Teams only have a limited amount of financial space, which means they need to be careful when signing a new All-Star. They can either use the 10.3 million exception or 6.4 million exception to do so. There are players that make less than $10.3 million that are still good, like Alex Caruso. NBA Free agent sleepers who will likely make less than $10.3 million can help your favorite team.
Isaiah Hartenstein is a potential NBA draft pick:
Isaiah Hartenstein could be available for a team this offseason – he is not on the current NBA Free Agents roster, but played 68 games last season. There will be an exception for him in the $10.3 million mid-level to get him a contract, so he has some league interest.
Hartenstein is an impressive 7 footer that may be able to bring a lot to a team as he can provide great defense. This means opponents get less score, and players at the rim are also badly affected by this.
Hartenstein brings value both defensively and offensively. He is a good rebounder on offense and has a surprising passing ability. His ability to hit cutters with backdoor passes makes him very elusive in the paint.
Hartenstein will not be an offense leader, but instead a high quality roll man. This can help stretch out the defense from the perimeter, and Hartenstein has drilled 38.3% of his 3-point attempts in the NBA, which is slightly better than 44% in the G-League. While he has not dunked as many lobs that are explosive vertical athletes, he can nonetheless still plunge for some nice dunks.
Hartenstein is a young player who has the potential to do more in a larger role. With the arrival of John Wall, the Clippers don’t have many avenues to keep Hartenstein. As his usage increases, so will his production.
Caleb Martin and Cody Martin provide bench power for the Pelicans:
Twins Cody and Caleb Martin helped their team with bench roles. They have different playing styles, but are almost indistinguishable on the court. Now both are restricted NBA free agents who would provide valuable benefits to a team in need of quality bench players.
Cody, who played for the Hornets last year, is a good defender and playmaker. He can also get points within an offense. Some people say that his weakness is that he does not shoot well, however Cody made 38.4% of his shots last year after only making 25.2% in his first two years in the league (which some people are saying is evidence that he might be improving). If this improved shooting percentage continues then Cody could be a good bench player on the first team.
Caleb is a more accurate 3-point shooter and has more ability to create shots. His basketball skills are similar to his brother, but he is a better defender. He will provide the bench with good skills. Neither Martin Twin will really make an impact on any team they play for, but they are there mostly to fill roles and add depth.
Amir Coffey could provide 3-and-D help: he’s a strong player on both offense, as well as defense. He can shoot 3-pointers and is good at getting steals.
Coffey is a strong defender. He has what it takes to compete in the playoffs, and he can play both inside and outside for the team.
Coffey is a restricted NBA free agent. There are many other talents on the roster, which means he could get ignored by the Clippers
Wes Matthews can start for a playoff team this season. He’s 36, and barely scores the ball anymore, but he still knows how to play in the playoffs, as evidenced by his 12 starts last postseason.
Jrue Holiday has played an important role in the Bucks elite perimeter defense this season. He is just as good as Jimmy Matthew’s. And he shut down some of the best wing scorers in the league all year.
Matthews is going to be low-key used now. But he can still space the floor for other teams and has a great 3-point shooting form. He’s shot 37.7% from 3 in his career. Also, he does a bow-and-arrow celebration that makes people mad when they play pickup basketball against him. (I know because I’ve played him).
There are a lot of great NBA free agents out there that don’t always get the attention they deserve. In this article, we highlighted five sleepers that we think every team should keep an eye on. These players may not be superstars, but they’re all solid roleplayers that can really help round out a roster. We think Isaiah Hartenstein and the Martin twins are especially intriguing prospects. They could really make an impact on any team they sign with. So if you’re looking to add some depth to your squad, be sure to keep these guys in mind come 2022 NBA free agency!