Here's a list of the Top 10 free agents, courtesy of ESPN (Ben Wallace to the Bulls, you heard it here first!):
1. Ben Wallace, Pistons
On the night the Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs in Miami, Wallace was pressed by reporters on whether he'd be returning to the Pistons. "Everyone knows where my heart is," Wallace said before pausing for effect. "It's in my chest." Wallace's relationship with coach Flip Saunders was anything but rosy at the end, and Wallace was miffed that Saunders benched him for the entire fourth quarter of the Game 6 loss to the Heat. A new contract starting at $12,000,001 would make Big Ben the highest-paid Piston and would balloon out to $55.2 million over four years. But would Wallace consider such an offer fair? Insider believes he wouldn't.
2. Al Harrington, Hawks
The Hawks' unsettled ownership situation is throwing a huge wrench into Harrington's future plans; GM Billy Knight is certain to be out of a job if Steve Belkin is successful in the courtroom in his fight to take over from his former ownership partners. Atlanta will have first dibs on Harrington, but Knight might be better served to go with the best sign-and-trade offer -- and there will be lots. Count on Indiana, Golden State and Minnesota making a run, and don't count out the Lakers. Another idea that might sound far-fetched but could become plausible is a sign-and-trade with Detroit for Ben Wallace.
3. Jason Terry, Mavericks
Agent Dan Fegan said on the eve of Game 1 of the Finals that Terry expected to get a five- or six-year contract, and Terry enhanced his value the next night by going for 32 points. The Mavs need his outside shooting, and you'd think they'd never let another top-tier point guard get away, but the equation changes if signing Mike James is their backup plan. Terry took a financial risk three years ago when he signed a three-year offer sheet with Utah and Atlanta matched it, and he wants to cash in long-term this time. Fegan is known to aim high with his monetary demands, and Mavs owner Mark Cuban is trying to exercise some degree of fiscal restraint, so this one is another potential wild card.
4. Nene, Nuggets (restricted)
Denver is trying desperately to trade Kenyon Martin in order to free up money to re-sign the Brazilian big man and make a run at the next guy on this list, Bonzi Wells. If July 12 arrives and Martin is still in Denver, teams with significant cap room could offer Nene a front-loaded contract that Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke would have to think twice about matching because of the luxury tax implications. Note: Teams now have seven days to match offers to restricted free agents, down from 15.
5. Bonzi Wells, Kings
In a market short on two guards, especially two guards who can score, Wells is a hotter commodity than his résumé and his reputation might warrant. The general feeling around the league is that no one will step up with an immediate offer to Wells worth more than the mid-level exception, unless they can interest the Kings in a sign-and-trade that bumps Bonzi into the $6-7 million starting salary range.
6. Joel Przybilla, Trail Blazers
One of his primary leverage options disappeared when the Raptors went out and traded for Rasho Nesterovic, but the Bulls and Hornets both need size and have the cap room to afford the premium they'll have to pay for a big man. Remember, nobody gets overpaid in the NBA like centers, and if Samuel Dalembert is worth $8.4 million and Tyson Chandler $9 million, Przybilla will want to be in the same league.
7. Nazr Mohammed, Spurs
San Antonio will deem him expendable if it feels the price is too high. The Spurs believe they can get by at the position in this age of small ball by going more with Tim Duncan at center, backed up by Fabricio Oberto and the incoming Robertas Javtokas. But again, centers are at a premium when they go onto the free agent market, and Mohammed shouldn't have trouble finding a team willing to give him the five-year deal he's seeking.
8. Peja Stojakovic, Pacers
He didn't help his value by sitting out most of the Pacers' first-round loss to Indiana with a knee injury, which partially accounts for his fall to No. 8. Agent David Baumann expects the Pacers to make an offer a few minutes after midnight Friday, "and I also expect to hear from at least two other teams." Much will depend on how lucrative Indiana's offer is. Insider believes five years and $50 million won't get it done, but six years and $70 million probably will.
9. Jared Jeffries, Wizards (restricted)
Another hard-to-find talented, young swingman, and easily the one impending free agent whose stock rose the most in the playoffs. Only 24 years old and a rangy 6-foot-10, his ability to defend on the perimeter will enhance his value as teams look for players with abilities suited to the league's new defensive rules. The Bulls like him, and they'll have enough cap room to get both Jeffries and either of the top two guys on this list.
10. Matt Harpring, Jazz
Kevin O'Connor said re-signing Harpring was the club's top offseason priority, and coach Jerry Sloan loves Harpring's competitiveness and versatility. But will the Jazz be willing to outbid others both in dollars and years? Harpring sounded decidedly undecided about his future after Utah's season ended, saying he wanted to compete for a championship. After eight years in the league, he's never been to the second round of the playoffs.