Updated NBA Free Agent Watch

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NBA Free Agent Watch

by Chad Ford

Wednesday, July 24 Updated 12:49 PM EST

A quiet weekend doesn't bode well for the plethora of free agents still looking for jobs. The players who are signing are either doing it on the cheap, like Scott Williams and Jacque Vaughn, or are quickly eating away teams' mid-level exceptions.

Here's a list of the key signings so far:

Chauncey Billups, Pistons (6 years, $35 million)

Devean George, Lakers (4 years, $18.9 million)

Larry Hughes, Wizards (3 years, $15 million)

Jerome James, Sonics (3 years, $15 million)

Bruce Bowen, Spurs (3 years, $11.25 million)

Cezary Trybanski, Grizzlies (3 years, $4.8 million)

Earl Watson, Grizzlies (3 years, $4 million)

Danny Ferry, Spurs (2 years, $???)

Scott Williams, Suns (1 year, $1 milllion)

Jacque Vaugh, Magic (1 year, $700,000)

Bruno Sundov, Pacers (1 year, $637,435)

Ryan Bowen, Nuggets (1 year, $587,435)

Olumide Oyedeji, Magic (1 year, $587,435)

Here's our updated look at the top 20 free agents this summer.

Complete 2002 free-agent list | Updated Depth Charts

Eastern Conf. Free Agent Preview | Western Conf. Free Agent Preview

Key: (P) = player option to opt out | ® = restricted free agent

Top 2002 Free Agents

1. Michael Olowokandi, C, L.A. Clippers ®

Interested teams: Clippers, Knicks, Mavs, Blazers, Bulls

Salary demands: The Max

Eleven days into the free-agent negotiating period and Michael Olowokandi, along with the rest of us, are still waiting to see if Clippers owner Donald Sterling will open up his wallet and start paying for some of his young stars. Olowokandi's agent, Bill Duffy, told Insider Wednesday that he has yet to have any substantive discussions with the Clippers about a contract for Olowokandi. Duffy said he has yet to meet with the Clippers though he has had several brief phone conversations with them. Duffy said the Clippers have yet to tell him what they are thinking in terms of compensating Olowokandi and thus refused to speculate on the likelihood of working out a deal. He said he hopes to sit down with GM Elgin Baylor sometime next week to start hammering out a contract. Still, it's looking more and more likely that Olowokandi, who's a restricted free agent, may just take the Clippers' one-year, $6 million tender and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when as many as eight teams would have the cap room to sign him.

2. Mike Bibby, G, Sacramento ®

Interested teams: Kings

Salary demands: The Max

Bibby made at least an extra $30 million in the playoffs this year. However, negotiations between the two sides seem stalled. The Kings and Mike Bibby's agent, David Falk, have been negotiating a new contract for more than two weeks. But it appears the sides are nowhere close to an agreement.

3. Rashard Lewis, F, Seattle (P)

Interested teams: Sonics, Rockets, Mavs, Bulls

Salary demands: The Max

A Sonics source confirmed to ESPN Insider Tuesday that there is a growing chance that Lewis may leave the team. Lewis, according to the source, has told teammates that negotiations with the Sonics are "no longer about money," and he will seek to find a better situation for himself elsewhere. While the Sonics can still, by far, offer Lewis the most money, they haven't. Lewis has yet to receive an "official" offer. However, the team has floated numbers on a seven-year deal that's reportedly worth between $49 and $52 million. That's well below the $90 million Lewis' camp thinks he deserves. That's why he'll fly to Dallas (the Tacoma News Tribune reported it Monday and the Dallas Morning News confirmed it in today's editions) to meet with Mark Cuban. The Mavs don't particularly need Lewis, but he's a hell of a luxury and they would be more than willing to throw their full mid-level exception his way. If Lewis is serious, the Mavs won't be the only team that tries to get in on the action. Insider has learned that the Bulls, 76ers, Raptors, Jazz, T-Wolves, and yes, the Knicks, have all inquired about Lewis the last few days. And the Rockets hold the ultimate trump card; they're the team Lewis wants to play for. They too are now showing major interest in Lewis. The Sonics could be in real trouble.

4. Raef LaFrentz, C, Dallas ®

Signed with: Mavs

Salary: 7 years/$60 million

He never got a chance to to pull Shaq away from the basket so the rest of the Mavs could make a run at the Lakers. Don't expect them to trash the plan so quickly. Mark Cuban can afford to keep LaFrentz and has given every indication that he will. Will he get the max? The two sides have agreed to a seven-year, $60 million contract, but it still isn't signed.

5. Keon Clark, F/C, Toronto (U)

Interested teams: 76ers, Knicks, Magic, Jazz, Heat

Salary demands: Starting at $6-$7 million

On Monday, the Raptors withdrew their $3 million qualifying offer, making Clark an unrestricted free agent and essentially ending his tenure with the Raptors. "It wasn't a matter of us not wanting Keon or Keon not wanting to come back here," Raptors GM Glen Grunwald said. "It was the new landscape that we're operating in the NBA. ... A fair contract to Keon would turn into an unfair contract for the Raptors because of the payments we would have to make for the luxury tax." Clark hopes that he can still find a team willing to use its full $4.5 mid-level exception on him. He should have a few takers. Clark's agent, Jim Mourer, told Insider Tuesday that neither the Knicks nor the Heat are showing much interest in Clark. Only three teams, the Magic, Sixers and Kings, have shown "serious" interest, according to Mourer.

6. Bonzi Wells, G, Blazers ®

Interested teams: Blazers, Bulls, 76ers, Heat, T-Wolves

Salary demands: Starting at $6-$7 million

He's made lots of enemies in Portland, but since when has that ever bothered the Blazers? Wells' scoring ability is off the charts, but his defense and ability to share with his teammates are big question marks. The word around the league is that Wells is on the trading block. GM Bob Whitsitt said it isn't true "The only way we wouldn't have Bonzi back is if some offer is so totally out of line that we choose not to match it," GM Bob Whitsitt told the Oregonian. "That doesn't mean he can't go out and get $8 million, he just has to find a team that has $8 million who says he is worth $8 million. Then if he signs that sheet, we are in a difficult position, where we have to ask ourselves if we can fit him in our structure for $8 million, or is that too much and we have to let him go." Bonzi may be better off taking a team's full mid-level exception somewhere else. If the Blazers tried to match the offer, Wells couldn't be traded for one year without his permission.

7. Malik Rose, F, San Antonio

Interested teams: Spurs, Lakers, Magic

Salary demands: 7 years, $42 million

Rose has been a valiant backup for Tim Duncan these last few years. Now it looks like the Spurs have rewarded him for his loyalty. According to the San Antonio Express News, Rose will sign a seven-year, $42 million with the Spurs in the next few days.

8. Rodney Rogers, F, Boston

Interested teams: 76ers, Heat, Mavs, T-Wolves

Salary demands: The full mid-level exception

The Celtics have basically given up on re-signing Rodney Rogers after owner Paul Gaston gave GM Chris Wallace strict orders not to go over the tax. With the Celtics are the verge of trading for Vin Baker, Rogers days in Boston look over. The Sixers have shown the most interest, but a lot depends on what they do with Matt Harpring.

9. Rasho Nesterovic, C, Minnesota ®

Interested teams: T-Wolves, Knicks, Blazers, Grizzlies, Pistons

Salary demands: A contract starting at $5 million

Nesterovic's agent, Bill Duffy, met with the Knicks and came up with a game plan that they hope will ultimately lead to the Knicks acquiring the 7-foot center via trade. However, Wolves GM Kevin McHale told Duffy that he won't trade Rasho. Instead, McHale said the two sides have discussed signing a long-term deal with the Wolves, but nothing is imminent. "I think we're better off waiting for the smoke to clear and then going from there," McHale told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. While the Wolves hold a big trump card -- Nesterovic is a restricted free agent, meaning the Wolves can match any offer sheet -- they aren't completely in control. Nesterovic could decide to take the Wolves' one-year tender offer if the team refuses to work out a trade, and then becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

10. Donyell Marshall, F, Utah

Interested teams: Jazz, Raptors

Salary demands: A contract starting at $6-$7 million

The Jazz offered him a deal of three years for $21 million and then upped it to four years for $27 million. Marshall still thinks he's getting lowballed. His agent has the Jazz talking to the Raptors about a potential sign-and-trade that would send free agent Donyell Marshall to Toronto in return for Jerome Williams and Michael Bradley. The Raptors are believed to be offering a six-year deal. With Devean George out of the picture, the Jazz may push for free agent Keon Clark to be part of any deal.

12. Michael Redd, G, Milwaukee ®

Interested teams: Bucks, Jazz, Nuggets, T-Wolves, Nets

Salary demands: The mid-level exception

Redd's unbelievable play this year in the absence of Ray Allen has a lot of teams buzzing. He's a good long-range shooter and can put the ball on the floor. Redd has been play the field a bit and the Jazz are interested but the Bucks are determined to match just about any offer.

12. Matt Harpring, F, Philadelphia (U)

Interested teams: 76ers, Bulls

Salary demands: The mid-level exception

Larry Brown has a love-hate relationship with his small forwards, and it hasn't helped that Harpring is asking for a contract for no more than mid-level exception. Now that the Sixers have withdrew their tender offer he should be free to join the team he wants. The Bulls appear to be the most interested.

13. Jeff McInnis, G, L.A. Clippers

Interested teams: Blazers, Heat, Knicks, Celtics, Pacers, T-Wolves

Salary demands: The mid-level exception

The Clippers' financial issues, along with the emergence of 2000 draft pick Marko Jaric, mean that McInnis is gone. That's fine with McInnis, who had issues of his own with the Clipps. The Blazers have been looking for a big guard for some time. However, McInnis' demands, the full mid-level exception, don't really match the market.

14. Travis Best, G, Chicago

Interested teams: Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Warriors, T-Wolves, Pacers

Salary demands: The mid-level exception

The Bulls won't need to re-sign the diminutive point guard now that they've drafted Duke's Jay Williams. Several teams, like the Bucks, Knicks, Heat, Warriors, T-Wolves and Pacers, are looking for a point guard. The Bucks, in search of a veteran backup point guard ever since last season, has shown an interest in Bulls free agent Travis Best, the Milwauke Journal Sentinel reported. Best's agent, Forrest King, went so far as to say that there appeared to be a good chance that Best would be joining the Bucks next season. "That's a distinct possibility," King said. "That would be a perfect fit for us. But Milwaukee still has some things they haven't quite settled."

15. Ricky Davis, G, Cleveland ®

Interested teams: Cavs

Salary demands: The full mid-level exception

The Cavs want to sign Davis to a three-year, $15 million contract. Davis wants at least five years and $35 million, Alonge Davis, Ricky's brother, told the Akron Beacon Journal. Davis' brother, Alonge, said the Nuggets are the top suitor for Davis, with Minnesota second. "Denver wants him pretty bad," he said. "They want him to come in and start." That may not be completely unworkable. Cavs coach John Lucas has been in love with Nuggets swingman James Posey since his days coaching the Nuggets. Posey was available around draft time and it's always possible that the two teams could agree to a sign-and-trade.

16. Bruce Bowen, G, San Antonio (P)

Signed by:: Spurs

Salary: 3 years, $11 million

The team re-signed Bowen to a three-year, $11.2 million contract Tuesday. Bowen kept everything in perspective. "This is new for me," Bowen told the San Antonio Express News. "I'm not a player you can build a team around. I understand my role here, and that is to defend, shoot open shots and just play basketball." Bowen's signing leaves the Spurs with about $1 million remaining from their $4.5 million mid-level exception.

17. Greg Buckner, DAL

Interested teams: 76ers

Salary demands: 3 years, $18 million

According to published reports in Dallas and Philly, the 76ers have reached an agreement with Buckner. However, the Sixers are working with the Mavs trying to get a sign-and-trade. Expect something to be completed this week.

18. Pat Garrity, F, ORL ®

Interested teams: Magic

Salary demands: The full mid-level exception

The Magic appear to be on the verge of re-signing Garrity. A team official said general manager John Gabriel has been negotiating with his agent, Lon Babby and that anagreement could be in place by the end of the week, the Daytona News Journal reported.

19. Bryon Russell, F, Utah

Interested teams: Mavs, Heat

Salary demands: The mid-level exception

The Jazz decided to cut Russell loose so that they can sign Calbert Cheaney. While GM Kevin O'Connor said the signing of Cheaney isn't imminent, it looks like the two sides are close to an agreement that will probably give Cheaney the $1.4 million veteran's exception. . Russell has been negotiating with the Mavs for the last few weeks, and was close to a deal with the Mavs. However, with Rashard Lewis now in the picture, Russell's money could quickly evaporate. The Heat have also been considering Russell, but seem to be leaning toward bringing back Jimmy Jackson if he'll take a one-year, $1 million contract.

20. Rod Strickland, MIA

Interested teams: Heat, Pacers

Salary demands: two year deal

The Heat are offering Strickland a one-year deal. He's been shopping himself around the league looking for something better. The Pacers have some interest, but two years seems like too much for Strickland.

Best of the Rest:

Charles Oakley, CHI

Tyrone Nesby, WAS

Troy Hudson, ORL

Darvin Ham, MIL

Popeye Jones, WAS

Eduardo Najera, DAL ®

Lee Nailon, NO ®

Jim Jackson, MIA

Walt Williams, HOU

Restricted Free Agents note: Their current team has the right to match ANY offer made by another team. If one of these players really wants to move on, he should get himself a one-year deal and wait to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of '03.

Things get a little better in the summer of 2003.

Tim Duncan (SA) , Alonzo Mourning (MIA), Gary Payton (SEA), Sam Cassell (MIL), Elden Campbell (CHA), P.J. Brown (CHA), Juwan Howard (DAL), Steve Smith (SA), and Clifford Robinson (DET) are all eligible to be free agents in 2003.

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[Hawksfreak]

Does anyone think we have any chance of getting Keon Clark? I think we have a good chance.

[DJ_Money]

Hawksfreak, if we see Clark in an Atlanta uniform next season, I'll uh...run through Phillips naked or something.

I pray that we see Bonzi Wells in a Hawks' uni next season, but there's probably about a 2% chance of it happening, unfortunately.

[capstone21]

rest. That is good for the Hawks becuase I think they will resign him at a very resonable price.

[Traceman]

with Philly. Ira may be better but he's certainly not a LOT better than Williams and Williams has proven himself over a much longer period of time. Maybe I'm missing something but actually, I don't see a whole lot of difference between Bruce Bowen (who signed for 3 yrs/$11 million) and Williams (who signed for 2 yrs/$1.4 million).

[jaywalker72]

But before we give PHL the ribbon for realizing this, they turn around and give a SIX year contract to Greg Buckner?

Six years? Was that necessary? Don't they already have players that do what Buckner does?

Six years, 18 million for Buckner as they are stealing Monty for 2 years at the minimum.

Wouldn't you think they looked at each other as they were negotiating with both parties and say "Dang, if we could get Monty for the minimum, and for two years, couldn't we get someone who does what Buckner does just the same?"

Yes, you can.

ORL got Vaughn for the minimum (allegedly), and understands that unless the guy is irreplaceable, there really is no need to overpay, especially with the cap being what it is.

Ira's agent can point to Bowen and Buckner and say that Ira is just as worthy of a big contract as they are, but Pete can point to Monty, Jacque, and the inordinate amount of third tier free agents that are out there who fill the same skill set as Ira.