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The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason

By Peter O'Keefe

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 22: Patty Mills #8 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets react after a made shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Nets defeated the Cavaliers 117-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 22: Patty Mills #8 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets react after a made shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Nets defeated the Cavaliers 117-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 23: John Konchar #46 of the Memphis Grizzlies passes off under pressure from Rudy Gay #8 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game November 23, 2021 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 4. Rudy Gay

The 35-year old veteran was always going to be a savvy pick-up in free agency, yet his impact has been even greater than what the Jazz would have predicted. After signing a three-year, $18.5 million contract with Utah, Gay missed the beginning of the season and didn’t make his Jazz debut until the 19th of November against Toronto.

But since then, he’s been an integral part of a Jazz team that’s again solidified itself as a top-three team in the west. Utah is 15-4 with Gay in the lineup, compared to 9-6 when he’s missing.

Individually, Gay’s success, like Oubre’s, is a product of being in a new system. With Utah attempting the most threes in the league, 62.3 percent of his field-goal attempts are from beyond the arc, nearly 20 percent higher than last season with the Spurs.

The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 3. Otto Porter Jr.

After a slew of injuries in the past few seasons, the 28-year-old has transformed from 3&D wing to shot-blocking stretch big. Porter has spent large chunks of game-time as a small-ball center, a challenge he’s accepted with a career-high in block percentage and a rebound percentage of over 13 for the second time in his career.

Porter’s addition has been a key part of the Warriors’ rise to the best record in the league, evident in his career-high plus-minus of +5.8. Having been signed for a minimum ($2.4 million) contract, Porter is undoubtedly one of the most valuable free-agent signings.