As the Finals showed, a deep bench can make the difference. Here are seven players to watch this week, including former champions and a Hall of Famer.
The top five NBA free agents in ESPN’s rankings are All-Stars, but they’ve all either exercised a player option or already agreed to new contract terms with their current teams.
But after a Finals matchup between arguably the two deepest teams in the NBA, it’s clear that teams need more than just stars to fulfill their most ambitious playoff dreams. They also need to surround those stars with a proper supporting cast, capable of filling in gaps, withstanding injuries and providing multiple strategic looks in a postseason series.
With that requirement in mind, here are seven under-the-radar free agents worth targeting as the frenzy begins this week. They won’t change a team’s fortune all by themselves, but they can boost a contender in need of that final bench piece.
As the 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer winds down his career, his present-day value seems underrated.
Paul might be 40 years old now, but he’s still in good shape, as evidenced by his playing all 82 games last season. He’s still a pick-and-roll maestro: Among 52 ball handlers who received at least 1,500 screens last year, per GeniusIQ, Paul ranked ninth in points per play, one spot ahead of Jalen Brunson. And he can still make plays for his teammates, even if his own scoring and usage rate have dipped to career lows: Among qualified players, Paul ranked fourth in assists per 36 minutes, behind only Trae Young, Nikola Jokic and Tyrese Haliburton.
It’s unlikely that Paul returns to San Antonio, which is set at point guard after trading for De’Aaron Fox and drafting Dylan Harper. But he’s still capable of stabilizing any contender’s bench unit. Would Paul be interested in a reunion with the LA Clippers? Might he go to the Los Angeles Lakers (without a commissioner veto this time) and finally team up with LeBron James? Could he make magic with Jokic for the Denver Nuggets? Would he sanction a move to Minnesota, where he might be a better starting option than Mike Conley at this point?
The point is that there are plenty of appealing options for Paul this summer, as he likely joins his fourth team in four seasons. He has still made just one Finals, which he lost, and after a year away from the spotlight in San Antonio, it’s time for him to rejoin a contender in search of his ring.
Only two players with at least 800 minutes last season averaged at least 20 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 3-pointers per 36 minutes. One was Chris Boucher. The other was Victor Wembanyama.
No, I’m not saying that Boucher is anywhere near Wemby’s talent level, and yes, I am cherry-picking stat minimums to make Boucher look good. But guess what — he does look good!
Boucher is too slight to take on heavy minutes at center, but he brings a diverse and valuable skill set to the frontcourt: He can make 3s, rise for dunks and swat opponents’ shots on the other end. He’s also a prolific offensive rebounder, with 3.5 career offensive boards per 36 minutes, a top-25 mark among active players (minimum 5,000 minutes).
Boucher might be destined to re-sign with Toronto, where he’s spent all but one game of his NBA career. But other teams should be interested in bringing Boucher stateside, where he could have an Obi Toppin-esque role as an energy big off the bench.
