FanHouse

Last year it was these two geniuses making all the NBA vacation noise. With the NBA free agency period just underway, we find out what NBA stars will be giving their [travel] agents a call this year as they look for new destinations.

1. Gilbert Arenas
6'4", 215 -- PG -- 26 years old, 7 years pro
Status: Unrestricted FA after opting out

Supposedly, Gilbert Arenas is all set to sign with the Washington Wizards again. And if he didn't you can bet there would be one teed off formerly unrestricted free agent. Rumor is, though, that both the Warriors and Wizards have thrown out max deals for Arenas, so it basically comes down to him picking at this point. Spiiiice.

Available Bookings: Washington, Golden State
The likely scenario is that Gil ends up staying where he is via the double-secret-probation deal already in place, getting close to max money and crippling the Wizards salary cap for the next few years. But gosh, they're fun to watch.

Destination: Washington.

2. Elton Brand
6'8", 254 -- PF -- 29 years old, 9 years pro
Status: Unrestricted after opting out

Suite jeebus -- is Elton Brand really only 29? I suppose it just feels like longer since Brand decided to peace out on Duke post National Championship game. Which is also the last time he really came close to winning anything in his basketball career (unless you count the Clipjoint's fluky playoff stint). Which also may explain why he left 16 million dollars on the table and opted out of his Clippers contract. Or maybe not.

Available Bookings: Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Memphis, Golden State
Okay, either Brand is a) sick of of LAC, b) taking less money to get another star on his team or c) knows his body is donecakes and wants to cash in now. My theory is (b) and that he and the Baron are working together to end up on the same team; if the Clipjoint blows it, they just roll to Oakland.

Destination: Los Angeles.

3. Baron Davis (Reportedly agreed to a five-year, $65-million deal with the Clippers)
6'3", 215 -- PG -- 29 years old, 9 years pro
Status: Unrestricted after opting out

Okay, maybe it's just the beard deal that makes people look older. GS appears highly unlikely to give Boom the long term deal he wants (and really, who can blame either side here?) But you know who might not be unlikely?

Available Bookings: Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia
The Clippers. I know, I know. It seems crazy. But Baron and Brand could both sign on for less money (while getting the long term deals they want) and suddenly Boom-Gordon-Thorton-Brand-Kaman looks kind of dangerous.

Destination: Los Angeles.

4. Corey Maggette
6'6", 225 -- SF -- 29 years old, 9 years pro
Status: Unrestricted after opting out

The Clippers have already said they will pursue Maggs, but that really doesn't mean much. Corey's decision to opt out, unlike Brand or Boom, was unsurprising because when you average 22/5.6/2.7 and only make $7 million, something's gotta give.

Available Bookings: Orlando, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio
It would be highly surprising to see the Clippers re-sign him, simply because they have to worry about Brand first. Philly has Iggy to worry about right now and seems set at the three and Memphis seems content to idle away with extra cash. There's plenty of internet chatter about Maggs landing in Orlando though, which would be interesting if only to see how they played Hedo, Shard and Corey all at the same time. It doesn't seem logical, but if Corey's willing to take a 5 year, $40 million deal, the Magic kind of have to offer, no?

Destination: Orlando



5. Josh Smith
6'9", 235 -- PF -- 22 years old, 4 years pro
Status: Restricted Free Agent

The biggest non-rumor out there is that Eddie S and the Sixers are about to throw a ton of money his way to come man the four in Philly. And with the Sixer's front-load option, they may offer Smith more than what Atlanta is willing to cough up.

Available Bookings: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Memphis.
One of those three teams (unless the Clippers totally pass on everyone else) is going to pony up. Philly will make a play, Memphis could make a stab and it will be on Atlanta to match. I say the Hawks balk. As in the baseball term where they start to make a move and totally flub it.

Destination: Philadelphia.

6. Andre Iguodala
6'6", 207 -- SF -- 24 years old, 4 years pro
Status: Restricted Free Agent

Philadelphia loves their AI, even if it's part deux. And Iggy, despite laying 13.2 eggs points per game in the postseason, he's still a dominant talent that the Sixers will plan on keeping.

Available Bookings: Memphis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles.
And actually, considering they were offering him north of $55 million before last season and there's no one else (Memphis aside) with the money to spend on him, the Sixers could get a discount here. The Grizz could throw some coin his way though, royally screwing up Philly's plan to pick up a top-shelf four.

Destination: Philadelphia.

7. Beno Udrih (Reportedly agreed to a six year, $32 million MLE deal with Sacramento)
6'3", 205 -- PG -- 27 years old, 4 years pro
Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

It's interesting because he was the best unrestricted free agent point guard on the market roughly 12 hours ago. Now? Notsomuch. Udrih is still going to get good money, but it's going to be "middle money" and purportedly, it may have already been offered by the Kings. The bright side of offering early? While everyone else clambors for Arenas and Dizzle, the Kings could lock Beno up.

Available Bookings: Los Angeles, Sacramento, Washington.
Memphis doesn't make the list because they have 1,232 point guards currently on roster. The Clippers seem like a pretty good fit, should my BoomBrand conspiracy be a total egghunt. And the Kings, apparently, have already made their play. But Washington could be players as well, if (big if, granted), something insane happens with Agent Zero.

Destination: Sacramento.

8. Emeka Okafor
6'10", 252 -- PF/C -- 26 years old, 4 years pro
Status: Restricted Free Agent

Things are awkward in Charlotte now, because Dwight Howard (one pick in front of Okafor) got a five year, $85 million deal. Obviously, Emeka ain't worth that.

Available Bookings: Charlotte (it's nice here in the summer, 'Mek!), Philadelphia, Memphis.
Philly might pursue only if Smith and Brand don't work out; and Memphis is the only team with any cash that might be interested. I would expect them to at least make an attempt, but Chris Wallace won't be aggressive enough and the Bobcats have way too much invested (#2 overall) in Okafor to just let him walk.

Destination: Charlotte.

9. Luol Deng
6'9", 220 -- SF/PF -- 23 years old, 4 years pro
Status: Restricted Free Agent

Deng could actually be a sneaky candidate to take off from Chitown, but here's the thing: who is going to offer him more money than he said no to last year/?

Available Bookings: Chicago, Memphis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles.
Despite a weak 2007-08, it's hard to fathom a scenario where John Paxson lets Deng leave. He did after all, essentially spurn Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant to make sure he held onto the Dookie. Which worked out well.

Destination: Chicago.



10. Monta Ellis
6'3", 177 -- PG -- 22 years old, 3 years pro
Status: Restricted Free Agent

And now you know why the Warriors won't cough up that long term deal to Baron. Monta's restricted, and teams can make a run at him, but the Warriors are a stone cold lock to match whatever gets offered. I tend to think there's zero chance they don't lock him up to a monster long term deal before the start of next season.

Available Bookings: Oakland.
Seriously, Chris Mullin is fired if Monta got away while restricted (it's the only reason he's this low).

Destination: Oakland.

Honorable Mentions:
James Posey -- Nothing like riding Kevin Garnett's coattails to a big contract! Destination: San Antonio
Ben Gordon -- Just another "ouch" missed extension that he'll think about for the next 30 years. Destination: Chicago
Josh Childress -- Talent's there but the minutes haven't been; he's restricted to any midlevel that gets tossed out will be matched by the Hawks. Destination: Atlanta
Mickael Pietrus -- Gone, gone, gone. My guess would be South Beach. Destination: Miami