Trail Blazers
Solomon Alabi (T) 2012, Raptors
Hamady Ndiaye 2011, Wizards
JaVale McGee 2012, Wizards