NBA executives in search of free-agent bargains must be looking at the 2022 offseason as a perfect storm.
Only five teams are projected to have more than $20 million in cap space, and most of those will cut into some of it to retain their own free agents. That will leave the $10.3 million mid-level exception or the $6.3 million taxpayer mid-level exception as most teams' main talent-acquisition tools. And once those are used up, it'll be down to smaller cap exceptions and minimums to fill out rosters.
Across the league, we're going to see players sign deals that, in most other offseasons, they'd view as low-ball offers.
A lot of players will be underpaid, and the seven we've covered here will provide maximum bang for the buck.
Otto Porter Jr., Unrestricted
Otto Porter Jr.'s 2021-22 numbers don't look all that different from the ones he produced the season before, when he looked out of shape and slipped into obscurity with the Orlando Magic after coming aboard in the trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls.
The 28-year-old, signed to a minimum deal with the Golden State Warriors, averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.2 minutes per game—no better on the surface than the 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists he put up between the Bulls and Magic.
Look a little deeper and you'll see why Porter should be in much higher demand this offseason than last. For starters, he took a larger share of shots from beyond the arc than ever before, and he was especially deadly above the break, where he drilled 39.0 percent of his attempts. Slimmer and more mobile, Porter also finished at a career-best 72.0 percent clip at the rim.
The biggest change was positional, as Porter completed his transition from wing to small-ball big. He played zero minutes at the 3 for the first time in his career and actually spent more than a third of his court time as a center in Golden State's downsized attack. He was an integral rotation piece on a contender and stayed healthy enough to log 63 games, his most since 2017-18.
Porter remained a phenomenal rebounder for his position and continued to post elite steal rates, using his length and active hands to disrupt opposing offensive players.
Between his ho-hum counting stats and the stigma of playing on a minimum deal (plus an ugly injury history that may still be on teams' minds), Porter could find it difficult to secure a significant raise. The tax-hit Warriors know how valuable he is, but they may not have the stomach for a pay bump. Smart teams will realize Porter is worth something close to the mid-level exception and pounce.
Gary Harris, Unrestrcited
Gary Harris' $20 million salary wasn't much of a bargain last year. But at half that rate (or maybe even less), the 27-year-old wing might be one of free agency's biggest steals.
If you look around at the playoff teams still standing, they're chock-full of wings and forwards who can space the floor and defend multiple positions. Harris shot 38.4 percent on 5.0 long-range attempts per game in 2021-22, and while he spent most of his time covering opposing shooting guards, the Magic assigned him to point guards and small forwards for over 20 percent of his matchup minutes.
Consider both the shooting and defending boxes checked.
Harris might suffer from the standard he set for himself a few years ago, when he looked like a developing star for the Denver Nuggets. Injuries slowed him down and ultimately rendered his four-year, $84 million contract an overpay, but Harris showed this year with the Magic that he could still be a solid starter or premium reserve rotation piece.
It almost feels like the league has forgotten about Harris, but he could land in the right spot for as little as the taxpayer's MLE and easily perform like a guy who should be making twice that much.