Post by Druce on Feb 11, 2022 12:43:38 GMT -5
In putting together the sister article to the worst contracts, I found that the league is thin on "good deals" everyone on this is had to meet requirements of being a non-max, non-rookie deal. More weight was given to longer contracts also. There just aren't a ton of good value free agent signings taking place, or sweet heart deals on re-signings (thanks to the ws rule). What we have below are a collection of diamonds in the rough, or in most cases more like rubies maybe? Maybe some fools gold? I don't know, but these players produce at least good enough to catch my eye.
Player Team 3020 WS Remaining Contract
1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Hornets 9.8 25 $2,900,000 $2,900,000 $2,900,000
KCP is a good example of a guy who was given a second chance at life in sim by a deeply analytical and savvy GM. He flew under the radar until the final year of his rookie deal, having spent time in Chicago, Seattle, and New York. Obviously his talent was missed by lesser eyes but Fecta knew what he had, immediately giving KCP the keys to the Hornets. It's this type of foresight that has led the Hornets to...KCP was a nice find for Charlotte, and maybe the first reason Hornets fans have had to go to games since Grandmama and Zo were patrolling the lane.
2. Hedo Turkoglu Grizzlies 8.7 25 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Second we find Hedo, who I was able to scoop up a couple years ago, having noticed he hadn't received any points to his inside scoring. He's not a great player, and probably isn't a starter on a true contender, but for $1.5 million and SG eligibility he's a very nice piece to have on the roster. Turkoglu spent time wasting away in Washington and the practically G-League Timberwolves. Early returns from 3021 show his efficiency slipping a bit, which may see him lose his starting place in Vancouver, but frankly at such a low salary who cares.
3. John Bagley Pacers 8.1 31 $1,580,159 $1,659,167
Bagley made it through his rookie deal with the Amigos having played in 21 total games. In the 5 seasons since he's been a full time starter first with the Hawks then the Pacers even quarterbacking the Pacers to a title as well as winning playoff MVP in 3019, shutting down Kyrie Irving in a pivotal ECQF game 7. Any time you can sign a playoff MVP for under $2 million a season you're going to do it. His stats don't jump off the page, but he does his job and does it well.
4. Rashad Vaughn Raptors 7.3 25 $1,313,131 $1,313,131 $1,313,131 $1,313,131
If Vaughn's early returns in 3021 are any indication, he could probably move up to #2 on this list. Yes, he has some holes in his game, mainly his relationship with rebounding, but he's super cheap and very reliable. What you see is what you get: solid defender, reasonably efficient scorer, nice outside shot, won't turn it over. Vaughn was a key piece for the Pacers playoff run in 3019 and elevated his value to a place that saw the Raptors give the 5th pick in the draft for him, hoping he could elevate them to a championship as well. Another salary that gives so much flexibility in how the rest of a roster is filled out and paid.
5. Youssou Ndoye Grizzlies 8.4 31 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Our second Grizzly makes the list, with Ndoye having signed a long term $1.5mm/year contract last offseason. He's spent his entire career in the Couv and consistent if nothing else. Youssou puts up good defensive counting stats while not turning the ball over too much and being decently efficient. If he could grab a few more rebounds or get a bit more efficient he's the type of big you'd see getting paid much more, but for the cost the Grizzlies are very happy with his production.
6. DeeAndre Hulett Pacers TBD 23 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131
Hulett is more projection at this point, at 23 years old he had a big offseason which saw him head to Indiana and immediately secure a Brinks truck full of upgrades. Thus far he's not looked out of place in the Pacers wing rotation along side Giannis and Larry Bird, and he figures to be a good bet to keep it up. If this production does continue, Hulett makes a jump to the top of this list given his age and length of his contract, as well as his ability to play Shooting Guard being pivotal for the Pacers.
7. Frank Ntilikina Grizzlies 10.2 25 $5,000,000
Frenchman Frank is in the final year of the extension he signed with the Grizz a few seasons back. After backing up Terry Porter, Frank got his chance when Porter headed south to the Sonics. Ntilikina has done nothing but get better in each of his seasons at the helm. He's turned into a defensive stopper and elite passer. He even took home the all star game MVP in 3020. The Grizzlies hope to retain Frank after this season, but after years of being underpaid, will Ntilikina seek greener pastures?
8. Josh Hart Rockets 8.0 28 $8,500,000 $8,500,000 $8,500,000
The Rockets cultivated Hart from a second round pick left for dead by the Chaparrals to a full time starter. Hart has been a mainstay in the Rockets starting 5 since coming over in 3018 and he hasn't disappointed. He takes care of the ball and has above average efficiency while being no slouch defensively. Not quite a max player, he's given the Rockets financial flexibility while they pay off what's left to George Mikan. Hart and Juan Pablo Vaulet figure to be the wing duo in Houston for at least the next couple of seasons.
9. Karl Malone Cavaliers 7.8 32 $8,000,000 $8,000,000
The mailman was taken on as a reclamation project by the Knicks after a promising start to his career and subsequent flame out in Milwaukee. In New York Malone found his form and was a valuable contributor to their title team last season. As a free agent the package was delivered to Cleveland and Karl hasn't disappointed thus far. Though he's only played 8 regular season games with the Cavs, Malone is pumping in 29 points per game while ripping down over 12 boards a game. If this level of production picks up we could see Malone in the all star game for the first time since 3012.
10. Jaron Blossomgame Pipers 6.2 30 $10,113,453 $11,124,798 $12,136,144
Over his 6 year career Jaron Blossomgame has quietly gone about his business, starting as a second round pick for the Sonics and moving to Pittsburgh for the Pipers. He's a solid if not spectacular wing player who can score as efficiently as anyone. He does have his warts, namely his turnovers, and quite frankly there aren't a ton of non-max/rookie deal players making an impact on their teams. Blossomgame may never make an all star team but he's a decent piece for the Pipers and fits in with their style of play.
Player Team 3020 WS Remaining Contract
1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Hornets 9.8 25 $2,900,000 $2,900,000 $2,900,000
KCP is a good example of a guy who was given a second chance at life in sim by a deeply analytical and savvy GM. He flew under the radar until the final year of his rookie deal, having spent time in Chicago, Seattle, and New York. Obviously his talent was missed by lesser eyes but Fecta knew what he had, immediately giving KCP the keys to the Hornets. It's this type of foresight that has led the Hornets to...KCP was a nice find for Charlotte, and maybe the first reason Hornets fans have had to go to games since Grandmama and Zo were patrolling the lane.
2. Hedo Turkoglu Grizzlies 8.7 25 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Second we find Hedo, who I was able to scoop up a couple years ago, having noticed he hadn't received any points to his inside scoring. He's not a great player, and probably isn't a starter on a true contender, but for $1.5 million and SG eligibility he's a very nice piece to have on the roster. Turkoglu spent time wasting away in Washington and the practically G-League Timberwolves. Early returns from 3021 show his efficiency slipping a bit, which may see him lose his starting place in Vancouver, but frankly at such a low salary who cares.
3. John Bagley Pacers 8.1 31 $1,580,159 $1,659,167
Bagley made it through his rookie deal with the Amigos having played in 21 total games. In the 5 seasons since he's been a full time starter first with the Hawks then the Pacers even quarterbacking the Pacers to a title as well as winning playoff MVP in 3019, shutting down Kyrie Irving in a pivotal ECQF game 7. Any time you can sign a playoff MVP for under $2 million a season you're going to do it. His stats don't jump off the page, but he does his job and does it well.
4. Rashad Vaughn Raptors 7.3 25 $1,313,131 $1,313,131 $1,313,131 $1,313,131
If Vaughn's early returns in 3021 are any indication, he could probably move up to #2 on this list. Yes, he has some holes in his game, mainly his relationship with rebounding, but he's super cheap and very reliable. What you see is what you get: solid defender, reasonably efficient scorer, nice outside shot, won't turn it over. Vaughn was a key piece for the Pacers playoff run in 3019 and elevated his value to a place that saw the Raptors give the 5th pick in the draft for him, hoping he could elevate them to a championship as well. Another salary that gives so much flexibility in how the rest of a roster is filled out and paid.
5. Youssou Ndoye Grizzlies 8.4 31 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Our second Grizzly makes the list, with Ndoye having signed a long term $1.5mm/year contract last offseason. He's spent his entire career in the Couv and consistent if nothing else. Youssou puts up good defensive counting stats while not turning the ball over too much and being decently efficient. If he could grab a few more rebounds or get a bit more efficient he's the type of big you'd see getting paid much more, but for the cost the Grizzlies are very happy with his production.
6. DeeAndre Hulett Pacers TBD 23 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131 $2,313,131
Hulett is more projection at this point, at 23 years old he had a big offseason which saw him head to Indiana and immediately secure a Brinks truck full of upgrades. Thus far he's not looked out of place in the Pacers wing rotation along side Giannis and Larry Bird, and he figures to be a good bet to keep it up. If this production does continue, Hulett makes a jump to the top of this list given his age and length of his contract, as well as his ability to play Shooting Guard being pivotal for the Pacers.
7. Frank Ntilikina Grizzlies 10.2 25 $5,000,000
Frenchman Frank is in the final year of the extension he signed with the Grizz a few seasons back. After backing up Terry Porter, Frank got his chance when Porter headed south to the Sonics. Ntilikina has done nothing but get better in each of his seasons at the helm. He's turned into a defensive stopper and elite passer. He even took home the all star game MVP in 3020. The Grizzlies hope to retain Frank after this season, but after years of being underpaid, will Ntilikina seek greener pastures?
8. Josh Hart Rockets 8.0 28 $8,500,000 $8,500,000 $8,500,000
The Rockets cultivated Hart from a second round pick left for dead by the Chaparrals to a full time starter. Hart has been a mainstay in the Rockets starting 5 since coming over in 3018 and he hasn't disappointed. He takes care of the ball and has above average efficiency while being no slouch defensively. Not quite a max player, he's given the Rockets financial flexibility while they pay off what's left to George Mikan. Hart and Juan Pablo Vaulet figure to be the wing duo in Houston for at least the next couple of seasons.
9. Karl Malone Cavaliers 7.8 32 $8,000,000 $8,000,000
The mailman was taken on as a reclamation project by the Knicks after a promising start to his career and subsequent flame out in Milwaukee. In New York Malone found his form and was a valuable contributor to their title team last season. As a free agent the package was delivered to Cleveland and Karl hasn't disappointed thus far. Though he's only played 8 regular season games with the Cavs, Malone is pumping in 29 points per game while ripping down over 12 boards a game. If this level of production picks up we could see Malone in the all star game for the first time since 3012.
10. Jaron Blossomgame Pipers 6.2 30 $10,113,453 $11,124,798 $12,136,144
Over his 6 year career Jaron Blossomgame has quietly gone about his business, starting as a second round pick for the Sonics and moving to Pittsburgh for the Pipers. He's a solid if not spectacular wing player who can score as efficiently as anyone. He does have his warts, namely his turnovers, and quite frankly there aren't a ton of non-max/rookie deal players making an impact on their teams. Blossomgame may never make an all star team but he's a decent piece for the Pipers and fits in with their style of play.
