Bang for the Buck – Players on the Cheap

Free agency has begun and players are looking to get paid. So we decided to look at some guys around the league that are relatively inexpensive for the amount of work they put in. Rookies have been excluded.

Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz, Shooting Guard
2009 Salary - $1,834,680

After years of searching for a productive two guard, Jerry Sloan has found a diamond in the rough with Brewer. For the season he scored 13.7 points on 51 percent shooting from the floor. While he’s not a 3-point gunner (23 percent career), he always manages to make his presence felt defensively and at 6’7 can guard multiple positions.

Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies, Small Forward
2009 Salary - $2,579,400

Whether or not Gay takes it to another level may deserve its own separate space, but he’s going to be a solid piece for any team. His game did slide a little last season after a breakout sophomore campaign, but that could be due to the arrival of O.J. Mayo taking away shot attempts.

Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns, Small Forward
2009 Salary - $1,976,400

At 36, Hill was still productive and on occasion displayed some athleticism from year’s long past. Hill played in all 82 games, shot over 50 percent from the field and connected on 80 percent of his foul shots.

Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Center
2009 Salary - $4,023,720

Horford’s ability to contribute immediately has helped the Hawks reach the postseason in consecutive years and he’s improving offensively.

Jarrett Jack, Indiana Pacers, Point Guard
2009 Salary - $2,002,623

Jack’s career may have started a little slow but his performance this season shows that he could be a reliable starter in the league.

Dahntay Jones, Denver Nuggets, Small Forward
2009 Salary - $797,581

Jones is not a superstar, nor will he ever be, but he proved his worth in this year’s playoffs by constantly frustrating one of the best point guards in the game – Chris Paul. For less than $1 million, the Nuggets received a strong return on investment.

David Lee, New York Knicks, Power Forward
2009 Salary - $1,788,033

One of the Knicks bright spots over the last few years, Lee was a double-double performer last season averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds. He’s now a restricted free agent with plenty of interest around the league – so he’ll be cashing in soon.

Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz, Power Forward
2009 Salary - $797,581

How many teams can lose a 20/10 player (Carlos Boozer) to injury and replace them in the lineup with above average results? This is the reason Millsap, a restricted free agent, is set to get paid this summer.

Nate Robinson, New York Knicks, Point Guard
2009 Salary - $2,020,179

Robinson is another restricted free agent on this list, but his 17 points per game last year at only $2 million on the Knicks’s books was well worth it. The NBA Slam Dunk Champion may not be a true point guard, but is definitely a ballplayer that will shine in any NBA City.

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics, Point Guard
2009 Salary - $1,315,080

We can talk about his regular season production or his ability to play under the demands of three future hall of famers – but what really stuck out about Rondo this season was his near triple-double playoff run of 16.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.7 assists. Manly production.

Luis Scola, Houston Rockets, Power Forward
2009 Salary - $3,100,667

Scola was a perfect compliment down low to Yao Ming. He shoots a solid clip and rebounds above average.

Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons, Point Guard
2009 Salary - $1,687,320

Stuckey probably cost Michael Curry his job. Not from any type of locker room beef, but because the belief in his abilities was so strong that when Allen Iverson was acquired Richard Hamilton was sent to the bench instead of him. That caused a problem with Hamilton and Curry and the rest is history.

Lang
Lang.Greene-at-gmail.com
http://twitter.com/hoopsvine