It starts at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday.

Very few big names are available, but there could be bargains to be had.

Heading the list are Seattle Super Sonics small forward-power forward Rashard Lewis, Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, Charlotte Bobcats small forward Gerald Wallace and Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Anderson Varejao, who is a restricted free agent. (The Cavs can match any offer he gets and retain his services.)

"This isn't the greatest class," TNT's Charles Barkley said. "But there are some players out there who can help some people."

There is a 10-day moratorium during which teams can negotiate with free agents, but no signings can take place until July 11, when the salary cap for the 2007-08 season is set. The cap last season was $53.14 million a team, an increase of $3.64 million from the 2005-06 season. A similar increase would put the cap at $56.8 million.

Based on that figure, the teams with the most room under the cap to sign free agents are the Bobcats (about $14 million), the Memphis Grizzlies (about $11.4 million) and the Orlando Magic (about $10.8 million).

There are also three exceptions that allow teams to go over the cap.

-- A team can re-sign its free agents for any amount up to the maximum player limit, if the player was with the team for the three prior seasons or if he changed teams by trade.

-- Each team has a mid level exception, based on the average player salary, expected to be about $5.5 million.

-- Each also has what is called a million-dollar exception, set at $1.83 million next season.

Though this is not a major free agent year, 2008 could be one of the most talent-laden classes of free agents. Some of the league's biggest stars have early-termination options (ETOs), which means they can give up whatever years are left on their contracts and become unrestricted free agents. Next summer's ETO list includes Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards, Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns, Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors and Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets.

A look at this season's top free agents:

-- Billups: One of the top point guards in the league, he is expected to re-sign with the Pistons.

-- Lewis: He's a versatile 6-10 scorer with three-point range, best suited to play up-tempo. At 28, he has career averages of 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.

-- Wallace: One of the league's top all-around players at 6-7, he led the Bobcats last season in scoring (18.1) and steals (2.0) and was second in rebounding (7.2) and shot 50.2 percent from the field. He turns 25 next month.

-- Varejao: He's a high-energy guy who makes things happen and can play both center and power forward.

-- Mike Bibby, Sacramento: He has an early-termination option, is a clutch shooter and is comfortable playing with the ball or off it.