The first and second waves of NBA Free Agency have concluded, with millions and millions of dollars being spent by franchises to sign faces new and old.
From now until the 2024-25 season begins, teams will be making moves around the edges to fill out their rosters. Luckily for them, several teams could end up getting a quality piece on a cheap deal, as there are still a handful of quality names seeking new homes.
The new CBA has put non-star free agents in a tough spot, as lucrative deals are not as easy to come by as they once were. That is why high-end role players like Gary Trent Jr. and Tyus Jones had to sign minimum deals. Many remaining free agents will likely follow in their footsteps.
With that said, let us analyze five free agents who can still give contenders some juice as they fill out their roster.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Teams on the hunt for a backup point guard should have Dennis Smith Jr. circled on their wish lists, as he's the best name available left at the position in the eyes of many.
After bouncing around the league over the past few seasons, Smith has carved out a role for himself as an uber-athletic backup guard who can be a pest defensively. His state with the Brooklyn Nets this past season - 6.6 points and 3.6 assists per game - might not leap off the page, but there's no doubt that he could be a sparkplug off someone's bench due to his athleticism and playmaking abilities.
This late in free agency, Smith isn't looking at anything more than the minimum. If a contender snags him on that, they could have a steal on their hands. At 26, he's still fairly young and has by no means reached his ceiling as a player. Perhaps the right situation could help bring the best out of the former No. 9 overall pick after years of trying to find himself.