# NBA's 2013 free agents, where will they go? wight Howard, Chris Paul, Josh Smith

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA

My look at the NBA's 2013 free agent class. Who will land Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Josh Smith and others? http://tinyurl.com/cq8o6mp 

Expand

•  Reply 
•  Retweet 
•  Favorite 
• Buffer
 
•  More

• 
  

• With the trade deadline behind us, teams that want to make significant personnel changes are now looking ahead to free agency. This year’s free agent class features plenty of notable names and there could be a lot of movement this summer.Last week’s trade deadline was rather anticlimactic, but that just means the upcoming free agency period will be even more fun. The players who have been surfacing in trade rumors for the last several months – such as Josh Smith, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, etc. – will once again be in the spotlight and potentially on the move.
  
  
  The list of teams with salary cap space this summer is long. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers could all have significant money to spend on a free agent or two.
  Here are the top 20 free agents who will be available this offseason:
  Chris Paul – Point Guard- Los Angeles Clippers
  
  
  Nobody expects Paul to leave the Clippers. While the 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, most people around the NBA expect him to re-sign with the team that traded for him prior to last season. Paul seems to love the team and situation in Los Angeles. When the Clippers were pursuing several free agents last offseason, Paul helped recruit the players and they got the sense that the superstar point guard would be with the team long-term. He certainly hasn’t had his foot out the door, and it would be a shock to those within the organization if he decided to sign elsewhere. When Paul left the New Orleans Hornets, he wanted to join a contender and play in a large market. In Los Angeles, he has met both criteria. However, there will still be plenty of teams courting Paul this summer. He’s arguably the best point guard in the league and has proven that he can singlehandedly take a team to the playoffs. It’d be foolish for teams with cap space, such as the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, not to pursue him. Paul recently made headlines by saying that he hasn’t decided what he’s going to do this offseason, which is just enough to keep the Hawks and Mavericks’ dream of signing him alive.
  
  
  Dwight Howard – Center – Los Angeles Lakers
  It’s no secret that Howard is unhappy. This season hasn’t gone quite as planned for the superstar center. Rather than winning games and repairing his image, Howard continues to run into drama and make headlines for all of the wrong reasons. He and Kobe Bryant have butted heads. He doesn’t believe Mike D’Antoni has used him correctly. He has grown tired of the constant questions and criticism that come with being a superstar in Los Angeles. All of this is true, but is Howard so frustrated with his situation that he would walk and leave $30 million and an extra contract year on the table? The Lakers don’t believe he will, which is why they didn’t trade him prior to the deadline and why they seem so confident that Howard will re-sign. However, that won’t stop rival executives from meeting with Howard and trying to sell them on their situation. Howard left the Orlando Magic because he thought that the grass was greener elsewhere. Will he once again search for a greener pasture after this dismal season? That may be the biggest question entering this summer’s free agency period, and by refusing to discuss his future, Howard has failed to silence the rumors and speculation surrounding his decision.
  
  
  Andrew Bynum – Center – Philadelphia 76ers
  Bynum is one of the most intriguing players in this summer’s free agency class. When healthy, he is one of the best centers in the NBA. The 25-year-old has an incredible resume that includes two championships and All-Star honors. However, staying healthy has been an issue for Bynum, as we’ve seen during his debut season with the 76ers. Because Bynum is so young and has so much upside, he’ll have plenty of teams calling when the clock strikes midnight on July 1. However, it remains to be seen how much teams will be willing to offer him. Bynum will likely take the largest contract on the table, which will likely keep Philadelphia from offering a smaller deal or one that includes protective team options. Bynum’s play, if he’s able to return this season, will help set his price as a free agent.
  
  
  Josh Smith – Power Forward – Atlanta Hawks
  The Hawks decided not to trade Smith at the deadline, but that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be back with the team next season. Atlanta took a risk by holding onto Smith, and it could end up costing them. Smith and the Hawks have had a shaky relationship over the last several years and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the seemingly inevitable break up comes this summer. At times, Smith has doubted whether the organization was committed to building a championship contender and demanded a trade as a result. There were some reports in recent weeks that Smith’s representatives have been telling people around the league that Smith wouldn’t re-sign with the Hawks this summer. Smith has said that he thinks he’s a max contract player, but there aren’t many executives who share that belief. At the end of the day, Smith is expected to weigh his options and flirt with the teams that have the most cap space.
  
  

  

  
  
  
  Read more at http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-ranking-the-2013-free-agents/#SdEm12sOIsBj79y2.99