5 Offseason Acquisitions Who Have Been Huge Gifts for NBA Teams
In the NBA, signing a new player is always a bit of a mystery. Will he live up to expectations, or will his career downturn start as soon as he puts on a new uniform? You can only hope for the best. Nothing is certain.
Thankfully for these teams, so far into the early season, these offseason acquisitions are already looking like great calls. There's still a lot of basketball to be played, but it doesn't look like these players are going to be seen as anything other than gifts.
Jeremy Lamb: Charlotte Hornets
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It's pretty clear that the Hornets are all in on Jeremy Lamb. The former lottery pick just could not find his way in Oklahoma City but has blossomed ever since coming to Charlotte.
Lamb is averaging career highs in points, assists and rebounds, all while playing fewer than 20 minutes a game. The Hornets rewarded him with a three-year, $21 million extension.
Lamb's scoring and three-point shooting are exactly what the Hornets were looking for. So far, he has not disappointed.
Greg Monroe: Milwaukee Bucks
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After some frustrating but individually successful years on the Pistons, Greg Monroe surprised everyone when he opted to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency after much more popular teams in bigger markets courted him, as Yahoo Sports' Michael Lee pointed out.
But the move has paid off for both Monroe and the Bucks. He is averaging just a shade under 20 and 10 and is 11th in the league in player efficiency rating. His field-goal and free-throw percentages are way up, and he's blocking more shots and getting more steals than before.
All around, Monroe has been a huge win for Milwaukee.
Jeremy Lin: Charlotte Hornets
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On his fifth team in six years, Jeremy Lin isn't putting up career numbers, but he's been playing some of his best basketball for the Hornets.
Lin is averaging 12.8 points and 3.8 assists in 23.5 minutes per game, but his three-point shooting is at a career high while his turnovers are at a career low. As mentioned with Lamb, the Hornets are looking for shooting, and Lin has delivered.
So far, he seems like a great fit in Charlotte.
LaMarcus Aldridge: San Antonio Spurs
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The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most interesting teams in the NBA. They are all about teamwork and playing together, so it's an interesting case study when one of the league's superstars decides to join their tight-knit group.
It hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns for LaMarcus Aldridge, but he's starting to find his place on the team. More importantly than that, Aldridge represents something for the Spurs: the future.
With an aging core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, San Antonio's prospects after they retire didn't look so hot other than Kawhi Leonard. Aldridge gives the team hope for down the road. When he comes into his own on the Spurs, which he will, they're going to be a dangerous team for years to come, even when the Big Three have been long gone.
Al-Farouq Aminu: Portland Trail Blazers
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An NBA journeyman, Al-Farouq Aminu was always a bit of an afterthought. On his fourth team in six years, he has finally started to break out.
With the Portland Trail Blazers, Aminu is averaging 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds—the points substantially above his previous season high of 7.3.
The Trail Blazers have given Aminu more minutes than he's ever played. In return, he is giving them a career year. That seems like a pretty fair deal.
