Each summer the destiny of teams around the league changes as NBA free agents sign new contracts. InsideHoops.com is the web's best source for daily NBA free agency coverage, all off-season long. The InsideHoops.com 2008 NBA free agent rankings, featuring the best players currently available.

NBA free agent rankings key: (U) = Unrestricted free agent, (R) = Restricted free agent, (P) = Player option to end contract and become unrestricted free agent, (T) = Team option to end the player's contact and make him an unrestricted free agent. (ETO) = Early termination option to become unrestricted free agent.

2009 NBA free agent negotiations start July 1. Signings can begin July 8.

These NBA free agent rankings are in loose order. A number of the players listed 10-16 can be just as helpful to a team as the guys listed 2-10. A team's needs and the players these guys would be playing with matters just as much as the specific skills the players below offer.

We'll update this list with ages/stats Tuesday.

2009 NBA FREE AGENT RANKINGS
By InsideHoops.com

1) Kobe Bryant (ETO), SG, Los Angeles lakers - Bryant isn't leaving the Lakers, so if he opts out it would be just so he and the Lakers can start up a new contract.

2) Carlos Boozer (PO), PF, Utah Jazz - Boozer is probably going to opt out, and there will definitely be legit interest from other teams in giving him a good, long-term contract. But as is the case with all good free agents, chances are he winds up re-signing with the Jazz. But it's no guarantee. The Pistons, for one, want Boozer.

3) Ron Artest, F, Houston Rockets - Artest never seems to demand big dollars and is content to earn a good but not amazing salary. Partially due to some issues in his NBA past but also because he cares a lot about being wanted and fitting in with a team that needs him. Tough to say whether he stays with the Rockets.

4) Lamar Odom, F, Los Angeles lakers - I can't imagine Odom wanting to leave a championship team. I'd guess that the Lakers offer him a short but fair contract, maybe for two or three years, just to keep the championship core together. There's been talk that the team could lose him or Trevor Ariza, but my early money is on them keeping both, or at least certainly Odom.

5) Charlie Villanueva (R), PF, Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks recently traded small forward Richard Jefferson away, to save money. Will they spend some of their newfound savings on CV? It seems Charlie would be happy to re-sign with the team, but also wouldn't mind if the Cavaliers were to make him their new power forward.

6) Ben Gordon (R), Chicago Bulls - The story remains the same for Gordon. He's a great scorer with an amazing-looking jumper, and he's clutch, stepping up in the 4th quarter on a regular basis. But the Bulls think the rest of his game is just OK, and as a shooting guard in a very muscular point guard's body they want to keep him, but for less money than Gordon wants.

7) Shawn Marion, F, Toronto Raptors - Since leaving the Suns, the value of the Matrix has fallen a bit. He's still a multi-talented pogo-stick, but more of a supporting star who should be next to several other go-to offensive guys. He's probably gone from Toronto.

8) Mehmet Okur (ETO), PF/C, Utah Jazz - Okur is an outside-shooting power forward/center who isn't a star but can play like one for stretches here and there, but he's always solid, dependable and good. The Jazz will probably keep him, but their free agent situation is complicated because they also could lose Boozer. Do they really want to give big, long-term contracts to both players right now?

9) David Lee (R), PF New York Knicks - Lee gets nice stats and rebounds well, but he isn't a go-to guy on offense. He's a great passer and moves without the ball well, opening up opportunities for teammates, cutting just at the right time, and helping the team in additional ways. Tough to say if the Knicks want to offer him a real contract right now considering they want as much space available as possible for the summer of 2010.

10) Paul Millsap (R), Utah Jazz - With Carlos Boozer's injury, Millsap got minutes and showed he's a legit talent. Is he worthy of being a team's full-time starting power forward? Looks like it. He's a workhorse and more of a blue collar guy than a star, but definitely makes any team better and at worst is a good first big-man off the bench. Produces constant double-doubles.

11) Trevor Ariza, Los Angeles Lakers - As said above, the Lakers will have to spend pretty large money to keep both Odom and Ariza. They should do it. Ariza is a star role player, not a star. But every championship team needs one or two energy guys like him to help put them over the top.

12) Jason Kidd, PG, Dallas Mavericks - Kidd is old and can't really stay in front of the league's quick young point guards anymore, but he's still a great floor leader. Ideally, a team that signs him has a quick, strong, defensive-minded backup behind him. At this point it makes sense for him to only sign with a contending team, though since he's probably only going to get a one, maybe two-year deal he could go anywhere.

13) Allen Iverson, SG, Detroit Pistons - Remember Iverson? He was an unstoppable scorer, though he always shot a low field goal percentage. But he's past his prime, still causes havok with quickness, but certainly didn't make the Nuggets or Pistons better. If he wants a big contract as a team's star, he may not get it. If he is willing to be a scorer off the bench like Leandro Barbosa was for the good Suns team of a few years ago, he could help any team in the league.

14) Andre Miller, PG, Philadelphia 76ers - Miller is getting up there in age, can't shoot outside, but is a winner and worthy of starting. There's no firm evidence to suggest he's a lock to return to the Sixers, though. He could go anywhere that wants a floor general for the next two seasons or so.

15) Marvin Williams (R), F, Atlanta Hawks - Williams is good, and it's impressive how he's improved his outside shot, but he's possibly best used as a sixth man rather than a starter. For now, at least.

16) Anderson Varejao (PO), PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers - Varejao is a star role player, not a star. He provides energy, can bang, slam into people, defend, flop, grab rebounds, set good picks, and help any team in the league. He could start for many teams but is best used as the main big guy off the bench on a contender. The Cavs have Shaq along with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but Varejao does things neither of them do. They'll try to keep him, but not if he demands too much money.

17) Mike Bibby, PG, Atlanta Hawks - Bibby is a very good but not great starting point guard who is somewhat limited in how much he makes teammates better. The Hawks will try to keep him but plenty of other teams will make offers.

OTHERS WORTH MENTIONING: Brandon Bass (Dallas Mavericks) is a very good backup who may keep emerging into starter material. Rasheed Wallace (Detroit Pistons) is old but could help some teams as a bench guy. Marcin Gortat (Orlando Magic) is a good big dude. And Raymond Felton (Charlotte Bobcats) is a still-improving, decent young point guard who can start for many teams but would come off the bench for some others.