The NBA's Last Scraps

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As we near September, there are still a few free agents on the market that could come in and help a team in a variety of ways. Although these players will not start for the teams they are picked up by, they will be able to help fill a nine to ten man rotation or give much needed depth in their position.
These six players could make a difference on these six teams.

Leandro Barbosa: Minnesota Timberwolves - The Timberwolves were very active in the free agent market this summer - bringing in veteran wing players they desperately needed in Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko. At the moment, things look kind of shaky with no true shooting guard to back up Roy - a player who was forced to retire just a season ago due to lingering knee issues. They have J.J. Barea and Luke Ridenour, true point guards who played off the ball a little last year with Rubio at the point. Barbosa had a renaissance with Brazil in this years Olympics and seeing that Minnesota loves foreigners who can shoot from deep, Barbosa seems to be a good fit in the Twin Cities.

Louis Amundson: New Orleans Hornets - Most people saw the Gustavo Ayon trade for Ryan Anderson as a great deal for New Orleans. Although Anderson will help in spreading the court for the likes of Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, and Anthony Davis - the loss of Ayon gives the Hornets exactly one player with above average ability in rebounding, shot blocking, and overall toughness (Davis). While Amundson is not the most skilled big ever, he is defiantly cut from the cloth of 80's big men. He is a good rebounder, a decent rim defender, and someone who would not back down to anyone. He does the dirty work, and on a team full of finesse players, he would have a spot to step in right away.

Dominique Mcguire: Charlotte Bobcats - This is the toughest one because it is impossible to guess what Michael Jordan is doing. Is he trying to get more lottery picks or is he trying to make a push for the playoffs? If the latter is true, McGuire is someone the Bobcats should look into. Tyrus Thomas is the only true Power Forward in Charlotte and he is undersized at that. According to NBAPostup.com, McGuire receives at least an A grade in three categories: offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, and shot blocking - three things that would help the most porous team in NBA history get out of the gutter.

Derek Fisher: Portland Trailblazers - Derek Fisher is still in the NBA for two reasons - he is still a great spot up shooter and he is one of the smarter point guards in the game. You have to have discernible skills when you are still in the NBA and move slower than Gob Bluth on his Segway. The Blazers need help at back-up point guard and with the starting spot in the hands of a rookie who never played a top 25 team in college, his fatherly advice could be just what the city of roses needs.

Josh Howard: Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers are in desperate need of a wing off the bench that they could trust deep into the postseason. If I'm Mitch Kupchack, that player will not be Devin Ebanks. Josh Howard has not been a good player for awhile, but he is good enough to take Ebanks spot. With the loss of Matt Barnes, the Lakers bench is looking as bad as it ever has and Josh Howard would at least give the team some defensive toughness off the pine.

Michael Redd: Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks roster currently consists of four guards; Jennings, Ellis, Udoh, and Doron Lamb. Jennings and Ellis are players that do not have the greatest shot from the land of deep so why not bring back the shooter that once made Milwaukee forget about Ray Allen? Not only does he fit into position needs and actual needs on the court - it would also be a nice homecoming and a possible last go around for the player who will always been seen as a Buck.

Joshua Jackson

@JoshJackson_TID