The Best Values in 2015 NBA Free Agency

NBA free agency is mostly complete for the offseason.  A few stragglers like Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith remain, but nearly all the deals to be made have been made.

With the salary cap at $70 million for the 2015-16 season, and a jump to nearly $90 million coming for 2016-17, which teams got the best values in free agency this summer?

1) LeBron James — Cleveland Cavaliers

While James is one of the highest paid players in the league, $23 million is a bargain for the Cavaliers who are an instant contender by James’ presence.  If Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were healthy in June, the Cavaliers would arguably looking to repeat as champions in 2015-16.

James has a $24 million player option for 2016-17.  He’ll presumably opt out again and either sign a long-term extension with Cleveland, or continue to string the team along with another two-year deal with a player option.

It doesn’t matter, James at any price is worthwhile.

2) Amir Johnson — Boston Celtics

The Celtics got an underrated player in Johnson, and while he may not be a top-tier free agent, the team inked him to an extremely valuable contract.

Johnson will make $12 million for two straight seasons, but his salary for 2016-17 is non-guaranteed, making him an attractive trade asset for a team looking to shed salary.

Boston also brought back Jonas Jerebko on a similar two-year deal at $5 million a season, non-guaranteed in the second season.  Packaged with Johnson, the two can bring up to $21.4 million in salary back to the Celtics — more if combined with additional players.

The incoming team can in turn waive both players, shedding serious salary from their books.

At a minimum, Boston got a nice player.  Bigger picture, if the team can turn Johnson’s salary into a star via trade (perhaps with some of the Celtics’ many future draft considerations as incentive), his signing this summer may have more significant long-term implications.

3) David West — San Antonio Spurs

West opted out of the final year of his contract with the Indiana Pacers, at $12.6 million, to sign with the Spurs for $1.5 million.

While the actual money West walked away from is in the $6-7 million range, taking taxes into account, that’s still a tremendous sacrifice to play on a championship contender.

West also has a player option for next season at $1.6 million, although he seems likely to hit free agency once again when most of the league will have significant spending power.

4) Josh Smith — Los Angeles Clippers

Like West, Smith took a minimum contract to play for one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Because Smith took a one-year deal at $1.5 million, the league will reimburse the Clippers for about $550k of the forward’s salary, although the franchise is also on hook for a sizable luxury tax payment.

While it’s a bargain for the Clippers, Smith will actually earn $6.8 million this upcoming season when factoring in about $5.3 million he’ll get from the Detroit Pistons, who waived him midway through last season.

5) Brandan Wright — Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies added an important reserve in Wright at the economical price of $17.1 million over three seasons.

The New Orleans Pelicans will pay Omer Asik $53 million over five years, while the New York Knicks are on hook to Robin Lopez for $54 million over four.

Wright is one of the league’s best shot-blockers, yet he’s cheaper than the still unproven Aron Baynes, who will make $19.5 million over three with the Pistons.

6) Bismack Biyombo — Toronto Raptors

Biyombo is a more one-dimensional shot-blocker in comparison to Wright, who has a knack for catching and finishing lob passes.

The Raptors picked up Biyombo for just $5.8 million, starting at $2.8 million for the coming year (player option on the second).

7) Gerald Green — Miami HEAT

Miami added offensive firepower for their bench in Green at a mere minimum deal of $1.4 million.

The HEAT are only responsible for $947k, but are also a tax team.

Green can light it up from the outside, and is still explosive at the rim.

8) Mike Dunleavy — Chicago Bulls

While the Dallas Mavericks signed Wesley Mathews to a four-year, $70 million deal, despite his somewhat recent Achilles’ tear, the Bulls got a deal at the wing position in Mike Dunleavy.

At $14.5 million over three years, Dunleavy’s final $5.2 million season has only $1.7 million guaranteed.

Dunleavy may not have the upside of player like Wilson Chandler, whose contract was reworked with the Denver Nuggets to $46.5 million over four years, but Dunleavy is a productive role-player for the Bulls.

9) Jeremy Lin — Charlotte Hornets

Lin earned roughly $15 million last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In Charlotte, he’ll back up (and possibly play alongside) Kemba Walker for $2.1 million.

Lin took a two-year deal with a player option on the second, which he’ll likely forego to explore free agency, but the Hornets got him at a nice price.

10) Rakeem Christmas — Indiana Pacers

Christmas was originally taken 36th in the NBA Draft by the Cavaliers, before he was sent to Indiana in trade.

If he pans out, the Pacers have him under contract for four years ($4.2 million), including the 2018-19 season at just $1.1 million. If he doesn’t, Indiana can get out of his deal before 2017-18.

The same can be said of Indiana’s Joseph Young, or Richaun Holmes, or Pierre Jackson and Scottie Wilbekin of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Finding a rotation player at or near $1 million is a major win for teams in the NBA’s burgeoning economy.