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Curry, Johnson among top five free agents available

Posted: Monday July 25, 2005 12:00PM; Updated: Sunday July 31, 2005 6:40PM
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With the new collective bargaining agreement finally complete, free agents can sign beginning Aug. 2. Look for a domino effect to take place shortly afterward, with many of the lesser-name free agents reaching deals in short order.

Here's a look at the top five free agents still on the market, as well as those who have reached agreements:

(* -- denotes restricted free agent)

2005 NBA Free Agency Tracker
SI.com's Marty Burns analyzes this year's free-agent class.
On The Market
Eddy Curry, C*
Suitors: Bulls, Hawks
Leader in the clubhouse: Bulls
The skinny: The 6-11 center, a restricted free agent, is waiting on an offer from the Hawks. Curry remains something of a health risk after missing the end of the regular season and playoffs with a heart condition. He has since been cleared by doctors but he has not been able to get insurance, and it's uncertain how much the Hawks would be willing to risk. The Bulls continue to insist they will match any offer. But if Curry gets a multi-year offer starting at around $8 or $9 million from Atlanta, Chicago might decide he's not worth the long-term risk. In that case, the Bulls might try to do a sign-and-trade, perhaps involving Hawks forward Al Harrington.
 
Joe Johnson, SG*
Suitors: Suns, Cavs, Hawks, Clippers, Nuggets
Leader in the clubhouse: Suns
The skinny: The fourth-year sharpshooter is expected to receive a five-year, $70 million offer from the Hawks. The Suns have the right to match any offer since Johnson is a restricted free agent, and they say they intend to do so. However, Phoenix already has two massive long-term contracts in Steve Nash and Shawn Marion, and is going to have to pay up big-time next summer for Amare Stoudemire. The Suns might decide they can't afford Johnson's price tag, and instead try to get something for him in a sign-and-trade deal.
 
Tyson Chandler, PF*
Suitors: Bulls, Hawks, Sonics, Mavs, T'wolves
Leader in the clubhouse: Bulls
The skinny: This 7-1 rebounder and shot-blocker emerged as a defensive force last season, and could be a missing piece for a good team looking to take it to the next level. But like Curry, he's a restricted free agent, and the Bulls say they intend to match any offer. Chandler's lack of scoring ability will probably prevent him from getting a max-type offer from a team with cap room, so Chicago should be able to keep him at something close to the midlevel. But if he and Curry were both to get big offers on the open market, the Bulls might be forced to decide between the two.
 
Antoine Walker, PF
Suitors: Celtics, Heat, Knicks, Kings, Sonics, Pacers
Leader in the clubhouse: TBA
The skinny: Say what you want about his penchant for jacking up threes, but this 6-8 veteran is a three-time All-Star who can shoot and finish on the break. He helped lead the Celtics to the playoffs after being acquired in a midseason trade from the Hawks. But Boston is on a youth kick, meaning Walker could be available to teams seeking a proven scorer to push them over the top. The Knicks and Kings could make a run, and the Sonics might be interested if they lose Vladimir Radmanovic to free agency.
 
Vladimir Radmanovic, PF*
Suitors: Sonics, TBA
Leader in the clubhouse: Sonics
The skinny: The Sonics reportedly have offered the 6-10 forward a six-year deal averaging around $6.5 million per year, but he wants a bigger contract. Unfortunately for him, there are no teams with sufficient cap room to make such an offer. Radmanovic is also a restricted free agent, meaning any team that signs him might have to wait seven days to see if the Sonics match the offer. Radmanovic might be able to find a new team via a sign-and-trade, or he might choose to sign a one-year tender offer of $3.2 million with Seattle and become an unrestricted free agent next season.
Best Of The Rest
Marko Jaric*, Earl Watson, Damon Jones, Jon Barry, Gerald Wallace*, Ronald Murray*, Darius Songailia*, Robert Traylor, Lee Nailon, Tyronn Lue, Travis Best, Gary Payton, Nick Van Exel, Latrell Sprewell, Glenn Robinson, Reggie Evans*, Brevin Knight, Rodney Rogers, Alan Henderson, Milt Palacio, Dan Dickau, Chris Duhon*, Kerry Kittles, Devin Brown*, Othella Harrington, Matt Bonner, Toni Kukoc, Dikembe Mutombo, Kareem Rush, Dale Davis, Steven Hunter, Scott Padgett, Greg Buckner, DerMarr Johnson, Darvin Ham, Maurice Evans*, DeSagana Diop, Bo Oulaw, Wesley Person, Casey Jacobsen, Wang Zhi-Zhi.
Off The Market
Ray Allen, SG
Suitors: Sonics, Cavs, Nuggets, Bucks
Winner: Sonics
The skinny: The five-time All-Star has reached agreement on a new five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Sonics.
 
Michael Redd, SG
Suitors: Bucks, Cavs, Nuggets, Mavs, Pacers
Winner: Bucks
The skinny: The sweet-shooting lefty has reached agreement on a new six-year deal with the Bucks expected to be worth around $90 million.
 
Larry Hughes, SG
Suitors: Wizards, Cavs, Nuggets, Hawks, Mavs, Sonics
Winner: Cavs
The skinny: The seventh-year guard, who spent last season with the Wizards, has reached agreement with the Cavs on a deal reportedly worth $65 million over five years.
 
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C
Suitors: Cavs, Hawks, Knicks
Winner: Cavs
The skinny: The 7-foot-3 veteran center has reached agreement to re-sign with the Cavs for a reported $60 million over five years.
 
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF
Suitors: Blazers, Nets, Kings, Heat, Clippers
Winner: Nets
The skinny: The 6-foot-9 veteran has reached agreement with the Nets on a six-year, $40 million deal in the form of a sign-and-trade deal. Details are still being worked out, but Portland would get back a future first-round draft pick from New Jersey.
 
Samuel Dalembert, C*
Suitors: Sixers, Hawks
Winner: Sixers
The skinny: The 6-11 shot-blocker was reportedly set to visit Atlanta on Monday. However, SI.com's Ian Thomsen reports that Dalembert has reached agreement to remain with the Sixers on a new six-year deal.
Best Of The Rest
Others who reportedly have reached deals in principle: Chris Andersen (Hornets); Raja Bell (Suns); Kwame Brown (Lakers); Antonio Daniels (Wizards); Juan Dixon (Trail Blazers); Keyon Dooling (Magic); Dan Gadzuric (Bucks); Willie Greene (Sixers); Eddie Griffin (T'wolves); Udonis Haslem (Heat); Robert Horry (Spurs); Jerome James (Knicks); Kyle Korver (Sixers); Mark Madsen (T'wolves); Donyell Marshall (Cavs); Jeff McInnis (Nets); Cuttino Mobley (Clippers); Bostjan Nachbar (Hornets); Cliff Robinson (Nets); Brian Scalabrine (Celtics); Bobby Simmons (Bucks); Damon Stoudamire (Grizzlies); Stromile Swift (Rockets); Luke Walton (Lakers).

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