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As trade machines arrange blockbuster deals involving players such as Jrue Holiday, speculation permeates as to which contender can take its title odds over the top with the right transaction.
Somewhere lost among that group of game-changers are the oft-forgotten, expiring vets in desperate need of rescuing. Like Robert Horry, P.J. Brown and Marc Gasol before them, these working-class role-players have individual skill sets that they can use to fill out a contending nine-man rotation and make the difference in a pivotal playoff matchup.
While expendable to their current teams due to evolved circumstances, these valuable contributors could prove a front office's inventiveness and do so at a minimal cost.
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Twelve-year vet D.J. Augustin is the steady hand that guides the ship on both ends of the floor. As unheralded and oft-forgotten as they come, Augustin fell further into obscurity following the rebirth of Markelle Fultz.
Fultz's ascension is more a sign of the Orlando Magic's investment than an omen of a sudden drop-off in Augustin's effectiveness. Last season, the Magic placed in the 98th percentile in points-per-shot-attempt when Augustin occupied the floor. Individually, Augustin was in the 95th percentile in effective field-goal percentage.
Augustin showed with his standout performance and game-winning three over Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol and the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of last season's first round of the postseason that he's not afraid of the moment.
Skeptics may point to Augustin's individual defense as a shortcoming in a playoff series. Opponents may target the smaller guard because of his size and limitations in length and athleticism. However, Augustin has been a stout and sturdy defender in 2019-20, placing second among point guards and eighth in the entire NBA in ESPN's defensive real plus-minus. And the 31-year-old doesn't foul, committing one on just 1.7 percent of opponents' possessions.
The Magic might be hesitant to deal their reliable second-unit caretaker because of their current playoff standing. Still, they face the inevitability of losing him for nothing this summer. The Magic will exceed the salary cap in guaranteed salary if Evan Fournier re-signs or opts into his player option. Between the two, Fournier would be the priority because of his offensive playmaking and age (27).
Augustin should be made available to opposing contenders. The Magic can add an asset and wish their former captain well.
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Similar to D.J. Augustin, Baynes is subject to a numbers game in Phoenix, and age (33) is not on his side.
No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton's 25-game suspension allowed Baynes the opportunity to shine early on with the Phoenix Suns, and he helped them get off to a 7-4 start. Baynes' size and intelligence helped command a Suns defensive unit that posted a 100.2 defensive rating through their first five games. With the power to enforce at the rim, the reflexes to hedge and the agility to track and maintain the pick-and-roll, Baynes possesses near elite-level skills as a low-post enforcer.
Offensively, Baynes can punish teams in the mid-range with a deceptive jumper that grades in the 94th percentile. Always one to screen-and-roll, Baynes scores in the 75th percentile with a 64.4 effective field-goal percentage as a rolling big. Overall, he scores 11.5 points per game in 22.9 minutes per game on 49.0 percent shooting.
With a movable salary ($5.3 million), Baynes would be a significant upgrade for, oddly enough, the Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles Clippers could also use someone to supplement Montrezl Harrell when the Clippers need additional size and rebounding.
If the Suns are to move forward with restricted free agent Dario Saric, dealing Baynes for a first would do nicely.
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While on the subject of adding size, the Atlanta Hawks would be wise to move Alex Len after landing Clint Capela from the Houston Rockets, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The 2013 fifth overall pick can help out another team's rotation.
Defensively, opponents shoot 3.4 percent worse in effective field-goal percentage with Len on the floor (92nd percentile). With his mammoth 7'1", 250-pound frame, Len can slide his feet to stymie incoming penetrators and is one of the league leaders in contested two-points shots per game (9.2) despite playing an average of just over 18 minutes.
Offensively, opponents can't seem to keep him off the offensive glass, as he gets one on 14.7 percent of possessions.
Len rolls to the rim 2.5 times per game and is producing 1.04 points per possession, and, yes, he's happy to collect screen assists with 2.3 per game.
In a market with Andre Drummond and Aron Baynes, Len won't carry much sex appeal. Still, the big man can offer size to a contender in need for little to no cost.
Len is in the final year of his deal with a cap hit of just $4.2 million, making salary matching simple for a would-be suitor.
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Need shot-making? Check.
An iso scorer and playmaker? Check.
A versatile wing who can defend 2s and 3s? Check.
With a steady array of old-school actions in his game, E'Twaun Moore can get a bucket against anyone and does it with remarkable efficiency. Casual observers identify Moore as a threat from the perimeter—and for a good reason. Since shooting 40.3 percent from the corner in 2017-18 (61st percentile), Moore's focus has shifted to above-the-break threes. This year, he's hitting 43.6 percent of them when playing small forward (99th percentile), which further spreads out defenses.
Beyond his perimeter shot-making, Moore can also attack closeouts and break down defenses inside the perimeter with his combination of runners, floaters and clever body positioning.
Defensively, teams will target Moore with pindowns to create separation at the perimeter and look to exploit his size 6'4" in mismatches. Moore can be susceptible but still grades out well in ESPN's defensive real plus-minus and can be steady on that end.
The New Orleans Pelicans have plenty of developmental depth behind Moore. With offseason extensions potentially coming to Derrick Favors, Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans won't have much space for Moore in a backcourt filled to the brim with Holiday, Lonzo Ball, JJ Redick, Josh Hart, Frank Jackson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Moore should move to a contender who can desperately use his spacing and volume-scoring off the bench.
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One of the league's longest-tenured players in his 15th season, Marvin Williams offers size and shot-making on the wing and in small-ball lineups.
With the emergence of P.J. Washington, Williams has seen his playing time fluctuate in the final year of his four-year deal. The Hornets are right to prioritize the future following the loss of Kemba Walker, which has also contributed to Williams' lack of playing time.
But Williams has a rare set of skills that could benefit a team that needs size on the wing. A player who still grades out in the 80th percentile at the rim and shoots well from the perimeter comes at a premium at his size (6'8").
Think he's lost a step? Absolutely. But he's still a quality player. Check the game tape from January 24 when he scored 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three against Milwaukee. A team that relies on the three could make good use of Williams' conversation rate from the corners (48 percent), where he grades in the 89th percentile. Not one to stagnate the offense, Williams' 13.9 percent usage rate is one of the lower ones in the league.
Defensively, he has size, motor and active hands. His steal rate is in the 74th percentile. Supplementing small-ball lineups has earned Williams some playing time in Charlotte this season and could facilitate a trade from a would-be contender like the Houston Rockets. Twenty-eight percent of Williams' minutes have come at the 5, and he might pair nicely next to PJ Tucker.
Salary matching could become a problem for any interested contender thanks to his $15 million base salary this season. But a team armed with expirings and second-round picks could put a package together to rent this floor-spacing big.
Stats via NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise noted and up to date through games on Monday, Feb. 3.
Preston Ellis covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@PrestonEllis)
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