This year’s free agency is coming up, as we are in the middle of the shortest offseason in NBA history. With NBA free agency season coming up, there is no doubt that a couple of teams are aiming to improve their roster composition.
This year’s free agency class is headlined by no other than Los Angeles Lakers champion Anthony Davis. Although this free agent class isn’t as star studded, there are a lot of free agents this year that can give some much needed boost for a team contending for a championship. In fact, there are a couple of interesting players that are lurking under the radar that can give a much needed boost to any team that signs them.
For this piece, let’s take a look at the Top 5 most underrated free agents that can prove to be a steal for any team.
5. Jordan Clarkson
Scoring off the bench is valuable for any team that intends to go deep in the NBA Playoffs. Because of this, Jordan Clarkson is one of the most underrated free agents in the 2020 class. Coming off a stellar season in 2019-2020 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz, averaging 15.2 points per outing on 45.4% shooting overall, the 6’4 guard can certainly help any playoff team off the bench.
Over the years, Clarkson has played alongside the likes of LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant which makes him a seasoned player that has the ability to playing alongside superstars. Furthermore, he has proven to be a reliable spark plug off the bench given that he has been a regular fixture in the run for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. In fact, even Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell endorsed him during the recently concluded season.
With Clarkson putting up a good showing for the Jazz, including a 26 point explosion in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets in the first round, the franchise will be looking to keep their ultimate scorer off the bench. However, there’s no doubt other teams will be trying to lure Clarkson in order to beef up their bench scoring.
4. Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant is not an NBA All-Star and there are a handful of players in this class that have a lot more upsides compared to the 6’9 forward. However, Grant is certainly an interesting free agent this year. After a breakout season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Grant continued to have a good showing with the Denver Nuggets. In the 2019-2020 season, he logged in 12.0 points and 3.5 boards per outing which was good enough to rank him as the fifth leading scorer of the team. In the NBA Playoffs, he averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 boards per game including a 26 point outburst in the Nuggets’ lone win in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.
Grant has proven last season that he can be decent starter for any team with championship aspirations. One of the improved aspects of his game was his three point shooting, as he hovered around 39% from rainbow country. Furthermore, his ability to contend for rebounds and to swat away some shots can certainly help any team that wants to go deep in the postseason given that 3-and-D players are great assets to have.
After a great run with the Denver Nuggets last season, there is a good possibility that Grant will re-sign with the team. However, Grant will have the right to demand a higher pay after an impressive season with the franchise. With that said, it might be better for the hustling forward to find a new team to play for that will give him the pay and the minutes he deserves.
3. Aron Baynes
Bruisers and hardworking big men give teams an advantage in terms of ceiling, rebounds, and block shots. Furthermore, they also help in securing 50/50 loose balls. Because of this, an enforcer like Aron Baynes could be a valuable piece that any championship contending team can pick up from this year’s free agency.
The one time NBA champion may not provide the most number of points in a team. However, his improved shooting from rainbow country can be a big key as he shot it at a career high 35.1% from last season. Furthermore as a stretch big, Baynes has the body to keep up with opposing big men in the league. Although Baynes is seen in the receiving end of poster dunks, there is no doubt that the 6’10 big man can perform efficiently. In his lone season with Phoenix recently, he registered a career high in points and rebounds. The Australian national team mainstay put up 11.6 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per outing including a 37 point and 16 rebound performance against Portland earlier this year before the league was put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
With the Suns expecting their big man to leave the team, especially after the franchise drafted Jalen Smith, there is a big chance we will be seeing him in a new uniform. Baynes would be an ideal player to sign for teams who need a quality back-up center without sacrificing much of their cap space.
2. Hassan Whiteside
7 foot big men with a long wingspan can be advantageous in many ways, especially when that certain big man has combines his physical tools with talent and great mobility. If a team is looking for someone like that, then Hassan Whiteside certainly fits the bill.
Coming off a productive season with the Portland Trailblazers, Whiteside showed everyone that he can still be a force to be reckoned with. Just last season, he put up double-double averages of 15.5 points and 13.5 boards per outing including a monster triple double against the Denver Nuggets that saw him register 33 points, 23 rebounds, and 10 blocks. The 7’0 big man is no question a double-double threat and a shot-blocking machine ever since his breakout in the league in a Miami Heat uniform. He even put up a Heat franchise record 12 blocks off the bench during the 2014-2015 season against the Chicago Bulls which placed him alongside Manute Bol, who first achieved this feat.
However, unfortunately for Whiteside, injuries and a controversial off-court spat against Erik Spoelstra marred his performances on the court that saw him as an inconsistent big man. Despite just signing a max contract at that time, the former Heat center was unhappy with the way the coaches utilized him. Of course that eventually led to the franchise shipping Whiteside away to Portland.
Despite the off-court drama that Whiteside can bring, however, he is certainly a talented big man that teams can utilize. With other more decorated big men in free agency such as Anthony Davis, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol, Whiteside can be a sleeper in this year’s free agent signing frenzy especially for teams that need a great anchor down low.
If Whiteside can promise to keep his ego under control and to perform as a dominant center in the league, I’m sure any team will be happy to get his services.
1. Christian Wood
The player that tops this list is free agent big man Christian Wood. Wood is arguably the most underrated free agent this year. After quietly bouncing around the league during his first three years in the league, the 6’10 big man gave a good account of himself during his stint with the Detroit Pistons. Last season, Wood averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on an efficient 56.7% shooting overall while also hitting a fairly decent 38.6% from deep.
The UNLV standout made the most out of his opportunity before hitting free agency this year. After Blake Griffin suffered an injury and the departure of Andre Drummond, Wood established himself as a legitimate starting center for Detroit.
According to Dwayne Casey, the Pistons Head Coach, said about the NBA big, “He’s worked hard. Done everything we’ve asked, been on time. He’s got the talent and the maturity has come along to match now too.”
Although Wood has shown some defensive lapses at times, the free agent big man has a lot of upside offensively. For a big man, Wood can shoot from rainbow country and if the defender doesn’t give him the space to shoot, he can easily drive to the basket like a guard that can put the ball down on the floor. Like the modern day big man, Wood possesses a polished inside-out game. As a result, Wood makes a case to be the most underrated free agent of this year’s class.
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