NBA Free Agents: Grading the Biggest High-Impact Signings so Far

Free agency is the huge part of the success of an NBA franchise, and newly signed players like Tyson Chandler, Richard Hamilton, Glen Davis and Shane Battier are all going to play major roles on their new teams.

That being said, not all free agents are made alike, though, and some will have a far greater impact than others in their new uniforms.

I think that these four players are by far the biggest free agent signings so far, but just how do they grade out with their new teams?

Here are my grades for these high-impact free agents:

Richard Hamilton, Shooting Guard: Chicago Bulls

The Bulls needed a shooting guard, and they went out and got one when they signed Rip to a two year deal.

Hamilton isn't perfect, but he's going to fit what the Bulls are looking for perfectly. He's got a nonstop motor and still has one of the purest mid-range jump shots in the game.

He's known for coming off screens and getting his shot, but he should be a pretty effective outlet option for Rose when he drives the lane as well.

He averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.3 rebounds last season, but he should be much fresher now that he has left Detroit, where he grew stagnant and became a problem.

Grade: B

Glen Davis, Power Forward: Orlando Magic

If this is Orlando's way of trying to keep Dwight Howard, I have to imagine that it hasn't really helped their cause.

No offense to Davis, but he isn't anything special.

Sure, he'll make an impact, and he may even improve on the career high 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds he averaged last season, but all-in-all he is an underwhelming signing.

I wouldn't consider him to be overly athletic, and his shot selection has been awful at times.

To be honest, the Magic may have given away the better player in Brandon Bass.

Grade: C-

Shane Battier, Small Forward: Miami Heat

This was a great signing by the Miami Heat, who desperately need some athletic veteran presence coming off their bench.

He's averaged 9.6 points, two assists and 4.7 rebounds a game during his 11 year career.

He's most known for his excellent defense and consistent three-point shooting and should play a huge role in allowing LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane a break every now and then.

Battier is going to play a huge role on the Heat, and they are going to be a much more composed team because of him.

Grade: A

Tyson Chandler, Center: New York Knicks

The Knicks got something they desperately needed when they brought center Tyson Chandler in to play with stars Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks need defense, rebounding and a low-post presence, and those are all things that Chandler will be bringing to the table.

At 7-1, he's a huge presence down low, averaging 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game last season, and he has championship experience.

This was the best case scenario for the Knicks, and they made it happen.

Grade: A+