NBA Free Agency: 5 players who are going to be overpaid

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 04: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots over Alfonzo McKinnie #28 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 04, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Danilo Gallinari

Gallinari combined with fellow veteran Chris Paul to lead a surprisingly competitive team in Oklahoma City last year. That outstanding season will allow the 32-year-old Italian to enter the offseason as a coveted free agent.

The appeal to Gallinari is largely based on the offensive floor spacing he can provide from the forward position. He shot over 40 percent from distance last season and there’s no reason to think that percentage will decline significantly in the near future.

There, should, however, be concerns about his ability to hold up at the other end of the floor. Gallinari has never been a good defender and his declining athleticism is going to make him unplayable at some point in the future. Any team landing him in free agency will be taking a measured gamble that he won’t lose a step during the life of his next deal.

In a normal market, Gallinari would be a popular target for a multi-year deal for the full mid-level exception. The scarcity of stretch bigs available on the open market is going to push his compensation well above that mark though. That’s why Gallinari is going to be overpaid. His lack of athleticism combined with a checkered injury history makes him too large of a gamble for the type of compensation he’ll receive.

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