Roughly 40 percent of the NBA entered free agency this offseason. Yeah, that's a big number.
With so much talent flooding the market, some free agents were inevitably going to be signed to cheaper deals than expected. Which GMs managed to snag valuable players on bargain contracts?
That's what we're here to determine. Let's run through some of the smartest moves of the summer.
(Note: No obvious stars here like Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant. They are powerful enough to dictate what kind of contracts they receive.)
MORE: Here are the worst contracts of 2019 NBA free agency
DeMarcus Cousins, Lakers (one year, $3.5 million)
Yes, Cousins wasn't himself in 2018-19. He only played 30 regular season games for the Warriors, and he was a liability in certain playoff matchups.
For $3.5 million, though? We're talking about a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player. Cousins should be fully healthy entering the 2019-20 season after recovering from Achilles and quad injuries at separate points with Golden State. Reuniting with former Pelicans teammates Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo should help, too.
Kevon Looney, Warriors (three years, $15 million)
An impressive 2019 playoff run seemingly pushed Looney out of the Warriors' price range, but apparently none of the other 29 front offices felt he was worth a low-risk gamble.
Looney is the perfect center for Golden State, a big who won't take offensive possessions away from Stephen Curry, D'Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson (whenever he returns from an ACL injury) and shows good mobility along the perimeter defensively. On top of that, Looney is only 23 years old, so he should improve over the course of his contract.
JJ Redick, Pelicans (two years, $26.5 million)
New Orleans is going full run-and-gun under head coach Alvin Gentry. Insert one of the NBA's top sharpshooters.
Redick hit nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers last season with the 76ers on a career-high 8.0 attempts per game. He is comfortable drilling shots off movement and in transition, and that will provide plenty of spacing for Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson as they attack the basket.
Having an adult in the locker room doesn't hurt, either.
Jeremy Lamb, Pacers (three years, $31.5 million)
Lamb isn't just the guy who hit one of the more ridiculous buzzer-beaters in recent NBA history. He has turned himself into solid forward capable of starting or coming off the bench.
Kemba Walker unsurprisingly led the Hornets in scoring last season, but Lamb was second on the team with 15.3 points per game. Over his last two years in Charlotte, he shot a respectable 35.8 percent from beyond the arc and displayed a little creativity off the dribble.
It's not a flashy signing, but it is one of the best value deals of 2019, according to FiveThirtyEight's CARMELO market values.
Tomas Satoransky, Bulls (three years, $30 million)
Someone had to fill the void at point guard for the Wizards when John Wall went down. Satoransky stepped up and proved he can be a consistent contributor. The former second-round pick averaged 8.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from the 3-point line in 2018-19.
The Bulls will want to give minutes to rookie Coby White, but Satoransky's size and shooting should allow head coach Jim Boylen to use them together in some lineups. And if White struggles initially, Satoransky is a nice security blanket to help in the development of Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr.
Ed Davis, Jazz (two years, $10 million)
How is this dude perpetually underpaid? He signed a one-year, $4.4 million contract with the Nets last summer, and now he's on another team-friendly deal with the Jazz.
Good things happen when Davis plays. The Nets were more than six points per 100 possessions better with Davis on the floor, including nearly nine points better defensively. That shouldn't be a shocker considering he finished second among all players in ESPN's Defensive Real Plus-Minus metric behind reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Hey, other teams: Have fun trying to score in Utah.
JaMychal Green, Clippers (two years, $10 million)
The news may have flown under the radar following the signing of Kawhi Leonard and trade for Paul George, but Green turned down larger offers for a chance to win a title with the Clippers, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. This is a major steal for a team that needed frontcourt depth.
Green is a versatile power forward who can hit from deep at a high rate (40.3 percent on 3-pointers with the Grizzlies and Clippers last season). That makes him a great fit next to Leonard and George. He will likely sit behind center Ivica Zubac, but it's possible he slides into closing lineups depending on matchups.
Los Angeles didn't need another win after landing one of the best dynamic duos in the NBA. The Clips got one anyway in Green.
