NBA: Identifying the best value signings of free agency

Utilizing a formula, we identify and break down the best value signings of NBA free agency

The excitement of NBA free agency is advancing at break-neck speed, and in some people’s eyes, it’s beginning to rival the game-play itself. Who knew GM mode on NBA 2K would one day eclipse the rush of hanging the century mark on your most hated franchise in a 60-point, sweaty hand, greasy-button blowout?

At any rate, the signings during this summer have been plentiful, but who’s getting the most bang for their buck? How would we even quantify that?

I’ll tell you how! I’ve simplified what I think is a great representation of what a player adds to a team in terms of winning games and thrown together a formula that will help us compare the value of signings like Gordon Hayward and Blake Griffin to the value of non-marquee players like Troy Williams or Reggie Bullock.

Let’s look at NBA players like cars. If a car salesman tried to sell you a 1980 Honda Accord for $10,000, you would get out of there faster than a 1981 Honda Accord. Let’s say now that he goes to see his boss and comes back to offer you a 2018 Mercedes-Benz for $10,000. That’s a deal you make faster than a 1982 Honda Accord!

The point is, $10,000 is relative depending on your return. What makes evaluating players difficult is that some players could be looked at like 2010 Cadillacs. What the heck is a fair price for that? What if you have four unbearable children and a diabetic dog? I don’t think the Cadillac is right for you. How much for the Toyota Sienna? Player A had off-season surgery? What’s the CarFax on this 2001 Volkswagen? You get the picture.

So the idea is to measure a player’s effectiveness relative to how well the team performed as a result. Forget points, rebounds, and assists, that archaic stuff is for the birds! Let’s define what stats we’ll be using.