ProBasketballTalk's top 25 free agents tracker

By Kurt Helin

Free agency is underway. So many rumors. So much information. It's enough to make Stephen Hawking's head spin.

We are all about convenience for you, dear reader. Don't have time to track down all the crazy rumors on your favorite players? We're paid to be crazy, so we'll do it for you.

What follows is a list of the top 25 free agents on the market (by our estimation), each with a little note about where they stand right now. Bookmark this post, because we will be updating it with the latest information on all the top free agents (and we'll bump it up to the top of the site every day, too).

All of the information you need, distilled and neatly compiled in one place. Sort of like how AOL tried to package the Internet for you. (Note, where it says restricted, that means the team that last had the player has the right to match any offer.)



Last updated 12:37 am Eastern
1. LeBron James (not signed): Day one is in the books with pitches from the Nets and Knicks. Both teams said things went well because, well, what else are they going to say? "Wow, we really sucked in there, sorry fans." Friday it's the Heat and Clippers; the Bulls and Cavaliers go on Saturday. On Sunday, our sources say LeBron will enjoy fireworks and barbecue like the rest of the nation. You can decide for yourself if the Bulls and Cavs getting the last word has any significance. I kind of think it does.

2. Dwyane Wade (not signed): He's had meetings with Nets and Bulls, but we all know those are fall back options. He's going to stay with the Heat and is working to get somebody to come play with him. Somebody better than Brad Miller. Someone like...

3. Chris Bosh (not signed): He had some preliminary meetings in Dallas, but now is in Chicago -- same as Wade -- taking in detailed presentations. He sat down with Pat Riley from the Heat as well as representatives of the Nets on Thursday. Rumors are now that Toronto wants picks and a trade exemption back for him, meaning they want to deal with a team under the cap. Like Miami, Toronto or Chicago, but not Houston.

4. Amare Stoudemire (not signed): He opted out of his deal with the Suns but is still talking to them. The hangup appears to be years -- Phoenix offered four, Stoudemire wants five. He met with the Pat Riley and the Heat just after the deadline for a couple hours. Meetings are scheduled in NYC with the Knicks Monday, although in the past he has been rumored to be lukewarm on them. He also will have meetings with the Bulls and Raptors.

5. Joe Johnson (Near agreement with Hawks): After a second meeting he has agreed to accept Atlanta's max-deal offer of six years, $119 million. Not a surprise, but man are they going to regret this deal in four or five years.

6. Carlos Boozer (not signed): He's getting a lot of early attention -- he had meetings with the Jazz and the Heat Thursday, has had contact with Chicago and New York. In every case except Utah he is the second or third choice, behind Chris Bosh and sometimes Amare Stoudemire. No word on if the Jazz made a formal offer, but Boozer knows what he is getting there and if he doesn't want to be somebody's second choice he may just take it.

7. Rudy Gay (Agreed to terms with Memphis): Reports are that Gay has accepted a five-year, $81.6 million offer from the Memphis Grizzlies. His representatives have started canceling meetings with other suitors. 

8. Dirk Nowitizki (not signed): He will be in Dallas Friday morning (he's having a Thursday night dinner with Jason Kidd in NYC, no he is not talking to other teams). All that means is it takes 24 hours longer for him to sign a max extension with the Mavs. He is flying to talk to them -- this is a done deal. Miami and others have tried to make contact, though.

9. Paul Pierce (not signed): He has started negotiating a new deal with the Celtics -- and only the Celtics. No other teams get to play. The question with Pierce is years: He will be 33 next season. How long do you really want to extend him?

10. David Lee (not signed): Meetings are set up with Chicago, Miami, New Jersey and Minnesota. I could see teams like Houston jumping in if they are not in the Bosh sweepstakes any more. However, no talks with New York. Got a feeling the Knicks will regret that.

11. John Salmons (near agreement with Bucks): He is very close to agreeing to a five-year, $39 million deal to stay in Milwaukee. Details have to be hammered out, but this is supposed to be nearly done. If so, the Bucks have a lineup that will have the East fearing the deer again.

12. Ray Allen (not signed): With Doc Rivers coming back, the chances of him returning to Boston went way, way up. Cleveland has interest, but they don't think they can pry him out of Boston now.

13. Udonis Haslem (not signed): His agent said there were several calls from teams interested in Haslem, but they are giving the Heat a little time to figure out what they are doing with the big names on the roster, and to see if they have room for Haslem in those plans. But he will not wait forever.

14. JJ Redick (not signed): He is on his honeymoon right now and is in no hurry to get a deal done. Which is good, because teams are still dealing with the big fish and will get to him later.

15. Brendan Haywood (not signed): The Cavaliers have made contact with him, but they are interested only if LeBron James returns to them. I bet the feeling is mutual. The Miami Heat also have reached out, but they as well are focused on the A -listers right now.

16. Luis Scola (restricted, not signed): The Rockets can match any offer, and unless it's an insane offer they will.

17. Tyrus Thomas (restricted, not signed): A lot of teams are lured in by his potential -- Denver, Minnesota, New York and New Jersey. The Bobcats have the right to match and offer and say they will, but with what other players are getting today based on potential and the market, you can question if Charlotte really wants to go there.

18. Shaquille O'Neal (not signed): Could he be this summer's Allen Iverson?

19. Brad Miller (not signed): Boston has shown some aggressive interest in him, sort of taking over the Sheed role. Things we can't wait to see: KG's reaction to Miller's defensive rotations. He also has drawn interest from the Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets.

20. Matt Barnes (not signed): He says he wants to stay in Orlando, and they say they want to keep him. Probably that happens. But someone else will make a run at him.

21. Luke Ridnour (not signed): If what you want is a scoring spark off the bench, a guy with energy, Luke is a good call as your No. 2 point guard. Just don't expect much defense.

22. Mike Miller (not signed): There is a report that the Lakers have offered Miller five-years, $30 million, however that has not been confirmed by anyone with good contacts for the Lakers. However, in need of outside shooting, they may have talked at the very least. They are not alone -- Miami and Cleveland are known contacts, and there likely are more. If you can shoot the rock, you can have a job in the NBA.

23. Steve Blake (not signed): Another solid, respectable guard who can give a team 25 quality minutes a night, and knock down some threes. Look for some contenders to reach out to him.

24. Ronnie Brewer (not signed): Now it is clear why the Grizzlies did not make a qualifying offer to Brewer, they were clearing the decks for the Rudy Gay deal. Now they say they want to bring him back, but the door is open for other teams to walk in.

25. Anthony Morrow (not signed, restricted): There is a lot of interest: Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Blazers, Clips and Jazz all have reached out. Notice how many well run, smart organizations are in that list (plus the Clippers). The Warriors extended a qualifying offer and would be idiots not to mach any offer for him. So, it could happen.