NBA: 15 potential ‘under-the-radar’ free agent moves

Jared Dudley, SF (Washington Wizards)

Jared Dudley might be my favorite player on this list, from his enjoyable interviews to the fact that most of his action shots make him look like he’s been spooked by a ghost. It’s no surprise that he made it here.

Dudley spent 2015-16 as a rotational piece and occasional starter for a lottery team, but he would be best utilized off of the bench for a contender, particularly as a valuable floor spacer.

Dudley finished the regular season shooting 42% from beyond the arc, and has the ability to guard both forward positions. A top-shelf contender could use him liberally at the 3 as a catch-and-shoot type player, then also bring the 6’7″ Dudley as a “small-ball” 4, providing the team with a jolt of pacing and spacing.

Picture him on, say, the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a perimeter player, he would serve as a steadier and more proven shooter than any other rotational piece on the roster. It’s easy to see him as the recipient of a LeBron James kick-out, or helping to give the Cavs numbers in transition, or opening up the floor for a Kyrie Irving drive to the basket.

His value to bad-to-middling teams has been his presence as a teammate, both in the locker room and in practice. But he would be at his best as a piece on a contender, even if that means a reduction in minutes.

Next: Zaza Pachulia