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The Most Underrated Acquisitions of 2010
By: Alex Kennedy Last Updated: 8/15/10 6:05 AM ET
This offseason was supposed to alter the landscape of the league forever. With 192 players on the market and nine teams with $10 million or more to spend, it was clear that teams would be busy this summer.
After years of anticipation, the past six weeks haven't been a letdown. Stars such as LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Carlos Boozer found new homes. Twenty current or former All-Stars signed new contracts. Mediocre teams turned into powerhouses overnight and basketball fans were on the edge of their seats for much of the process.
With so much activity, there were many significant additions that flew under the radar. Acquisitions that would have dominated the headlines last summer were overlooked or quickly shoved aside as new information surfaced. From the young talent brimming with potential to the experienced role players that could put their team over the top, HOOPSWORLD breaks down the ten most underrated acquisitions of the 2010 offseason.
Anthony Randolph ? Last season, Randolph was considered one of the best young big men in the league and the Golden State Warriors were hesitant about shopping him. His athleticism and potential had executives drooling and teams kept calling about his availability. Fast forward several months and acquiring Randolph isn't front page news. When the New York Knicks traded David Lee to Golden State in exchange for Randolph, Kelenna Azabuike, and Ronny Turiaf earlier this summer, basketball fans hardly noticed. That's because the deal was made on July 8, just days after Amar'e Stoudemire signed with New York and the same evening that the world was tuned into "The Decision" on ESPN. As LeBron James captivated nearly ten million viewers, the Knicks were finalizing their deal for the twenty year old that had a knack for scoring and blocking shots.
While he's coming off of an ankle injury, Randolph is expected to be ready for next season. The Knicks trade may have been passed over because of the free agency frenzy surrounding players like Stoudemire and James but at this point in his career, Randolph has unlimited upside and this acquisition won't be overlooked for long.
Michael Beasley ? This summer, the Miami Heat had no choice but to trade Michael Beasley. Dealing the former second overall pick was the only way they could sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. But it wasn't the fact that Beasley got traded that was surprising, but rather how the exchange took place. After shopping Beasley for some time, the Heat finally found a taker. The Minnesota Timberwolves were willing to use their cap space on the power forward, sending two future second round picks to Miami.
Two years ago, Beasley had all of the potential in the world and was poised to become a superstar. While he has had his off-court issues, the kind of talent and upside that he possessed doesn't just disappear. He struggled alongside Dwyane Wade and was disappointing in his first season as a full time starter but he could thrive as the focal point of the offense in Minnesota. Many are saying that this is a chance to turn his career around but keep in mind, Beasley is only twenty-one years old. His new teammate, rookie Wesley Johnson, is two years his senior. He's still years away from reaching his prime and he has plenty of time to develop and mature. The Timberwolves essentially acquired a potential franchise player for two second round picks. This is the epitome of a low-risk, high-reward move and could make the Timberwolves look like geniuses if Beasley gets back on the right track.
Shaun Livingston ? Livingston, similar to Beasley, has been through a lot for his age. While he's only twenty-four years old, the gruesome left knee injury that nearly ended his career has caused him to spend years rehabbing and bounce around the league. After several ten-day contracts and even a stint in the NBA Development League, Livingston was finally able to stick with the Washington Wizards last season and made the most of the opportunity. When injuries forced him into the starting lineup, Livingston showed glimpses of greatness and the potential that made him such an intriguing player before his injury. At six-foot-eight, he causes matchup problems every time he steps onto the floor and drew comparisons to Magic Johnson early in his career.
Averaging 15.5 points and 6.3 assists in the final month of the season as the Wizards' starter, it was clear that Livingston's injury was no longer limiting him and he was ready for a bigger role. With Raymond Felton bolting to New York, the Bobcats are giving him a chance to compete for the starting job after inking him to a two-year, $7 million contract. He still has a lot to prove but this is a move that could really pay off if the pre-injury Livingston is back.
Ronnie Brewer ? After signing Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and missing out on J.J. Redick, the Bulls agreed to terms with Ronnie Brewer. Although Redick was Chicago's first option, Brewer may have been the better option all along. Tom Thibodeau will value his perimeter defense and he also has experience playing alongside Boozer and Korver from their days in Utah. Not to mention, he'll cost the Bulls $2 million less than Redick each season.
Brewer fell into Chicago's lap after the Memphis Grizzlies declined to offer him a qualifying offer despite the fact that they traded their first round pick in 2011 to acquire him last season. This allowed Brewer to become an unrestricted free agent and opened the door for the Bulls to bring in a potential starter who fits their system at a bargain price.
Josh Childress ? Once it became clear that Childress was trying to return to the NBA, interested teams began to line up. The Atlanta Hawks still owned the forward's rights but were willing to move him for a draft pick. The Phoenix Suns acquired the twenty-seven year old for a second rounder and signed him to a five-year deal.
But on the same day, the Suns acquired disgruntled forward Hedo Turkoglu from the Toronto Raptors and the deal with Atlanta immediately became an afterthought. The trades were often reported together with Childress taking the backseat to Turkoglu. Despite attracting a lot of interest from teams early in the offseason, Phoenix's addition of do-it-all Childress flew under the radar.
Anthony Morrow ? The New Jersey Nets may have struck out on stars this offseason but they were able to add at least one player who is poised to breakout next season. After a frustrating stint in Golden State where he saw his minutes and role changing from game to game, Morrow will look to take advantage of the consistency in New Jersey. Trading Courtney Lee to the Houston Rockets will likely give Morrow the chance to start and expand his game.
Already one of the best shooters in the league, he has spent this summer improving his defense and all-around game. In the past, Morrow has thrived when put in the starting lineup. In fifty-four games as a starter with the Warriors, he averaged 15.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. The twenty-four year old is determined to prove that he's not a one dimensional player and while the move was underrated this offseason, Morrow looks to be a steal for the Nets as he continues to develop.
Raja Bell ? After flirting with the Los Angeles Lakers early in free agency, Bell signed with the Utah Jazz and wasn't heard from again. While he didn't land with the defending champions, Bell will still bring his stifling defense back to the Western Conference and was a significant addition for the Jazz.
After Ronnie Brewer and Wesley Matthews got away, it was important for Utah to sign a guard and the veteran Bell comes at a relatively cheap three-year, $10 million price. As the most experienced player in the locker room, he'll bring veteran leadership to the shooting guard position and team as a whole. After frustrating stints with the Bobcats and Warriors, Bell is once again healthy and ready to compete for a championship while bringing his signature toughness to the Jazz.
Steve Blake ? Because Blake joined the Lakers just one day into free agency, his signing was put on the backburner as bigger names narrowed down their options and the stars met with teams. While Blake will be a reserve in Los Angeles, he may be one of the most important players on the roster heading into next season. After watching the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics kill them with bench play, the Lakers went into this offseason looking to improve their depth.
Outside of Raymond Felton, Blake was arguably the best point guard available and will be a significant upgrade over Jordan Farmar. Many teams called but he wound up taking less to sign in Los Angeles and compete for a ring. With Derek Fisher getting older, Blake can play big minutes off of the bench and it pays to have someone that has started in 310 games running your second unit. The Lakers needed a distributor who could improve their bench and start if necessary and that's exactly what they got in Blake.
Brad Miller ? Although Miller is the oldest player on this list, he's an important addition to the Houston Rockets. After Yao Ming missed all of last season with a hairline fracture in his left foot, the team realized that they needed an experienced center on their bench.
While the Rockets are hoping that Yao will be ready for the season and be able to stay healthy, it's important to have a veteran waiting for his number to be called. Jordan Hill showed progress during Summer League but he's still very raw and Houston wanted a proven reserve backing up their big man. With Yao coming off of surgery and playing for the first time since having sixteen pins inserted into his foot, signing Miller to a three-year deal was the right move for the Rockets.
Udonis Haslem ? When a team signs three All-Stars in twenty-four hours, the role players that they bring in are going to get overlooked. That was the case with Udonis Haslem in Miami. After turning down offers from the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, Haslem decided to take about $10 million less to join the Heat. Not only will he be valuable as Miami's best big man, he'll do the dirty work and take on any role that's asked of him. While most of the veterans on the Heat bench are chasing a ring, Haslem has a championship to his name. He has spent entire career in Miami and has played with Dwyane Wade since his rookie season.
But more importantly, Haslem won't be afraid to voice his opinions and will be able to keep the team's egos in check. Critics have wondered whether or not Miami will be able to handle tough stretches or coexist and that's where Haslem can make his mark. He's a glue guy who will make sure that everybody is on the same page in the locker room. With plenty of new faces that may feel uncomfortable speaking up as they adjust to the new situation, Haslem will break the uncomfortable silences, make sure things are where they need to be, and give everything on the court.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17086
I can't wait to see Randolph. If both he and Gallo live up to their potentials, we will have a dominant team.
I hope Mozgov turns out to be a beast. Because we could have signed Anthony Morrow for about the same amount and would have our starting SG locked up.