OPINION

By Sean Deveney

updated 3:04 a.m. ET July 1, 2008

Sean Deveney

Not long ago, I was in an agent's office, talking about whether big-name players like Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal and Shawn Marion would opt out of their contracts. "Why would they?" the agent said. "It's not like there's any money out there."

That's the lament of this offseason. The free agent class is limited, and the pool of money to spend — staring July 1, the official opening of the NBA free-agent season — on those guys is equally dry. Only the Sixers, Grizzlies and Clippers figure to have enough cash to make significant offers to players. Going back to the flurry of in-season deals that saw players like Marion, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Kidd and Pau Gasol moved — along with pre-draft deals like Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto and Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee — and the trade market probably will be limp, too.

So, what we're likely to see is teams re-signing their own players this summer. Might not be exciting, but it's important as far as setting teams up for this year and beyond. Let's have a look at the names that will be central to franchise decisions.

Unrestricted free agents
This is not a great group, which is one reason why Gilbert Arenas decided to put his name into the ring — even coming off an injury, he's pretty clearly the top of this class and has nothing to lose by testing the market. The group is mostly second-tier role players, which will make the approach teams take with their mid-level cap exception very important. Hold onto it into August, and you could get a desperate player at a bargain price.

1. Gilbert Arenas. He played only 13 games last year, but when healthy, he's one of the game's best scorers. He'll get some attention from teams with cap space, but the Wizards remain in the best position to re-sign him. Six years, $100 million? Maybe, even with two knee surgeries in his recent past.

2. Elton Brand. The feeling around the league is that there was only one way Brand, who ruptured his Achilles' tendon and played in just eight games, would opt out of his contract: If he were sure the Clippers would offer him a new, long-term deal. Look for that to come quickly.

3. Baron Davis. Brand's exercising of his opt-out was a surprise. Davis' is a stunner, as he left more than $17 million on the table for this year. Warriors GM Chris Mullin has work to do, trying to figure out whether to re-sign Davis, let him walk or work out a sign-and-trade. As if Mullin did not have enough to do this summer.

4. Corey Maggette. The Clippers will make an offer for Maggette, but they aren't going to stumble over themselves to keep him. He has already drawn interest from the Magic, but Orlando can't offer more than the mid-level exception.

5. Beno Udrih. After a well-timed breakout season, Udrih is looking for two things: A starting spot and a long-term deal that gives him some security. He could get both by sticking around in Sacramento.

6. DeSagana Diop. The Nets won't be keeping Diop, but they'd like to get some value for him in a sign-and-trade. The Mavericks have reportedly expressed interest.

7. James Posey. With two rings in the last three years, Posey has the stink of a champion all over him. He's a very valuable bench man, and the Celtics are not likely to let him go.

8. Chris Duhon. The Bulls won't bring back Duhon. As we reported this morning, Duhon will meet with the Knicks early Tuesday morning, but New York is not expected to offer more than a two-year deal. The Magic, Suns and Pistons also figure to have interest.

9. Eduardo Najera. Najera wisely extended his game out to the 3-point line, and has made himself a more attractive free agent because of it. This could be another homecoming in Dallas, as the Mavericks are expected to make a run at ex-Mav Najera. His old coach, Golden State's Don Nelson, would be a good fit, too.

Restricted free agents
Few things are trickier in the NBA offseason than figuring out how to handle restricted free agents. Look, for example, at what happened with Anderson Varejao and Sasha Vujacic last year in Cleveland. Players are told to go out and get offers from other teams, but other GMs don't want to offer on a restricted free agent, because they know the offer will be matched. Thus, the team holding the player's rights has power and can offer a player whatever they darn well please. Of course, if a team is too heavy-handed in wielding that power, they can create bad blood. It's a fine line.

1. Andre Iguodala. The Sixers need to keep their star player around, and need to keep him happy. Expect an offer.

2. Jose Calderon. The Raptors sent a pretty clear signal by unloading T.J. Ford. Calderon is their man, and now they'll have to pay him.

3. Josh Smith. Given the uncertainty of Hawks ownership and the fact that Smith will want a deal as close to the max as possible, he could be the best restricted free-agent candidate to get and take another offer.

4. Monta Ellis. Warriors fans are still stinging from the NBA rules loophole that allowed second-round pick Gilbert Arenas to leave in 2003. Golden State won't let that happen again. Chris Mullin has gambled on giving out fairly big contracts in the past (Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Jason Richardson) and was able to move them along for important pieces. Mullin won't be afraid to pay Ellis, knowing he can move him later if need be.

5. Andris Biedrins. What applies to Ellis applies to teammate Biedrins.

6. Luol Deng. Injury troubles and some backsliding hurt Deng last year, but so did trade rumors and the Bulls' inability to sign him to a contract extension. They'd be wise to lock him up quickly and get it off his mind.

7. Emeka Okafor. Finally healthy last year, Okafor still didn't make any strides forward. Still, he is a big man, certainly worthy of a deal in the five-year, $50 million range. Given his injury history, though, and given the fact that they can still control him for another year with a qualifying offer, the Bobcats might want to wait before giving Okafor a big payday.

8. Ben Gordon. What to do. Gordon wants to start, but it's not happening in Chicago. Realistically, no team is in position to give him more than the mid-level. A trade would probably serve both parties best.

9. Josh Childress. A very efficient scorer, Childress may be undervalued and could get an offer. Hard to imagine the Hawks would not match, though.

10. Louis Williams. Only 21, Williams had a breakout year for the Sixers. But it's doubtful that Philadelphia would let him walk.

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