In a Community Shootaround discussion earlier this month, we asked you to identify the best and worst of 2021’s biggest-money free agent contracts. Today, we’re expanding our focus to encompass all of this summer’s free agent signings, then zeroing in on the good rather than the bad.
In other words, we want to know which of this year’s free agent signings represented the best value from a team’s perspective.
[RELATED: 2021 NBA Free Agent Tracker]
Dennis Schröder‘s one-year deal with the Celtics figures to be a popular choice for the best value of the summer. After all, Schröder was reportedly offered $80MM over four years during the season. It’s hard to argue that getting him for one year worth $5.9MM isn’t a worthwhile investment.
Schröder’s deal was one of a handful of guard signings I liked. The Nets‘ one-year, $4.7MM deal with Bruce Brown was another — perhaps getting him locked up to a longer-term deal this offseason would’ve been Brooklyn’s preferred option, since he’s now on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2022. But I thought he might end up signing a deal similar to Alex Caruso‘s (four years, $37MM), so $4.7MM for one year looks pretty good.
The Knicks‘ signing of Kemba Walker to a two-year, $17.9MM contract was another move I liked, though New York was able to get that team-friendly rate in large part because Walker is still being paid big money by Oklahoma City for the next two years after being bought out by the team. The buyout caveat also applies to the Nets‘ one-year, minimum-salary deal with Blake Griffin. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that those signings represent good values for Walker’s and Griffin’s current teams.
Like Brooklyn with Griffin, the Bucks and Clippers benefited from the fact that Bobby Portis and Nicolas Batum weren’t seeking a change of scenery. Both players only received modest Non-Bird raises from their respective clubs, so Portis is on the books for $8.9MM over two years with Milwaukee, while Batum got $6.5MM for two seasons with L.A. Both Portis and Batum have second-year player options, but if they play well enough to opt out, it means the Bucks and Clippers got a nice bargain for 2021/22.
Otto Porter, coming off a four-year, $106MM contract, reportedly turned down more lucrative offers to sign with the Warriors for the veteran’s minimum. He still needs to show he’s healthy, but even if he struggles to stay on the court, the risk for Golden State is minimal. If he’s back to 100%, he should significantly outplay his $2.4MM salary (and $1.7MM cap hit).
All the deals I’ve listed so far came in at under $10MM, but there was some value to be found among bigger-money commitments too. One of my favorites was the Kings‘ four-year deal with Richaun Holmes, which is worth $46.5MM. I expected a team in need of a center – such as Charlotte or Toronto – to make a more aggressive offer for Holmes in the range of $15-18MM per year, so retaining him at an annual rate under $12MM is a nice piece of business for Sacramento.
What do you think? Which free agent signings this month do you think were the best bargains and will provide the most value going forward?
Take to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
There is 0% chance Otto Porter stays healthy so that’s completely wasted money.
Your math is way off
NYK Marbury > NYK Kemba
Patty Mills for sure, even though he doesn’t rate a mention above.
I actually had him on my initial list, but including three Nets felt excessive and I liked the other two deals a bit more.
Logjam at Net PG, depending on Irving’s pressing personal issues.
Boston grabbing Enes Kanter, top 5 rebounder in the game, best backup big in the league for less than $3M is the best value signing to me
LMAO yeah the dude who gets passed around is not the best value signing
I gave 3 reasons why he is. If you disagree give reasons why u disagree
He’s not even the best value signing on the Celtics. Schroder may have had a terrible playoff but they got him on a great deal
Dennis is a great signing as well. Boston had a pretty great off-season no doubt. Kanter is an extremely productive & underrated guy tho. To me he’s better rn than Horford or RWilliams. He’s an upgrade over Tristan at a third of the cost (same could be said of Dennis replacing Kemba tho)
Lakers signing Nunn, THT, Ariza, Bazemore, Dwight Howard, Monk, Melo, Ellington and Rondo for combined salary that is less than 1 year of John Wall’s contract gotta be a huge value get))
John Wall age is 30
Those Lakers combined age is 300
You just can’t sign Bill Russell this summer then says he has 11 rings
Still can trade any of them in a sec. Unlike Wall
Always with the hate for the Rockets, nice trolling.
Schroeder
Cam Payne
Portis
Blake Griffin
Walker
Cam Payne was the best deal. Nunn might come in 2nd. Drummond for the minimum as a UFA was also great.
Nunn is overrated in my opinion . He can’t defend he is a sg in a pg body . Let’s see how he does in a new system were he has to be a spot up shooter more .
If you’re looking for good team deals, Nunn & Diallo headed a large 2/$10m class.
The Suns got Kaminski & Nader for $4m.
The Blazers got same for Snell & Zeller.
The Warriors got same for Bjelica & OttoP.
The Pistons got Saban Lee for 3/$5m.
Good for player: Markkanen got 4/$55-67 LATE.
Hardaway got 3/$75 with the star mad at team
EJ Onu got $.9m a year after NAIA Shawnee St.
TH Tucker got 3/$30 a year after GL South Bay
Whomever gets Millsap for the league minimum.
Lol Dennis is only On this list because he didn’t want 80 mill and he bomb in the playoffs. So no one wanted to sign . So he had to take what he can get
The Big Penguin, he is an All-Star & All-NBA at his prime for the minimum… Say no more he is the best by far, even if he ain’t mentioned in the article!!!