Now that the 2022 NBA season has reached its end, another offseason of transactions and rumors is upon us.
This means the spotlight will return to talks of which star players could change destinations during the summer.
However, plenty of players could have a major impact with much less press.
Using the most recent NBA Finals as an example, it’s easy to see how role players can be crucial.
Could Stephen Curry have erupted to the same degree if he didn’t have Kevon Looney or Gary Payton II on board to do the dirty work?
Does Boston still make the finals if they didn’t have a defensive workhorse like Derrick White to come off the bench?
While Curry or Jayson Tatum are the best players on their squads, basketball isn’t as much an individual as it may seem.
With that in mind, here are five free agents that could prove to be quintessential come next season.
Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s understandable why Collin Sexton isn’t on the minds of many NBA fans right now.
This past season, Sexton went down with a torn meniscus after just 11 games.
Acquired by Cleveland using a draft pick from the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas deal, Sexton developed into a dangerous scoring threat for the Cavs.
During the 2021 campaign, he averaged an impressive 24.3 points per game on effective shooting numbers.
Yet, as mentioned, his injury last November has muddied his future in Cleveland.
After Darius Garland’s breakthrough as the future point guard, Sexton isn’t the ideal fit he could’ve been.
While his status as a restricted free agent may make it easier for the Cavs to keep him, they very well may choose to save some money by letting him walk.
If that happens, Sexton would be a huge weapon for any team in need of some backcourt stability and scoring.
Sexton has all the tools as either a sparkplug sixth man or a capable starter depending on what a team needs.
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers
Jusuf Nurkic has been in Portland since the 2017 trade deadline and has had an up-and-down tenure throughout his stay there.
This is mainly due to injuries, as the Bosnian big man hasn’t played more than 56 regular season games over the past three seasons.
But when Nurkic is healthy, he is a major problem on both sides of the ball.
As a strong interior scorer and rebounder, Nurkic has carved out a role as the go-to guy for the Blazers down low.
And while he’s not the most versatile big athletically, he isn’t unplayable in the postseason so long as the right perimeter players surround him.
This past year, Portland was out of the national spotlight due to their failure to make the playoffs since Nurkic joined the team for the first time.
Despite this, Nurkic had one of his best individual seasons yet, putting up 15 points and 11 rebounds a game.
With teams like Boston proving size in the NBA isn’t as extinct as some thought, Nurkic could be a major add for a team who needs a bit more depth near the rim.
Pat Connaughton, Milwaukee Bucks
An underrated piece for the 2021 champions, Pat Connaughton is as consistent a role player as they come.
The former baseball prospect has turned himself into a reliable two-way wing who has a strong knack for hustling for rebounds and knocking down triples.
This past season, Connaughton started to really come into his own offensively.
He averaged an easy career-high 9.9 points per game, while shooting 39% from three on 5.7 attempts per game.
Connaughton also played a career-best 26 minutes per contest, and depending where he signs this summer, that may only increase going forward.
Connaughton didn’t receive the chance to be a full-time NBA starter, but he has the tools to do so.
He could be the right fit for a team that is looking for an upgrade on the wing that won’t make them completely break the bank.
Isaiah Hartenstein, Los Angeles Clippers
Isaiah Hartenstein has already played for four teams despite just turning 24 years old.
However, he could soon find stability with a long-term contract.
After a strong end to the 2021 season in Cleveland, Hartenstein proved himself over a full season with the Clippers this past year.
At seven feet tall, Hartenstein proved to be a capable inside scorer by making 62% of his baskets in LA.
He also showed off his ability to hit outside shots, draining 46% of his triples, albeit on limited attempts.
Additionally, Hartenstein is also a sneaky-good passer, a skill that is becoming more and more valuable for big men as the NBA continues to evolve.
If a team invests in Hartenstein as a main piece of their frontcourt, they’d be making a strong decision.
He’s still quite young and looks like he is a great fit for the NBA in 2022.
TJ Warren, Indiana Pacers
TJ Warren, even more so than Collin Sexton, is off a lot of people’s radars right now.
He’s appeared in just four games over the past two seasons due to a persistent left foot injury.
And as bad as this is for Warren, it could mean great things for teams looking for a high risk, high reward player.
When healthy, Warren was a highly capable scoring wing for both Phoenix and Indiana.
From 2018 to 2020, he never averaged less than 18 points per game.
And while everyone remembers his 50-point explosion in the NBA bubble, that is far from the only time Warren has made a difference on his team.
The case could arguably be made he was the best scoring threat on the 2020 Pacers.
The big question for Warren is obviously health, but if a contending team can scoop him up for cheap it is worth the investment.
A fair comparison could be to that of Otto Porter.
The Warriors signed Porter to a small deal after he dealt with injuries, and he emerged as a major bench asset for them in their championship run, and arguably could have also been on this list.
If a team signs Warren, they are swinging for the fences, sure. But they may just hit a home run.
