NBA 2012 free agent predictions

[bonafide555]

What are your predictions for the free agent crop this year? I am only predicting the top 5 free agents at each position according to me. So lets get started!

Best available point guards:

1) Deron Williams, Nets
I have Deron Williams leaving New Jersey to go to the Mavericks. Funny how these two franchises connect. Jason Kidd gets traded to the Mavericks from the Nets, the Nets use some of the assets they got in the Kidd trade to get Deron Williams, and now Williams is going to Dallas, where he grew up.
2) Steve Nash, Suns
I have Nash having four possibilites. Staying with the Suns: 25% Probably won't happen. Nash needs a title, and the Suns are rebuilding. Going to the Knicks: 40% I can see him going to the Knicks and Mentoring Jeremy Lin. Retiring: 5% Not unless he suffers some career altering injury, i dont see him retiring until he wins a title. Going to the Heat: 30% This would make Miami instantly the Top team in the East, and the 2nd best in the NBA. I have the Heat drafting a defensive center such as Fab Melo in the Draft, so Nash will have 4 good and great defensive players masking his dificincies in on-ball D, at least in the starting lineup. Add in Shane Battier, and Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf, who are great for their size, and the Heat have the top defensive team in the NBA, besides the Bulls and Celtics.
3) Jeremy Lin, Knicks
Hes a RFA, hes staying with the Knicks, no questions asked.
4) Jason Terry, Mavericks
He will not stay in Dallas, but I have him as a 50/50 chance to go to the Mavericks Rival lakers, and going to the......Wizards(!). He could take up 1/3 the MLE and likely team with a returning Lamar Odom to give the Lakers a vastly improved bench from what they have this year. I can see him putting on a mentor role with the Wizards, who desperately need maturity and veteran leadership.
5) Goran Dragic, Rockets
This might come as a suprise to some people, but I have Dragic going to the Raptors, which would instantly make the Raptors everyones favorite international team, with Bargnani, Calderon, Jamal Magloire (who is actually Canadian, bet you didnt know that!), Solomon Alabi, Linas Kleiza, Aaron Gray (who is also Canadian), and a international sounding name in Amir Johnson. This team would honestly be the perfect to lead the international basketball market if one of them is on a medal winning team in the Olympics.

I'll post up SGs tomorrow.

 

[bonafide555]

I really have no idea where Deron Williams will end up, but he probably wont be with the Nets anymore next season. I think Steve Nash will go to some veteran team without a PG. Possibly the Heat, but I really hope not.

 

[Homerunsox2005]

Best available shooting guards:

1) Eric Gordon, Hornets
I have Gordon staying with the Hornets. I do not think he can pass up being a franchise cornerstone for a "rebuilding" ( I use that term loosely because part of their terrible record this year was due to injuries) Hornets team with two lottery picks in this year's draft.
2) O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies
I have Mayo going back to Indiana and the Pacers, where he won Mr. Basketball in high school. They are a guard heavy team, so they will most likely need to trade a guard or two away if they want to make room for him.
3) Ray Allen, Celtics
I have Ray Allen 50/50 on staying in Boston or going to Lob City and the Clippers. Him staying in Boston will most likely hinge on A) how they preform this year and B) if KG stays. If the Celtics make it to the finals this year and KG stays, I have him staying in Boston. I can see him going to the Clippers to help with their lack of wing scoring this year, and mentoring Eric Bledsoe and the inexperienced Clipper Squad because let's face it, did you see them blow that lead yesterday and how his experience would have helped?
4) J.R. Smith, Knicks
He will stay in New York, his free agent stock took a MAJOR hit this year, and according to insider sources,his family wants him to stay in NYC.
5) Gerald Green, Nets
I see him going to a team like the Celtics or the Grizziles as a sixth man, as his ceiling, in my opinion, is a role player off the bench on a competitive team.