NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- The NBA's free agency period began at midnight Sunday, and this year's list includes marquee names such as Rashard Lewis, Pao Gasol and Vince Carter.
The Bergen Record reported this weekend that Carter's team, the New Jersey Nets, likely will offer him a guaranteed four-year contract with a partial guarantee for a fifth year. The total guaranteed money for the new deal would be $65 million, the newspaper said.
Carter led the Nets in scoring last season with an average of 25.2 points per game.
Despite constant rumors of a pending trade, the seven-foot Gasol, who missed part of last season recovering from surgery on his broken left foot, averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in 59 games for Memphis when he returned.
Lewis, a 6-foot-10 inch forward, averaged 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in 60 games for Seattle.
All three are unrestricted free agents.
Also available is Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups. His averages were 17 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
