NBA Free Agency: 10 under-the-radar impact players

By Bryce Olin | Aug 15, 2014

May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Shaun Livingston (14) drives against Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the first quarter in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 10, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets power forward Kris Humphries (43) drives around San Antonio Spurs center DeJuan Blair (45) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Kris Humphries (3 years, $13 million) & DeJuan Blair (3 years, $6 million), Washington Wizards

Sometimes in the NBA it’s all about protecting investments. John Wall and Bradley Beal are the future for the Washington Wizards. To take some of the pressure off Wall and Beal, the Wizards stacked their frontline this offseason. They re-signed Marcin Gortat (four years, $60 million), let Trevor Booker walk in free agency, and signed Humphries and Blair to backup Gortat and Nene Hilario.

DeJuan Blair:

Season	Tm	MP	FG%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2013-14	DAL	15.6	.534	4.7	0.9	0.8	0.3	2.5	6.4
Career		18.2	.529	5.6	0.9	0.8	0.3	2.5	7.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/15/2014.

Kris Humphries:

Season	Tm	MP	FG%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2012-13	BRK	18.3	.448	5.6	0.5	0.2	0.5	2.0	5.8
2013-14	BOS	19.9	.501	5.9	1.0	0.4	0.9	2.0	8.4
Career		18.1	.470	5.5	0.7	0.4	0.6	1.9	6.8

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/15/2014.

Humphries (5.5 RPG) and Blair (5.6 RPG) are good rebounders who can also play a little defense, although neither are rim protectors. Perhaps, the best part of signing Humphries and Blair is that the Wizards no longer have to rely on Drew Gooden to be the answer at power forward. Gooden had some good games last season, including 21 points on 8-of-11 shots against Brooklyn, but Big Drizzle’s better years are far, far, far behind him.

Humphries has been a punchline in the NBA since the whole Kim Kardashian incident, but he’s actually a quality bench player. He shoots over 50 percent, rebounds, and hustles. What more can you ask? At $4.33 million per year, he’s good player to have on the bench.

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