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#3 Andre Drummond
Adding Andre Drummond on a one-year minimum deal was a great piece of business for the Philadelphia 76ers as a team in constant need of a backup center.
Drummond's 2020-21 season was curtailed after being bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, in the 46 games he did play for both the Cavs and the Lakers, the 28-year-old proved his value, averaging 14.9 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes per game.
He was also among only nine players to have played in over half the campaign's fixtures that averaged a steal and a block in every contest. Drummond will be one of the most dominant backup centers in the league next season and solve the 76ers troubles they face when Embiid is out.
#2 Dennis Schroder
After rejecting an $84m, four-year deal from the LA Lakers, the Boston Celtics ended up using their mid-level exception of $5.9m to sign Dennis Schroder to a one year contract in the NBA free agency window. Schroder's loss is the C's gain, however, and this could prove to be a very savvy piece of business by new GM Brad Stevens.
It is rare to sign a player at such a low price who can contribute significantly on both ends of the floor and who has consistently avoided serious injuries for the past seven seasons.
Schroder is a good on-ball defender and averaged over a steal per game this year. On offense, he will fit in well alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as somebody who does not need the ball in his hands constantly to be effective. He registered 15.4 points per game and 5.8 assists while playing for the Lakers and shot at 44% from the field.
Although he could prove to be as inconsistent for the Boston Celtics as Kemba Walker was this year, at least the organization isn't tied down long-term to an exorbitant contract.
#1 Richaun Holmes
As with Dennis Schroder, Richaun Holmes was a victim of a chilly NBA free agency market that would have pleased the Sacramento Kings.
With cap space around the league lessening, the Kings were able to re-sign the 27-year-old center on a 4-year, $46.5m deal - the most they could have offered him without dumping some of their own salary. Holmes had a standout campaign last season and was expected to earn in the realm of $80m over four years. He put up career-highs in points (14.2), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.7) and blocks (1.6) while shooting at 63.7% from the field.
While negotiating in a player option was a smart move from Holmes, his new contract will have immense value for the Sacramento Kings going forward. With him coming into the peak years of his career, Holmes could come close to averaging between 16 and 20 points per night while also grabbing close to ten rebounds. He is an athletic big who will no doubt progress into one of the best centers in the league due also to his elite rim protection.
Guess the Lakers players!
