HOOPSWORLD’s Senior NBA Analyst Tommy Beer takes you through his weekly musings on the National Basketball Association in his latest installment of The NBA Six Pack…

 
1. Shopping For Quality Free Agents in the Bargain Bin:
We don’t know much about next season.  In fact, we don’t even know when it will begin.  And we have no idea how the renegotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement will look.
 
However, we can safely assume there will be a lockout (its length yet to be determined), and when the NBA emerges on the other side (hopefully after a quick resolution) the CBA will be dramatically different.  So, whether there is a ‘hard cap’ or not, the end result will be teams spending less on salaries.  Thus, there will be a premium on finding players that are can contribute, but are willing to sign at a discounted rate.
 
So, I scanned thru the list of players that will become free-agents this summer and picked out a handful of FA’s that could fit into the aforementioned criteria.  Many of the players listed below are veterans whose exorbitant contracts expire in June – it will be interesting to see what type of pay-cuts these vets are willing to settle for.  Others are guys that came into the league as first-round selections, but may have never quite fulfilled their initial promise.  Teams that have the majority of their cap space tied up in a couple of superstars will be looking to round out their roster by adding inexpensive pieces.    
  
Too simplify things, I listed only players who are honest-to-goodness unrestricted free-agents, not players with team or player options – this way we don’t have to worry about will they or won’t they or any other external decisions.   
 
(name, team – 2010-11 salary – status)
 
Mike Dunleavy, Indiana Pacers – $10.6 million – Unrestricted:
Appeared to be a star on the rise, before persistent knee injuries turned him into a part-time player over the last few years.  He was able to suit up for 61 games last season and averaged 11.2 ppg and 4.5 boards.  A cerebral player and solid shooter, Lil Dun could become a solid sixth man at the right price.      
 
Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks – $18.3 million – Unrestricted:
Once one of the premier long-range gunners in the NBA – now just a big question mark.  However, he’ll always be considered one of the league’s true "good guys."  Lots of folks around the association will be hoping he is able to make it to the NBA hardwood at some point.   

Sasha Vujacic, New Jersey Nets – $5.5 million – Unrestricted:
A shooter who played decently well for New Jersey last season, and hit two huge free throws for the Lakers in Game 7 last June. 

Jose Barea, Dallas Mavericks – $1.7 million – Unrestricted:
Undersized, but full of heart, J.J. Barea will have his fair share of suitor this summer, as he could ideally provide a spark of offense off the bench. 

Delonte West, Boston Celtics – $1.1 million – Unrestricted:
A loose cannon, with talent.  West hasn’t played well in the postseason for Boston thus far, but his track record proves he is a tough matchup on both ends of the floor.

T.J. Ford, Indiana Pacers - $8.5 million – Unrestricted:
Ford fell out of favor in Indiana, but he feels he still has gas left in the tank.  Projects as a decent back-up receiving 15-20 minutes a night…  
 
Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns – $3.2 million – Unrestricted:
Amazingly, Grant Hill has missed a grand total of just three games over the last three seasons combined.  It appeared that Hill was on his last legs when he signed with the Suns a few years ago; instead, he has improved each season in Phoenix and finished 2010-2011 averaging over 13 and 4 boards per game.  In addition, he is an invaluable asset as a locker room leader; this man has seen it all in his NBA lifetime.   
 
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons – $11.1 million – Unrestricted:
Long considered one of the NBA most versatile forwards, Prince’s career has regressed a bit in recent years.  Dealing with nagging injuries and incessant turmoil in Detroit, Prince’s value is relatively low right now, but that means some team will likely get a great value this summer.  Prince is a winner, especially when you factor in what he brings to the table defensively.  
 
Peja Stojakovic, Dallas Mavericks - $0.9 million – Unrestricted:
Many assumed Peja had reached the end of his NBA journey, but he has shown some signs of life recently in Dallas, including a 21-point outburst against the Blazers in Game 2 of the Mavs’ first round series.  NBA coaches and GMs are always willing to carve out a roster spot for players that can consistently knock down threes.      
 
Earl Clark, Orlando Magic - $1.9 million – Unrestricted:
There were high expectations for Clark coming out of college, but he never put it together in Phoenix.  He showed some glimpses when he received some playing time in Orlando – enough to get some nibbles in the free-agent market.  
 
Shane Battier, Memphis Grizzlies – $7.4 million – Unrestricted:
So much of what Battier brings to the table doesn’t show up in the box score, but that doesn’t mean smart NBA executives don’t appreciate just how valuable he is.  Just ask Memphis…
 
Shawne Williams, New York Knicks – $0.9 million – Unrestricted:
Williams had disappeared from the NBA radar, until he latched on to the Knicks as the team’s 15th man coming out of training camp last October.  Eventually, Williams earned a spot in Mike D’Antoni’s rotation and proved he belongs in the league.  Now, the Knicks have to hope he is amenable to returning to the Big Apple, and it appears he is.  
  
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets – $17.7 million – Unrestricted:
Whether or not Yao will ever play again is anybody’s guess.  And any team signing him would obviously be rolling the dice.  However, we know that whenever Yao has actually been able to step on the floor, he had been incredibly efficient and effective.  If he is willing to sign at a discounted rate, plenty of GM’s would love to bring him into camp.  
 
Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets – $3.0 million – Unrestricted:
Landry is one of the rare players on this list that’s in line for a major raise this summer.  He was a beast for the Rockets last season, and was a horse for the Hornets in the first-round versus the Lakers powerful frontline.  
 
Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets - $16.5 million – Unrestricted:
K-Mart hasn’t been the same since being sidelined by microfracture surgery, but he can still make a positive impact on both ends of the floor when he suits up.  Health will always be issue, but Kenyon’s energy and defensive intensity are valued commodities on the NBA’s open market.   
 
Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets – $3.2 million – Unrestricted:
Some have termed it the "Kim Kardashian effect," others claim he was just waiting for his opportunity to play heavy minutes.  Whatever the case, Humphries proved he is an elite rebounder, averaging over 14 boards per game during the second half of the season.  The Nets would love to hold onto him, but they’ll have plenty of competition.      
 
Glen Davis, Boston Celtics – $3.3 million – Unrestricted:
A key member of the Celtics bench over the last few years, Davis has battled weight and maturity issues, but also possesses a uniquely effective skill set.  
 
Chuck Hayes, Houston Rockets - $2.3 million – Unrestricted
Quick trivia question: Dwight Howard earned the most 1st place votes (114) in the 2011 NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting; who earned the second most 1st place votes (2)?  If you guessed Chuck Hayes, pat yourself on the back.  If you are his agent, pass that bit of info along to NBA GMs this summer and hope your client can cash in with a nice payday.   
 
Josh McRoberts, Indiana Pacers – $0.9 million – Unrestricted:
A pleasant surprise for the Pacers this season, McBob brought energy and athleticism at the power forward spot. 
 
Kyrylo Fesenko, Utah Jazz – $1.1 million – Unrestricted:
He’s 7’1" and he can walk and chew gum at the same time.  Ergo, he’ll get plenty of offers.
 
Jason Collins, Atlanta Hawks - $1.2 million – Unrestricted:
Collins likely earned himself a contract due to his defensive effort against Dwight Howard in the Hawks’ first-round defeat of Orlando.  

Jeff Foster, Indiana Pacers - $6.7 million – Unrestricted
The epitome of a crafty veteran, Foster knows all the tricks.  He still gets boards and gets under opponents’ skin.  He played his entire career in Indiana, will he move on this summer? 
 
Eddy Curry - $11.3 million – Unrestricted:
Just kidding.  
 

2. Z-Bo’s Amazing Journey
While browsing Zach Randolph’s basketball-reference.com page recently, it wasn’t the stats (although impressive) that jumped out at me. Nor was it is the hefty annual salary amounts.

No, it was the ‘career transactions’ section that is amazing.
 
For a player currently dominating the 2011 NBA playoffs (I don’t use that word lightly), he has been traded multiple times for absolutely nothing in recent years.  Due to his massive, long-term contract, Randolph’s bloated salary was viewed as an albatross by a number of franchises.  Essentially, these teams played hot potato with him over the last few seasons.  Here are the particulars:
 
June 28, 2007: Traded by the Portland Trail Blazers with Dan Dickau and Fred Jones to the New York Knickerbockers for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.
 
November 21, 2008: Traded by the New York Knickerbockers with Mardy Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.
 
July 17, 2009: Traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Memphis Grizzlies for Quentin Richardson.
 
In the span of just over two years, Z-Bo was traded three times by three different organizations who essentially received nothing in return.  Portland was looking to clear house, and the major contract the Blazers received in exchange for Randolph was Steve Francis, who never played a second for the Trail Blazers. 
 
Then, when Donnie Walsh took over in New York, he was desperate to clear contracts off the books and shipped Zach to the Clippers.  The big contract Walsh received in return for Z-Bo was Cat Mobley, who never played a single game for the Knicks (after it was determined he had a heart aliment).  Walsh had the opportunity to rescind the trade after Mobley failed his physical, but New York agreed to the deal despite knowing Mobley’s career was over.
 
Randolph then finished the 2009 season in L.A., before the Clippers dumped him into the Grizzlies lap on 6/17/09 for Quentin Richardson, and – you guessed it – Richardson never played a minute in L.A.  Three days later, the Clips dealt Q-Rich to Minnesota for Mark Madsen, Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair.
 
Z-Bo bounced around four different teams in 25 months.  In the end, Randolph settled in Memphis, where it appears he has found a home (thanks to a rich, four-year extension Randolph signed last month).  With the Grizzlies, it seems Z-Bo’s maturation finally caught up with his immense gifts.  Credit Memphis with possessing the foresight and patience to stick with Randolph; and credit Z-Bo with improving as a player by refining his skill set.  Randolph, once viewed as a defensive liability and a black hole on offense, has improved all aspects of his game since landing in Memphis.  Instead of languishing out on the perimeter and launching long jumpers, Zach has focused more on attacking the basket and doing damage in the paint. 
 
Consider this: During his short stint with the Knicks in 2008, Z-Bo averaged 2.2 three-point attempts per contest for New York, while his FG% hovered below 43.5%.
 
{AUTHOR_BOX}In contrast, during the 2010-2011 regular season in Memphis, Z-Bo attempted just 0.6 three-balls per game.  Correspondingly, he shot over 50% from the field (50.3 FG%)
 
With Zach and Marc Gasol both patrolling the paint, the Grizzlies have been a bear for opponents this postseason.  And Randolph is playing arguably the best basketball of his career.  Through seven postseason contests, Randolph is averaging 23.3 ppg, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists; while shooting 50.9% from the floor and 85.4% from the stripe. 
 
Over his last three games, against the likes of Timmy D, Kendrick Perkins, and Serge Ibaka, Z-Bo is averaging 30.4 points (55.7 FG% and 91.7 FT%), 10.7 boards, and 3.4 assists.
 
Not bad for a guy that nobody wanted to hold onto, huh?

 
3. Quotes of the Week:
LeBron, on containing Boston’s offense, after the Celtics series versus the Knicks: "I don’t know what they shot in the New York series. It had to be like 60%."
 
Mavericks forward Shawn Marion: "[The Lakers] got something we want and we’re hungry, so it’s time to eat."
 
 
4. Dunks of the Week:
Wade with the alley, and King James with the oop 
 
Josh Smith Drives, Spins, and Slams
 
Darrell Arthur’s mutant alley-oop

5. Tweets of the Week:
@netw3rk: Kidds jumper is improved which isn’t surprising considering he’s had 60 yrs to work on it
 
@agroberman: Isiah Thomas hypotheticals. RT @netw3rk: Strip clubs RT @imsohideous: No one. RT @Hoopisms: In a Hawks v Grizzlies finals, who wins?
 
@CharlesOakley34: U right RT @TommyBeer: If refs called playoffs gms this tightly in 90′s, Oak would’ve been forced to play in handcuffs
 
@johnschuhmann: The Hawks have snapped their 15-game losing streak in the conference semifinals. Streak of 3 straight sweeps comes to an end too.

@russbengtson: I think we’ve seen the Blake Griffin Kia ad enough now. Signed, the world.
 
6. Elias Sports Bureau Stats of the Week
 
* From Elias: Kobe Bryant scored 36 points against the Mavericks on Monday night. Bryant has now scored at least 30 points in Game One of five consecutive playoff series. That’s the longest such streak in franchise history. George Mikan (1949-1950), Elgin Baylor (1961-1962) and Shaquille O’Neal (2000) scored 30 or more points in Game One in each of four consecutive playoff series for the Lakers. Bryant is the first NBA player to score at least 30 points in five consecutive Game Ones since Michael Jordan did that in seven straight playoff series, spanning 1997 to 1998.
 
* Joe Johnson’s game-high 34 points in the Hawks’ victory over the Bulls included a 5-for-5 performance from three-point range and a 5-for-5 night at the foul line. In the 32 seasons since the league instituted the three-point line, no other player was ever 5-for-5 or better from both beyond the arc and the free-throw line in an NBA playoff game.
 
* Zach Randolph scored 34 points and grabbed ten rebounds and Marc Gasol contributed 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Grizzlies topped the Thunder at Oklahoma City. It was only the third time since the 1978 playoffs that a visiting team had one player go 30/10 (points/rebounds) and another go 20/10 in a playoff series opener. Tim Duncan (32/10) and David Robinson (26/15) did it for the Spurs in their 1998 playoff opener at Phoenix (a 102-96 win); Kobe Bryant (45/10) and Shaquille O’Neal (28/11) turned the trick in Game 1 of the Conference Finals at San Antonio in 2001 (a 104-90 win).
 
* Dwyane Wade scored 38 points and James Jones chipped in 25 points off the bench, outscoring LeBron James (22 points), as the Heat rolled to a Game 1 victory over the Celtics. It was the second straight playoff game in which James was outscored by two or more of his teammates (also in Miami’s first-round clincher against the 76ers). That happened in only two of LeBron’s 75 previous playoff games (both in losses with the Cavaliers).
 
* James Jones made five of seven field-goal attempts, all from three point range, and he made all ten of his free throws to accumulate 25 points. The only other player ever to score as many as 25 points in a NBA playoff game without making a two-point field goal was Chicago’s Scottie Pippen, who did it against Utah in Game 3 of the 1997 NBA Finals (27 points: 0-for-2 on two-point attempts, 7-for-11 from three-point range and 6-for-9 from the free-throw line). Before Jones scored 25 on Sunday, the most points in an NBA playoff game for a player who didn’t attempt a two-pointer was 21 by the Lakers Robert Horry, against Utah in Game 2 of the 1997 Conference Semifinals (7-for-7 from the floor, all from beyond the arc, with no free throws).

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