Top 15 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009

Shawn Marion, Toronto Raptors (unrestricted) - He gets this spot over Boozer due to the fact that you know what you're getting from him: a multi-talented combo-forward who excels in the fast break. He picked up his scoring after being traded to Toronto and couls still be good for 15 and 9 in the right situation.
Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz (unrestricted) - Along with Ben Gordon, he's probably one of the riskiest free agents on the market. Coming off an injury-plauged season, he may want to re-think opting out. Teams may look at the Elton Brand experiment in Philadelphia and pass on Boozer. Add in the fact that he's a sub-par defender...
Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz (restricted) - Was a steady 15 and 9 guy when Boozer was out and still has room to grow. I don't see how the Jazz can let him go.
Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers (unrestricted) - A versatile player who's very good in multiple categories but doesn't stand out in any one category. Very inconsistent. Him being a Laker won't get any extra points from like he would with most others.
Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee Bucks (restricted) - Stepped up in the second half after Redd and Bogut went down, averaging 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Being a sub-par defender, however, makes him a poor fit on a Scott Skiles team.
Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks (restricted) - This combo-forward averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this past season. Atlanta has shopped him for a possible sign-and-trade deal.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Boston Celtics (restricted) - Filling in for Kevin Garnett, he averaged 15.8 points per game in the Playoffs. I don't see how Boston could let him go.
Drew Gooden, San Antonio Spurs (unrestricted) - A solid 12-9 guy when he starts. Mediocre defender, though.
Chris "Birdman" Andersen (unrestricted) - With all the hype that surrounded him this season, he'll be a bit overrated in free agency this summer. However, he still provides energy off the bench, averaging 6.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 08-09. He can also shift to center.
Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons (unrestricted) - He has pretty much coasted over the past two seasons, becoming very three-happy. At 34, is he worth the risk? The Cavs have expressed interest.
Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers (unrestricted) - Says he's going to opt out, and I think he's foolish for doing so. He would make $6.2 million next year if he stays put. In this economy, you have to take that, especially after his poor showing against Orlando in the conference finals.
Leon Powe, Boston Celtics (restricted) - With the emergence of Big Baby is this year's Playoffs, he could easily be made available. He's still very much a work-in-progress, though.
Joe Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers (unrestricted) - He wants to return to Cleveland and will probably get his wish with Varejao opting out. As a big man who plays solid defense and has a mid-range game, who wouldn't want Joe Smith on their bench?
Chris Wilcox, New York Knicks (unrestricted) Coming off a down year that resulted in him being buried on the bench after his mid-season trade to the Knicks. Could he bounce back somewhere else next year?
Ike Diogu, Sacramento Kings (restricted) Was impressive in the Kings' finals two regualr season games, scoring 32 and 28 respectively. When you look at that thin frountcourt of their's, it would be logical for Sacto to bring him back for at least another year.

Other Notables:

Hakim Warrick, Memphis Grizzlies (restricted) - He benefits from playing in the NBA's worst frountcourt. Just another great athlete/mediocre basketball player that really shouldn't be bought into.
Josh Powell, Los Angeles Lakers (unrestricted) - Think of a poor man's Udonis Haslem as a hard-worker who can hit the mid-range jumper.
Malik Rose, Oklahoma City Thunder (unrestricted) - I can't believe I'm actually including him, but he was rejuvinated after his mid-season trade to the Thunder, averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.7 minutes off the bench for the Thunder, including a 14 and 7 performance in a win over Philadelphia in early March. He could stick around in this league for one more season.

Up Next:

HurricaneDij39's Early 09-10 NBA Predictions (June 13th)
Top 10 Free Agent Centers (June 19th)
Top 15 Overall NBA 2009 Free Agents (July 5th)

Previously:

Top 10 Free Agent Small Forwards (June 7th)
Top 10 Free Agent Shooting Guards (June 4th)
Top 10 Free Agent Point Guards (June 1st)

Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009

Ohhh, a lot of high risk/high reward guys at the power forward postion this year in free agency. As a GM I think you have to look to the future always, which would discourage me to get guys like Marion, Smith, Odom, Wallace etc because they have already hit the 30+ mark. Don't get me wrong, they are all great players, but they are either on the downward slope or reaching their peak. If I were a GM and needed a power forward I think I would look into Millsap who played great after Boozer went down, and he is only 24 years old which would bode well for the future of your team. He could develop into a top five power forward easy and he has not shown that he is injury prone either. I would then look into Marvin Williams. Williams is even younger than Millsap at age 23 and he has proven to be a reliable starter for the Hawks. However, he could be a little injury prone. If those two options were not avalible I think I would then turn to Glen Davis who played incredible against the Magic filling in for KG. Davis is a big body who can also hit that mid-range jumper. A very good inside to mid range threat who you can't leave open. Davis also is a great defender. If I were a GM I think those would be my top three candidates to fill my slot at the PF position from a long term outlook:

1.) Paul Millsap
2.) Marvin Williams
3.) Glen Davis

The other young PFs you have mentioned, like Powe and Warrick for example, have yet to prove to me that they can be dependable startering options for the future, merely just great role players.

_Kitch Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 3, 2006	Posted on: June 10, 2009 5:07 pm Score: -100 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
lavigne12 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 21, 2008	Posted on: June 11, 2009 3:18 am Score: 113 Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009 Ohhh, a lot of high risk/high reward guys at the power forward postion this year in free agency. As a GM I think you have to look to the future always, which would discourage me to get guys like Marion, Smith, Odom, Wallace etc because they have already hit the 30+ mark. Don't get me wrong, they are all great players, but they are either on the downward slope or reaching their peak. If I were a GM and needed a power forward I think I would look into Millsap who played great after Boozer went down, and he is only 24 years old which would bode well for the future of your team. He could develop into a top five power forward easy and he has not shown that he is injury prone either. I would then look into Marvin Williams. Williams is even younger than Millsap at age 23 and he has proven to be a reliable starter for the Hawks. However, he could be a little injury prone. If those two options were not avalible I think I would then turn to Glen Davis who played incredible against the Magic filling in for KG. Davis is a big body who can also hit that mid-range jumper. A very good inside to mid range threat who you can't leave open. Davis also is a great defender. If I were a GM I think those would be my top three candidates to fill my slot at the PF position from a long term outlook: 1.) Paul Millsap 2.) Marvin Williams 3.) Glen Davis The other young PFs you have mentioned, like Powe and Warrick for example, have yet to prove to me that they can be dependable startering options for the future, merely just great role players. [ Reply to Comment ]
DetTigs08 Reputation: 81 Level: All-Star Since: Jul 30, 2008	Posted on: June 11, 2009 11:11 am Score: 60 Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009 What about Antonio McDysse? I know he's old, but he's still better than Diogu, Wilcox, Smith and Powe. [ Reply to Comment ]
HurricaneDij39 Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 12, 2007	Posted on: June 11, 2009 2:43 pm Score: 73 Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009 McDyess will be on my centers list. [ Reply to Comment ]
HurricaneDij39 Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 12, 2007	Posted on: June 21, 2009 4:18 pm Score: 91 Top 15 Free Agent Power Forwards for 2009 I forgot Brandon Bass, a restricted free agent. I'll rank him right after Varejao and before Powe. Bass is an athletic big who's good for the 7th man role. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 08-09. [ Reply to Comment ]

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