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Examining the league's top free-agent role players
However, there are several players whose respective changes of address have not been as universally noted, but who will likewise have a considerable influence on the fortunes of their latest employers. Guys who are role players and whose primary contributions will not necessarily be reflected in numbers.
Let's take a close look at some of these players and analyze how important those contributions might be.
Anthony Parker to the Cavs
For the past several years, Cleveland's most overriding offseason concerns have been to surround LeBron with the "right" players. That is, to focus on accomplished shooters and/or scorers who would hopefully make opponents pay dearly for collapsing their defenses around LBJ's irresistible forays into the paint.
These recruits include Mo Williams, Wally Szczerbiak, Damon Jones, Larry Hughes, Flip Murray, Donyell Marshall, Sasha Pavlovic, Lucious Harris, Jeff McGinnis, Jiri Welsch, Ricky Davis, Jason Kapono, Daniel Gibson and Dajuan Wagner.
The results have been mixed, yet disappointing overall.
Shaq, of course, will be the Cavs' featured addition. But, in deviating from their usual modus operandi, Cleveland has also obtained the services of one of the best role players in the game.
Here's what Anthony Parker will bring to the mix:
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| Anthony Parker should improve the Cavs' backcourt in 2009-10. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE / Getty Images) |
In other words, Parker is capable of doing the kind of trenchwork that all championship teams require. Plus his considerable, yet unassuming talents can fit into any system. Imagine the damage and the nightmarish matchups that the following unit could inflict on opponents: Shaq, LBJ, Williams, Delonte West and Parker. In fact, these five have all the earmarks of a championship-winning lineup.
In Parker, at long last, the Cavs have a perfect compliment to LBJ's unique skills.
Brandon Bass to the Magic
Bass can routinely knock down mid-range jumpers, can rebound like he's a beggar and the ball is made of gold, and is always a fierce competitor. Moreover, the more he plays, the more accurate his jumpers will be.
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| Brandon Bass' post defense and rebounding will help the Magic, and specifically Dwight Howard, next year. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images) |
His presence augurs several changes in Orlando's game plan, most of them positive:
Overall, Bass makes the Magic tougher and more consistently aggressive.
Darius Songaila to the Timberwolves
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| Darius Songaila should bring energy and defense to Minnesota. (Ned Dishman/NBAE / Getty Images) |
Songaila doesn't possess A-plus skills in any of the common aspects of the game. He's a slightly better-than-average shooter (with limited range), rebounder and passer, and has very rudimentary ball-handling talents.
On the high-plus side, though, he's an earnest defender and can make his free throws. Even so, the best parts of Songaila's game are his energy, his discipline and his smarts.
So much of a given team's success depends not only on talent — which every NBA team has in abundance — but also on the ability of its players to execute at both ends of the court. Getting the ball to the right player in the right place at the right time is what wins games on offense. On defense, the key to success is being able to execute swift, coordinated and flawless rotations.
Songaila is the ultimate facilitator whose value can only be discerned if the diligent viewer studiously tracks his movements through a game.
Whoever winds up coaching the T-Wolves will undoubtedly come to feel that Songaila is one of his favorite players.
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