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We all know the feeling of walking into a store and finding a really good item in the clearance section that is undoubtedly worth more than the price suggests.
(This writer still remembers the $4 pair of Levi’s found at a random Marshall’s in downtown Chicago that had 20 years of wear.)
Turns out NBA teams aren’t all that different. While doling out mega-contracts, many organizations have still found significant value in unexpected places, to the point where signed players become borderline All-Stars and therefore important building blocks.
During free agency last summer, a new set of bargains were found.
Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
1 year, $6 million
The Pistons must be kicking themselves for not offering Beasley a contract that would last more than one year, as the 28-year-old is scoring 16.7 points per game in just 28 minutes, while canning 41.8% of his 9, 3 nightly triples.
The 6-foot-4 guard is one of the most dynamic and efficient long-range shooters in the NBA this season and is playing a crucial role in giving the youthful backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey room to operate.
Some will point to Beasley as primarily a one-trick pony, and that claim is not without merit. However, when you’re that good at one of basketball’s most important skills, you could easily justify a salary much higher than $6 million, which takes up just 4.27% of the salary cap.
Looking at past production, would anyone bat an eyelid if Beasley signed a three-year deal worth $50 million next summer?
That’s not to say that type of offer will be available, given how few teams actually have cap space, but it does underscore how absurdly friendly their deal is.
Tyus Jones, Phoenix Suns
1 year, $2 million
How the hell did Jones end up on the market for so long that he had to settle like this?
Yes, he probably could have signed for more, preferring fate over financial gain, but the league still ignored him during the opening of free agency. And as has become a sad tradition, if his name is not included in the initial transfer cycle, there is a good chance he will have to settle for much less than his market value suggests.
Jones, one of the NBA’s most confident ball handlers and playmakers, was surprisingly not a part of that first cycle and therefore ended up with fewer options than he expected.
There is no way this should happen again next summer, as the 28-year-old once again becomes one of the most stable point guards in the game.
His 12.3 points, 6.4 assists and 43.6% shooting from downtown on 5.3 attempts per night should already be enough to pique teams’ interest. When you factor in his 1.2 turnovers per game and his overall ability to lead an offense, he should have a good market.
If not, this is not an accusation against him but rather against the market. Young teams that need stability should actively seek it.
Buddy Hield, Warriors of the Golden State
4 years, $37.7 million ($21 million guaranteed)
When you lose a franchise staple like Klay Thompson, it’s almost impossible to imagine finding a replacement, especially when your finances are a little all over the place.
However, the Warriors managed to find one of the most dynamic shooters in the NBA who can replicate quite a few of the sets that used to include Thompson.
Hield, who averages 12.6 points and made 39.3% of his three-pointers, takes up just 6.25% of the salary cap this season, which is the new reality of NBA contracts.
Many will look at his gross compensation of $8.7 million and consider it a lot of money. For mortals, it certainly is. For a productive NBA player who plays 22.5 minutes a night and is one of the league’s best 3-point shooters over the last decade, he’s a steal.
Hield is who he is at this stage. The 32-year-old will take 3-pointers off the catch at a ridiculously high rate, grab some rebounds, and otherwise struggle as a playmaker and defender.
Any way you look at it, that’s worth 6.25% of the cap in today’s game. Of his shots, 68.9% are from the center, so he is not a player who does not know where he is most useful. That self-actualization, combined with the ability to stand up to others, is why you pay him.
The fact that the Warriors were also able to cut bait and pay him just $21 million for two years of service also makes this deal a good bargain.
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
3 years, 30 million dollars
This will be a bit controversial, as some raised an eyebrow when Jones left the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić to go where he wouldn’t be spoon-fed to the same extent.
In short, there was some risk involved. Could the 27-year-old survive offensively without an elite playmaker by his side? Is there even a place in the NBA for a guy who is an inconsistent shooter?
In 30 games this season, all starts, Jones has eased many of those concerns. The 6-5 big wing has survived perfectly well without Dončić, even averaging a career-high 10 points in efficiency, much higher than last season in Dallas.
Jones is shooting 37.5% from downtown and has found his stride at the free throw line, shooting an unexpected 88%. His shot selection seems much more experienced and his defense remains effective.
For someone who takes up only 6.77% of the cap, that’s a win. Jones is playing just under 25 minutes per game, which means he is playing a crucial role and helping the Clippers continue to exceed expectations.
Even if he ultimately has to give up his starting job to Kawhi Leonard, Jones will likely still be an invaluable piece for the Clippers at a price that is becoming increasingly team-friendly.
Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets
2 years, $6.7 million
Look, Westbrook divides the waters more effectively than Moses. He is arguably the most polarizing player in NBA history, as his statistics tend to significantly outweigh his actual influence.
At 36 years old, that’s truer than ever.
But still, there’s no way we can ignore a player who is as productive as Westbrook when he earns the veteran’s minimum.
He is adding 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game in Denver in just 26.2 minutes, since his role as a relentless firecracker is the same as always.
For a Nuggets bench that has historically struggled to produce with any sort of regularity, this was at least a fair attempt to turn things around, especially after losing Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in consecutive summers.
The Nuggets have generally struggled, and Westbrook’s inconsistent defense and shooting have received a lot of attention. But that was going to be the case anyway.
For someone who takes up just 2.35% of the cap, it’s impossible not to consider it a bargain, flaws and all.
Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls
3 years, $27 million
Some will object to this, given that Smith won’t play more than 15.4 minutes per game for the Bulls this season.
The counterpart would be a look at its production.
Smith, who makes just 6.10% of the salary cap this year, is putting up 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in those limited minutes, while also significantly increasing his 3-point shooting rate.
The 6-10 center is recovering better than ever and, despite inconsistent minutes, performs with an agile role and a great understanding of what to do.
The Bulls, who don’t seem to fully realize what they have on their hands, should frankly play Smith more, given that he’s also a superior rim protector to Nikola Vučević while also being a comparable offensive player.
With the Bulls likely to part with some of their older players (Vučević is included in that group), it could be only a matter of time before Smith has the opportunity to turn an already team-friendly deal into a of the biggest bargains in the NBA. .