When constructing championship-level teams in the NBA, the single most important component is having a true franchise player. But to take advantage of that kind of transformative talent and lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy, such teams also need to find ways to complement that superstar.
The league has seen how impactful those final players can be. In 2023, the Denver Nuggets won the title, in part, by landing Bruce Brown on a bargain deal as a free agent. Last season, the Boston Celtics constructed a roster featuring several long-term value contracts for key players such as Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser.