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Top 5 bargain unsigned free agents

Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports

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NBA teams have shelled out nearly $2.4 billion in contracts since free agency opened, meaning most general managers are running short on cap room. But there is still value to be found in the bargain bin.

Here are the top five bargain free agents on the market.

Jeremy Lin

Age Position PPG/36 APG/36 PER 3PT%
26 PG/SG 15.7 6.4 15.6 36.9

Lin struggled under the directive of Byron Scott with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He has an established track record of flourishing in fast-paced, pick-and-roll attacks, but the Lakers preferred slow and methodical. Lin was routinely critiqued by Scott and eventually lost his starting spot to rookie Jordan Clarkson.

But Lin should still hold value to teams in need of a sixth man or an average starter. He's at his best when attacking the basket, and averaged 7.1 points on drives per 48 minutes, on par with players like Mike Conley (7.2) and Ty Lawson (6.7). Lin can also create for others and spot up from deep.

Potential suitors: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks

Alan Anderson

Age Position PPG/36 TS% PER 3PT%
32 SG/SF 11.3 56.3 10.6 34.8

After breaking into the NBA as an inefficient volume scorer with the Toronto Raptors, veteran swingman Alan Anderson carved out a nice niche with the Brooklyn Nets as a capable two-way player off the bench.

Anderson won't try for the spectacular, but he's smart and understands how to play within a preset role. He's a spot-up threat and has enough of a handle to attack the basket against closeouts. He defends his position well and has the size at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds to play both wing positions.

Potential suitors: Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks

Dorell Wright

Age Position PPG/36 RPG/36 PER 3PT%
29 SF/PF 13.3 6.8 13.4 38

Like Anderson, Wright is a no-nonsense veteran who understands his role and how to play within it. After spending two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Wright is undoubtedly looking for another chance at a postseason push.

There's no great secret to Wright's game. He loves to spot up from deep and is more than capable of stretching the floor. At the age of 29, Wright still has enough quickness to guard the perimeter, but he can also provide minutes as a small-ball four.

Potential suitors: Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls

Darrell Arthur

Age Position PPG/36 RPG/36 PER Defensive +/-
27 PF 13.9 6.2 11.5 9.6

Arthur has always been a gritty and cerebral defender. Even during a depressing campaign with the Denver Nuggets last season, Arthur worked his hardest to hold up Denver's shaky defense, which was 9.6 points per 100 possessions improved when he took the court. Arthur is not a shot blocker, but he has quick hands and consistently makes smart reads in help defense scenarios.

The trouble with Arthur is that he loves to shoot mid-range jumpers, which has translated to a field-goal percentage of 39.9 percent over the past two seasons. He can drain jumpers (43.2 percent from mid-range) but he tends to settle and isn't fond of passing up looks.

Likely suitors: Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers

Amar'e Stoudemire

Age Position PPG/36 RPG/36 PER TS%
32 PF/C 19.7 9.5 20.3 59.5

Stoudemire is a shadow of his former self. Ransacked by injuries and whittled by age, Stoudemire is no longer the high-flying dunk machine he was during his prime.

However, if you overlook his defensive troubles, Stoudemire still remains a decent finisher. He's not posterizing anybody, but Stoudemire can still complete a pick-and-roll and can even post up. He shot 66.2 percent in the restricted area last season and would make for a decent backup center.

Likely suitors: Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs

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