NBA Free Agency 2012: Underrated Players No One Is Talking About

Wait, so now that Deron Williams has agreed to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, free agency is over, right?

Huh? There are actually more players on the market than just D-Will?

Just to be clear, Williams, who is easily a top-five point guard in this league, absolutely deserves the attention he's been getting over the past couple of days. I'm just saying there are some underrated free agents who are flying way too far under the radar.

Let's take a look at who stands out. 

Ersan Ilyasova, PF, Milwaukee Bucks

Ilyasova has finally started getting some press now that—who else?—the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly started pursuing him. 

But the 25-year-old Turk should have been one of the main storylines of free agency with the way he played in 2011-12. 

First and foremost, Ilysaova has established himself as one of the best rebounding power forwards in the game. He only averaged 8.8 boards per game, but his numbers of 11.5 rebounds per 36 minutes, 12.7 offensive rebounding percentage and 17.6 total rebounding percentage are elite. 

Not only that, Ilyasova is beginning to look like a threat on the offensive end as a stretch four. He scored just 13 points per game, but he also knocked down 46 percent of his three-pointers on his way to a 49 percent mark from the field.

At such a young age, I'm not scared to call Ilyasova one of the premier free agents of this class. 

Terrence Williams, SF, Sacramento Kings

It's not really surprising Williams is getting overlooked this summer because, well, he's been overlooked his entire career.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but after a terrific year with the Kings, once again, no attention for Williams. 

The young journeyman only logged 20.5 minutes per game with Sacramento—just another testament to how underrated he is—so looking at his per 36-minute numbers is important.

Because what you'll find there is 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. So, essentially, if he got big-time minutes, Williams would be a potential All-Star.

The 25-year-old does need to use better shot selection (although he shot a career high 46 percent this year) and needs to improve his turnover rate, but man, if someone ever gives him the minutes, this walking triple-double is going to look like a steal. 

Steve Novak, PF, New York Knicks

If Omer Asik, who is elite at rebounding and defense but pretty poor on the offensive end, gets three years for over $20 million, Novak at least deserves to be talked about.

I'm not saying the basketball version of Aaron Rodgers (at least in terms of celebration ability) is worth what Asik got, but players who are one-dimensional players can have value, too. 

Especially Novak, whose one dimension is being a really, really, really, ridiculously good looking shooter. I mean shooter. 

The 29-year-old vet shot a ridiculous 47 percent from the three-point line last year, good enough for best in the NBA. If a title contender is able to sign Novak for something similar to his current $1 million value, it will be highway robbery and that team will improve instantly. 

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