1 Free Agent That Each Contender Should Sign

The NBA’s recent announcement of a new transaction window leading up to the Orlando restart opens the door to a multitude of possibilities regarding free agents. As fun as it would be to speculate on every possible signing, I’ll shorten this list to contenders only. Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘contenders’ as any team from LA, Milwaukee, Boston, or Toronto. Feel free to fact check that one. As I wrote this article, I was faced with a choice. Should I include the big name free agents (Cousins, Crawford) for the clicks or select players who will actually make an impact? I’ve decided to take the red pill and write in an analytical manner rather than making the JR Smith fans of the world happy. Believe me, I tried desperately to rationalize why a team would sign Jamal Crawford in these trying times but I ultimately came up with nothing. I think people overrate how much of an impact a 40 year old defensive liability will have on a serious playoff team. My final disclaimer is that DeMarcus Cousins wasn’t considered for this list due to the uncertainty around his injury status. He’s far and away the most talented player available, but his lack of availability is an obvious concern.

Boston Celtics - Amir Johnson

Boston’s issues with the center position has been prevalent for nearly a decade now. Danny Ainge has attempted many solutions in the form of Al Horford or Kelly Olynyk but none have seemed to perform, at least in a championship-caliber way. I’m actually a big fan of Daniel Theis and what he’s done for the team in 2020 but the depth at his position is severely lacking, specifically on the defensive end. Enter Amir Johnson. The admittedly undersized big has a fantastic track record in rim protection throughout his six years in Toronto. A potential signing would mark Johnson’s return to Boston after his two season tenure with the team from 2015-2017 during the Isaiah Thomas era. During those seasons, Johnson averaged about 1 block per game and imposed a physical presence that was greatly needed on a relatively small squad. I could see Johnson being the final piece to complete a Celtics team that has a chance at the Finals assuming Jayson Tatum’s ascension continues.

Los Angeles Clippers - Kenneth Faried

Fun fact: Kenneth Faried is in my top 10 favorite players of this decade despite seeming to fall off the map after his 2014 stint with Team USA. While I’m disappointed, I understand why certain teams are completely uninterested in him. The game evolved in possibly the worst way for a 6’8 big without a jumpshot. Does that mean that there isn’t a place for him in the league? Absolutely not! Faried belongs in the “Hustle Plays That Swing The Momentum Of Games” Hall of Fame along with other Basketball Beeswax favorites Dennis Rodman and Tony Allen. That type of quality is rare in athletes and is invaluable during the postseason. I selected the Clippers to be blessed with Faried’s Garnett-esque attitude. Every other selection on this list was made to fill a pre-existing hole in the particular team’s system. In this case, Faried’s mentality reinforces the Clippers’ greatest strength in their overwhelming physicality and aggression led by Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell. Throwing “The Manimal” (top 19 all time nickname) into a lineup already conducive to his play style is equivalent to sticking Barry Bonds into the 1927 Yankees’ Murderers’ Row. Terrifying.

Los Angeles Lakers - Allen Crabbe

Remember Allen Crabbe? Yeah, that guy who broke out in Portland by shooting 45% from 3 during an entire season. Let’s put him on a team with LeBron James and I’d bet my nonexistent paycheck that he either replicates or surpasses those numbers. Crabbe is your textbook 3 and D wing that is a requirement on every legitimate title contender. Crabbe could be called a poor man’s Danny Green - the model archetype for such a player. While the Lakers have solidified Green as a permanent starter, I’ll confidently say that a lesser version of him is still better than Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, especially in the playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks - Corey Brewer

Listen, the Bucks are a really good team. You wouldn’t believe how long I stared at their depth chart before coming to the conclusion that no signing would improve their lineup. It’s so beautifully constructed that I’d almost rather them leave it be for as long as possible. This brings me to Corey Brewer. I asked myself, is Corey Brewer going to make a huge impact on a playoff game? The answer is no. Do I irrationally love Corey Brewer because of that one time in that one game he scored 51 points? Yes and I want him to get a ring for it. Sue me.

Toronto Raptors - Joe Johnson

I have a similar appreciation for the lineup construction of the Raptors as I do for the Bucks. To me, the defending champs’ loss of Kawhi Leonard swayed the public perception of the team too heavily. This is still a ridiculously stacked team. The only real concern I would have about them is the ability to close games, not because they can’t, but because I don’t know who would do it. The instinctual choice would be Kyle Lowry due to his playoff experience and leadership within the team. However, Lowry has never struck me as a go-to offensive option in any stage of his career. The next choices would be emerging star Pascal Siakam and 2019 Finals hero Fred VanVleet. I’ll go ahead and rule out Freddie after witnessing his horrid performance in the previous two rounds of the playoffs before the Finals. Fred is lucky that recency bias is very real when it comes to sports fans and their tendency to forget disastrous outings in favor of a shockingly successful series. Siakam is a different story. While he’s been decent in isolations thus far, his FG% drops nearly 10 percentage points in each instance. There’s nothing wrong with that in theory, but it’s definitely unreliable in a tense late game situation. If anyone’s reliable deep into a playoff game, it’s Iso Joe himself. Look no further than his two year stretch with the Utah Jazz where he single-handedly won too many games to count for the young squad. After he was strangely exiled from the league, he moved to Ice Cube’s Big3 and dominated once again. I had the privilege of witnessing his Big3 MVP campaign in person and it was simply magnificent. The unfortunate reality is that Johnson might be nearing the end of his career soon. It’d be a shame if he wasn’t able to contribute in his last few years as an effective closer. Hopefully Masai Ujiri reads this and takes my advice.