But that's a year away.

There just aren't many megawatt names available on the list this year as the negotiating period for free agents began at midnight today. Teams can't sign free agents until July 8.

Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said he thinks the pace of signings this summer could be plodding.

"I think it will be a slow process this summer simply because teams are being very strategic, looking at how the overall free agency fits in to

both short-term plans as well as long-term plans," Bower said this week. "I think like every summer, there'll be a flurry of things happen initially. But after that first wave, then I wouldn't be surprised if it slows down quite a bit as teams thoroughly assess where they're going to go, and for players to get a full assessment of their opportunities in the market."

The list of unrestricted free agents doesn't include many franchise-changing, nor value-

signing possibilities.

Among the more prominent players available are Grant Hill, Shawn Marion, Charlie Villenueva, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest, Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury and Hedo Turkoglu, who opted out of his deal with the Orlando Magic.

Most of those players would cost a team much more than the mid-level exception, which is expected to be in the neighborhood of $5 million annually. The mid-level is a five-year maximum contract and could be split

between more than one player.

There is a large group of less expensive candidates who became unrestricted free agents, including a pair of former Hornets centers -- Jamaal Magloire and Chris Andersen -- and others such as Ben Gordon, Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox, Von Wafer, Rasho Nesterovic, Drew Gooden and Jason Collins.

Some players in this group could be obtained at the mid-level or even the bi-annual exception, which maxes out at two years for roughly $2 million annually. It cannot be shared.

Among restricted free agents who became eligible to test the waters today are former Hornets forward Brandon Bass and former LSU forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, along with Leon Powe, Raymond Felton, Marvin Williams, Nate Robinson, Jamario Moon and Marcin Gortat.

The Hornets are one of the teams Bass is considering in free agency, his agent Tony Dutt said.

Bass, a Baton Rouge native, played two seasons with the Hornets before signing a free-agent deal with the Dallas Mavericks in 2007. Bass averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.

Restricted free agents can sign offer sheets with other NBA clubs, but their current teams have the right to match the offer or decline and accept compensation.

Bower said the early signing activity probably will be mixed between high-

priced players and marginal ones.

"I wouldn't be shocked if there's some big-name activity initially," Bower said. "But I'm not certain how much at this point."

It has been rumored in league circles that many NBA teams likely will not carry the full complement of 15 players on their rosters this season in order to shave payroll, either as a short-

term fix or with an eye toward next year's free-agent crop.

"I think (economics) will play a factor from the standpoint that there may be things that teams want to accomplish prior to making moves in free agency," Bower said. "It could be a step-by-step process taken by a lot of teams, which would lead to a slower pace.

"Only time will tell."

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Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.