Where will the top 5 free agents go?
1. Dwight Howard, C
Howard has been in limbo for over a year now, first with the magic, then with LA. Hopefully this will end tomorrow at some point. Howard has many suitors. The Mavericks, the Hawks, Clippers, Nets, even the Warriors have a tiny chance. He could even stay with the Lakers. But, the Mavericks are just too old, the Hawks will not have a star once they lose Josh Smith, the Clippers and Nets don't have enough money, and I would be surprised if he stayed with the Lakers based on how bad of a season he had last year. I think that he will go to the Rockets. The Rockets want him more than any other team, and they would immediately be a contender with him.
Suitor: Rockets
2. Chris Paul, PG
This is probably the easiest to determine of the 5. It is pretty obvious that Paul will stay. He is happy with the Clippers organization for the most part, and especially about one thing. They traded for Doc Rivers. Rivers is, in my opinion, the best coach in the NBA, and I think Chris Paul would agree. The new-look Clippers, with Doc, are a perfect fit for Paul.
Suitor: Clippers
3. Josh Smith, PF
This is the hardest to determine of the 5. He could go to the Mavericks, or the Rockets if they don't get Howard. He could stay in Atlanta, though that is very unlikely. I think he will go to the Celtics. The Celtics are trying to rebuild, but the have enough pieces still in place that they don't need to restart. They could get Smith and then go out and get a center in free agency such as Nikola Pekovic of the Timberwolves, JJ Hickson of the Trail Blazers, Andrew Bynum of the 76ers, or even Al Jefferson of the Jazz. That would give them a potent duo of big men, Josh Smith and one of those 4 (preferably Bynum or Jefferson), as well as one of the top point guards in the NBA with Rajan Rondo. They could then fill out their starting lineup with Jeff Green, and Avery Bradley. Playoff team right there.
Suitor: Celtics
4. Andre Iguodala, SF
Iguodala could go to a lot of different teams, but I think he will end up with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are reportedly talking to him, and that would give them a great lineup. They would have Jrue Holiday, Iguodala, Eric Gordon, and Anthony Davis. In my opinion that would leave Davis as the 4th best player. That would be a great lineup, and I haven't even mentioned Grevis Vasquez and Ryan Anderson off the bench. This team could be a title contender in 2014.\
Suitor: Pelicans
5. Monta Ellis, SG
Monta Ellis could go to any of the teams that have a lot of money to spend, but I think he fits best with either the Mavericks or the Hawks. I also think he will end up choosing the former. The Mavs need to sign a big free agent to pair with Dirk, and this is a perfect move for them. What the really need is a fast guard to pair with Darren Collison. Monta Ellis fits the bill. He is a perfect fit for their offense, and is a great consolation prize for not getting Howard.
Suitor: Mavericks
Howard has been in limbo for over a year now, first with the magic, then with LA. Hopefully this will end tomorrow at some point. Howard has many suitors. The Mavericks, the Hawks, Clippers, Nets, even the Warriors have a tiny chance. He could even stay with the Lakers. But, the Mavericks are just too old, the Hawks will not have a star once they lose Josh Smith, the Clippers and Nets don't have enough money, and I would be surprised if he stayed with the Lakers based on how bad of a season he had last year. I think that he will go to the Rockets. The Rockets want him more than any other team, and they would immediately be a contender with him.
Suitor: Rockets
2. Chris Paul, PG
This is probably the easiest to determine of the 5. It is pretty obvious that Paul will stay. He is happy with the Clippers organization for the most part, and especially about one thing. They traded for Doc Rivers. Rivers is, in my opinion, the best coach in the NBA, and I think Chris Paul would agree. The new-look Clippers, with Doc, are a perfect fit for Paul.
Suitor: Clippers
3. Josh Smith, PF
This is the hardest to determine of the 5. He could go to the Mavericks, or the Rockets if they don't get Howard. He could stay in Atlanta, though that is very unlikely. I think he will go to the Celtics. The Celtics are trying to rebuild, but the have enough pieces still in place that they don't need to restart. They could get Smith and then go out and get a center in free agency such as Nikola Pekovic of the Timberwolves, JJ Hickson of the Trail Blazers, Andrew Bynum of the 76ers, or even Al Jefferson of the Jazz. That would give them a potent duo of big men, Josh Smith and one of those 4 (preferably Bynum or Jefferson), as well as one of the top point guards in the NBA with Rajan Rondo. They could then fill out their starting lineup with Jeff Green, and Avery Bradley. Playoff team right there.
Suitor: Celtics
4. Andre Iguodala, SF
Iguodala could go to a lot of different teams, but I think he will end up with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are reportedly talking to him, and that would give them a great lineup. They would have Jrue Holiday, Iguodala, Eric Gordon, and Anthony Davis. In my opinion that would leave Davis as the 4th best player. That would be a great lineup, and I haven't even mentioned Grevis Vasquez and Ryan Anderson off the bench. This team could be a title contender in 2014.\
Suitor: Pelicans
5. Monta Ellis, SG
Monta Ellis could go to any of the teams that have a lot of money to spend, but I think he fits best with either the Mavericks or the Hawks. I also think he will end up choosing the former. The Mavs need to sign a big free agent to pair with Dirk, and this is a perfect move for them. What the really need is a fast guard to pair with Darren Collison. Monta Ellis fits the bill. He is a perfect fit for their offense, and is a great consolation prize for not getting Howard.
Suitor: Mavericks
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