NBA Today: Top 5 bargain contracts in the league right now

Los Angeles Lakers have their star duo
Los Angeles Lakers have their star duo

The NBA 2019 Free Agency has drastically altered the whole landscape of the basketball world right now. Players, ex-players and fans, all of been shocked and surprised by the sheer magnitude of deals that went down in the NBA.

There were a lot of massive contracts offered in this free agency, which increased the value of the cheaper contracts that were offered to other players in the league who might just turn out to be way better contributors for the amount of money they have on their contract.

There already are such bargain contracts on many teams in the NBA that have made it possible for them to sign the superstars on such massive deals and make them a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. So, here are 5 bargain contracts in the league right now.


#5 Jabari Parker (Atlanta Hawks): $6,500,000/year, 2-year deal

Parker needs to prove himself with a young team
Parker needs to prove himself with a young team

Jabari Parker has already become a player synonymous with the term "bust", a player who has failed to reach the sky-high potential he was supposed to coming into the NBA. Jabari Parker was drafted #2 by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, but a spate of injuries did not allow him to blossom into a better player, which allowed the Bucks to let him go free.

Parker landed with the Chicago Bulls next, who had a turbulent situation with their coaching team and a lack of effort on the defensive end finally ended with him being traded to the Washington Wizards, where a similar story ensued and Parker was a free agent in the 2019 Free Agency.

The Atlanta Hawks are the newest team to take on Parker and have got on a huge bargain, a 2-year, $13 million contract, with a 2020 player option. Parker was the #2 draft pick in 2014 and he has the talent to prove everyone wrong. The Hawks needed a solid scorer around this young core and Parker just might be it.

He averaged 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 64 games played last season. He was shooting a good 49% from the field and was better at shooting from the beyond the arc with 31%. He has to prove himself with this contract and the Hawks are just the young rebuilding team with a stable management that can help him succeed.

#4 Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets): $11,453,491/year, 3-year deal

Dinwiddie is a key player for the Brooklyn Nets
Dinwiddie is a key player for the Brooklyn Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie has been one of the biggest success stories in the NBA in recent memory. His first 3 years in the NBA were utterly forgetful and he was unable to get a spot in the rotation for both the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets.

His 4th year, he broke out massively, playing 80 games for the first time in his career and averaged 12.6 points, 6.6 assists and shot 33% from the field, taking the starting role from the injury-prone guard D'Angelo Russell.

The 2018-19 NBA season was even better, with Dinwiddie playing perfectly alongside the other stars on the Nets team and led them to the playoffs, posting averages of 16.8 points, 4.6 assists and shot a great 44% from the field. This led to the Nets locking down the guard, on a 3 year, $33 million deal.

He has become one of the most consistent and reliable contributors for the Nets and while he is on such a bargain deal, the Nets were able to grab Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, further boosting their chances while keeping their team intact as they could keep Dinwiddie due to his relatively cheap contract.

#3 Robert Covington (Minnesota Timberwolves): $11,719,782/year, 4-year deal

Minnesota Timberwolves have an amazing 3 & D wing
Minnesota Timberwolves have an amazing 3 & D wing

Robert Covington was a superb role player for the Philadelphia 76ers in his time there and became one of the best 3 and D wings in the NBA. He was traded by the 76ers in a deal involving Jimmy Butler moving to the 76ers.

Covington was a solid player for the 76ers and was an integral part of the successful 2017-18 NBA campaign for them, leading them into the post-season. He was rewarded with a 4-year, $48 million contract and it has turned out to be one of the best bargains in the NBA.

Covington is made for the modern NBA, a player who takes a lot of 3 pointers and is a versatile defender. He shot 37% in an injury curtailed season last year, averaging just 13.3 points in 35 games. He had himself 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks and was looking towards a productive season before his injury.

Covington is one of the best deals because of just how much he has to offer to any team and would be an instant starter for them as well. The Wolves will be hoping to get him back soon so that they can reap the benefits of having a solid defender in their ranks.

#2 Josh Richardson (Philadelphia 76ers): $10,491,264/year, 4 years

Richardson has become a solid player in recent years
Richardson has become a solid player in recent years

Josh Richardson is one of many players who have emerged from the ranks at the Miami Heat and have become a star. Richardson had a breakout season last year, with most of the guards in the rotation were down with injuries. He stepped up to the plate and delivered, proving to be an integral cog in the Heat's roster.

He averaged 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists and was the most productive player for the Heat last season, which was great for the Heat since they had extended his contract last season for a bargain, 4 years and $42 million contract.

He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers this season for Jimmy Butler, which allowed them to sign both Tobias Harris and Al Horford. Given that Richardson is younger and can get even better, the Sixers will be pleased to have grabbed one of the best shooting guards on the market and have a great core to complement their young stars in Embiid and Simmons, without giving up too much cap space.

#1 DeMarcus Cousins (Los Angeles Lakers): $3,500,000/year, 1-year deal

Los Angeles Lakers snapped up the free agent
Los Angeles Lakers snapped up the free agent

DeMarcus Cousins suffered a devastating injury in the 2017-18 season, an Achilles injury, which led to him sitting out of basketball action until the start of 2019, where he played for the Golden State Warriors.

While he was putting up good numbers, he did not look the same on both ends of the floor, probably due to his lack of conditioning. Another quad injury almost ended his playoffs, but then he still got back for the NBA Finals and looked out of sorts still.

While he has barely played, there were no offers for DeMarcus Cousins in the 2019 NBA Free Agency, a 4 time All-Star. The Los Angeles Lakers managed to snag him in the end, for a 1-year deal at $3.5 million, which seems like one of the biggest bargains.

People forget just how devastating DeMarcus Cousins can be and if this gamble works out, the Lakers might just have set themselves up for the NBA title. With Cousins and Davis and LeBron leading the charge, the defence would be left quaking in their boots.

Cousins, in a hampered season, averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He averaged 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks last season too. He was left in the dust most of the times but the Lakers will be hoping he only gets better with time and if that happens, Cousins will be a really big bargain for the Lakers.

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Edited by Debjyoti Samanta