Fansided

10 most underrated NBA free agents of 2016

By Bryan Toporek

Nov 1, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (7) controls the ball during the first quarter as Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (7) controls the ball during the first quarter as Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Cole Aldrich (45) guards Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Cole Aldrich (45) guards Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Cole Aldrich (UFA)

Cole Aldrich largely flew under the radar with the Los Angeles Clippers this past season despite having a career year. On a per-36-minute basis, the 27-year-old averaged 14.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, making him just one of two qualified players to reach those thresholds (along with Miami’s Hassan Whiteside).

Aldrich ranked eighth league-wide in Nylon Calculus’ Points Saved/36 metric in 2015-16, finishing directly ahead of Bismack Biyombo, Paul Millsap, Tim Duncan and Serge Ibaka. He fared even better in ESPN’s defensive real plus-minus, finishing fourth in defensive RPM, ahead of DeAndre Jordan, Rudy Gobert and two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard.

Aldrich did show some promise as a starting center with the New York Knicks in 2014-15, having averaged 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.0 minutes per game across 16 contests, but he also finished with a plus/minus of minus-10.6. While there’s reason to be skeptical whether he could replicate his 2015-16 production in a significantly larger role, franchises should be falling all over themselves to bring him in as a backup big.

“I think Cole is a lot better than a lot of people realize,” Clippers point guard Chris Paul told Rowan Kavner of the team website in April.

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