NBA free agents are players not signed to a contract. They're jobless. These are the best NBA free agents that InsideHoops.com can think of who are currently playing in the D-League, some other minor league, overseas, or nowhere at all, hoping an NBA team will sign them.
Unrestricted free agents can sign with any team in the league that offers them a valid contract. Restricted free agents can sign an "offer sheet" with any team other than their original team. But the original team has 10 days to match that offer, and if they choose to do so, the player returns to that original team, under the terms of that new contract. Player Option means the player has the option to end their deal and become an unrestricted free agent. Team Option means the team has the option to end the player's deal, resulting in the player becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Early Termination Option means the player can end his contract and become a free agent. It's basically similar to "Player Option." Generally, players who make lots of money don't elect to become a free agent unless they know they have a big contract waiting for them.
Also see NBA Free Agent Rankings. And coming soon, info on which teams actually have salary cap room to sign a good player.
2008 NBA FREE AGENTS LIST
Atlanta Hawks
Josh Childress (R), Josh Smith (R), Salim Stoudamire (R), Mario West (R)
Boston Celtics
Tony Allen (R), Sam Cassell (U), Eddie House (U), Scot Pollard (U), James Posey (PO)
Charlotte Bobcats
Derek Anderson (U), Jermareo Davidson (TO), Othella Harrington (TO), Ryan Hollins (R), Emeka Okafor (R)
Chicago Bulls
Shannon Brown (U), Luol Deng (R), Chris Duhon (U), Ben Gordon (R), Demetris Nichols (R)
Cleveland Cavaliers
Devin Brown (U), Daniel Gibson (R), Dwayne Jones (R), Delonte West (R)
Dallas Mavericks
Malik Allen (U), Jose Barea (R), Devean George (U), Juwan Howard (U), Eddie Jones (PO), Tyronn Lue (U), Jamaal Magloire (U), Antoine Wright (U)
Denver Nuggets
Anthony Carter (U), Yakhouba Diawara (R), Allen Iverson (Early Term. Option), Bobby Jones (R), Eduardo Najera (U), JR Smith (R)
Detroit Pistons
Juan Dixon (U), Jarvis Hayes (U), Walter Herrmann (R), Lindsey Hunter (U), Theo Ratliff (U)
Golden State Warriors
Kelenna Azubuike (PO), Matt Barnes (U), Andris Biedrins (R), Austin Croshere (U), Baron Davis (Early Term. Option), Monta Ellis (R), Patrick O'Bryant (U), Mickael Pietrus (U)
Houston Rockets
Steve Francis (PO), Carl Landry (R), Dikembe Mutombo (U), Steve Novak (TO)
Indiana Pacers
Stephen Graham (TO), David Harrison (R), Jermaine O'Neal (Early Term. Option), Andre Owens (R), Kareem Rush (U)
L.A. Clippers
Elton Brand (Early Term. Option), Paul Davis (R), Dan Dickau (U), Shaun Livingston (R), Corey Maggette (Early Term. Option), Smush Parker (PO), Quinton Ross (U)
L.A. Lakers
Trevor Ariza (PO), Chris Mihm (PO), Ira Newble (U), Ronny Turiaf (R), Sasha Vujacic (R)
Memphis Grizzlies
Andre Brown (R), Kwame Brown (U), Casey Jacobsen (U), Juan Carlos Navarro (R)
Miami Heat
Earl Barron (U), Ricky Davis (U), Shawn Marion (Early Term. Option), Alonzo Mourning (U), Chris Quinn (R), Jason Williams (U), Dorell Wright (R)
Milwaukee Bucks
Royal Ivey (U), Michael Ruffin (U), Awvee Storey (TO), Jake Voskuhl (U)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Michael Doleac (U), Ryan Gomes (R), Chris Richard (R), Craig Smith (R), Kirk Snyder (R), Sebastian Telfair (R)
New Jersey Nets
Darrell Armstrong (U), DeSagana Diop (U), Nenad Krstic (R), Bostjan Nachbar (U), Stromile Swift (PO)
New Orleans Hornets
Ryan Bowen (U), Melvin Ely (PO), Jannero Pargo (PO), Bonzi Wells (U)
New York Knicks
Fred Jones (U), Stephon Marbury (Early Term. Option), Randolph Morris (R)
Orlando Magic
Carlos Arroyo (U), James Augustine (R), Keith Bogans (PO), Keyon Dooling (U), Maurice Evans (U), Adonal Foyle (PO), Pat Garrity (U)
Philadelphia 76ers
Louis Amundson (R), Calvin Booth (PO), Herbert Hill (R), Andre Iguodala (R), Kevin Ollie (U), Shavlik Randolph (R), Louis Williams (R)
Phoenix Suns
Gordan Giricek (U), Grant Hill (PO), Sean Marks (U), Eric Piatkowski (U), Brian Skinner (U)
Portland Trail Blazers
James Jones (PO), Raef LaFrentz (Early Term. Option), Von Wafer (R)
Sacramento Kings
Ron Artest (Early Term. Option), Anthony Johnson (U), Kenny Thomas (Early Term. Option), Beno Udrih (U), Lorenzen Wright (U), Jeff Lenchiner (InsideHoops.com - just kidding)
San Antonio Spurs
Brent Barry (U), Michael Finley (U), Robert Horry (U), Kurt Thomas (U), Jacque Vaughn (PO)
Seattle Sonics
Francisco Elson (U), Mickael Gelabale (R), Robert Swift (R)
Toronto Raptors
Primoz Brezec (U), Jose Calderon (R), Carlos Delfino (R), Rasho Nesterovic (PO)
Utah Jazz
Jason Hart (PO), CJ Miles (R), Paul Millsap (TO)
Washington Wizards
Gilbert Arenas (Early Term. Option), Antawn Jamison (U), Roger Mason (U)
Unrestricted free agents can sign with any team in the league that offers them a valid contract. Restricted free agents can sign an "offer sheet" with any team other than their original team. But the original team has 10 days to match that offer, and if they choose to do so, the player returns to that original team, under the terms of that new contract. Player Option means the player has the option to end their deal and become an unrestricted free agent. Team Option means the team has the option to end the player's deal, resulting in the player becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Early Termination Option means the player can end his contract and become a free agent. It's basically similar to "Player Option." Generally, players who make lots of money don't elect to become a free agent unless they know they have a big contract waiting for them.
Also see NBA Free Agent Rankings. And coming soon, info on which teams actually have salary cap room to sign a good player.
2008 NBA FREE AGENTS LIST
Atlanta Hawks
Josh Childress (R), Josh Smith (R), Salim Stoudamire (R), Mario West (R)
Boston Celtics
Tony Allen (R), Sam Cassell (U), Eddie House (U), Scot Pollard (U), James Posey (PO)
Charlotte Bobcats
Derek Anderson (U), Jermareo Davidson (TO), Othella Harrington (TO), Ryan Hollins (R), Emeka Okafor (R)
Chicago Bulls
Shannon Brown (U), Luol Deng (R), Chris Duhon (U), Ben Gordon (R), Demetris Nichols (R)
Cleveland Cavaliers
Devin Brown (U), Daniel Gibson (R), Dwayne Jones (R), Delonte West (R)
Dallas Mavericks
Malik Allen (U), Jose Barea (R), Devean George (U), Juwan Howard (U), Eddie Jones (PO), Tyronn Lue (U), Jamaal Magloire (U), Antoine Wright (U)
Denver Nuggets
Anthony Carter (U), Yakhouba Diawara (R), Allen Iverson (Early Term. Option), Bobby Jones (R), Eduardo Najera (U), JR Smith (R)
Detroit Pistons
Juan Dixon (U), Jarvis Hayes (U), Walter Herrmann (R), Lindsey Hunter (U), Theo Ratliff (U)
Golden State Warriors
Kelenna Azubuike (PO), Matt Barnes (U), Andris Biedrins (R), Austin Croshere (U), Baron Davis (Early Term. Option), Monta Ellis (R), Patrick O'Bryant (U), Mickael Pietrus (U)
Houston Rockets
Steve Francis (PO), Carl Landry (R), Dikembe Mutombo (U), Steve Novak (TO)
Indiana Pacers
Stephen Graham (TO), David Harrison (R), Jermaine O'Neal (Early Term. Option), Andre Owens (R), Kareem Rush (U)
L.A. Clippers
Elton Brand (Early Term. Option), Paul Davis (R), Dan Dickau (U), Shaun Livingston (R), Corey Maggette (Early Term. Option), Smush Parker (PO), Quinton Ross (U)
L.A. Lakers
Trevor Ariza (PO), Chris Mihm (PO), Ira Newble (U), Ronny Turiaf (R), Sasha Vujacic (R)
Memphis Grizzlies
Andre Brown (R), Kwame Brown (U), Casey Jacobsen (U), Juan Carlos Navarro (R)
Miami Heat
Earl Barron (U), Ricky Davis (U), Shawn Marion (Early Term. Option), Alonzo Mourning (U), Chris Quinn (R), Jason Williams (U), Dorell Wright (R)
Milwaukee Bucks
Royal Ivey (U), Michael Ruffin (U), Awvee Storey (TO), Jake Voskuhl (U)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Michael Doleac (U), Ryan Gomes (R), Chris Richard (R), Craig Smith (R), Kirk Snyder (R), Sebastian Telfair (R)
New Jersey Nets
Darrell Armstrong (U), DeSagana Diop (U), Nenad Krstic (R), Bostjan Nachbar (U), Stromile Swift (PO)
New Orleans Hornets
Ryan Bowen (U), Melvin Ely (PO), Jannero Pargo (PO), Bonzi Wells (U)
New York Knicks
Fred Jones (U), Stephon Marbury (Early Term. Option), Randolph Morris (R)
Orlando Magic
Carlos Arroyo (U), James Augustine (R), Keith Bogans (PO), Keyon Dooling (U), Maurice Evans (U), Adonal Foyle (PO), Pat Garrity (U)
Philadelphia 76ers
Louis Amundson (R), Calvin Booth (PO), Herbert Hill (R), Andre Iguodala (R), Kevin Ollie (U), Shavlik Randolph (R), Louis Williams (R)
Phoenix Suns
Gordan Giricek (U), Grant Hill (PO), Sean Marks (U), Eric Piatkowski (U), Brian Skinner (U)
Portland Trail Blazers
James Jones (PO), Raef LaFrentz (Early Term. Option), Von Wafer (R)
Sacramento Kings
Ron Artest (Early Term. Option), Anthony Johnson (U), Kenny Thomas (Early Term. Option), Beno Udrih (U), Lorenzen Wright (U), Jeff Lenchiner (InsideHoops.com - just kidding)
San Antonio Spurs
Brent Barry (U), Michael Finley (U), Robert Horry (U), Kurt Thomas (U), Jacque Vaughn (PO)
Seattle Sonics
Francisco Elson (U), Mickael Gelabale (R), Robert Swift (R)
Toronto Raptors
Primoz Brezec (U), Jose Calderon (R), Carlos Delfino (R), Rasho Nesterovic (PO)
Utah Jazz
Jason Hart (PO), CJ Miles (R), Paul Millsap (TO)
Washington Wizards
Gilbert Arenas (Early Term. Option), Antawn Jamison (U), Roger Mason (U)
