ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 2. Alex Caruso
Having always been a fan favorite in his time with the Lakers, Caruso’s value as an NBA player has shined bright in his first season with the Chicago Bulls. His addition, alongside DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, has given the Bulls a nice blend on both sides of the ball, culminating in the second-best record in the east.
Caruso is thriving under greater responsibility given by coach Billy Donovan, averaging career highs in most statistical categories. That includes minutes per game, rebounds, assists, steals, field goal, and free throw percentage.
His +4.6 in plus-minus, also a career-high, displays just how valuable he’s been. There’s no doubt the Lakers would be regretting their low-ball offer to the 27-year-old, one that led him to signing the four-year, $37 million deal with the Bulls.
The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 1. Patty Mills
After ten seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, the Australian was always going to be an in-demand free agent this past offseason. His signing, a two-year, $12 million deal with the Nets, looked like great value. But with COVID absences and Kyrie Irving’s exclusion, Mills has had a far greater impact than the contract would suggest.
The 33-year-old is averaging career highs in minutes, three-point attempts, and points per game, whilst his 44.1 percent from deep is a career-high outside his ten-game rookie season.
With Kevin Durant missing, Mills has stamped his impact with 14 threes over the last two games, helping the Nets sweep their way past both Los Angeles teams.
those who were signed in the offseason</a> have been on their team for far longer than what is actually reality.</p>
<p>Whether it’s simply thriving with a greater role on a new team, or taking on increased responsibility due to COVID absences, there are a number of free-agent signings playing well above their contract.</p>
<p>With that in mind, and over 30 games of data to analyze, let’s take a look at five of the best under-the-radar, value signings from the off-season.</p>
<h2>The top 5 signings from the 2021 NBA offseason so far: 5. Kelly Oubre Jr.</h2>
<p>Often a frustration for Warriors fans last season, the six-foot-six wing is thriving in a more simplified system in Charlotte. There wasn’t a whole lot of interest in Oubre during the offseason before he eventually signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Hornets.</p>
<p>He’s now prospering as one of the best sixth men in the league, averaging 16.5 points on a career-high 36.9 percent from three-point range. In a system prioritizing ball and player movement, and in the absence of Klay Thompson, Oubre struggled with the more diverse scheme in Golden State.</p>
<p>In Charlotte, 57.4 percent of his field-goal attempts are threes, far greater than the 39.4 percent of last season. It means he’s a much more effective NBA player, improving his plus/minus from -3.5 with the Warriors, to a career-high -0.4 this season.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/29/nba-value-signings-2021-offseason/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4 - 3 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 23: John Konchar #46 of the Memphis Grizzlies passes off under pressure from Rudy Gay #8 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game November 23, 2021 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 4. Rudy Gay</h2>
<p>The 35-year old veteran was always going to be a savvy pick-up in free agency, yet his impact has been even greater than what the Jazz would have predicted. After signing a three-year, $18.5 million contract with Utah, Gay missed the beginning of the season and didn’t make his Jazz debut until the 19th of November against Toronto.</p>
<p>But since then, he’s been an integral part of a Jazz team that’s again solidified itself as a top-three team in the west. Utah is 15-4 with Gay in the lineup, compared to 9-6 when he’s missing.</p>
<p>Individually, Gay’s success, like Oubre’s, is a product of being in a new system. With Utah attempting the most threes in the league, 62.3 percent of his field-goal attempts are from beyond the arc, nearly 20 percent higher than last season with the Spurs.</p>
<h2><strong>The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 3. Otto Porter Jr.</strong></h2>
<p>After a slew of injuries in the past few seasons, the 28-year-old has transformed from 3&D wing to shot-blocking stretch big. Porter has spent large chunks of game-time as a small-ball center, a challenge he’s accepted with a career-high in block percentage and a rebound percentage of over 13 for the second time in his career.</p>
<p>Porter’s addition has been a key part of the Warriors’ rise to the best record in the league, evident in his career-high plus-minus of +5.8. Having been signed for a minimum ($2.4 million) contract, Porter is undoubtedly one of the most valuable free-agent signings.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/29/nba-value-signings-2021-offseason/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2 - 1 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 2. Alex Caruso</h2>
<p>Having always been a fan favorite in his time with the Lakers, Caruso’s value as an NBA player has shined bright in his first season with the Chicago Bulls. His addition, alongside DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, has given the Bulls a nice blend on both sides of the ball, culminating in the second-best record in the east.</p>
<p>Caruso is thriving under greater responsibility given by coach Billy Donovan, averaging career highs in most statistical categories. That includes minutes per game, rebounds, assists, steals, field goal, and free throw percentage.</p>
<p>His +4.6 in plus-minus, also a career-high, displays just how valuable he’s been. There’s no doubt the Lakers would be regretting their low-ball offer to the 27-year-old, one that led him to signing the four-year, $37 million deal with the Bulls.</p>
<h2><strong>The top 5 under-the-radar signings from the 2021 NBA offseason: 1. Patty Mills</strong></h2>
<p>After ten seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, the Australian was always going to be an in-demand free agent this past offseason. His signing, a two-year, $12 million deal with the Nets, looked like great value. But with COVID absences and Kyrie Irving’s exclusion, Mills has had a far greater impact than the contract would suggest.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old is averaging career highs in minutes, three-point attempts, and points per game, whilst his 44.1 percent from deep is a career-high outside his ten-game rookie season.</p>
<p>With Kevin Durant missing, Mills has stamped his impact with 14 threes over the last two games, helping the Nets sweep their way past both Los Angeles teams.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="2 blockbuster Anthony Davis trades to fix the Lakers" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/27/nba-trades-anthony-davis-lakers/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/29/nba-value-signings-2021-offseason/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/27/nba-trades-anthony-davis-lakers/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 2 blockbuster Anthony Davis trades to fix the Lakers </a> </div>
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