Players like Paul George, LeBron James and Klay Thompson have dominated the headlines in free agency thus far, although there’s been a number of good signings that have flown under the radar.
This has included teams bringing their own free agents back under good contracts and reaching outside of the organization to add extra help. Contract values matter, so we’re looking for current bargains or deals that should age well over time.
The following players may not make the overall impact of a George, James or Thompson, yet they all represent good values while filling glaring needs on their new (or existing) teams.
Contract: Two years, $9.6 million
To point out just how beloved Nicolas Batum still is as a player and locker room presence around the league, the 35-year-old revealed he had 17 options as a free agent before signing a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Batum was still quite good following a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers and should get an even bigger role in a return to the Clippers with Paul George leaving.
After starting 111 of his 207 career games in Los Angeles, Batum may once again find himself in the opening lineup next to Kawhi Leonard, as the Clippers will need his length, defense and three-point shooting. Batum made 40.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes last season.
Given the mass amount of offers he received, the Clippers should be thrilled that Batum not only agreed to return, but that he took less than the full taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.2 million that a number of contenders could have offered.
Contract: One year, $3.3 million
One of the more underrated players of the last decade, Alec Burks agreeing to join the Miami Heat on a veteran minimum deal may be the best bargain of the summer.
Burks, 32, averaged 10.4 points on 37.6 percent shooting from three with the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks last season. He finished his Knicks tenure on a high note, putting up 17.8 points on 42.9 percent from three over New York’s final five playoff games against the Indiana Pacers, giving the injury-ravaged roster a boost. His 26 points off the bench in Game 7 were the second-most on the team.
Burks’ 6’6″ frame can play and defend multiple positions, giving the already versatile Heat some added lineup flexibility.
With Miami expected to lose Caleb Martin in free agency (and possibly Haywood Highsmith as well), Burks is a reliable veteran the team can plug into its rotation in their place.
Contract: One year, $3.3 million
Ninety-nine percent of the Philadelphia 76ers excitement will revolve around the addition of Paul George, although Philly fans should save a little bit of their energy to appreciate the Eric Gordon signing as well.
Depth matters, even on teams with three All-Stars. Putting the right pieces around these max players can be incredibly difficult, although Daryl Morey has done an admirable job thus far.
Shooting is perhaps the most important skill set to place around star players, which is where the 35-year-old Gordon still delivers.
While playing alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal with the Phoenix Suns last season, Gordon made 38.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes while averaging 11.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in his 68 games.
Gordon could be the 76ers starting shooting guard on opening night, playing between Tyrese Maxey and George in a new-look Philly lineup.
Contract: One year, $3.3 million
The Minnesota Timberwolves were never going to make a huge splash in free agency, as a roster that’s now gone deep into the second luxury tax apron was limited to retaining its own free agents or giving out veteran minimum deals.
It didn’t make financial sense to match Kyle Anderson’s $27 million contract with the Golden State Warriors giving the enormous luxury tax implications, leaving the Wolves to pursue other playmaking forwards to plug into the rotation.
Ingles, 36, brings a similar play style with his 6’9″ frame and good passing ability. He’s not as good defensively as Anderson, but Ingles is a far better outside shooter who nailed 43.5 percent of his threes last season.
He’s been an excellent teammate throughout his career and has a track record of helping young stars like Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero, now with the opportunity to mentor Anthony Edwards as well.
Reuniting with former Utah Jazz teammates in Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr on a team that just reached the West Conference Finals was the perfect fit between player and team in free agency.
Contract: Three years, $27 million
This may not be the small forward that Dallas Mavericks fans are most excited about adding this summer, although Naji Marshall is going to play a big role in the rotation behind Klay Thompson.
The 6’7″, 26-year-old became too expensive for a wing-heavy New Orleans Pelicans team to keep, and at $9 million a season (between 5.5 percent and 6.1 percent of the projected cap) is under a value contract moving forward for Dallas.
Marshall shot a career-high 38.7 percent from three last season, can guard multiple positions and improved his swing rating from minus-3.1 in 2022-23 to plus-5.3 last season (78th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass).
As long as Luka Dončić is on the roster, the Mavs will need 3-and-D wings. Marshall was one of the best available in free agency.
Contract: One year, $12.8 million
The Golden State Warriors offseason has been meme-worthy so far, although in this case it’s a good thing.
Klay Thompson clearly wasn’t happy in Golden State. Moving on from the franchise star while acquiring a trade exception and some second-round picks has helped open up other additions, including full use of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception used to sign De’Anthony Melton.
Melton, 26, is one of the better backcourt defenders in the NBA if his back issues are over. His 1.6 steals per game would have tied Kawhi Leonard for fifth-most in the league had Melton played enough games to qualify. With Stephen Curry set to turn 37 next season, the Warriors help ease his defensive burden with the presence of Melton as well.
Melton isn’t a true point guard, but doesn’t have to be sharing lineups with Curry and Draymond Green. His combination of defense, outside shooting and passing has made a big impact on winning, as the Philadelphia 76ers were 10.3 points per 100 possessions better with Melton on the floor last season (93rd percentile, via Cleaning the Glass).
Getting Melton, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson has actually led to a pretty good offseason thus far for Golden State.
Contract: One year, $3.3 million
In what projects to be the most expensive roster in NBA history, the Phoenix Suns needed to find a new backup center to not only replace free agent Drew Eubanks, but serve as an upgrade while playing on a veteran minimum contract as well.
Phoenix succeeded with the signing of Plumlee, who is bigger, more athletic and a better passer than his predecessor.
Capable of soaking up all of the non-Jusuf Nurkić minutes, the 34-year-old Plumlee still has plenty of bounce in his step. He can play off Devin Booker, Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal in the pick-and-roll and feasts off second-chance opportunities with his 6’10”, 254-pound frame. He’s become quite good at hiding in the dunkers spot, waiting for drive-and-dish opportunities from teammates.
With the Suns in title-or-bust mode, this was a nice upgrade at the backup center position for Phoenix.
Contract: One year, $2.9 million
The Milwaukee Bucks still have two of the best people in the world when it comes to playing basketball. Outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, however, this team is filled with questions regarding age, depth, injuries and cost.
With Malik Beasley and Jae Crowder potentially leaving in free agency, the Bucks are desperate for warm bodies who are willing to play for the veteran minimum given that this team is $3.4 million over the second luxury tax apron.
Prince, 30, looked like he’d get more than the minimum on the open market after starting 49 games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and shooting nearly 40 percent from three. The Lakers could have certainly used him, yet saw rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James take up their final two roster spots.
Prince is a 6’6″ forward who will serve as valuable insurance behind Khris Middleton, a player who’s missed 76 games due to injury the past two seasons.
Between Prince and Delon Wright, the Bucks have made a pair of nice, affordable signings.
Contract: Five years, $175 million
Can a player really sign an $175 million contract and still have it be considered sneaky-good?
In this instance, yes.
This is obviously a ton of money, but is far from an overpay in today’s financial landscape. Immanuel Quickley is really good and put up 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and shot 39.5 percent from three as the Toronto Raptors starting point guard following a trade from the New York Knicks.
The Raptors got Quickley to agree to this deal before the start of free agency, preventing a team like the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons or anyone else with max cap space from giving him a much bigger offer sheet to match.
Quickley’s $30.2 million salary for the 2024-25 season still ranks just 16th overall among point guards and will soon be passed by Cade Cunningham’s max extension and a probable new contract for Jalen Brunson next offseason.
Even by the end of this five-year deal (with no player option), Quickley’s salary tops out at $39.8 million, which is a projected 19 percent of the salary cap.
That’s a very reasonable amount for a player with All-Star potential. The raw numbers may be a little jarring, but this was a really good signing for Toronto to lock in a core piece moving forward.
Contract: Two years, $4.8
Usually when an NBA team wins the title and gushes about how they want to bring everyone back, at least a few role players inevitably leave to sign bigger contracts elsewhere. Think Bruce Brown leaving the Denver Nuggets for the Indiana Pacers last summer.
The Celtics may be the first title team in years to actually do just this.
After Luke Kornet agreed to a one-year deal, it seemed even more unlikely than Xavier Tillman Sr. would return. He proved to be a solid backup big for the Celtics following a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, playing good defense, setting screens and hitting the occasional three-pointer.
Instead of seeking a bigger role and payday elsewhere, Tillman chose to return to Boston on a multi-year, minimum deal, giving this team some much-needed depth behind the oft-injured Kristaps Porziņģis and 38-year-old Al Horford.
Depth and cost will be major issues moving forward for the champs. Getting Tillman back on this kind of a contract was a major win.