The four best deals in NBA Free Agency so far

Free agency has been a let down, but there have been some good moves.

The Cavs will miss Ty Jerome next season (image via cavs Instagram)

There hasn’t been any star movement in free agency unlike years past. Teams are gearing up to have more cap space in 2026 and 2027, two years with better potential free agents. The biggest name we saw move in free agency this year was…drum roll please…Myles Turner.

All due respect to Turner, who is one of the best rim protecting stretch fives in the league, but if a free agent class is headlined by him, then we know it’s a weak year.

This summer has been all about role players and building a versatile supporting cast is vital for any team to contend. Yeah these guys may not be big names, but they are all important pieces for the teams they signed with. On this fourth of July, here are my four favorite deals of free agency so far.

Nickeil-Alexander Walker to the Hawks

Contract: 4 years, $62 million, player option after the third year

Alexander-Walker was an essential part of the Wolves’ runs to the conference finals in the last two seasons. He has shot 38 percent from three-point range over the last two years and is coming off a season where he hit 41 percent of his catch and shoot looks from range.

NAW is also a versatile defender and can guard multiple positions. In the conference finals, his primary matchup was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and I know the two are cousins and have played against each other their whole lives, but it was impressive to see Alexander-Walker hold the MVP to 38 percent shooting and only fouled him four times in the whole series.

Alexander-Walker is a very strong on-ball defender and is always creating pressure and causing turnovers. He averaged two deflections per game in the regular season and playoffs and when he was on the court, the Wolves had a defensive turnover percentage of 15.5 compared to 14.4 when he was off the court.

Atlanta has done a good job retooling around Trae Young with lengthy defenders and knockdown shooters. Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson form a nice defensive trio that can match up with almost anyone in the league.

Ty Jerome to the Grizzlies

Contract: 3 years, $28 million, player option after year two

I had to blast Marvin’s Room after this one and I have no shame about it. Seeing my Cavs lose Ty Jerome was a tough pill to swallow. I will recover from this… eventually. Good for him for getting the bag from Memphis and a chance for the same role he had last season.

The Grizzlies’ bench was second in the league in scoring last season (43.9 PPG) and they get even better with the addition of Jerome. Jerome was a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year and was an instant bucket-getter as soon as he stepped onto the floor. He averaged about 13 points per game on 52/44/87 shooting splits and his per 36 scoring (calculating a player’s averages if he played 36 minutes a game), was at 23 PPG.

He was the first player since 1980 to average at least 11 points and a steal per game on 50/40/85 splits off the bench. The Cavs had a sterling 124.5 offensive rating with him on the court and a +11 net rating as well. He had the sixth most 20 point games off the bench (10), was ninth in the league in true shooting percentage (64.3), and in the playoffs against the Miami Heat, he became the first player to register 11 assists with zero turnovers off the bench in 39 years.

Jerome had a season that no one saw coming and he should fit right in with Memphis’ second unit. His scoring ability and irrational confidence are two things that will help the Grizzlies’ chances in the West.

Guerschon Yabusele to the Knicks

Contract: 2 years, $12 million

Yeah, Knicks fans can breathe easy: Leon Rose has brought you the depth you asked for. Gone are the days of playing Delon Wright and Landry Shamet high-leverage minutes in a playoff game (all due respect to them). Yabusele was one of the best frontcourt players available and generated a ton of interest on the open market. Getting him for $6 million a year is a steal and he gives New York a true power forward and someone who can play next to Towns.

Last season, Yabusele averaged 11 PPG, five rebounds, and three assists per game on 50 percent shooting and 38 percent from three-point range. The three-point shooting was the most encouraging aspect, as his shot was non-existent during his first NBA stint and he grew in that area (39 percent on catch and shoot threes).

Yabusele is also a strong rebounder and defender, showing a great level of physicality. He can keep up with quicker guards on the perimeter, but is better suited to guard post players or strong slashers. He was playing out of position thanks to Joel Embiid’s injuries and had to play the five spot, which makes his defensive numbers look a little skewed. With the Knicks, he can play at his natural four position with Towns and Robinson in the fold and this gives New York more lineup flexibility.

Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets

Contract: 4 years, $53 million

The Rockets needed their Dillon Brooks replacement and there was no one better than Finney-Smith on the market. Thanks to the Lakers low-balling their best defender post-Luka trade, Houston gets even stronger on the defensive side and gains another floor spacer.

Finney-Smith can guard one through four and depending on the matchup, he can guard a five. In the playoffs, his primary matchup was Anthony Edwards and in the 28 minutes those two were matched up, Finney-Smith held Edwards to 40 percent shooting and 22 percent from three-point range. In the regular season, here is the list of notable star players he held to sub 30 percent shooting from the field in ten or more matchup minutes.

• Jayson Tatum

• Donovan Mitchell

• Kevin Durant

• James Harden

Oh and the Rockets were the league’s fifth-best defense last season. A perimeter defense quartet of Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, and Finney-Smith projects to be one of the league’s best next season.

Finney-Smith is also a strong shooter and with Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün expected to draw a lot of attention offensively, having knockdown shooters is key. Finney-Smith shot 41 percent from three last season on five attempts and he shot 41 percent on catch and shoot looks and 43 percent on corner threes. His shooting will help a Rockets team that ranked 21st in three-point percentage last season.