In my last article, I derided the speculation regarding the alleged covetousness, mostly on the part of the Bulls, that teams are supposed to be feeling for Kobe Bryant right now. He?s a great talent, sure, and a player who can fill a stadium with ease but simply not the type who can be easily introduced to an already contending team. That said, there are many other players in this league (and in Europe, if you?re a Bryan Colangelo or R.C. Buford fan) who can come in via free agency or trade and make an immediate impact on a playoff team. It always seems like it?s a star who will vault a team into the upper realms of contention, but this isn?t necessarily in the case; in fact, due to team chemistry concerns, it might be best if the player is either a role player, an aged vet or merely a different type of star (see: Rasheed Wallace).

Teams like the Celtics, who many have picked to win it all, the Raptors, who are playoff contenders in need of a couple extra sparks, and the Knicks, who could finish anywhere from fourth to fourteenth, are among a group of Eastern teams with a common void. Out west, the perennially contending Suns and the rising Jazz share a similar plight. Far from needing a big scorer who demands the ball, the above teams and others would be best served to find the kind of player coaches tend to love: a defensive big man who can rebound the ball and fit into a team concept.

Fortunately, there are a few around who are either unsigned or could be traded. Let?s take a look at some players who are either in the media or aren?t but can provide instant help either way.

PJ Brown, Free Agent

Standing at 6?11? with a long wingspan and a variety of skills, Brown is a guy who?s clearly on a sharp decline but might still have something left. The attributes he has are ones rooted in fundamental basketball skills, not athleticism, and don?t tend to fade too easily. While not a shot-blocker anymore, Brown can defend and rebound as well as bring a strong sense of leadership to the locker room.

This is especially important for teams that either need a veteran mentor for young players (Andrea Bargnani and Eddy Curry come to mind) or for contenders who need a player to not have to take time learning a playbook. If there?s one advantage to having your newest signing be 38, it?s that he knows the league.

Even so, Brown?s an interesting case simply because his aching body can only withstand so much. He?d likely be best as an addition for the playoffs, to which his unsigned status could lead.

Jeff Foster, Indiana Pacers

Here?s a more interesting player with more to add. He?s a solid defender at both the power forward and centre spots, enabling a team to put him around its star big man quite easily. He?s also on a reasonable contract that becomes an expiring after this year, so he can either be flipped or come off the cap.

His rebounding is the greatest addition, though. As arguably one of the most underrated players in the league, he?s amassed three consecutive seasons of eight or more rebounds per contest while also being near the top of the league in rebounds per 48 minutes. Better yet, he?s done so in limited minutes, never averaging more than 27 minutes per game with a career average of 20.2, and he takes smart shots around the bucket (career field goal percentage of .489). To any team looking to improve on the glass, Foster is a cheap and reliable option who produces far beyond his trade value.

Any team looking at Foster will have to watch how the Pacers play, though. Despite a solid start, this is a team that missed the playoffs last season for the first time in a decade and that most prognosticators picked to miss it again. If the Pacers dwell near the cellar this season, there?s little point in keeping around a veteran big man who could be cashed in for some young talent or a draft pick.

Anderson Varejao, Free Agent

In what?s been one of the most puzzling scenarios in the league, Anderson Varejao is somehow still unsigned. After allegedly asking for a ridiculous contract that the Cavaliers were right not to grant, Varejao is in an awkward limbo where he isn?t playing, isn?t making money and he needs to do both.

What he adds to a team, unlike many of the league?s more veteran players, can be recorded on a stat sheet fairly easily. He gets almost a steal in half the game, which is very good for a player his size, and he?s shooting .496 on his career (.550 in the playoffs). His rebounding, while nowhere close to league-leading, is very good; although he has to share a backboard with Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, he still got 6.7 rebounds in half the game last season. His energy and enthusiasm add to the frenzy, with his game providing a good complement to a front-line superstar.

Varejao?s skill set is similar to Brown?s and Foster?s, but he?s much younger and still possesses some upside. There aren?t many teams with their mid-level exception remaining, but any with even a scrap of it might want to consider luring him for less than he supposedly thinks he?s worth. Reports have him desiring a one-year pact in hope of landing a bigger deal next summer which might not happen if he doesn?t make a substantial improvement. If not now, teams can be patient with him and strike when they feel it necessary.

A Worthwhile Endeavour