The free-market movement of superstars has clearly changed the league’s ecology and impact. The most obvious example in recent years is the decision of LeBron James to join the Lakers in 2018 and Kevin Durant to join the Warriors in 2016. After the top stars in free agency changed their shirts, the ecological changes in the league in the next few years were obvious. However, not every free agent trade that has a major impact on the future of the team or the league will be noticed.
Further reading:Bold yet smart bet! What Joe Ingles can bring to the Bucks
Sometimes, the direction of some free agents does not get much attention when the news is released, but after a year or two, you will find that the original signing or the exchange brought a great influence. This article It will be discussed that this summer, the direction of the five free agents may not receive much attention, but it is likely to have a very large impact on their new teams.
one,TJ Warren
TJ Warren, who has played with the Pacers for the past three seasons, was signed by the Nets this summer. Considering the complexity of Kevin Durant’s trade, there are still many uncertainties in the Nets’ lineup next season, but the addition of TJ Warren can be regarded as a new force for the team.
Injuries have limited Warren to only four games over the past two seasons, so it’s normal for people to ignore him. Before his foot injury, his scoring contribution was outstanding. The last time he played normally was the 2019-20 season, and he averaged nearly 20 points per game that season (19.8 in 67 starts). In the 2019-20 season, in addition to his scoring contribution, his overall shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage were 53% and 40%, and he averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
If the Nets fail to successfully complete the trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, Warren will play a supporting role on offense in the new season to share the scoring responsibilities of the two stars. And Irving parted ways, Warren will become the team’s offensive star, after all, he is an offensive player.
Further reading:Spider-Man Homeless Day? KD will be key to Donovan Mitchell’s move
No matter how the situation goes, for the Nets, as long as Warren can stay healthy and play steadily, this new classmate is a good offensive reinforcement, and he doesn’t have to pay a huge price (about $2.6 million a year).
two,Goran Dragic
Looking at the 36-year-old Dragić’s performance in the past three seasons, it is clear that he has reached the late stage of his career due to aging and injuries, but in the second half of 2021-2022, he is wearing a Nets jersey to let everyone know that he can still run and run on the court. contribute. In the second half of the 2021-22 season, Dragić played a total of 16 games for the Nets, averaging 7.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. From the standpoint of the bench players, this performance can be regarded as a great help to the team.
The Bulls have Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu at their guards, so it’s unclear whether Dragić’s minutes or chances on the team will be squeezed. It may not be possible to predict whether Dragić’s performance will be good or bad next season, but it’s definitely a good thing for the team to have an experienced veteran on the team, especially the Bulls who are young on average and want to play in the East. The siege team.
Even if Dragić is no longer in his prime, he can still make an impact. With him on the team, the Bulls are like insurance against all odds, especially after Ball just had a season hampered by a knee injury.
For the Bulls, it is a good price to fill Dragić with a one-year contract of about 2.9 million US dollars. First, the contract will only last for one year, and secondly, there is a chance to use this price to bet on Dragić showing a good performance. ‘s skill. This investment is low risk, but you can expect good returns. Looking back at the end of next season, there’s a good chance that the decision was quite visionary, as Dragić has a chance to make a big difference for the team.
three,Gary Payton II
Gary Payton II, the son of Hall of Famer “Glove” Gary Payton, will thrive in the 2021-22 season and will be a key player in the Warriors’ return to glory. In the 2021-22 season, he has done the dirty work on the court that many people don’t want to deal with. In the next season, he may continue to carry out the tasks assigned to the Warriors last season in the Blazers jersey.
When defending, the main shooter on the outside line he is facing cannot play smoothly, and the offense will be frustrated. His height (about 190 cm) may not be high, but his ability to grab boards is not bad, and he will try his best to rush and grab rebounds on the court. In addition to his excellent defensive performance, he also has the shooting ability to grasp the perimeter gap. Last season, he shot nearly 36 percent from 3-point range. As a defensive-minded player, he doesn’t need a lot of the ball and doesn’t want to be a big part of the offense, so you can expect Payton II to play nicely with the Blazers’ existing guards Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons.