With all the spotlight on the crazy amount of drama that took place in this super busy offseason, many free-agent signings went unnoticed. Massive deals were again handed out and those big contracts make some small moves look even more valuable, underrated and forgetabble. Here’s a look at 4 under the radar signings that will make their respective teams much better and don’t get enough credit:

CJ Miles

The Raptors are commited to transform their ISO oriented offense into more of a team brand of basketball that preaches ball movement and 3-point shooting. While the coach and the core players are the same, Miles is a signing that fits right with what they’re trying to do. He’s the sniper that the Raptors never had. CJ is the type of modern NBA wing that would fit well with any team. His 3-point shooting (shot a career-high 41% from deep last season, 50.8% from the corners) along with the spacing he brings will allow DeRozan and Lowry to have more and more space to operate. Miles moves well without the ball and can also have an impact on the defensive side of the floor. It’s still uncertain who’ll start, him or Powell, but Miles has proven he’s also effective as a 6th man. It’ll depend on what Casey wants out of the former Pacer. Miles would bring more shooting and spacing to the starting lineup but Powell is more athletic, better defensively and provides a whole new level of energy. CJ could also work as a scoring punch of the bench that keeps a certain level of shooting on the floor when the starters rest and his veteran presence would help the young Raptors bench.



Starting or coming off the bench, Miles should contribute a lot and while he won’t make up for the loss of 4 rotation players (Tucker, Patterson, Joseph and Carroll), it’s still a great value signing (3 years, $25 million) that will help the Raptors change their offensive identity and come playoff time, his shooting could be a real difference maker and a much needed weapon to beat teams like Cleveland or Boston.

Raymond Felton

Backup point-guard was probably the Thunder’s biggest problem last season. When Russell Westbrook sat on the bench, opposing teams (especially Houston in the playoffs) usually went on huge runs that would just kill all the Thunder’s momentum. A lot of that has to do with the absence of a good backup point-guard. Semaj Christon was a (bad) rookie, Norris Cole is not an NBA level player right now and Cameron Payne… well, you know.

Raymond Felton has been a legitimate good backup point-guard in the last few years for the Mavs and the Clippers. A drop-off will obviously happen when Westbrook sits, but with Felton, a guy that can actually run the offense and lead the bench unit, it won’t be anywhere close to being as bad as it was last season. He’s also a pesky defender, decent in the PnR, doesn’t turn the ball over much and shot 61.5 % at the rim last year. The shooting isn’t there but that’s not the reason why the Thunder acquired him in the first place and he’s another veteran that knows what it takes to win.

This was one of the best under the radar moves in free-agency not only for the price (1 year, $2.3 million minimum contract), but because it also fills such a huge need for the Thunder. Would OKC beat the Rockets last season if they weren’t outscored by like 10 points in the 2 minutes that Westbrook sat in each half? Still probably not, but with an actual good backup point-guard, their chances would’be been much higher and well, who knows. Small moves like this could make the difference between being a good or a great team, winning or losing a playoff series and Sam Presti is well aware of that.

Luc Mbah a Moute

Despite being one of best teams in the NBA last season, the Rockets ranked just 18th in defensive rating. With an all-time great offense already established and with the addition of even more offensive firepower in Chris Paul, Daryl Morey went out on the market and signed former Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute.

Mbah a Moute brings something to the table that the Rockets didn’t have. A wing defender that’s quick to defend guards on the perimeter with his high motor, strong and big to protect the post and bang down low against power forwards at 6’8 and 230 pounds. He’s also very long (7’2 wingspan) and capable of locking down the best player on the floor. Luc’s that good defensively. This type of defensive versatility will allow the Rockets to have much more defensive lineups to the put on the floor (the addition of Tucker also helps) and gives D’Antoni a lot of lineup flexibility to play with. On the offensive end of the floor, Luc doesn’t provide much but hits the ocasional wide open/corner three (shot 41% on wide open 3’s and 42% from the corner last season) and he’s a good cutter that will benefit from playing alongside two extraordinary passers. His importance to the Rockets should only grow if a rumored Carmelo Anthony deal happens and his presence makes Trevor Ariza more expendable in a eventual trade.

The Rockets needed defensive firepower and depth badly after losing Patrick Beverley and some other bodies to acquire Chris Paul, and not only found a player that fits their needs, but also at a bargain deal (1 year, mininum contract). It still baffles me how Mbah a Moute only got one single point in All-Defensive teams voting and he should prove his value in Houston, earn more recognition as an elite defender and a bigger paycheck will be waiting for him next summer if that happens.

Patrick Patterson

After trading for Paul George and letting Taj Gibson walk in free agency, there was an obvious remaining hole in the Thunder’s starting lineup. Sam Presti didn’t waste much time to respond to Gibson’s departure and managed to sign power-forward Patrick Patterson to a team-friendly contract (3 years, $16.4 million).

Patterson always finds a way to make an impact when he’s the floor. Especially before Ibaka’s arrival in Toronto, the Raptors were an immensely better team with Patterson on the floor (10 points better per 100 possessions last season). He doesn’t really excel in any aspect of the game but does a bit of everything. His versatility is what makes him so valuable for any team. PP has the ability to stretch the floor (37% career 3-point shooter), something that Gibson couldn’t do, more shooting around Westbrook is always a good thing and OKC was last in 3-point shooting percentage last season. Patterson doesn’t do much more offensively but he’ll make the right basketball play. He’s a good lenghty defender both on and off-ball who can switch/guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes and should complement Steven Adams’ interior presence and rim protection very well. Lineups with him, Roberson and Adams will be a defensive nightmare for opposing teams.

The lenght of the contract makes the deal look even better for OKC. His skillset is really valuable in the modern NBA and any team would benefit from having a glue guy with Patterson’s qualities at such a good price for so long. Sam Presti did it again.