NBA Free Agents 2012: Signings That Will Pay Huge Dividends Next Season

There have been high-profile signings for for veteran players who will come off the bench and filled a specific role, like Ray Allen for the Miami Heat or Jason Kidd for the New York Knicks.

There have been good players who signed massive deals they probably haven't earned just yet, such as Roy Hibbert and Brook Lopez.

And then there are those players who signed big deals, yes, but will make a huge impact with their teams next season.

From one point guard changing the culture of his new offense to another point guard who sparked his team to improve the roster to ensure his return, the following three players will have the biggest 2012-13 impact from this summer's free-agent class.

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets

Obviously, the top priority for the Nets this offseason was ensuring that Williams would return to the team. That led the team to trade for Joe Johnson, re-sign Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez and sign backup point guard C.J. Watson.

In other words, the Nets not only re-signed their best player—and the best free agent available this season—but they made themselves a better team in order to ensure Williams would return. We already know Williams will bring his 21.0 points and 8.7 assists per game next season.

But know we know he'll have more help in Brooklyn next season, too. His signing did more than ensure the one legitimate star on the Nets will stick around—it facilitated the team's efforts to become playoff contenders next season.

Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers

Okay, okay, so technically he came via a sign-and trade. But honestly—could there have been a more perfect addition to the Lakers than Nash?

For one, the team desperately needed a legitimate point guard to run the offense. For another, adding a respected, two-time MVP like Nash to run the point will ensure that Kobe Bryant will respect Nash taking the reins of the offense.

That should mean less isolation plays, more involvement for the Lakers' bigs and a much better flow to the offense. Oh, and a healthy dose of the creativity and savvy that Nash brings to the position.

So the answer is no, there couldn't have been a more perfect addition to the Lakers than Nash.

Eric Gordon, New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets had a fantastic offseason, adding Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers via the draft and adding Orlando's Ryan Anderson—last season's Most Improved Player—via a sign-and-trade deal.

But it would have all been for naught if the team's best player, Eric Gordon, was allowed to sign with the Phoenix Suns.

Instead, the team matched the Suns' four-year, $58 million offer, making them one of the dynamic young teams in the NBA (NY Times). While Davis and Rivers will surely have some growing pains, Gordon can stoke the rebuilding effort and give the team an elite talent to lean on as it improves.

If he can stay healthy, that is.

If he does—and if Davis and Rivers have a quick learning-curve—the Hornets could be one of the league's most exciting teams as soon as next year.

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