Breaking Down the Free Agent Landscape

As a follow up to this morning's post in which Sir Charles thinks that the Sixers should avoid Josh Smith and other big name free agents this off season, I thought Chad Ford's article today is a good read. Ford breaks down all the top free agents as well as the teams with cap space who may be likely to bid on them. It's a great summary of the current free agent landscape.

Of interest to me was the fact that Ford lists Andre Iguodala as the top restricted free agent ahead of Atlanta's Josh Smith.

1. Andre Iguodala, Sixers: Iguodala's decision to turn down a $57 million deal last summer is tough to justify. At the time, the Sixers appeared to be the only team with significant cap room; I'm not sure where he thought his next paycheck would come from. He had a great regular season, but a woeful postseason has put his stock back in check. He's coveted by the Grizzlies, but the chances of them prying him away from Philly look very slim.

2. Josh Smith, Hawks: On talent and potential, Smith should be on top of this list. He's a freakish athlete who can score, rebound and block shots. What holds him back is a questionable attitude. Nonetheless it appears the Hawks have to re-sign him.

Given the Hawks' ownership woes, Smith is one of the few restricted free agents a team with cap space may try to pluck away -- the same way the Hawks did with Joe Johnson a few years ago. I could see the Sixers making a run at him.

Comments

[Kulp]

I know a lot of people like Josh Smith, and I won't pretend to know too much about him, but if attitude is a concern I'm not so sure he's likely to wind up a Sixer. It's rumored that a poor attitude is one of the reasons the team isn't necessarily interested in reaching a long term deal with Iguodala, and that seems to be a much bigger secret than it has with Smith.

I have to agree with Chuck, there is no need to make a splash in free agency this season just because they can. Free agency will be much better next year. I would be interested in adding Gilbert Arenas, but no one after that excites me.

[GreggyD]

I would add Arenas too, but he will command way too much money, and I don't want signing him to be a burden to putting a decent team around him due to a lack of funds in the future. I don't think the Sixers will get Josh Smith, I don't even see why there is so much hype around him. I'm just not a fan.

Chad Ford mentioned, and I am happy to hear it, that the Sixers might be interested in Jose Calderon. I think we all know that Andre Miller will not be around after this year whether it's because he is dealt or he leaves via free agency. Calderon can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc (he shot 43%) and can dish the ball (8.3 apg). I have a feeling he would be an Andre Miller type guard for the Sixers with the pass-first mind. He is restricted, but would be a great addition.

Nenad Krstic wouldn't be a bad addition either, even if it meant just giving Jason Smith and Marreese Speights some time to grow into the starter role. To have Dalembert and Krstic on the floor with Smith and Speights spelling them wouldn't be too bad.

[Dan]

Apparently you guys did not watch the Hawks-Boston series. Smith, along with Johnston, were the only reason the Hawks took the Celts to 7. The kid is sick and he is only 22. Apropos the attitude, he is still young and plays for the Hawks. Who, up until this year, were a bottom dweller for his whole career. Who wouldn't be sour? Philly has a bunch of young high character guys, he would do fine.

[Dan]

Add Arenas? Are you nuts? You want another no position, undersized, shoot first guard? We had one of the greatest small guards ever and couldnt get it done.