FanHouse MorrisAlmond

Free-agent time should be like Christmas for these under-30 former first-round picks. If they had played better, stayed healthy or fulfilled their potential, they would be cashing in on new contracts or contract extensions. Instead they are fighting for their NBA lives, afterthoughts in free-agent time, hoping to find one interested team for another opportunity to stay in the league.

The alternative might be Europe or perhaps even the NBDL. With each NBA team holding on tight to free-agent dollars because of the economy and the 2010 free-agent class, contracts -- especially lucrative ones -- will be difficult to procure. So while names such as Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Trevor Ariza and Hedo Turkoglu will fill the offseason newswires, these 10 players will be searching for work in virtual obscurity.

Here is the list and their stories:

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

In this exclusive video we talk to 7-foot center Kyrylo Fesenko of the Utah Jazz. 'Fes' as he is known, is a one-of-a-kind individual whose teammates absolutely love. The reason? He keeps them smiling. We talk to 'Fes' about his creepy-funny Halloween costume, why every big man in the NBA wants to be a point guard and the best big men in the league. We also hear from All-Stars Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and Jarron Collins.

Check out the full video after the jump.

The Utah Jazz didn't advance as far in the playoffs as they did a year ago, but they're still optimistic about their future. Said Deron Williams to Ross Siler of the Salt Lake Tribune as he cleaned out his locker, "If we can keep this team intact, I think we're only going to get better as we play together. I look forward to it."

Even Andrei Kirilenko, a man reduced to tears when talking about his role during the playoffs last year, has seemingly rescinded his desire to be traded: "This is the only team I know in NBA," Kirilenko said. "I know everybody. I love everybody here in the organization."

Maintaining the status quo isn't the recipe for success for most teams ousted in the second round, but the Jazz are so close to a title that I don't want them to change a thing. They could stand to get a few more points out of the two-guard spot, but Ronnie Brewer was extremely efficient this year, shooting a team-high 55.8%. Plus, rookie Morris Almond should be ready to contribute after lighting up the D-League to the tune of 25.6 points per game, including two 50-point performances.

Dakota Wizard forward Rod Benson has beef with Utah Jazz rookie (playing for the D-League Flash) Morris Almond over their status as bloggers. The two debated the merits of each other's blogging work (Almond has an NBA.com blog, Benson writes for Yahoo!'s Ball Don't Lie). (Footage here.) Almond followed with some smack on his site; Benson responded forcefully this morning.

Almond argues you are not a real NBA blogger if you are not blogging on the league's official site. Benson counters that he writes his own stuff (instead of calling it in), and that being outside the official league site gives him more cred. Also, Almond scored 51 in a D-League game in December and for one day (apparently) served as FreeDarko's embedded rookie. Benson is tremendous at Rock Band, and violated the NBA's copyright rules. (He is also an incredibly humorous writer.)

This is a tough battle, and we obviously need an impartial observer. So let's leave it to FanHouse readers (since, ahem, FanHouse is the biggest sports blog in the world). Vote below. We'll check in next week.

First, a statement of facts. Utah has had some issues with guard depth since Derek Fisher moved back to L.A. Ronnie Price nor Jason Hart have been solutions. Gordan Giricek has been exiled out of Jerry Sloan's eyesight. Matt Harpring is suffering from a mystery gastrointestinal ailment. Ronnie Brewer and Deron Williams have been variable levels of brilliant as starters, but... there's nothing beyond that. Well, unless you count Morris Almond.

Almond, recently exported, dropped 51 for the D-League Utah Flash last night. It tied the NBDL single-game scoring record. He took 35 shots and 16 free throws. It's a different level of competition, sure... but there are NBA-level talents here. Ian Mahinmi and Darius Washington from the Spurs ranks lined up against Almond, along with DerMarr Johnson, Arizona product Marcus Williams and Good American Kevin Pittsnogle. It's not the Orlando Magic, but it's not the CBA either.

Almond got little chance to show his ability in real games for Sloan -- 13 total minutes over four November games. His defense is likely suspect (as is the case with most rookies) and he doesn't seem like a fellow to press for playing time. In fact, he seems to not only accept his D-League life in his most recent blog entry for NBA.com, but embrace it. But if Sloan doesn't figure things out with Giricek or Price, Almond should get a real shot. The Jazz defense stinks anyway.

Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 28th NBA Draft.

Needs: A starting shooting guard or backup small forward.

Best Case Scenario: The Jazz have the 25th overall pick, so it'll be tough for a true impact player to fall all the way into their lap -- certainly if they're looking for a starter to challenge Ronnie Brewer for the starting shooting guard spot next year. But there should still be plenty of talented swingmen that can add depth, and perhaps even start at small forward down the road if/when the team ever find a taker for Andrei Kirilenko. Of the players who just might still be available, Derrick Byars would be a very solid pickup.

More Likely Scenario: Morris Almond wouldn't be a bad selection here. The guy can score from all over the court, plus he has respectable size (6-6) for the shooting guard position, something that was missing when the Jazz went with an all-point-guard backup of Deron Williams (6-3) and Derek Fisher (6-1) last year.