NBA Insider – The Best ‘Under the Radar’ Free Agent Signings

Apparently, not everyone can be LeBron James NBA betting buffs?

While it would appear (at least in James’ mind) that no other basketball player has ever existed ‘B.L.’ (Before LeBron) the fact of the matter is that the game of roundball has been played nearly all over the globe, long before ‘Queen James’ ever thought of lacing up a pair of Nikes.

Having said that pro hoops lovers, several NBA teams have made some really nice free agent acquisitions that I believe will help their respective causes next season, no matter how low they flew ‘Under the Radar’ because of the recently-completed free agent fiasco surround the newly-minted ‘most hated’ player in the game today.

This look at some of those signings – will give pro basketball betting enthusiasts the knowledge they need in order to get their 2010-11 NBA wagering seasons off to a blistering start.

Orlando Magic – Quentin Richardson – SF
Great … just what the talented Orlando Magic needed … another three-point shooter! Orlando made an excellent addition by adding Richardson who shot a career-high 39.7 percent from long distance last season for Miami. Needless to say, Q’s sweet-shooting will help unclog the middle for Dwight Howard.

L.A. Lakers – Steve Blake – PG
I though L.A picking up Blake has been one of the best free agent acquisitions of any team in the league. The move allows L.A. to rest aging starter Derek Fisher more often, thereby keeping him fresher late in games while not losing an ounce of anything when the veteran Blake comes in.

L.A. Clippers – Ryan Gomes: SF
Gomes has never been able to find a genuine home in the NBA despite being a very solid player and excellent three-point shooter (37.2 percent each of the last two seasons). In the now immortal words of James, Gomes will ‘take his talents’ to L.A. where his perimeter shooting will help loosen things up for gifted power forward Blake Griffin and underrated center Chris Kaman.

New Jersey Nets – Jordan Farmar – PG
I really like the addition the Nets made here of a player I always liked for the Lakers but could never understand why Phil Jackson didn’t use him nearly as often as I thought he would. Farmar is a lightning-quick floor leader that is aggressive and has plenty of heart. Farmar will back up starter Devin Harris and could see some court time playing next to him as well. Heck, for three years and $12 million, he had better play!

L.A. Clippers – Randy Foye – SG
The Clippers made their second nice free agent acquisition by grabbing the talented, but underachieving Foye who came out of Villanova looking like he could potentially turn into the next Dwyane Wade. Foye has shot a tepid 41.9 percent from the field in four seasons in the league but I expect him to play plenty of minutes at both guard positions for the Clippers behind starters Baron Davis and Eric Gordon.

Remember NBA pro basketball aficionados, while the ‘big-name’ free agents generally get all of the attention for their signings, it is often the lesser ‘name’ players that decide the outcomes of games.