NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Sacramento Kings

4. David Nwaba

He’s not a particularly well-known player, but David Nwaba showed some nice flashes for the Chicago Bulls last year. Nwaba was one of the brighter spots in Chicago’s generally unwatchable backcourt. His game is pretty simple, which is just fine on a team with some pretty obvious roster holes. Nwaba is a defense first player with a limited offensive game.

In some ways Nwaba is quite reminiscent of defensive ace Andre Roberson on both ends of the floor. With respect to physical stature Roberson is taller than Nwaba by three inches, but Nwaba has a 7-foot long wingspan; that’s pretty ridiculous for a guy that’s 6’4. On offense, Nwaba has no real shooting range. His jumper isn’t totally broken like Roberson’s, but there’s a good chance that teams will never have to guard him carefully on the perimeter. Much like Roberson, Nwaba has a nice cutting game and he’s a good finisher at the rim. Nwaba’s not going to be taking guys off the dribble on a consistent basis, but he can show off some nice drives from time to time.

The offensive limitations in Nwaba’s game are obviously concerning, but he’s an undeniably gifted defender. Nwaba routinely pesters both ones and twos. And his combination of length and speed give him the ability to effectively take on most threes in the league. On a team bereft of wing defense, Nwaba would fit right into the rotation. He could give the Kings a solid 20-25 minutes per game off the bench on the wing.

Nwaba’s lack of offensive pedigree will probably deflate his market this summer. That could be to Sacramento’s benefit though. An offer worth a few million per season might just pry him from Chicago in restricted free agency. Although Nwaba’s not the most exciting player, he brings a defensive intensity to the table that this Kings squad is missing. He’s worth a low-risk investment. If he can put together a semblance of a long-range shot, he’ll look like a steal down the line.