This past summer’s NBA free-agency period was a little different than most. With very little cap space available throughout the league, several teams were limited to exceptions and sign-and-trades as their only avenues to landing new talent.

That squeezed a lot of players, including some high-profile ones, out of the market entirely.

Free agency doesn’t end when the season starts, though. Teams can add talent throughout the season, and a few front offices may see themselves differently than they did two months ago. A couple of organizations that may have previously entertained a rebuild are playing better than expected. Would they consider supplementing the current roster?

A couple of others are playing poorly after solid starts to the season. Tearing down the roster and rebuilding may be something they should think about, but there’s no guarantee they will. If they’re committed to chasing a playoff berth, there are free agents who might help them.

Those four teams and players who could fit them are found below.

Brooklyn Nets: Kris Dunn

This summer, Kevin Durant issued a trade request to the Brooklyn Nets and then an ultimatum. As if that wasn’t enough, there were rumors about Kyrie Irving winding up on the Los Angeles Lakers, too.

Had the Nets desired, they could have collected as many assets as possible and steered aggressively into a rebuild. A 1-5 start to the campaign may have inspired the same decision.

The Nets are now flying up the standings, though. If they simply stand pat and wait for the roster to get healthy, they should be on their way to the postseason.

The problem is that good health hasn’t been the norm in Brooklyn.

Kyrie’s availability has been dubious, at best, especially since he joined the Nets. Ben Simmons, who sat out all of 2021-22 with back and mental health concerns, has already missed 10 games with various ailments this season. Patty Mills is 34 years old.

Another playmaker who could fill in when one or more of the above are out could help, and 28-year-old Kris Dunn is making a case for himself in the G League.

Through 10 games with the Capital City Go-Go, Dunn is averaging 14.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 25.5 minutes while shooting 64.4 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three.

His NBA shooting marks (42.0 percent overall, 29.9 percent from deep) suggest the G League efficiency wouldn’t stick, but the Nets likely wouldn’t need him to do much scoring anyway.

Dunn is a good perimeter defender who could be deployed alongside Durant. If he can simply eat some minutes, help the defense and score as a cutter, he’d fit.

Of course, Brooklyn may also be short a big man, too—even with the roster healthy. The answer could be as simple as Hassan Whiteside or DeMarcus Cousins (more on them later).