NBA: Minimum Contract, Maximum Value

Marreese Speights and Raymond Felton, Los Angeles Clippers

Speights: One-year, $1,403,611; Expires 2016-17

Felton: One-year, $1,551,659; Expires 2016-17

With their bench unit being much maligned in recent seasons, the Clippers set about to rectify this glaring weakness during the offseason. Still just 29 years of age and coming off back-to-back Finals appearances, Marreese Speights was an excellent addition for the minimum salary. Clearly playing with a point to prove, Speights has rebounded from a sub-par season.

Through 44 games, Speights is averaging 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes per game. With the Golden State Warriors’ signing of Kevin Durant, Speights was one of a number of players deemed expendable for salary cap purposes. As Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers noted recently:

"“He’s lost weight, and let’s be honest; there’s no way Marreese should be playing for the minimum, and I think his weight was probably one of the reasons. He decided to take it to another level as far as his approach and being serious about the game, and we’re benefiting from it.”"

This is quite an endorsement to not only Speights’ approach, but also his talent. With all-star forward Blake Griffin still out due to injury, Speights should continue to prove his worth as one of the best bargains of the season.

As has been the case in recent seasons, Speights’ greatest strength on offense is his ability to spot up and catch and shoot with a very quick release. Within the framework of the Clippers’ offense, this works well. This season, 83.1 percent of Speights’ total field goal attempts have been taken without taking a dribble. Coupled with this, 82.8 percent of his field goal attempts involve Speights touching the ball for two seconds or less.

Check out highlights below of Speights’ best game thus far for the Clippers. In 27 minutes, Speights notched 23 points and 10 rebounds which included hitting 3-of-7 from downtown.

Felton

Accompanying Speights to the Clippers this season was veteran point guard Raymond Felton. Now in his 12th season in the league, Felton is coming off a productive season in Dallas where he played as both a reserve and a starter. And with the recent lengthy injury suffered by starting point guard Chris Paul, Felton is going to be relied upon to steer the ship until Paul returns.

For the season, Felton is averaging 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 21.8 minutes per game. He is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three. Despite being just 6-foot-1, Felton’s ability to play both on and off the ball provides a great amount of versatility for the Clippers, with or without Paul.

Due to a variety of injuries within the Clippers as a whole, Felton has had to step up further in recent weeks. Over his last 11 games, Felton has produced 12.4 points, 4.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. With career numbers of 12.1 points and 5.8 assists per game, this recent stretch shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Having said that, the Clippers have done very well in securing the former No. 5 overall pick on a one-year, minimum deal. Head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers has received much criticism in recent years regarding his free-agent signings. However, he has struck a bargain this season with Speights and Felton.

Check below for highlights of Felton’s best performance as a Clipper. Playing against the Houston Rockets, Felton notched 26 points and 8 assists in 31 minutes of play. And as you will see, he set up Speights easily for a couple of triples.

While the Clippers have been undermanned recently due to a variety of injuries, the team can be at ease knowing they have this veteran duo holding the fort until their teammates return to full health.