NBA teams have always taken a cautious approach to filling out their rosters. That idea has echoed even louder this season.
With so many teams eager to contend for a championship, the salary cap can present some obstacles. Not every franchise contains ownership that is willing to pay a fine due to the salary tax. Because of this, there are a number of talented veterans who remain unsigned.
It's gotten the attention of former NBA player and current analyst Jalen Rose. On ESPN's "Jalen & Jacoby," Rose spoke about the issue of team's being "dirty" in order to saving money. He talked about the fact that teams often try to save money when it comes to the final player on their roster.
Rose then pointed out a veteran like Lou Williams. He believes that a player like Williams, despite being 36 years old, could still help out a team.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
"So what ends up happening is there's always notable people in a volatile job like NBA that are out of the league," Rose said. "Like Lou Will should be in the league! We know if he was on the Lakers and they put him in with Russell Westbrook, he would be balling.”
Jalen Rose comments on NBA teams' "dirty approach"
The salary cap has become a glaring issue across the league. Large-market teams are willing to go over the cap to keep their rosters intact. Because of this, it's presented a problem for the small-market teams mainly due to the fact that ownership is unwilling to open up the checkbooks.
It's also created an issue with a number of veteran free agents. There are still plenty of notable free agents who have the ability to impact a team. Rose mentioned Lou Williams as a player who still belongs on a roster. But there's also a wide range of recognizable faces who are patiently waiting for an opportunity.
Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony continues to be unsigned. Anthony spent the entire 2021-22 season with the LA Lakers and showed he can be effective. In his last season, Anthony averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 44.1%.
Another notable free agent is veteran big man Dwight Howard. Like Anthony, Howard also spent last season on the Lakers and averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg in just 16.2 minutes. Howard recently announced he would be heading overseas to play in Taiwan.
DeMarcus Cousins is another player as well who has struggled to find his next opportunity. Cousins spent last year with the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, averaging 9.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 15.0 mpg.
Nuggets Fan? Check out the latest Denver Nuggets depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.