NBA Free Agents 2013: Stingy Defenders Every Team Needs

With offensive dynamos such as Chris Paul and Dwight Howard available on the open market this offseason, there will most definitely be an arms race to sign them. As important as those players would be to any franchise, this is a deep free-agent class with some key role players as well.

Scoring more points than the opposition is the only way to win a basketball game, however, the old adage is that defense wins championships. The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers were the final four teams remaining in the playoffs this season and they also happened to be four of the best defensive teams in the league, so perhaps there is something to be said for having a defensive state of mind.

Here are three stingy defenders who may not be viewed in the same light as some of the top free agents in this offseason's class, but will be major contributors regardless of where they land.

Chris Andersen

People automatically think of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh when the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat are mentioned, but there were several role players on the team this past season who made another title possible. Arguably the most important among them was power forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen. The Heat went on an absolute tear after signing him back in January.

Andersen's stats don't jump off the page as he averaged just around five points, four rebounds and a block per game during the regular season, but he brought a ton of energy to the table and he acted as an enforcer of sorts to protect Miami's star players. Andersen quickly became a fan favorite in Miami and he seems like the ideal bench player for the Heat. Because of that, Andersen would like to stay in Miami, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports.

The Heat would almost certainly love to have him back as well, but Andersen will surely receive offers from other contending teams in need of a spark. Andersen really stepped up in the playoffs as he averaged 6.4 points, nearly four rebounds and one block per contest while shooting an incredible 80.7 percent from the floor. Due to his efficiency and his ability to both alter shots and hit the boards on defense, Birdman will be a hot commodity this summer.

Tony Allen

Ever since shooting guard Tony Allen was drafted into the NBA by the Boston Celtics back in 2004, he has been one of the premier perimeter defenders in the entire league. Offense has never been Allen's forte, as he has averaged double-digits in points just once in nine NBA seasons, but offense is not why Allen is coveted.

With so many explosive scoring guards in the NBA today, teams need a guy like Allen who can cover them on his own. One of the biggest reasons why the Memphis Grizzlies were able to succeed this season without a true star player was the play of Allen. He contributed to a winning cause and was especially strong in the playoffs. Surprisingly, Allen had a better player efficiency rating than Pacers star Paul George during the postseason, according to Ethan Strauss.

That's pretty incredible when you consider George's scoring prowess. Allen was rated as a better player due almost purely to his defense and that is a testament to how valuable he is on that end of the floor. Allen won't single-handedly put a team over the top, but when placed in the right situation, he is definitely a player who can contribute to a championship team, just as he did with the Celtics in 2008.

Paul Millsap

Utah Jazz power forward Paul Millsap isn't quite as unsung as Andersen and Allen, but he always seems to be overlooked for one reason or another. Despite having a fantastic collegiate career at Louisiana Tech, Millsap wasn't drafted until the 47th-overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft. He has carved out quite a niche for himself at the NBA level and he now stands to get rewarded with a big contract whether he stays in Utah or goes elsewhere.

Scoring is part of the package with Millsap, more so than Andersen and Allen, as he averaged 14.6 points per game last season, but he is particularly valuable on the glass. Millsap is considered undersized by some for a power forward at 6'8", but his 253-lb. frame allows him to push opposing defenders out of the paint. Rebounding is huge in the NBA and few teams realize that as much as the Celtics, so that is probably why Boston has a lot of interest in Millsap, according to NESN.

Millsap's rebounding average dropped to 7.1 per game last season after grabbing nearly nine per game one season earlier, but that isn't anything to worry about. His rebounding numbers would likely be through the roof if not for the fact that he has been sharing a frontcourt with another fine rebounder in Al Jefferson. Millsap may not be a superstar, but he is the total package and a nightmare on the boards, so teams will be lining up to sign him.

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