Updated: May 12, 2005, 12:38 PM ET
Kwame's stock may actually be rising
While every player in the postseason is battling hard for the ultimate prize – an NBA championship – it's no secret that many have multiple agendas this time of year.
For the handful of players heading into free agency, the playoffs are the ultimate showcase for leadership, heart and the ability to make clutch shots.
Remember Austin Croshere's inspired performance against the Lakers in the 2000 Finals? He got a $60 million contract off that, even though he averaged just 10.3 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game that season for Indiana. He hasn't come close to those numbers since.
Also, poor performance can hurt you. No one wants to be labeled as a guy who can't put up numbers when it really matters.
With that in mind, which players have helped or hurt their free-agent stock this year? Here is Insider's first free-agent stock watch:
Stock Up
Kwame Brown, F, Wizards
Playoff averages: 3 games, 5 ppg, 5 rpg
The skinny: Getting kicked off the Wizards' roster was the best thing that could have happened to Brown – short of his averaging 20 and 10 in the playoffs. The chances of that happening were slim, which means he would have stumbled into free agency in the absolute worst position possible.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Kwame Brown[/size]
[size=-2]Forward-Center
Washington Wizards[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]42[/size][size=-2]7.0[/size][size=-2]4.9[/size][size=-2]0.9[/size][size=-2].460[/size][size=-2].574[/size]Brown would have been one of those restricted free agents with upside but not enough production to warrant a team's sticking its neck out to offer him a big contract. That means Brown likely would have been in the same boat that Stromile Swift was in last year.
The Wizards would have offered Brown a low-ball, long-term deal with the caveat that they would match any offer sheet he might get from another team. No other team would have been willing to offer Brown huge dollars to scare the Wizards away from matching. And no one would have wanted to tie up a chunk of its cap room or its full mid-level exception while the Wizards took the full 15 days to contemplate matching a more reasonable offer.
At the end of the day, like Swift, Brown would have been forced to take the Wizards' one-year tender offer and hope his fortunes improved before he became an unrestricted free agent in 2006.
That route hasn't worked out for free agents who have taken it in the recent past. It becomes a wasted year. The pressure is too intense on the player, and the team loses interest knowing the player likely will bolt after the season, anyway. But it would have been especially disastrous for Kwame.
He needs to get out of Washington. There was a time when Brown looked like he had the talent and the mental makeup to be a superstar. Many more general managers than Michael Jordan believed that. But the constant pressure of playing with Jordan in his first two years, combined with injuries and chemistry issues his past two, have poisoned the well in Washington.
When Brown actually was healthy enough to play this year, he was frustrated with the lack of touches he'd get. When Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison – three of the NBA's biggest gunners – are on your team, you're not going to get a lot of shots. That wasn't going to change, no matter how much Brown matured.
Now he has a free ticket out the door. The minute the Wizards suspended him, the signal was sent. Kwame is available. The Wizards may pound their chest and say they intend to keep him, but no one will believe them now. What kind of message does it send to the rest of the team to reward a guy you kicked off the team by signing him to a fat, long-term, guaranteed deal? It's not going to happen.
That frees up teams like the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers and possibly the Sonics and Bucks to make a strong run at Brown. While most teams understand his flaws, they still look at him as a 23-year-old, 7-foot, 265-pounder with amazing athleticism and skills for his size. Every team can rationalize signing a guy like that to a deal for $5 million or $6 million per year. Every team believes it has the right coaching staff and supporting players to bring out the best in a kid with that much upside.
What Brown did was stupid (and par for the course). But in the long run, he actually will benefit from it. The Wizards? The best they can hope for at this point is a sign-and-trade with a team already over the cap. That's a possibility now that it's clear he won't be back in Washington next season.
Ray Allen, SG, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 27.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4 apg, 51 percent shooting from the field, 44 percent from 3
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Ray Allen[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Seattle SuperSonics[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]78[/size][size=-2]23.9[/size][size=-2]4.4[/size][size=-2]3.7[/size][size=-2].428[/size][size=-2].883[/size]The skinny: While Brown's upside is purely contractual, Allen has been playing like a superstar. He was arguably the best player in the first round of the playoffs, averaging a stunning 32.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers against the Kings. An ankle injury (and Bruce Bowen's defense) has slowed him down thus far against the Spurs, but his PER (player efficiency rating) for the playoffs is off the charts at 30.1.
What's even more remarkable is that Brown, who has done nothing, has more free-agent buzz than Allen at the moment. The problem for Allen is age (he turns the dreaded 30 in July) and contract demands. Allen wants a big contract, something the Sonics have balked at. If Allen doesn't get Seattle to pony up the cash, he's going to struggle to find it in the open market. Most teams with cash are so bad (Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans) that they won't want to spend all their money on one veteran. It's beside the point, anyway. Allen doesn't want to play for a bad team.
That leaves the Cavs, Bucks (if Michael Redd leaves) and Clippers. All three are possibilities, but none has the championship aspirations Allen does. That leaves him with a tough decision. Does he sign for less and stay in Seattle? Or does he try to force a sign-and-trade? That might be Allen's best shot at bringing home a big payday. A team with championship aspirations might be willing to fork over the cash (and the compensation to Seattle) that it takes to bring him in. The way Allen has played so far, he's proving he still might be worth it
Joe Johnson, SG, Suns
Playoff averages: 6 games, 19 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 apg; 52 percent shooting from the field, 56 percent from 3
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Joe Johnson[/size]
[size=-2]Guard-Forward
Phoenix Suns[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]82[/size][size=-2]17.1[/size][size=-2]5.1[/size][size=-2]3.5[/size][size=-2].461[/size][size=-2].750[/size]The skinny: With the years that Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion are having, Johnson has been the forgotten one. He doesn't do the spectacular things those three do, but he did rank second in the league in 3-point field-goal percentage this year, shooting nearly 48 percent from behind the arc.
He actually has improved his percentage in the playoffs, hitting a stunning 56 percent on 3s. When you factor in that Johnson takes nearly four 3s a game, that's remarkable. He fractured the orbital bone in his face Wednesday night and will miss Game 3, but the injury has a positive free-agency spin. Not only did his absence in the second half prove that the Suns struggle without him on the floor – it also reminded all of us that Johnson hasn't missed a game in the past three years. It's rare to find that kind of durability these days.
Johnson will be a restricted free agent this summer and should generate enormous interest. Given his age (23), size, versatility and shooting acumen, he should be near the top of the second tier of free agents. The Suns have to be kicking themselves a bit for passing up a chance to sign him to an extension last fall for a little more than the mid-level. Look for teams such as the Bobcats, Hornets and Cavs to show serious interest. If they offer him a big deal, the Suns might not match.
Jerome James, C, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 14 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 bpg on 53 percent shooting
The skinny: James would have topped this list had we made it last week. Against the Kings, he averaged a stunning 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds and shot 58 percent. Considering he averaged 4.9 points and three rebounds for the year, there was no one who turned it on more during the playoffs.
Did James suddenly get motivated because it's a contract year? Or was the Kings' porous defense the real issue?
It might have been some of both. While James still is playing hard, his numbers against the Spurs (6 ppg on 35 percent shooting and 4.5 rpg) are much closer to what we're used to seeing from him.
Still, the die already has been cast. He has shown enough of a pulse in the playoffs that someone will throw him a multi-year contract worth something close to the mid-level exception this summer. James has enough talent to warrant the optimism. But, as many Sonics fans will attest, his heart just isn't up to the task on an 82-game basis.
Tyson Chandler, PF, Bulls
Playoff averages: 6 games, 11.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 47 percent shooting
The skinny: After being slowed by a bum ankle in the first two games of the playoffs, Chandler really came on the last four. He has turned into an elite rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. He averaged 4.8 offensive rebounds per game against Washington. He also showed a little bit of offense, going off for 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting in Game 4. Overall, his PER came out to an impressive 19.7 in the playoffs.
Bulls GM John Paxson loves Chandler. He has a great work ethic that Paxson admires. But what will Paxson pay him? Chandler's history with injuries and his limited offensive potential may keep Paxson from throwing the bank at Chandler. That leaves an opening for a team such as Cleveland or Atlanta to think about throwing a max-type deal his way.
In the end, however, it probably would be fruitless. Paxson has said he'll match any offer for Chandler, and I believe it. He's too important to the Bulls' future and has the potential to turn into a Ben Wallace-type defensive force (only 5 inches taller) as long as he remains healthy.
Samuel Dalembert, C, Sixers
Playoff averages: 5 games, 11.6 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 55 percent shooting
The skinny: NBA GMs in the know have been watching Dalembert closely all year. There are very few big men available with his athleticism, size and talent. Head coach Jim O'Brien never used him the right way during the season, but he seemed to become a convert in the playoffs.
Dalembert was the leading rebounder in the first round of the playoffs, which is pretty remarkable considering that he did it against the Pistons, who happen to have Wallace anchoring the best front line in the East.
He's going to get major interest from the Hawks and possibly the Cavs in free agency. Other teams will work hard to get him via sign-and-trade. Sixers GM Billy King told Insider several weeks ago the team already has the green light from ownership to match any offer. Of course, that could be a scare tactic to push potential suitors away. Expect the Hawks to try anyway.
Stock down
Antoine Walker, F, Celtics
Playoff averages: 6 games, 16.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3 tpg, 41 percent shooting.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Antoine Walker[/size]
[size=-2]Forward
Boston Celtics[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]77[/size][size=-2]19.1[/size][size=-2]9.0[/size][size=-2]3.4[/size][size=-2].422[/size][size=-2].539[/size]The skinny: It's not Walker's fault the Celtics lost to the Pacers (though he had a pretty bad PER of 13.89). However, all the euphoria surrounding the trade that brought him back to Boston in February is gone. The Walker-Celtics reunion looks like it's going to be a brief one. Had Walker helped lead the Celtics into the second round or deeper in the playoffs, maybe things would be different. GM Danny Ainge might have felt pressure from Boston fans to bring him back permanently. But after the disappointing loss to the Pacers, no one in Boston will blame Ainge if he goes back to the drawing board.
The Celtics love their young players and won't jeopardize their development just to make Walker, or Paul Pierce for that matter, happy. That puts Walker in a difficult position. There isn't much of a market for him right now. None of the bad teams with cap room want him. The only potential playoff teams with cap room – the Cavs and the Sonics – aren't interested. That leaves a bunch of teams with the mid-level exception. Walker could make more if the Celtics are willing to do a sign-and-trade (a real possibility), but any dreams Walker had of cashing in this summer are over.
Larry Hughes, SG, Wizards
Playoff averages: 8 games, 21.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 38 percent shooting.
The skinny: Hughes has had an incredible year and will be a highly sought-after free agent. But his performance in the playoffs, while not terrible, has been a little disappointing.
His shot hasn't been falling at all. He's shooting just 18 percent from 3-point range during the playoffs, but is still chucking up nearly four a game. That's partly because the Wizards have no low-post game, thanks in part to Brown, which has forced Hughes and Arenas (also shooting 38 percent from the field) to put up bad shots.
Hughes' playoff PER is a slightly above-average 17.4, but is about four points off what he did in the regular season.
Bonzi Wells, G/F, Grizzlies
Playoff averages: 2 games, 7 ppg, 2 rpg, 44 percent shooting
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Bonzi Wells[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Memphis Grizzlies[/size]
[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]69[/size][size=-2]10.4[/size][size=-2]3.3[/size][size=-2]1.2[/size][size=-2].441[/size][size=-2].750[/size]The skinny: Wells actually was a scoring machine in the 25 minutes he played. But his very public falling out with head coach Mike Fratello is going to come back to haunt him this summer.
The Grizzlies aren't going to pick up their team option, and Wells, given his fiery reputation, is going to struggle to find a team willing to put up with him, regardless of his ability to score in bunches.
He wasn't the only Grizzlies free-agent-to-be to get the shaft by Fratello. Swift had an amazing 25.3 PER, but could only get 16 minutes per game. His per 40-minute averages were 23 ppg and 17 rpg. Earl Watson didn't get any love either, though his play didn't do much to warrant it. He shot just 33 percent from the field.
Kyle Korver, F, Sixers
Playoff averages: 5 games, 5 ppg, 28 percent shooting
The skinny: The sharpshooter is heading into free agency with one of his worst shooting performances ever fresh in everyone's mind. Korver made more 3s than anyone in the NBA this season, then the Pistons' stifling defense gave him a world of problems in the playoffs.
There's no telling how much that will haunt him come free agency, but you can bet teams will watch the tapes closely to make sure Korver can get his shot off – and make it – when the stakes are this high.
Vladimir Radmanovic, F, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 5.3 ppg, 37 percent shooting
The skinny: Radmanovic was the leading candidate for sixth man of the year before breaking his leg six weeks before the end of the season. He came back in time for the playoffs but was pretty rusty. He injured his ankle Tuesday and now likely is out the rest of the series.
That's unfortunate for Radmanovic. An excellent postseason might have raised his stock to the point he could have gotten a team to bid more than Seattle was willing to pay. Radmanovic would prefer to leave Seattle and get a starting role somewhere else. Given his problems at the end of the season, that no longer looks likely.
Kwame's stock may actually be rising
While every player in the postseason is battling hard for the ultimate prize – an NBA championship – it's no secret that many have multiple agendas this time of year.
For the handful of players heading into free agency, the playoffs are the ultimate showcase for leadership, heart and the ability to make clutch shots.
Remember Austin Croshere's inspired performance against the Lakers in the 2000 Finals? He got a $60 million contract off that, even though he averaged just 10.3 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game that season for Indiana. He hasn't come close to those numbers since.
Also, poor performance can hurt you. No one wants to be labeled as a guy who can't put up numbers when it really matters.
With that in mind, which players have helped or hurt their free-agent stock this year? Here is Insider's first free-agent stock watch:
Stock Up
Kwame Brown, F, Wizards
Playoff averages: 3 games, 5 ppg, 5 rpg
The skinny: Getting kicked off the Wizards' roster was the best thing that could have happened to Brown – short of his averaging 20 and 10 in the playoffs. The chances of that happening were slim, which means he would have stumbled into free agency in the absolute worst position possible.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Kwame Brown[/size]
[size=-2]Forward-Center
Washington Wizards[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]42[/size][size=-2]7.0[/size][size=-2]4.9[/size][size=-2]0.9[/size][size=-2].460[/size][size=-2].574[/size]Brown would have been one of those restricted free agents with upside but not enough production to warrant a team's sticking its neck out to offer him a big contract. That means Brown likely would have been in the same boat that Stromile Swift was in last year.
The Wizards would have offered Brown a low-ball, long-term deal with the caveat that they would match any offer sheet he might get from another team. No other team would have been willing to offer Brown huge dollars to scare the Wizards away from matching. And no one would have wanted to tie up a chunk of its cap room or its full mid-level exception while the Wizards took the full 15 days to contemplate matching a more reasonable offer.
At the end of the day, like Swift, Brown would have been forced to take the Wizards' one-year tender offer and hope his fortunes improved before he became an unrestricted free agent in 2006.
That route hasn't worked out for free agents who have taken it in the recent past. It becomes a wasted year. The pressure is too intense on the player, and the team loses interest knowing the player likely will bolt after the season, anyway. But it would have been especially disastrous for Kwame.
He needs to get out of Washington. There was a time when Brown looked like he had the talent and the mental makeup to be a superstar. Many more general managers than Michael Jordan believed that. But the constant pressure of playing with Jordan in his first two years, combined with injuries and chemistry issues his past two, have poisoned the well in Washington.
When Brown actually was healthy enough to play this year, he was frustrated with the lack of touches he'd get. When Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison – three of the NBA's biggest gunners – are on your team, you're not going to get a lot of shots. That wasn't going to change, no matter how much Brown matured.
Now he has a free ticket out the door. The minute the Wizards suspended him, the signal was sent. Kwame is available. The Wizards may pound their chest and say they intend to keep him, but no one will believe them now. What kind of message does it send to the rest of the team to reward a guy you kicked off the team by signing him to a fat, long-term, guaranteed deal? It's not going to happen.
That frees up teams like the Hawks, Hornets, Cavaliers and possibly the Sonics and Bucks to make a strong run at Brown. While most teams understand his flaws, they still look at him as a 23-year-old, 7-foot, 265-pounder with amazing athleticism and skills for his size. Every team can rationalize signing a guy like that to a deal for $5 million or $6 million per year. Every team believes it has the right coaching staff and supporting players to bring out the best in a kid with that much upside.
What Brown did was stupid (and par for the course). But in the long run, he actually will benefit from it. The Wizards? The best they can hope for at this point is a sign-and-trade with a team already over the cap. That's a possibility now that it's clear he won't be back in Washington next season.
Ray Allen, SG, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 27.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4 apg, 51 percent shooting from the field, 44 percent from 3
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Ray Allen[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Seattle SuperSonics[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]78[/size][size=-2]23.9[/size][size=-2]4.4[/size][size=-2]3.7[/size][size=-2].428[/size][size=-2].883[/size]The skinny: While Brown's upside is purely contractual, Allen has been playing like a superstar. He was arguably the best player in the first round of the playoffs, averaging a stunning 32.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers against the Kings. An ankle injury (and Bruce Bowen's defense) has slowed him down thus far against the Spurs, but his PER (player efficiency rating) for the playoffs is off the charts at 30.1.
What's even more remarkable is that Brown, who has done nothing, has more free-agent buzz than Allen at the moment. The problem for Allen is age (he turns the dreaded 30 in July) and contract demands. Allen wants a big contract, something the Sonics have balked at. If Allen doesn't get Seattle to pony up the cash, he's going to struggle to find it in the open market. Most teams with cash are so bad (Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans) that they won't want to spend all their money on one veteran. It's beside the point, anyway. Allen doesn't want to play for a bad team.
That leaves the Cavs, Bucks (if Michael Redd leaves) and Clippers. All three are possibilities, but none has the championship aspirations Allen does. That leaves him with a tough decision. Does he sign for less and stay in Seattle? Or does he try to force a sign-and-trade? That might be Allen's best shot at bringing home a big payday. A team with championship aspirations might be willing to fork over the cash (and the compensation to Seattle) that it takes to bring him in. The way Allen has played so far, he's proving he still might be worth it
Joe Johnson, SG, Suns
Playoff averages: 6 games, 19 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 apg; 52 percent shooting from the field, 56 percent from 3
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Joe Johnson[/size]
[size=-2]Guard-Forward
Phoenix Suns[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]82[/size][size=-2]17.1[/size][size=-2]5.1[/size][size=-2]3.5[/size][size=-2].461[/size][size=-2].750[/size]The skinny: With the years that Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion are having, Johnson has been the forgotten one. He doesn't do the spectacular things those three do, but he did rank second in the league in 3-point field-goal percentage this year, shooting nearly 48 percent from behind the arc.
He actually has improved his percentage in the playoffs, hitting a stunning 56 percent on 3s. When you factor in that Johnson takes nearly four 3s a game, that's remarkable. He fractured the orbital bone in his face Wednesday night and will miss Game 3, but the injury has a positive free-agency spin. Not only did his absence in the second half prove that the Suns struggle without him on the floor – it also reminded all of us that Johnson hasn't missed a game in the past three years. It's rare to find that kind of durability these days.
Johnson will be a restricted free agent this summer and should generate enormous interest. Given his age (23), size, versatility and shooting acumen, he should be near the top of the second tier of free agents. The Suns have to be kicking themselves a bit for passing up a chance to sign him to an extension last fall for a little more than the mid-level. Look for teams such as the Bobcats, Hornets and Cavs to show serious interest. If they offer him a big deal, the Suns might not match.
Jerome James, C, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 14 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 bpg on 53 percent shooting
The skinny: James would have topped this list had we made it last week. Against the Kings, he averaged a stunning 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds and shot 58 percent. Considering he averaged 4.9 points and three rebounds for the year, there was no one who turned it on more during the playoffs.
Did James suddenly get motivated because it's a contract year? Or was the Kings' porous defense the real issue?
It might have been some of both. While James still is playing hard, his numbers against the Spurs (6 ppg on 35 percent shooting and 4.5 rpg) are much closer to what we're used to seeing from him.
Still, the die already has been cast. He has shown enough of a pulse in the playoffs that someone will throw him a multi-year contract worth something close to the mid-level exception this summer. James has enough talent to warrant the optimism. But, as many Sonics fans will attest, his heart just isn't up to the task on an 82-game basis.
Tyson Chandler, PF, Bulls
Playoff averages: 6 games, 11.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 47 percent shooting
The skinny: After being slowed by a bum ankle in the first two games of the playoffs, Chandler really came on the last four. He has turned into an elite rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. He averaged 4.8 offensive rebounds per game against Washington. He also showed a little bit of offense, going off for 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting in Game 4. Overall, his PER came out to an impressive 19.7 in the playoffs.
Bulls GM John Paxson loves Chandler. He has a great work ethic that Paxson admires. But what will Paxson pay him? Chandler's history with injuries and his limited offensive potential may keep Paxson from throwing the bank at Chandler. That leaves an opening for a team such as Cleveland or Atlanta to think about throwing a max-type deal his way.
In the end, however, it probably would be fruitless. Paxson has said he'll match any offer for Chandler, and I believe it. He's too important to the Bulls' future and has the potential to turn into a Ben Wallace-type defensive force (only 5 inches taller) as long as he remains healthy.
Samuel Dalembert, C, Sixers
Playoff averages: 5 games, 11.6 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 55 percent shooting
The skinny: NBA GMs in the know have been watching Dalembert closely all year. There are very few big men available with his athleticism, size and talent. Head coach Jim O'Brien never used him the right way during the season, but he seemed to become a convert in the playoffs.
Dalembert was the leading rebounder in the first round of the playoffs, which is pretty remarkable considering that he did it against the Pistons, who happen to have Wallace anchoring the best front line in the East.
He's going to get major interest from the Hawks and possibly the Cavs in free agency. Other teams will work hard to get him via sign-and-trade. Sixers GM Billy King told Insider several weeks ago the team already has the green light from ownership to match any offer. Of course, that could be a scare tactic to push potential suitors away. Expect the Hawks to try anyway.
Stock down
Antoine Walker, F, Celtics
Playoff averages: 6 games, 16.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3 tpg, 41 percent shooting.
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Antoine Walker[/size]
[size=-2]Forward
Boston Celtics[/size]
You must be registered for see images attach
[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]77[/size][size=-2]19.1[/size][size=-2]9.0[/size][size=-2]3.4[/size][size=-2].422[/size][size=-2].539[/size]The skinny: It's not Walker's fault the Celtics lost to the Pacers (though he had a pretty bad PER of 13.89). However, all the euphoria surrounding the trade that brought him back to Boston in February is gone. The Walker-Celtics reunion looks like it's going to be a brief one. Had Walker helped lead the Celtics into the second round or deeper in the playoffs, maybe things would be different. GM Danny Ainge might have felt pressure from Boston fans to bring him back permanently. But after the disappointing loss to the Pacers, no one in Boston will blame Ainge if he goes back to the drawing board.
The Celtics love their young players and won't jeopardize their development just to make Walker, or Paul Pierce for that matter, happy. That puts Walker in a difficult position. There isn't much of a market for him right now. None of the bad teams with cap room want him. The only potential playoff teams with cap room – the Cavs and the Sonics – aren't interested. That leaves a bunch of teams with the mid-level exception. Walker could make more if the Celtics are willing to do a sign-and-trade (a real possibility), but any dreams Walker had of cashing in this summer are over.
Larry Hughes, SG, Wizards
Playoff averages: 8 games, 21.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 38 percent shooting.
The skinny: Hughes has had an incredible year and will be a highly sought-after free agent. But his performance in the playoffs, while not terrible, has been a little disappointing.
His shot hasn't been falling at all. He's shooting just 18 percent from 3-point range during the playoffs, but is still chucking up nearly four a game. That's partly because the Wizards have no low-post game, thanks in part to Brown, which has forced Hughes and Arenas (also shooting 38 percent from the field) to put up bad shots.
Hughes' playoff PER is a slightly above-average 17.4, but is about four points off what he did in the regular season.
Bonzi Wells, G/F, Grizzlies
Playoff averages: 2 games, 7 ppg, 2 rpg, 44 percent shooting
[size=-2][/size][size=-1]Bonzi Wells[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Memphis Grizzlies[/size]
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[size=-2]Profile[/size][size=-2][/size]2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS[size=-2]GM[/size][size=-2]PPG[/size][size=-2]RPG[/size][size=-2]APG[/size][size=-2]FG%[/size][size=-2]FT%[/size][size=-2]69[/size][size=-2]10.4[/size][size=-2]3.3[/size][size=-2]1.2[/size][size=-2].441[/size][size=-2].750[/size]The skinny: Wells actually was a scoring machine in the 25 minutes he played. But his very public falling out with head coach Mike Fratello is going to come back to haunt him this summer.
The Grizzlies aren't going to pick up their team option, and Wells, given his fiery reputation, is going to struggle to find a team willing to put up with him, regardless of his ability to score in bunches.
He wasn't the only Grizzlies free-agent-to-be to get the shaft by Fratello. Swift had an amazing 25.3 PER, but could only get 16 minutes per game. His per 40-minute averages were 23 ppg and 17 rpg. Earl Watson didn't get any love either, though his play didn't do much to warrant it. He shot just 33 percent from the field.
Kyle Korver, F, Sixers
Playoff averages: 5 games, 5 ppg, 28 percent shooting
The skinny: The sharpshooter is heading into free agency with one of his worst shooting performances ever fresh in everyone's mind. Korver made more 3s than anyone in the NBA this season, then the Pistons' stifling defense gave him a world of problems in the playoffs.
There's no telling how much that will haunt him come free agency, but you can bet teams will watch the tapes closely to make sure Korver can get his shot off – and make it – when the stakes are this high.
Vladimir Radmanovic, F, Sonics
Playoff averages: 7 games, 5.3 ppg, 37 percent shooting
The skinny: Radmanovic was the leading candidate for sixth man of the year before breaking his leg six weeks before the end of the season. He came back in time for the playoffs but was pretty rusty. He injured his ankle Tuesday and now likely is out the rest of the series.
That's unfortunate for Radmanovic. An excellent postseason might have raised his stock to the point he could have gotten a team to bid more than Seattle was willing to pay. Radmanovic would prefer to leave Seattle and get a starting role somewhere else. Given his problems at the end of the season, that no longer looks likely.
