Over a month into free agent signings, most of the big deals are done and teams are making minor adjustments to fill up that last roster spot. With the economic climate such, a bunch of teams are choosing to head into the season with a light roster of just 13. There are still some players out there who have game left in them but are casualties of said economic climate. For most though, it won’t be long ’til they find a home and get back to doing what they do best.

Allen Iverson: The fact that he is still looking for a home is unreal to me. He may carry baggage, but this guy can still ball. He still has to get used to the idea of playing second or third fiddle but I do believe he can help about 80% of the teams in the league. At a price of approx. $2-4 million a year, he should be able to find a home soon and begin the process of proving the doubters wrong.

Joe Smith: At 34, we may be seeing the decline of Smith as his knee pads get larger than Hakeem’s.  Still, he can rebound, give you some scoring in the post and that short jumper while being sound on the defensive end. A good team player, he would be a good fit on a championship-contending team. Smith had a good run with the Cavaliers and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him re-up there soon.

Jason Williams: Can’t fault the guy for choosing to retire after signing a contract with the Clippers but coming out of retirement, when teams are saving up for 2010, may not have been the wisest choice for this once dynamic point guard. The Knicks took a look but turned away and he may not find the deal he wants but there are teams who could use his veteran presence along with that streaky shooting ability.

Jerry Stackhouse: Age and Injuries remain in play when considering adding a player like Stackhouse to a roster. If he is healthy, he is a swingman who can provide some scoring off the bench and provide leadership in the locker room. Maybe Phoenix? That way he can use the trainer who extended Grant Hill’s career by about 5 years…

Ronald “Flip” Murray: This guy has taken a lot of heat and walked around with an overrated tag on his back. Last season, he finally got comfortable in his role off the bench for the Hawks and proved to be a solid contributor. Just as it looked like he had found a home, the Hawks signed Crawford making Murray expendable. He may not work for every team but there is still demand for players like him out there.

Bruce Bowen: Bowen doesn’t have the same quickness but he is a smart player who can give a contending team solid minutes off the bench. He can still shoot that corner 3 with his eyes closed and there are always teams that could use that. With age and everything he has already accomplished, if Bowen doesn’t land with a contender he most likely will bow away from the game and possibly return to the bench in another capacity int he future.

Ime Udoka: For a guy who was being molded into the future Bruce Bowen, things came apart in a hurry for Udoka. He provides solid perimeter defense, a decent 3 point shot and a winning mentality. He has learn’t from one of the best and could be a very valuable player on a playoff roster. He needs to find the right fit but right now it seems he is more concerned about the right $$ on the paperwork.

Luther Head: He can shoot and that in itself should get him a job sooner rather than later. Head is not a pure PG and the fact that he was waived by the Rocket’s before his rookie contract was up may raise a red flag for possible suitors. He is a decent defender, undersized to guard other SG’s in the league but has amassed a ton of experience in his young career. He could be had on the cheap and fit in well into a teams rotation.

Desmond Mason: Mason has fallen off in the last couple of seasons and seems to be the odd man out in the youthful OKC lineup. The one time high flyer has lost a step and his offensive game is on the decline. However, he still rebounds fairly well for his position and shows up on the defensive end.  He could prove to be a serviceable guy coming off the bench for 10-15 minutes a night but there are still questions of age and injuries.

Anthony Carter: The Nuggets need to find a way to get this guy back. He may be old and struggle to appear on the scoring sheet, he is comfortable on a team that has been fairly successful over the past few seasons. If Denver passes on him he may be waiting around for a while before another team comes calling.

Others that could have cracked the top 10… Stephon Marbury, Juwan Howard, Malik Rose, Wally Szczerbiak, Rashad McCants, Rodney Carney, Brian Skinner, Stromile Swift, Kwame Brown, Fred Jones, Damon Jones, Gerald Green, Kareem Rush, Brevin Knight, Juan Dixon, Tyronne Lue, Joey Graham, Keith Bogans, Mikki Moore.

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