(The original article was published on June 30, and the author is Zach Kram of ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

The top 5 free agents this summer selected by ESPN are all All-Stars (James, Harden, Irving, Randall, Van Vritte). They have now implemented player options or reached a new contract agreement with their parent team. However, after the two teams with the best lineup depth in the league met in the finals, the teams clearly realized that relying solely on stars was far from enough to achieve the playoff ambitions. The team also needs to equip the stars with qualified auxiliary lineups, and these role players must be able to fill tactical loopholes, withstand the test of injuries, and provide diversified strategic choices in the playoff series.

Based on this demand, as the free agent market officially opens, here are five neglected high-quality free agents. Although they cannot turn the team's fate alone, they can make up the last bench puzzle for the championship team. Although Chris Paul, a future Hall of Famer who was selected as an All-Star in his career, has entered his twilight years, his current value is still seriously underestimated. Although he is over 40, Paul's attendance rate of 82 games this season proves that he is still in excellent physical condition. He is still a pick-and-roll master: of 52 ball holders who participated in at least 1,500 screens this season, Paul ranked 9th in scores per game, even overwhelmingly Brunson. Even if personal scores and usage rates fall to career lows, their organizational skills remain. Among the qualified players, Paul ranks fourth in the league in assists every 36 minutes, second only to Trae Young, Jokic and Halliburton.

The Spurs have no point guard vacant after getting Fox in the trade and choosing Dylan Harper, but Paul can still be the bench for any championship team. Can you reunite with the Clippers? Joining the Lakers (no president intervention this time) and eventually becoming teammates with James? Creating magic in the Nuggets and Jokic? Or may they switch to the Timberwolves to replace Conley as the starting lineup? Paul, who is likely to change his team for the fourth time in four years, has many attractive choices. He has only failed the Finals in his career. After the Spurs spent a year away from the spotlight, it was time to join the championship team to chase the ring.

Chris Boucher

Only two players who played at least 800 minutes can hand in 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2.5 three-pointers every 36 minutes: one is Wenban Yama, and the other is Chris Boucher. Of course, this does not compare Boucher with Wenban Yama's talent, and the data screening standards do magnify his advantages, but it is undeniable that these advantages really exist!

Boucher's thin body is difficult to take the center forward for a long time, but his forward skill package is of great tactical value: three-point shooting, aerial dunks and blocking deterrent power. He is also an active offensive rebounding machine (3.5 frontcourt boards every 36 minutes in his career), and this data ranks among the top 25 active players (at least 5,000 minutes of playing). Although Boucher is very likely to renew his contract with the Raptors who have played for his career so far, other teams are worth bringing this "bench gangster" back to the United States. He can completely become an energy-type big man on the bench like Toping of the Pacers.

Malcolm Brogdon

Similar to Bruce Brown, Brogdon played the core role of the championship as the Celtics' best sixth man in the 2022-23 season. Similarly, he has since become a bargaining chip. He was first sent to the Bucks for Ju Holiday, and then transferred to the Wizards in Avdia's trade. In the past two seasons, he only played 63 games for the bottom team. But the 32-year-old's decline has been seriously exaggerated: for five consecutive seasons from the 2018-19 season to the 2022-23 season, its efficiency value has remained steadily in the range of 17.7-18.2 (the league average is 15), which can be regarded as a high-quality lineup puzzle at the textbook level.

Although he is plagued by injuries, Brogdon is still a reliable starting point for offensive results with his 39% three-point shooting percentage, stable assist-and-turnover ratio and dual-powered guard attributes. For the championship team that needs a third defender, Brogden is a perfect reinforcement.

D'Anthony Melton

The double-season defender was an underrated free agent last summer and returned to this list after suffering injuries this season. He started the season with the Warriors but was torn apart by the ACL after 6 games, and was then traded to the Nets for Schroeder. The dawn of injuries is that for the stars who were seriously injured at the end of the season, Melton's injury in mid-November last year means he can come back sooner. This will be a major benefit for the team that signed him this summer. The threat of shooting with 38% from three-point shooting percentage, ghost hand defense averaged 1.4 steals per game, and all-around data single-filling ability make Melton a veritable winning support (six of the seven seasons of his career have positive positive values).

27-year-old Melton is destined to be fully recovered, but the potential impact of injury on athletic ability will lower its market conditions. The 1.88-meter-high and non-pure point guard attributes make it the best suited to partner with offensive tall point guards to complement each other: they will complement each other with Doncic of the Lakers or Cunningham of the Pistons (ironically, he will replace Schroder).

Gary Trent Jr.

On this list, Trent represents a group of players that are flooding in the free agent market this summer - the sharpshooter group. In addition to him, pure pitchers such as Malik Beasley (the prospect of an unknown gambling investigation is unknown), Seth Curry, Garrison Matthews, Burks and Duncan Robinson are all waiting to be sold. But Trent is undoubtedly the best among them: after joining the Bucks with a career three-point shooting percentage of 39% last year, he will definitely receive a considerable salary increase this summer after joining the Bucks at the end of last year..

In addition to top shooting, Trent has many advantages: the defensive end is not as obvious as pure pitchers such as Kennard; the age of 26 is in his year of playing; the stable output of averaged double-digit scores per game for five consecutive seasons, plus the explosive power of 37 points and 33 points in a single game in the playoffs. In essence, this group of rotational end players with pure projection ability will become a hot item. In the modern NBA, every team is eager for outside firepower. The Pacers can aim at the championship because their 39% three-point shooting percentage (first in the league) and a deep lineup rotation, and these free agent shooters can meet these two needs at the same time.

Original text: Zach Kram

Compiled by: Li Taibai