5 Bargain-Bin Free Agents Every NBA Team Could Use

The new world of aprons in the NBA is going to force a lot of teams to dig deep and discover hidden gems in free agency.

With many of the top free agents from the 2024 class now off the board and most contenders limited to veteran minimum contracts, which players are still available at this price point?

We’re looking for names who may be willing to play for the minimum and can still fill an important role for in a team’s rotation.

These are the best bargain-bin free agents remaining in the 2024 class.

Ideal Role: 3-and-D wing

Robert Covington became somewhat of an afterthought following his involvement in the James Harden trade last season, as the headlines in Philly mostly revolved around Joel Embiid’s injury recovery and the team’s free-agency plans this summer.

NBA teams are still very much on the lookout for wings with size who can defend and hit open shots. While Covington isn’t elite at either anymore, he’s only 33 and can still help a contender’s bench.

At 6’9″, the Tennessee State product can guard either forward position, with the Sixers allowing 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor last season (83rd percentile, via Cleaning the Glass).

He connected on 35.4 percent of his three-pointers as well and is a lifetime 36.2 percent shooter from outside the arc.

For teams looking for size and defense on the wing, Covington remains a solid option.

Ideal Role: Volume shooter

Damion Lee missed the entire 2023-24 season after suffering a torn meniscus in training camp, but there was optimism he could have returned had the Phoenix Suns made a longer playoff run.

The 31-year-old also turned down his player option for next season, a good sign that he’ll be fully healthy in 2024-25.

Every team could use a 6’5″ shooting guard who made 44.5 percent of his threes the last time he was healthy. His 47.0 percent mark on catch-and-shoot attempts would pair quite nicely with teams who have elite point guards already in place.

It should come as no surprise that 14 of the top 15 teams in three-point accuracy last season made the playoffs, with the Golden State Warriors being the lone exception. On the other side, only one of the bottom 12 teams (Orlando Magic) in three-point shooting made it out of the regular season.

Lee isn’t a playmaker, rebounder or strong defender, but he does possess an elite skill set that should come on a veteran minimum deal.

Some team will pay him to come in and knock down a few threes per game at a high clip, a skill that can help swing a playoff game.

Ideal Role: Stretch big

Marcus Morris Sr. ended last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, even jumping Georges Niang in the playoff rotation while proving he’s still got a few good years left.

Shooting is still at a premium in the NBA, especially from big men. At 6’8″, Morris has good size for the power forward position, playing the role of stretch big next to a rim-protecting center.

The 34-year-old made 40.3 percent of his three-pointers between the Los Angeles Clippers and Cavs this season, carries 76 games of playoff experience and brings a level of toughness that even young teams need when trying to establish a culture.

With no Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen due to injury in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics in their second-round playoff series, Morris dropped 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting to keep the Cavs in the game.

Getting Morris on a minimum deal is going to be a huge pickup for some lucky team.

Ideal Role: Do-it-all big

Lost in the dysfunction that followed the Golden State Warriors last season was the strong play of Dario Šarić as a backup big.

In just 17.2 minutes a game, the 30-year-old put up 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot 37.6 percent from three. Few big men on the free-agent market can flash this kind of versatility, as he can be a floor-spacer, operate as a passer from the elbows or play in the pick-and-roll.

Šarić isn’t a rim protector or elite defender by any means, but he does give good effort on that end of the court. Currently playing for Croatia in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournaments, he just put up a triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) in a win over Luka Dončić and Slovenia.

The veteran can play in two-big lineups, although data shows his teams have been far more successful when he is playing center.

For contenders looking for a bit of everything from their backup big men, Šarić remains a strong option.

Ideal Role: Bench scorer

Lonnie Walker IV was one of the best bargains in all of basketball last season, giving the Brooklyn Nets 9.7 points on 38.4 percent shooting from three in just 17.4 minutes a night as a reserve.

Stretching these numbers out over 36 minutes turns Walker into a 20-point-per-game scorer to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He’s a talented scorer off the dribble, is a good athlete and seems to have found a consistent outside shot.

Walker is capable of handling far more minutes than the Nets gave him last season and actually played better the longer he went into games.

• 14.3 percent shooting when playing 0-9 minutes (nine games)

• 38.6 percent shooting when playing 10-19 minutes (29 games)

• 47.0 percent shooting when playing 20-29 minutes (16 games)

• 48.4 percent shooting when playing 30-39 minutes (four games)

Walker is coming off the best swing rating of his career (plus-2.9, 68th percentile) and is still just 25 years old. Some team that needs consistent offensive production from the shooting guard position should be happy to give Walker a chunk of the mid-level exception. Getting him on another veteran minimum deal would be highway robbery.

While most of the players on this list are nearing the end of their careers, Walker should just be entering his prime.