There is a tremendous amount of uncertainly regarding the future of the 2011-2012 NBA season. With attorneys filling lawsuits on behalf of the players, and the league firing off dismissive missives in response, it is very difficult to remain optimistic. With each passing day, it appears the sad reality that we may miss an entire season of NBA action seems more and more likely.

The damage this would do to the league and the game long-term is incalculable. Between lost interest from casual fans and downright anger from die-hards, the cost could be close to catastrophic.

However, if we were to lose a whole season, on interesting by-product would be an epic free agency period that would commence whenever the two sides finally agreed to a deal next year…

Below I listed at all major players that would have been free agents this summer, and also added in those stars whose contracts were set to expire at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

The composite list is incredible.

The potential loss of the entire 11-12 campaign would also lead to many dilemmas. For instance, would the members of the 2008 draft class (including reigning MVP Derrick Rose) be restricted FA’s? In years past, the Bulls would have had a full year to sign Rose to an extension prior to him hitting restricted free agency. But with the lockout in effect, they have no such opportunity.  Furthermore, what type of protections will be included in the next CBA that allow teams to keep current players (including rookies that become restricted FA’s following their 4th NBA season)?

All things considered, the next free agency class could be arguably the deepest and most talented in league history.  I have listed the headliners (and their would-be FA status) position-by-position.

Without further adieu, here is a sneak peak at a potentially epic free agent class:

Point Guards:
Deron Williams (Player Option)
Chris Paul (Player Option)
Derrick Rose (Restricted)
Steve Nash (Unrestricted)
Jason Kidd (Unrestricted)
Russell Westbrook (Restricted)
Kirk Hinrich (Unrestricted)
Chauncey Billups (Unrestricted)
Raymond Felton (Unrestricted)
D.J. Augustin (R)
Jason Terry (Unrestricted)
Baron Davis (Early Termination Option)
Jameer Nelson (Player Option)
Andre Miller (Unrestricted)
Mo Williams (Player Option)
Ramon Session (Player Option)
Aaron Brooks (R)
Goran Dragic (Unrestricted)
J.J. Barea (Unrestricted)
Randy Foye (Unrestricted)
George Hill (R)
Beno Udrih (Player Option)
Mario Chalmers (R)
Jordan Farmar (Player Option)
Leandro Barbosa (Unrestricted)
Nate Robinson (Unrestricted)
T.J. Ford (Unrestricted)
Acie Law (Unrestricted)
Earl Watson (Unrestricted)
Keyon Dooling (Unrestricted)
Sebastian Telfair (Unrestricted)
Mike Bibby (Unrestricted)
Derek Fisher (Player Option)

Shooting Guards:
Ray Allen (Unrestricted)
Jamal Crawford (Unrestricted)
Jason Richardson (Unrestricted)
Vince Carter (Unrestricted)
Delonte West (Unrestricted)
Aaron Afflalo (Unrestricted)
Eric Gordon (R)
Rodney Stuckey (R)
J.R. Smith (Unrestricted)
Landry Fields (R)
Anthony Parker (Unrestricted)
Nick Young (R)
Marco Belinelli (Unrestricted)
DeShawn Stevenson (Unrestricted)
Courtney Lee (R)
Michael Redd (Unrestricted)
O.J. Mayo (R)
Marcus Thornton (R)
Daequan Cook (R)
Mickael Pietrus (Unrestricted)
Shannon Brown (Unrestricted)
Jerryd Bayless (R)
C.J. Miles (Unrestricted)
Bill Walker (R)
Peja Stojakovic (Unrestricted)
Rudy Fernandez (R)
Chris Douglas-Roberts (Unrestricted)
Eddie House (Unrestricted)
Willie Green (Unrestricted)
Tracey McGrady (Unrestricted)

Small Forwards:
Caron Butler (Unrestricted)
Wilson Chandler (Unrestricted)
Danilo Gallinari (R)
Shane Battier (Unrestricted)
Tayshaun Prince (Unrestricted)
Gerald Wallace (Player Option)
Michael Beasley (R)
Nicolas Batum (R)
Andrei Kirilenko (Unrestricted)
Mike Dunleavy (Unrestricted)
Andres Nocioni (Team Option)
Jonas Jerebko (R)
Grant Hill (Unrestricted)
Thaddeus Young (R)
Ersan Ilyasova (Unrestricted)
Al Thornton (Unrestricted)
Brandon Rush (R)
James Posey (Unrestricted)
Derrick Brown (R)
Jason Kapono (Unrestricted)
Shawne Williams (Unrestricted)
Ryan Anderson (R)
Matt Barnes (Unrestricted)
Craig Smith (Unrestricted)
Sam Young (R)
Josh Howard (Unrestricted)
Carlos Delfino (Unrestricted)
James Jones (Unrestricted)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (R)
Joey Graham (Unrestricted)

Power Forwards:
Kevin Garnett (Unrestricted)
David West (Unrestricted)
Tim Duncan (Unrestricted)
Antawn Jamison (Unrestricted)
Kevin Love (R)
Elton Brand (Early Termination Option)
Brandon Bass (Player Option)
J.J. Hickson (R)
Boris Diaw (Unrestricted)
Carl Landry (Unrestricted)
Jason Thompson (R)
Glen Davis (Unrestricted)
Anthony Randolph (R)
Kenyon Martin (Unrestricted)
Kris Humphries (Unrestricted)
Antonio McDyess (Unrestricted)
Troy Murphy (Unrestricted)
Yi Jianlian (Unrestricted)
Jason Maxiell (Player Option)
Marreese Speights (R)
Brandan Wright (Unrestricted)
Vladimir Radmanovic (Unrestricted)
Josh McRoberts (Unrestricted)
Leon Powe (Unrestricted)

Centers:
Dwight Howard (Early Termination Option)
Nene Hilario (Unrestricted)
Tyson Chandler (Unrestricted)
DeAndre Jordan (R)
Chris Kaman (Unrestricted)
Brook Lopez (R)
Andrew Bynum (Team Option)
Marc Gasol (R)
JaVale McGee (R)
Jermaine O’Neal (Unrestricted)
Samuel Dalembert (Unrestricted)
Mehmet Okur (Unrestricted)
Roy Hibbert (R)
Marcus Camby (Unrestricted)
Spencer Hawes (R)
Greg Oden (R)
Ronny Turiaf (Unrestricted)
Ben Wallace (Unrestricted)
Kwame Brown (Unrestricted)
Robin Lopez (R)
Jeff Foster (Unrestricted)
Nazr Mohammed (Unrestricted)
Kyrylo Fesenko (Unrestricted)
Derrick Caracter (R)
Hammed Haddadi (R)
Ian Mahinmi (Unrestricted)
Louis Amundson (Unrestricted)
Chuck Hayes (Unrestricted)
Yao Ming (Unrestricted)
Nenad Krstic (Unrestricted)
Jason Collins (Unrestricted)
Chris Wilcox (Unrestricted)
Joel Przybilla (Unrestricted)

And this list doesn’t even factor in the potential “Amnesty Clause Causalities,” – as an amnesty provision will likely be included in a newly negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement.

While this free agent frenzy certainly would be fascinating, here’s to hoping it never comes to pass…