On Sunday, I went to the Job Lot department store in my hometown. 

Very few high-end brand items are available. Stuff is scattered all over the place. If you need help from a store employee, good luck. 

You know what? The place was packed with people from all walks of life looking for bargains -- and finding them. 

I bought six pairs of Russell Athletic mesh shorts, a 60-foot garden hose, a hose nozzle with multiple spray options, a two-pack of socks, a mosquito coil and a family size bag of potato chips for 50 bucks. 

In many ways, the Job Lot is very similar to the low end of the free agent market. The big names are gone but there's value to be had. And everyone is there trying to find a bargain on the one or two items that they need. 

The NBA Free Agent Job Lot has older veterans willing to play for the $1.3  million minimum, younger veterans in their 20s with one specific skill or position, unproven kids who haven't had a legitimate opportunity and guys hoping for one more contract before Europe becomes a real possibility. 

And more than a handful of them will be on NBA rosters next season. 

Here's a breakdown of the best basement bargains this summer, the first of four pieces PBN will be running this week. 

10. Ike Diogu. One of only two current players born on September 11, the 25-year-old Diogu made $2.9 million last season, when he barely played for Portland but showed another of his intermittent flashes with Sacramento, averaging 9.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 10 games. He has deliberate moves and slow feet but can score in the post if you throw him the ball. A team needing an extra big could have him for the five-year veteran minimum of $959,111. 

9. Gerald Green. The knock on Green has always been that he doesn't work hard. But he has the size (6-8) and athleticism to guard explosive wing players and is just 23 years old. He needs to be surrounded by a veteran core that will stay on him. But the former Slam Dunk champion averaged 10.4 points as a clueless second-year player in Boston and is nowhere near his ceiling. If Dahntay Jones' asking price is too high, Denver may be a good spot for Green, who won't command much more than the $826,000 he made last season. 

8. Ronnie Price. The four-year veteran point guard could be expendable given Utah's complicated free agency picture and the fact that the Jazz used the 20th pick on Eric Maynor. Price will never be a starter in this league, but he is a capable backup who already has played 18 postseason games and can spell a top-level starter like Chris Paul or Tony Parker for 8-10 minutes a game. And he will come more cheaply than the $1.2 million he made last season. 

7. Jason Collins. The 7-footer has always had trouble scoring, even when Jason Kidd was delivering the ball. He has never been a shot-blocker and his rebounding numbers have dipped over the last couple of years. But he can still defend the low post and has played in 75 playoff games. His size, skill and experience could help an Eastern Conference team such as Atlanta, Miami or Philadelphia that will need a big body to deal with Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal eight times a season -- and possibly in the playoffs. Collins made $6.2 million last season, but those days are over. One year at $1.2 million should do it. 

6. Royal Ivey. A five-year veteran, Ivey started 66 games at point guard for Atlanta in 2005-06. His future is as a backup, but he added more consistency to his 3-point shot with Philadelphia last season and is a terrific on-ball defender who often shadows the ball in the backcourt. At 6-3 and 200 pounds, he also can body up to some shooting guards and use an edge in quickness. There are plenty of backup point guards with bigger reps that don't have the same skills as Ivey, who won't cost much more than the $854,000 he made last season. 

5. James Singleton. This summer may be a case of deja vu for Singleton, who two years ago found himself without a team and spent a season with Spain's Tau Ceramica. He returned to the NBA with Dallas this season and averaged career highs of 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while improving his 3-point shooting. Singleton can be a monster rebounder for his 6-8, 215-pound frame and has averaged nearly 10 rebounds per 36 minutes in his three seasons. He has skills that fit both forward positions and can be had $1 million or less. 

4. Wally Szczerbiak. Only Stephon Marbury and potentially Jason Kidd will be taking larger pay cuts than Szczerbiak, who made $13 million last season but likely will have to play for the 10-year veteran's minimum of $1.4 million next season. Despite his defensive deficiencies, Szczerbiak still is a somewhat effective offensive player who shoots 41 percent from the arc and is just 32 years old. Don't be surprised if he stays with Cleveland or latches on with another team with a post presence such as Orlando, Houston or San Antonio. He is the best shooter available at this price. 

3. Shannon Brown. Considered a throw-in when the Lakers dumped Vladimir Radmanovic for Adam Morrison, Brown used the postseason to make himself desirable on the free agent market. He averaged nearly 13 minutes and five points per game in the playoffs for the champions, manning both guard spots and sparking the Lakers with his athleticism. Brown is a restricted free agent, which means the Lakers can match any offer he receives from another team -- which should be more than the $797,000 he made last season. Given how poorly Sasha Vujacic played in the postseason, the Lakers may want to keep him. But if another team offers Brown a multi-year contract -- say, $4 million over two years -- the Lakers may not match, based on their desire to keep both Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza and the fact they are above the luxury tax. 

2. Desmond Mason. In his first seven seasons, Mason missed just 34 games. But he has missed 66 over the last two, will turn 32 in training camp and does not appear to part of Oklahoma City's long-term plan, especially with the selection of shooting guard James Harden in the draft. Mason still has the ability to defend two positions and score a little bit, too. He still can be a rotation player for a good team. He may warrant a multi-year deal but not anywhere near the $5.3 million he made last season. 

1. C.J. Watson. Another restricted free agent who may be available if Don Nelson is telling the truth and Golden State -- which also traded for Acie Law -- is holding onto Stephen Curry. Watson, 25, was one of the NBA's most improved players last season, taking advantage of the injury to Monta Ellis and averaging 9.5 points and 2.7 assists while playing both guard spots. He shot 40 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the line. Watson made just $711,000 last season but may be worth $2 million per year for two or three years. Whoever signs him gets a cheaper version of Lou Williams.

Next: Partial mid-level exceptions

Chris Bernucca has covered the NBA since 1996 and is a regular contributor to Pro Basketball News. You can disagree with him at cbernucca@comcast.net.