NBA Rumors: Three under-the-radar and potentially impactful free agents still on the open market.
With most of the bigger moves in the books, NBA Free Agency has been a cricket-like scene for roughly the last month. And while there may not be any more big names on the open market, there are still a few exciting and talented free agents that could make an impact on teams.
A month before the start of NBA Training Camps, we look at three valuable free agents that are still available.
3 underrated and impactful free agents still available on the open NBA Free Agency market
1. Jaylen Nowell, guard
Jaylen Nowell is a pure scorer that any NBA team could use coming off their bench.
Nowell has spent his first four years in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and each and every year he’s gotten better. He’s someone who just knows how to score, whether off the dribble, from behind the 3-point line, or at the rim. And he’s shown he can do it with solid volume as well, last season he scored a career-high 11 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field.
At this point in Nowell’s career, he doesn’t bring much other than scoring, but he’s only 24 years old so he’s still got room to grow. Considering how deep it is into free agency, (just like everyone else on this list) Nowell would probably be a cheap contract.
The gamble on someone like him is very low at the moment, but the reward is a high volume 6th man. In the right developmental system, I don’t think it’s outlandish to say that Nowell could carve out a strong role as a contributor in the not-so-distant future.
2. Wenyen Gabriel, forward
Wenyen Gabriel is the kind of player any NBA team would love to have.
Gabriel is one of those guys who just works his socks off to do anything to help the team win. During his time in the NBA, Wenyen has bounced around a lot, but during the last two seasons, he found a home with the Los Angeles Lakers. In LA, he functioned as a low-volume, high-energy small ball 5, but his minutes were always excellent.
He’s a decent finisher around the rim, an excellent rebounder, and a mobile switchable defender. These are all things that fit on contending NBA teams.
Considering the Lakers signed Jaxson Hayes, his time in LA looks to be over. A team that looks perfect for his hustle and energy is the Miami Heat. He just feels like the kind of player Erik Spoelstra would work wonders with. The fit would make even more sense if the Heat ends up losing depth in the frontcourt due to a possible trade for Damian Lillard.
3. Terence Davis, guard
Terence Davis is a player who still has a high upside. Davis has shown he’s more than NBA quality multiple times. During the 2019-20 season, he was selected for the All-Rookie second team, and in the 2023 playoffs with the Sacramento Kings, he provided valuable minutes. But during his NBA career, Davis has been somewhat unlucky.
Terence has all the skills to be a great point guard, the size, athleticism, shooting, and handle, but he just hasn’t put it all together. He’s had injury problems, and previously there were rumblings about his attitude in Toronto, but he has the talent. Still barely 26 years old, he’s 100 percent worth a gamble at this point in free agency.
The Dallas Mavericks would be an interesting fit for Davis. If he came off the bench and provided solid scoring and defense, it would really help Dallas, plus put his name out there for a huge future payday. It’ll be interesting to see where Davis lands. At this point, it’s pretty crazy he doesn’t at least have a training camp invite.