11. DeJuan Blair (Power Forward, San Antonio Spurs)
The Washington Wizards have put serious thought into signing John Wall to a maximum contract extension and may be considering bringing Nate Robinson aboard as well. The team has expressed interest in signing Blair, and according to Adam Zagoria, the interest is mutual. No ACLs aside, Blair is the quintessential banger, and would help Nene and Emeka Okafor turn their frontline into a maul-house.
12. Byron Mullens (Center, Charlotte Bobcats)
The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the first teams to call Mullens after the Bobcats opted to not extend him a qualifying offer that would have made him a restricted free agent. It is the Clippers, though, who are said to be closing in on a deal with him. Over the course of his career, Mullens has averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, though those numbers jumped last season. As a member of the Charlotte Bobcats, he averaged 10.4 points and grabbed 6.4 rebounds. He also had seven double-doubles last season. JULY 20 UPDATE: Has reached agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $2 million deal.
13. Ivan Johnson (Power Forward, Atlanta Hawks)
Johnson has had his moments as a member of the Atlanta Hawks and may still be brought back, but the team opted not to extend him a qualifying offer before the July 1 deadline. Why? General manager Danny Ferry did not want to tie up his cap space. Johnson’s hustle and brute force under the basket made him a fan favorite in Atlanta, where the Hawks had to play 30 games without Zaza Pachulia, whose season ended prematurely after undergoing surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon. Over the final 10 games of the regular season, Johnson averaged 13 points and 6.3 rebounds—numbers that merit rotation minutes as a big.
14. Timofey Mozgov [R] (Center, Denver Nuggets)
With Samuel Dalembert finally agreeing to terms with the Dallas Mavericks and Elton Brand being taken off of the market by the Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Kings are said to have a level of interest in restricted free agent Mozgov. The Russian-born center was one of the components of the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks back in 2011, and Timo’s ability to slip picks, run the floor, and finish at the rim is what got him noticed by Donnie Walsh back when he was running the Knicks. He had his moments in Denver, and may find himself on the right side of a recruiting pitch or two. Two Februarys ago, he was the Most Important Man in the NBA.
15. Anthony Tolliver (Power Forward, Atlanta Hawks)
Tolliver made a name for himself back in the 2009-10 season as a sweet shooting big man playing for Don Nelson’s Golden State Warriors. He averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for a team that won just 26 games. A year later, his minutes dwindled as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he managed to hit 41 percent of his 3-pointers. Since then, his minutes have steadily declined, as has his notoriety. He is just 28 and has a lot of basketball left.
16. Drew Gooden (Power Forward, Milwaukee Bucks)
Gooden took to Twitter to thank Bucks fans for supporting him and will change teams for the ninth time in 12 years. After being selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the fourth pick in the 2002 draft, Gooden never lived up to the lofty expectations that many had for him. But he proved himself to be a stable, steady contributor over the course of his career and has a reputation for being a good guy on and off the court. Now 32 years old, Gooden saw his minutes slashed last season, but in 2011-12—just one year ago—he averaged 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. He can be had for a veteran’s minimum deal in all likelihood, and at that price is a steal.
17. Kenyon Martin (Power Forward, New York Knicks)
At this point, there is good reason to believe that Martin ends up staying with the Knicks. The Knicks lost out on Elton Brand and still need another big body. Martin’s shooting ability is non-existent, but he is as athletic a 35-year-old who was Mike Woodson’s preferred choice (over Amare Stoudemire) in the playoffs. The only other team that has reportedly registered interest in Martin is the San Antonio Spurs.
18. Bobby Brown (Point Guard, Montepaschi Siena)
What can Brown do for you? That is what the New York Knicks want to know. The Knicks, still in need of another point guard, have worked out Brown twice, and a few in NBA circles noticed his high-level of play this past season in Italy. After reportedly impressing the Knicks in his workouts, his stock is climbing a bit, though it seems likely that if he plays in the NBA next season, it will be in Gotham City. The money in China might be better, though.
19. Antawn Jamison (Power Forward, Los Angeles Lakers)
For his entire career, Jamison has been the epitome of a “Stretch-4” and can still provide some shooting ability off the bench. Last season with the Lakers, he averaged just 9.4 points but is still only one year removed from scoring 17.4 points as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Los Angeles Clippers were linked to Jamison, but since the pursuit of Byron Mullens has ramped up, he may soon have one less suitor.
20. Royal Ivey (Point Guard, Philadelphia 76ers)
Ivey has made a living as an NBA player by being a plus-defender on the perimeter and by hitting the occasional open 3-point shot. The 31-year old New York City product has not received minutes by the truckload but remains a reliable contributor off the bench and certainly worth a look.
21. Corey Maggette (Small Forward, Detroit Pistons): Still adept at getting to the free-throw line. Not so adept at making the playoffs.
22. Baron Davis (Point Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent): Ready to attempt a comeback after sitting out last season and being abducted by aliens a couple weeks ago.
23. Leandro Barbosa (Shooting Guard, Washington Wizards): Likely to get a deal if he plays well in August’s FIBA Americas Tournament for Brazil. JULY 20 UPDATE: Has an offer on the table from the Dallas Mavericks, according to his brother and agent, who says the Bulls are interested, too.
24. Alan Anderson (Small Forward, Toronto Raptors): 10.7 points and 2.3 rebounds for the Raps last season. Not bad.
25. Marcus Camby (Center, Toronto Raptors): Couldn’t get on the floor last season after the Knicks paid a high price for him but still worth a shot after taking a buyout following the Andrea Bargnani trade. July 20 UPDATE: The Rockets are the leading contender to acquire him if he clears waivers Sunday. But the Heat are interested, too.
OTHERS: Luke Walton, Richard Hamilton, Luke Walton, Raja Bell.
Moke Hamilton is a Senior NBA Columnist for SheridanHoops.com, covering the NBA’s free agency period. Follow him on Twitter: @MokeHamilton
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haa… been through that many times as the one being asked for sceuhdle…frankly, the deadline isn’t determined by the workload. many times, decision and sceuhdle have been made in the management level. being asked for the deadline is just a false democracy in which whatever deadline suggested by the asked gets thrown out the windows and then stuffed with a pre-determined date (with buffer to save the boss’ ass) down the asked’s throat.that’s been my experience for all past five jobs….