Bernucca: A very early look at free agency

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

BRANDON JENNINGS, MILWAUKEE: The Bucks can and should keep him but likely will let another team set the market, then act on the Ellis/Redick dilemma accordingly.

NIKOLA PEKOVIC, MINNESOTA: Actually less of a risk than Howard or Bynum. The Wolves have to retain him if they want to keep Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio down the road, but it may take eight figures.

TIAGO SPLITTER, SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio will have the room to prevent him from getting to the open market and should retain him, given his clear improvement and Tim Duncan’s advancing age.

TYREKE EVANS, SACRAMENTO: Is he this generation’s Damon Stoudamire, a Rookie of the Year who never gets better? Or does he just need a change of scenery? At 23, can’t see new ownership letting him walk away for nothing.

JEFF TEAGUE, ATLANTA: In and of itself, re-signing him shouldn’t be difficult. But GM Danny Ferry has grand plans for the offseason, and he may have to risk asking Teague to be patient while he maximizes his cap space.

GERALD HENDERSON, CHARLOTTE: Has averaged about 14 points per game over last two seasons, not bad considering he doesn’t have a teammate who gets double-teamed. Just 25 and needs to be retained by Bobcats for stability.

GARY NEAL, SPURS: Does the presence of Danny Green and Nando de Colo make him expendable? Does another team get as much out of him as the Spurs have?

TYLER HANSBROUGH, INDIANA: Given Paul George’s emergence as an All-Star, it is possible that the Pacers may let West walk and plug in Hansbrough as the starting power forward. He will get attention on the open market.

DARREN COLLISON, MAVERICKS: Has spent the last two seasons raising questions about whether he is a starting point guard. Don’t know that the master plan can lure Chris Paul, but even Jose Calderon or Mo Williams would be upgrades.

ERIC MAYNOR, TRAIL BLAZERS: He has 26 games to prove that he is a backup point guard and not a third-string point guard. Given Portland’s lack of depth, he will have the opportunity.