0 of 10

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Little excites an NBA fanbase more than reeling in a big fish from free-agency waters.

But some of the best offseason work is the stuff that doesn't make the front page.

Finding a player who can outperform his non-rookie-scale contract is one of the most effective ways to successfully operate under the salary cap. The Atlanta Hawks bought low on DeMarre Carroll in 2013 and watched him blossom as a full-time starter on a 60-win team. The San Antonio Spurs helped their 2014 title team by snagging the likes of Boris Diaw and Danny Green on cost-effective deals.

The 2015 free-agent class should have no shortage of similarly bargain-priced buys.

For one thing, the group has more depth than top-tier talent. Also, any long-term deals signed this summer will only grow more valuable as the salary cap explodes with the new TV money in the coming years.

The 10 players on this list won't demand the same money or fill the same roles. Some will bolster their next teams' benches. Others will secure starting gigs. But no matter the job title, all have a good chance of playing above their pay grade.

They have been presented here in a descending ranking based on the overall impact they can provide. Past performance, future projections and versatility all helped set the order of these players.