Breaking Down The Free Agent Field: Part II

Rockets.com examines available wings with help of advance scout

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff

Houston - The free agent frenzy is officially underway. The moment the calendar flipped to July 1, General Managers league-wide turned on the charm and pulled out all the stops in an effort to woo the players sitting on top of their free agent wish list.

Case in point: Houston GM Daryl Morey made no secret of his desire to see Marcin Gortat in a Rockets' uniform, knocking on the Polish big man's door the second the clock struck 12:01 AM, and even went so far as to create an email address (rocketsfanslovegortat@gmail.com) for fans to help in the recruitment process.

Though perhaps lacking that degree of flair and creativity, that's the sort of courtship which is taking place throughout the league today as teams move to strike early and make their mark in free agency. So while we await the latest juicy rumor or breaking news story, let's continue our stroll through the names available on the open market this summer.

Yesterday we went over the free agent bigs and today the focus shifts to the players who earn their living out on the wings. We'll then conclude our three-part series by examining the available guards Thursday. Just as a reminder: the expert analysis comes courtesy of Rockets' advance scout Pat Zipfel, and what you're about to read is lifted straight from the pages of the scouting report he compiles for every player in the league.

(Note: There is one player you won't find on today's list - Ron Artest. Rockets' fans are already very familiar with everything Artest brings to the table, so no scouting report is necessary in his case. It should also be noted that Houston brass has repeatedly stated their desire to bring Ron back to the club, and Artest has expressed interest in another tour of duty in Rockets' red as well. We'll find out more about his status in the days and weeks to come.)

Hedo Turkoglu (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Scoring swingman who plays like a 2 offensively, but usually guards 3s (at 6-10). Likes to spot-up in transition, on ball rotation, and come off screens. Does more than just shoot as he can put the ball down, passes well, and is a good rebounder for his position. He can shoot the 3-point shot well for his size.

Jason says: There's a significant amount of interest in Turkoglu right now and it's no wonder why - anyone who watched Orlando's run through the postseason witnessed his versatility and ability to loom large in late-game, clutch situations. The Portland Trailblazers apparently have made him their No. 1 target, but he won't come cheap - Turkoglu reportedly turned down a 4-year, $36 million deal from Orlando before the Magic acquired Vince Carter. And while it might be fair to question the prudence of adding a 30-year old offensive specialist to a team that already has no problem putting points on the board, there's no denying the fact there are plenty of clubs who would love to have a player like Turkoglu on their roster - for the right price, of course.

Trevor Ariza (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Young, athletic, improving player who is long and active. He is a runner, cutter, slasher, and gets on the glass. Likes to ball fake and escape to his right. Can pass off the dribble and his perimeter shooting is improving. Defensively, possesses length, quick feet + active hands, and will get on the floor. Effective defensively for steals and outstanding rebounder for his position.

Jason says: What's not to like about Trevor Ariza? He's young, long, athletic, a lock-down defender and can shoot the three - all traits he put on display during a fantastic postseason performance which went a long way in helping the Lakers grab the NBA title this June. For all those reasons, Los Angeles has made re-signing him their No. 1 offseason priority and though Ariza has said there will be no hometown discount, it would be shocking to see him suit up in anything but the purple and gold next season.

Marvin Williams (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Developing player with good physical tools and size. Has a better face-up game and has improved greatly. Will shot fake and drive to his left and pull up for medium range jumper. Good rebounder and willing 3-point shooter.

Jason says: Is hindsight kind to the Hawks' selection of Williams with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft? Not so much. Clearly Atlanta would have been better served taking Chris Paul or Deron Williams. That said, Williams is by no means a bust. He's a steadily improving player who, at just 23 years of age, still has plenty of room for growth. On the right team and in the right system, it's easy to envision him coming into his own and becoming an extremely productive player. Odds are he stays in Atlanta, but that's no sure thing given the money the Hawks already have invested in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford.

Shawn Marion (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Multi-dimensional athlete. Excellent leaper who will look to get out on the break. Slasher who is a streaky shooter with range to 3-pt line. Will occasionally post left block, over left shoulder. Good offensive rebounder. Very active defender.

Jason says: Though his production has declined ever since he left the Mike D'Antoni coached run-and-gun Suns, Marion remains a useful wing player capable of defending multiple positions and wreaking havoc on the break. He's not a great fit for teams which prefer to primarily operate out of half-court sets and he needs to resign himself to the reality of an inevitable pay-cut, but Marion can still provide a nice boost for the team which procures his services.

Linas Kleiza (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Strong body, great strength and a much improved player. He confidently is able to play multiple positions (2-3-4). Sprints the floor for lay-ups & spot-ups. Moves without the ball, a good cutter, & works on the offensive glass. Plays hard-nosed defense, rebounds & plays a physical style. Drives and is a two foot finisher in the lane.

Jason says: As Zipfel's report suggests, Kleiza is a walking, talking testament to the power of hard work. He is the epitome of an energy player; someone who can come off the bench and spark his team and its fans with a motor that runs non-stop. The fact he can also knock down open threes and is such a willing defender makes him that much more of an attractive option for teams searching for a player in the $3-5 million price range.

Charlie Villanueva (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: He is long and a constant threat to shoot. He has a very soft jump shot for his size. When he faces up, he is ready to attack with a quick dribble. Has a quick release on his shot. Does a pretty good job of getting to the FT line and will initiate contact by lowering his shoulder. He can get from the 3 point line to the rim in 2 dribbles. Very agile. He has very good timing and jumps well. Does a good job on the defensive end of the floor.

Jason says: Placing Villanueva in the wings category might be a mistake given his size and natural position (he plays power forward), but I decided to place him here because of his propensity toward spending so much time out on the perimeter. He's battled the soft and underachiever labels since high school, but he's been a fairly consistent producer almost from the moment he first stepped on an NBA court. That said, he'd still probably be better served using his length a little more on the inside, as opposed to jacking up copious amounts of three-pointers; especially given the fact he's only a 32.7% shooter from long-range for his career.

Those minor complaints aside, however, he's a very intriguing prospect and it looks like the Detroit Pistons are doing everything in their power to reel him in.

Jamario Moon (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Athletic wing with a great physical body. He runs the floor very well and can finish. Attacks the glass on both ends of the floor and is a solid 19-foot shooter who has shown he can hit the 3-point shot. Good defender who uses his athleticism. Plays with passion every night. His length and mobility are his strengths.

Jason says: Sort of a poor man's Trevor Ariza, Moon could prove to be a bargain for the team that secures his rights. He's not the type of guy who will light up the scoreboard, but he will work hard, play good defense and do all the little things that contribute to winning.

Grant Hill (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Smooth swingman that can play three positions, understands the game, and is like having a coach on the floor. He is excellent at running the floor, driving to basket, and playing like a point forward. He is in great shape. Can lock up his man defensively. Can finish near the basket.

Jason says: Though no longer the All-Star caliber player he was during his pre-injury prime, Hill still has value as a savvy veteran presence capable of being a key rotation player for a championship contender. At 36-years old, he's coming off the first 82-game season of his career; all while averaging nearly 30 minutes of playing time per game. But if he does leave the desert, will his good health continue away from the magical Phoenix medial staff?

Matt Barnes (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Athletic small forward. A good runner and cutter with good leaping ability. Does have a quick first step to the basket. Prefers to ball fake and drive right. He has very good body control in the lane. Goes hard to the offensive glass.

Jason says: Similar to Jamario Moon, though probably not quite as capable defensively. Also takes a ton of three-point shots for a player who only finds the bottom of the net 33.2% of the time from beyond the arc.

Rodney Carney (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Athlete who can play above the rim. He runs the floor well and seems to have quick feet. Offensively, he can get in the lane quickly. He can leap and will challenge shots and rebound above the rim. Looks to leak out offensively, when he can. He has excellent catch-up speed in transition and does a good job of not giving up on plays. Has a good close out and gets to shooter to contest well. Can defend.

Jason says: Everything you could ever ask for athletically, but will he ever possess the basketball IQ necessary to make an impact on the pro game? If so, look out, but right now that day seems a long way off unless he finds a home on a team that disdains the half-court and chooses instead to push the pace at every opportunity.

Ime Udoka (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Small forward who will run the floor and spot up. Spots up in the corner with three point range, especially following post feeds. Defensively, he is active with his hands and he knows how to play- has a very good basketball IQ. Plays within himself and takes what the defense gives him.

Jason says: Udoka's numbers fell across the board last year which is why it's quite possible he could find himself earning a paycheck from a team other than the Spurs next season. Still, he offers some value as a back of the rotation player who's also benefited from playing plenty of big games in San Antonio over the last two years.

Desmond Mason (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Quick, athletic, good runner, + strong finisher. They look to post him and run drop plays for him. Has a right-to-left crossover, drives both ways, + has a good left hand. Will post smaller players and take bigger forwards outside. Prefers his left shoulder in the post. He has an excellent in-between game and really elevates in the lane. A high-energy player, defends and rebounds both ends.

Jason says: Has missed a lot of games due to injury the last two years and, as a result, has seen a precipitous drop in his production. Came into the league as an extraordinarily-gifted athlete but, at the age of 31, that, too, is diminishing. Can surely be had cheap and for that reason might be worth a flyer to see if he can resurrect his career.

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