The rise of the Steph Curry Warriors was an evolutionary earthquake, changing the nature of the sport quicker than a leather ball rips through a polyester net. Overnight, perimeter shotmaking became en vogue and the focus of the sport continued its way from the confines paint and out beyond the perimeter. 

Somewhere along the way, we lost the plot. A new environment meant new conditions for growth and with that came modernized valuations for incoming draft prospects. While score-first point guards and versatile forwards shot up draft boards (for good reason), that rise coincided with a dramatic decline in the valuation of traditional bigs. 

In some cases, that change was needed. Slow-footed post hubs are all but a thing of the past as the athletic requirements for the position have grown. On the other hand, some of the most valuable defensive big men in the league were drafted well below their actual value. 

From Bam Adebayo to Robert Williams or Jarrett Allen (and Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren for the brave of heart), many of the most impactful young big men in the league were drafted out of the top ten, if not the lottery entirely. 

More important than the missed opportunity of drafting said player is the gaping cavern their absence leaves within a team’s defensive identity. As you look at the best defenses across the league in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Boston or Memphis, great defensive big men continue to lead great defenses. 

Dereck Lively II represents an incredibly interesting thought experiment within this construct. If you are interested in a breakdown of his on-court strengths and weaknesses there is a scouting report released in companion with this piece. What I will be doing here is digging deeper into his concept as a player, how his season fares historically within that archetype, and what developmental context can best maximize his existing skill set. 

Reality can be hard to find when the very earth beneath your feet is constantly changing, but one thing has remained true. It is a blue world trying to contend in the NBA without a playoff-durable big man to own the paint, and that player is harder to find than you might think.

Concept: Rim Running Shotblocker

Walker Kessler, Steven Adams, Nerlens Noel, Robert Williams

The general concept of the “defense first” center is by no means a new one. Since the inception of the sport the largest person on the court has shouldered the largest defensive burden. When it comes to protecting the basket, size is always going to matter. It is not the fool-proof rule of thumb that it used to be, but its value is inherent: the larger you are the more imposing you are in contesting shots and attacking the glass.

Finding proof of concept for a player like Lively is both incredibly easy and downright impossible. The first place to start feels pretty straightforward in Walker Kessler. Kessler embodies the very hope of what Lively could be, and why it is a fairly easy bet to make. Much like Lively’s first half of the year, Kessler’s freshman season at UNC saw him struggle to earn a consistent role despite his dominating per-possession stats while on the court. 

Kessler’s meteoric rise the following season at Auburn and this year in Utah is a picture-perfect data point on why to be excited. Despite a poor context and role, Kessler’s low-minute dominance at UNC foretold genuine upside that was just a little harder to see. While Lively’s block rate didn’t re-write record books like Kessler did last year, he was incredibly impactful defending the paint and anchored one of the best defenses in college basketball. 

Offensively, the comparison becomes much trickier. Kessler’s freshman and sophomore campaigns saw a significantly larger volume of shots attempted with relatively similar efficiency. Lively’s usage rate of 12.8 would be the lowest of any first round pick in history and is genuinely without precedent. While there is no 1 for 1 comparison, there are a few players that represent a potential development path for Lively in the league. 

The first name that comes to mind when I think of steady-handed competence from the big position is Steven Adams. There was little hope for “star” upside when Adams was drafted in the lottery by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he did grow to become a star in his role while playing a major part on some of the best teams of the 2010s. Giving your young star guard a competent and reliable roll option they can grow alongside is generally good business, for the guard, the big and the organization as a whole.

That value equation is the same for Lively, albeit in a more mobile physical package. Lively is a better vertical athlete, but a worse finisher around the basket (49% vs 58% on non-dunk rim attempts) with about ⅔ of the total scoring volume. The offensive threshold between valuable and unplayable is an incredibly thin line, and Adams just barely crossed it. Lively was a much better passer as a freshman and that skill should translate well to the next level, but for that to happen he will need to be a threat to score.

The other side of that line is Nerlens Noel, drafted with the hopes he would become the perfect modern day rim runner. He was mobile, blocked shots, got steals, had a solid assist rate with the vertical athleticism to draw fouls and dunk everything around the hoop. An ACL injury sapped a little of that high-end athleticism, but ultimately it was his lack of offensive value that derailed the lofty expectations of his career. 

Noel’s hands were an issue as a prospect and against NBA level competition that was only exacerbated. He can struggle to catch and score efficiently as a roll man and when that isn’t working there are few other places to turn. Teams aren’t going to give up five pick-and-roll alley-oops a game. 

This is where the ultimate floor for Lively resides. Noel was a significantly higher 57% on non-dunk rim attempts and his assist rate was nearly identical. Lively dunked the ball slightly more often and at least attempted to take a few threes (a surprisingly encouraging indicator for bigs who can one day kinda shoot), but the concerns are legitimate. 

If Lively isn’t able to provide a genuine threat to score as a roller there is no offensive foundation to grow upon. His defense is too good to wash out of the league, I believe that firmly, but the idea he is a sure-fire starter or even high-end rotation piece is lacking some important nuance.

On the other extreme, Robert Williiams II shows what this archetype can be if they are able to provide genuine rim pressure. Williams is an incredible defensive big that provides the Celtics real versatility as a primary rim protector or weak side rotator. 

Robert Williams is one of two big men drafted since 2017 to make an All-Defense team, but what separates him from his peers is his offensive value. Williams is a ferocious athlete with the strength to dunk through people in a way few prospects have, but it is his touch around the rim that is the foundation for his success. 

He has good hands and easily exceeds the lower requirement for touch as a roll man, which is in essence simply scoring efficiently against your typical pick and roll defense. With a proper ball handler Williams has the tools, touch and tough screen setting to tear apart traditional coverages, and that efficiency is what opens up his game as a passer. 

His offensive value is what keeps him on the court in crunch time or playoff settings, providing the foundation of minutes needed to have an All-Defense caliber season. Staying on the court is half the battle for defensive bigs these days, and that is the battle Lively will need to survive in order to truly hit his ceiling. 

That feels like an impossible task from a macro view. William’s freshman year usage was double Lively’s (23.4 vs 12.8) and touch around the rim significantly higher (61.6 vs 48.8). While that is true, the bar required for scoring volume or offensive value is not that of Robert Williams, but rather somewhere between the two. The game isn’t about finding the best possible offensive center, it is about finding one with the foundational skill required to remain on the court long enough to truly impact the course of games. Lively will do that defensively, but offensively is another question. 

Lively thrives above the rim and his 3.2 dunks per 40 minutes is an incredibly encouraging mark for someone in a spacing deprived offense. Beyond above-rim pressure there was very little substance to Lively’s scoring package. As a comparison to Williams he not only had a smaller volume of rim attempts but, more starkly, took eight (!!) shots in the midrange, compared to Williams with 105. 

That difference in assertiveness and usage is incredibly stark with both parties irreconcilably affected by their on-court context. That isn’t to say Lively would have had a similar offensive season with the 2017 Texas A&M team, but maybe the difference wouldn’t be as stark and the developmental hill to climb wouldn’t seem so steep. Lively doesn’t have to reach Williams’ level of offensive impact, but his developmental journey and on-court roll represents the path for Lively to truly hit on his upside.

Context: On-Ball Creation, Spacing, Secondary Rim Protection

Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers

Dereck Lively entered this college basketball season with a mountain of expectations. Lively, ESPNs #1 ranked recruit in the class of 2022, enrolled at Duke with other highly touted freshmen in Dariq Whitehead, Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell and Tyrese Proctor to form one of the most decorated recruiting classes in recent memory. 

Duke began the year ranked as a top 10 team in the country on the backs of their newly-minted blue-chip freshmen, but the year quickly turned sour. It was immediately apparent that the team did not have enough spacing to survive (particularly in the absence of Dariq Whitehead), nor the on-ball creation necessary to truly maximize Lively’s skillset. 

The good news is that he will have better spacing and on-ball creation on the roster surrounding him next year regardless of which team selects him, and that should help open up some of his offensive game. But what situations give him the best chance at hitting the higher end of his potential?

Oklahoma City is the first team that comes to mind and the longer I think about it the more excited I become. SGA is a legit, A1 creator for the future and with Josh Giddey next to him they should have 48 minutes of good point guard play every night. Factor in the emergence of Jalen Williams as a true-blue wing scorer and the presence of the greatest shooting coach of all time in Chip Engelland (silent weeping), OKC has all the offensive ingredients needed to insulate and maximize Lively’s development.

Defensively, it is hard to not get excited about a frontcourt pairing of Chet Holmgren and Dereck Lively. Both have the mobility needed to play a variety of defensive schemes and switch out on the perimeter (in moderation) while being two of the best freshman shot blockers in college basketball history. I am floored as I type this, a spiritual embodiment of Ryan Reynolds’ character in The Big Short. Chet is going to shoot it (you can carve that into the streets of Bricktown, it’s happening), and in turn may be the ideal frontcourt pairing for Lively now and in the future. 

Houston offers another intriguing fit later in the teens, but comes with a caveat. There needs to be a point guard of the future in place for this to have any chance of working. This team desperately needs someone to bring a sense of structure offensively. Drafting Scoot would immediately assuage those fears, and suddenly a supporting cast of future All-Star scorer Jalen Green and complimentary two-way forwards in Jabari Smith and Tari Eason starts to look a whole lot more enticing. 

The Jabari/Tari combo is what really draws me to Houston above other fits as they, in tandem, provide all of the helpside rim protection, perimeter defense, shooting and rim pressure you could ask for next to Lively. If Houston is able to find a real point guard of the future, you would be hard pressed to find a better realistic fit in this upcoming draft. 

The fit in Toronto has, in a way, already been proven. Jakob Poeltl’s mid-season re-addition provided a backbone to their defense and a much needed safety valve for their pick and roll operators. Given time Lively’s impact could be largely similar with a tilt towards the defensive end of the floor. Poeltl is an incredibly sound defensive big with remarkable instincts, but lacking the plus length and athleticism to reach All-Defense levels consistently. Lively is not the scorer around the rim Poeltl was, but his defensive impact and potential is higher. 

This isn’t to say Lively is going to be a better player than Poeltl, that outcome would be an incredibly positive one for Lively. Even if he never reaches that level, he may provide more value to the Raptors simply by being younger with seven years of guaranteed team control. Poeltl is going to be expensive this summer and I would be shocked to see him sign elsewhere after Toronto paid such a hefty price to acquire him. Still,  it would be prudent to have a potential replacement waiting in the wings for when Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam all begin to negotiate new deals and the cost of Poeltl’s contract becomes prohibitive. 

Finally, Indiana is an intriguing fit for a few different reasons. The presence of Tyrese Haliburton guarantees a competent floor general for Lively to learn and grow with, particularly one that is both reliant-on and remarkable-in operating a pick and roll. Rick Carlisle’s approach in catering offensive sets to Mathurin this year is a sign his feelings toward playing rookies may have finally thawed. To help the  warming process, Lively fits incredibly cleanly into the style of basketball Carlisle teams like to play: fast pace, ball screen oriented attack with a true rim running big. 

Myles Turner may be on a new contract, but I for one would not be surprised to hear rumors he’s on the trade market by next deadline. When there is smoke there must be fire, and half a decade of burning embers don’t go out overnight. Adding a big in Lively that is both cost controlled and more befitting of their coaches game plan seems like an obvious win. I would even be intrigued to see them play together, at least initially. In the long run, his potential fit with Haliburton and Mathurin is about as clean as it gets.

Content:

How good of a defensive prospect is Lively? What is the minimum threshold of scoring volume needed to leverage short roll passing? What is the offensive value of a rim runner?

As a precursor to this piece, I spent an enormous amount of time this season combing through old prospect stat profiles, trying to figure out what indicators are actually valuable in projecting defensive success in the NBA. When it came to bigs, I came away with four specific metrics that appeared to have substantive value:

• Defensive Box +/- (DBPM)
• Block Rate (BLK%)
• Offensive Rebound Rate (OREB%)
• Age

Relatively basic statistical data points that, when used in conjunction, do a surprisingly successful job at identifying big man prospects with the potential to be impactful defenders in the league. 

Historically, Lively’s draft age of 19.33 is young for a freshman and his DBPM of 6.5 is a remarkable outlier. Lively’s DBPM ranks in the top 25 of all college players since 2008, regardless of experience or class. It is only once you factor in his relative youth, the company surrounding him on that list and the difficulty of competition he faced at Duke that the magnitude of his success begins to come into focus.

Big men take time to become impactful defenders. That is a tried and true fact, something you will hear evaluators say a thousand times every draft cycle. It’s an incredibly nuanced and difficult job that takes  preternatural feel and anticipation to reach the highest levels of impact. 

Being not just a good, but a great defensive center as an 18 year old freshman playing for a high major school simply doesn’t happen. When someone is drastically ahead of their age curve in any aspect of development, that tends to be an indicator of outlier potential. 

Lively may not be an excellent defensive big man next year in the NBA, but his macro-level production and in-season improvement defending ball screens and reading the floor defensively make me incredibly confident in his ability to solve problems over the course of his development. 

The focus then turns to the opposite side of the court. When you are as talented of a defensive prospect as Lively, playing a position where defense is your primary avenue to impact, the equation for offensive success changes. You are no longer looking for the most dominant offensive player, but simply a player with potential avenues of contributing to effective offense. 

For Lively, his rim pressure as a lob threat and in the dunker spot should be immediately translatable. He will need to add significant size and strength, but that feels like an incredibly easy bet to make for someone with his age and frame. The non-dunk finishing will need to improve greatly, but playing in an offense with a dynamic creator on-ball and spacing on the wings would go a long way in opening up the court and providing Lively easier looks around the rim. 

When looking at previous big man prospects with poor non-dunk rim efficiency, Jalen Duren (53.3%) and Bam Adebayo (48.8%) were two that stuck out. Yes, both of those guys took a lot more shots and drew fouls at a much higher rate than Lively. 

With that said, all three were incredibly effective and proficient above-rim finishers. That is where their gravity comes from, vertical spacing and relentless strength attacking the rim. Lively is much thinner than both at this age but is strong for his frame and markedly taller than both. If he is able to catalyze that strength as he grows into his frame, most of these problems will fix themselves.  

The key point here is magnitude: Dereck Lively does not need to become an elite finisher to succeed. He simply needs to be good enough, when accounting for his above-rim finishing, to be a legitimate threat to score as a roller. That feels like a reasonable projection to make and one that could pay major dividends down the line. 

The offensive value of an effective rim runner is a nuanced thing, but something that can play a large role in creating a positive environment for developing creators. A good screener can be used in a variety of ways. Screens are set in just about every single possession, be it in a high pick and roll or to free an off ball shooter or to screen the man defending the screener of a different action. NBA teams love to set screens and despite how opaque it sounds, powerful and timely screen setting combined with quick processing and the sight-lines of a seven-footer make for a sneakily impactful offensive player to complement the defensive fireworks. 

That isn’t going to require some outlandish skill development or unlikely improvement. Lively was a much better passer than the numbers suggest, and the numbers were actually solid! Being able to put the ball on the deck out of a DHO, score in the post or stretch the floor would be an incredible development, none are a necessary one for Lively to truly hit as a prospect. Improved foul drawing, the strength to finish through contact, a reliable push shot in the paint: those are what will determine Lively’s success.

Like all good things in life development isn’t going to come easily, but it is far from an unreasonable task. There aren’t a multitude of areas that need to see vast development. The scope is much more narrow, and in turn the spotlight is that much brighter. 

Cultivating an environment suitable for that kind of growth will require structures in place to support him throughout the process. Those supports aren’t permanent, they are just meant to help guide the process during its most vulnerable phases. Dereck Lively has the foundation of skills to one day withstand even the most violent of earthquakes, he just needs time to establish his roots. 

The post Dereck Lively II and the Big Man Blues appeared first on Swish Theory.

For the Detroit Pistons, the scale was always going to be a little different than the rest of the league. Coming into the year there was hope for a step forward for a young core to maybe push towards the back end of the play-in, something like the seasons had by Oklahoma City and Indiana. 

Then, Cade Cunningham went down and everything changed. For each player or group of players, we have defined the goal of season goals in this longer-term framework, with an eye to creating a foundation for the future. In a rebuild, everyone is working towards different ends, making measuring by statistics or wins nearly impossible. Context matters, and often makes all the difference. 

However, before getting into the players, I would be remiss if I did not start with the now-former coach. 

Dwane Casey

Goal: Continue to develop and foster a Pistons culture

Result: Exceeded

Yes, Dwane Casey just coached the team that posted the worst record in the league by five games. Over the last four seasons, Detroit has won 80 games. Be that as it may, it is tough to look back on the job Casey did negatively. 

Were there times when veterans got more minutes than some fans would like? Certainly. But the list of players who showed clear improvement under his watch is notable. Christian Wood put together his best season, resulting in an eight-figure deal (he has since failed to click with any coach).  As you’ll see as we continue, many of the players that follow on this list took marked steps forward. 

Even more surprising, the culture spearheaded by Casey and general manager Troy Weaver is impressive given the utter lack of consistency due to injury or any sustained level of success. You could tell players were frustrated by losing, but it never boiled over. There were never any reports of discontent or infighting, a rarity for a young rebuild. Everyone seemed to be on the same page and just wanted each other to get better. Casey deserves credit for being that leader.

End of Rotation: Kevin Knox, Jared Rhoden, Stanley Umude, Braxton Key, Buddy Boeheim

Goal: G-League Fill-Ins

Result: N/A

Also known as the back end of the roster, this group just did not play enough to really measure much of anything. Four of the five played under 300 minutes in total. Kevin Knox saw far too many minutes for most early in the season, averaging 14.1 per game over 42 games.

This group of young players is the type of players you have on the back end of the roster. The point is to see if something pops. When so many players missed notable time throughout the season, they should be there to soak up more minutes.

Given that only Knox was able to push into the rotation under the circumstances tells you plenty about where they stand. There was no goal here. These players mostly filled in as G-League call-ups at the end of the bench. 

Nerlens Noel

Goal: Serviceable bench big

Result: Missed

Nerlens Noel logged similar minute totals to the previous group but does not have the excuse of being a younger player. After being part of the salary dump alongside Kemba Walker that netted the Pistons the pick that would become Jalen Duren, Noel really never fit with the team. 

Noel was thought of as a decent rim protector off the bench who may end up turning into a trade asset at the deadline for a team looking to fortify their front line. Instead, Noel suited up for just 14 games in the Motor City. He only played more than 20 minutes twice and never reached double figures in points or rebounds.

After there were no bites at the deadline, Noel took a buyout and played just three games in Brooklyn. This could be the end of the road for the former lottery pick. He has played just 42 games over the last two years for three different teams. He did not seem exceptionally bought into a mentorship role, either, so the avenues for continued employment may be drying up. 

RJ Hampton/Eugene Omoruyi

Goal: Show they belongs in the league

Result: Met

Two young players brought in for the stretch run of the season, both RJ Hampton and Eugene Omoruyi were looking to prove that they deserved a place in the league. Despite their varied paths, Hampton and Omoruyi showed that young players are not necessarily defined by their first steps. 

Hampton was a former five-star recruit. He has played for three teams over the last three seasons and continues to show flashes. His 27-point outburst in the last week of the season may have caught some eyes, he reached double figures in eight of his 21 games. Will he be a star? Doubtful, but he could be a solid fourth or fifth guard to provide a scoring spark.

Omoruyi was a little more of a surprise. Two different colleges. Undrafted in the 2021 draft. Four games as a rookie on a two-way contract for the Dallas Mavericks. This season, he was on the Oklahoma City Thunder for 23 games before landing in Detroit. 

After two successful 10-day contracts, the Pistons had to keep him for the rest of the season. Eight of his 17 games saw him score 10 or more points. He just looked comfortable. It would not be surprising to see him back on the roster next year. 

Cory Joseph/Rodney McGruder/Alec Burks

Goal: Take the next step as a veteran presence

Result: Exceeded

One of the more underrated aspects of a rebuild is finding veterans who are there to help build. They are not worried about their own output at the cost of a younger player. Helping that growth keeps them in the league and could eventually lead to something more. 

Cory Joseph has been here for three seasons, often feeling like an extension of his coach on and off the floor. Joseph is a more than suitable backup guard for most situations. With so many young guards on the team, having a leader in the locker room to help them grow in that role is essential. 

Rodney McGruder is the consummate professional. There have been stories written about how so many players consider him the dream teammate, most notably from James Edwards III at The Athletic. Having someone like him to be a sounding board for young teammates is how the season was able to not spin into drama like other rebuilds. 

Alec Burks had the most on-court impact this season of this trio. Once he was able to return from injury, Burks was a walking bucket. He was the 15th-best 3-point shooter in the league, nailing 41.4 percent of his 4.7 attempts. If the Pistons had made him available, he would have found himself contributing to a real team. Given their desire to push for competency next season, keeping him around makes complete sense. 

Cade Cunningham

Goal: Take the next step to stardom

Result: Incomplete

Come back to review Cade Cunningham next season. He only played in 12 games this season before finally addressing a long-standing injury. Averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while getting accustomed to two new high-usage teammates, however, is plenty of reason for optimism. 

Marvin Bagley III

Goal: Live up to the contract

Result: Missed

Plenty was made of the contract given to Marvin Bagley III last off-season. Troy Weaver had long been enamored with the former second-overall pick. After trading for him at the deadline last year, he was always going to be brought back. After signing a three-year $37.5 million, it was important for him to play up to that contract. 

This season was not that. Some of it is injuries. Between hand surgery and ankle issues, Bagley was limited to 41 games. However, even when he was in the lineup, consistency remained an issue. He would consistently put up numbers, like his 21-point, 18-rebound performance upon returning to the lineup, but the defense left plenty to be desired.

Given the lack of consistent rhythm, Bagley remains the key front-court prospect most likely to be moved. While a two-big system was the plan under Casey, it remains to be seen if Weaver will want that with his next coach. Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are unlikely to be displaced by Bagley. Wiseman, acquired at this year’s deadline, stands to get a continued look as well. Bagley has been fine. But is fine worth that price point as the team looks to improve?

Saddiq Bey

Goal: Find your role

Result: Missed, at least in Detroit

Probably the most disappointing Piston of the season, Saddiq Bey came in with lofty of expectations. As a rookie, he was a flamethrower from distance and looked to be a foundational building block. Last season he tried to do more to diversify his game and struggled overall. 

This season, it was more of the same. He continued to shoot 34 percent from distance and was inconsistent on defense. His role was compromised by the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic. Isaiah Livers fit the more limited role better while being cheaper. 

Bey has found his role more coming off the bench in Atlanta and will remain a what-if for Pistons fans. He was shooting just 24.3 percent from 10 to 16 feet this season, down three percent from a season ago. Since moving to the bench in Atlanta, that is up to 42.9 percent while he is shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Being the first first-round pick under Troy Weaver to be moved is an ignominious fate for Bey. Given how hot he was after his rookie season, this is not where anyone saw this going, moved at the deadline to take a chance on James Wiseman. However, by the time it happened, it made far too much sense.  

Hamidou Diallo:

Goal: Build toward his next deal

Result: Exceeded

I do not have to go much deeper into this. Two weeks ago I dove deep into Hamidou Diallo. For me, his goal this season was to garner a stronger foothold in the rotation and become an interesting free agent on the market this summer. Coming off his most efficient season finding a role to play should do just that. 

Isaiah Livers:

Goal: Become a rotation fixture

Result: Exceeded

Unless you were an avid participant of Pistons Twitter, your expectations for Isaiah Livers were likely not that high coming into the season. After playing just 19 games as a rookie you would have to have been a homer to expect Livers to become something to build upon. 

Livers, simply put, made Saddiq Bey expendable. Seeing real minutes saw his efficiency dip some, but he still converted from beyond the arc at a 36.4 percent clip. He continues to profile as one of the better defenders on the team, able to guard two through four reasonably. 

This will be essential if the team expects to turn the corner in any way next season. Only Bogdanovic and Burks were more effective floor spacers. The term “3-and-D” is overused but for a team building from the ground up, spacing is essential. For a team in the bottom five in defensive rating, having someone on the roster ready and willing to contribute on that end is required. Livers is a core piece for this franchise going forward. 

Bojan Bogdanovic:

Goal: Show he can contribute regardless of the situation

Result: Exceeded

The best player on the team for the largest chunk of the season, Bojan Bogdanovic surprised many. Those outside of the 313 likely figured he would be swapped out before long for draft compensation. 

Instead, Detroit signed the veteran to a two-year extension because of how much he embraced the situation. They needed a veteran player who brought it every night that could fit the young core. Bogdanovic does all of that. 

Posting the highest usage rate of his career (25.9) led to other career highs, specifically points (21.6) and assists (2.6). Even better, he was still extremely efficient, posting .488/.411/.884 shooting splits. Defense remained an issue, but with a tanking team that is part of the equation anyway. As the team looks to build a defense around the roster Bogdanovic will become even less of a liability. 

This was not supposed to be the usage level that Bojan faced this season. He was supposed to be a benefactor of Cunningham, not a usage-level replacement. The fact that he was able to shift into that when his younger teammate went out was a bright spot in a dark season.

James Wiseman:

Goal: Find a role

Result: Met

There was a varied response when Detroit traded for James Wiseman at the trade deadline. Some fans were bummed to see Saddiq Bey go. Others were intrigued by the potential of a former second-overall pick getting a change of scenery and opportunity. Plenty got off their jokes about too many centers. My initial reaction was documented here. 

The early returns on Wiseman are mostly positive. Starting 22 of 24 games, Wiseman averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds. He would be among the top 30 offensive rebounders in the league if his number in Detroit was his season-long mark. He even developed decent chemistry with rookie Jalen Duren, promising signs for a team intent on playing two bigs often. 

However, the future is still a question mark. This team will likely be looking to get minutes out of Duren, Wiseman, Bagley, and Isaiah Stewart in the paint, if not a potential number-one overall pick if the lottery smiles on Detroit. However, Wiseman showed that he plays well here and is willing to put in the work. Even if a move to the bench is more likely, there is a role for Wiseman here, which is a step forward. 

Isaiah Stewart:

Goal: Find his shot without losing other skills –

Result: Met

There have been whispers for a while that Isaiah Stewart could be a floor spacer. Given the changes to the roster, he would have to be. As a rookie, he played 100 percent of his minutes at center, followed by 98 percent in his second season. Any sort of change to playing with another big would be an adjustment. Furthermore, it would risk diminishing what he brings to the team.

Luckily, this concern was mostly assuaged. Splitting time between forward and center nearly evenly, Stewart was able to develop in what was a lost season for the franchise he played for. Part of this saw him attempt nearly double the 3-point attempts that he had taken over the combined first two seasons of his career. While his 32.7 percent conversion rate was below the league average, it is also somewhat misleading.  

He shot 36.6 percent from deep in the 2022 portion of the season, making the believers salivate. January saw him limited to nine games due to injury, and he shot just 11.5 percent. Despite making a third of his attempts in February, injuries ruined this mark. 

Stewart still showed enough to prove that this was something that could work. He and Duren make for a menacing paint presence, overflowing with muscle and verve. If he can continue to defend like a bulldog and space the floor just a bit, the ceiling is higher than some may imagine. 

Jalen Duren:

Goal: Earn real minutes, flash starter signs

Result: Exceeded

It is truly hard to remember that, at the beginning of the year, plenty were unsure if Duren would be able to force his way into the rotation. As the youngest player in the league, there were reasons to think he may start in the G-League. 

Instead, Duren looks to be a likely bet to make second-team All-Rookie. He was the best rebounder (8.9) among rookies and a top-five offensive rebounder (3.4) in the league overall. Also, he shot the eighth-best field goal percentage (64.8) in the league among players taking at least five shots per game.

Duren is offensively ahead of schedule. Mostly this is due to his game essentially being rim running, post-ups, and lobs. The defense needs work, but again, he is only 19. He missed the team’s primary playmaker for all but the first nine games of his career.

This is a prime example of why expectations matter for grading. For many players averaging 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds in 24 minutes per game would be a shrug. When it is the league’s youngest player who came in expected to be the third or fourth big on the team, the success is clear.  

Killian Hayes:

Goal: Locate the vicinity of his shot

Result: Met (kind of)

Inconsistency will forever remain the issue with Killian Hayes. Defense and passing came into the season as known skills. For him to prove that he was an actual NBA player worth investing time and money into, let alone a team that has Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and the potential of drafting Amen Thompson or Scoot Henderson, he had to find his shot.

Hayes was top 25 (6.2) in assists and steals (1.4). He also shot just 37.8 percent from the field and 28.0 percent from beyond the arc. Frustratingly, there were stretches where promise was shown. From November to the NBA Paris game, Hayes shot 35.7 percent on 4.0 3-point attempts per game. That is more than a third of the season. It looked like he had finally put it together. 

The after-Paris stretch was truly ruinous. Over the last 32 games, Hayes shot 21.1 percent beyond the arc. Yes, he posted the first consecutive 20-point games in his career to end the season, including a career-high 28-point outing. 

Hayes is up for a contract extension this offseason. If that hot stretch had continued throughout the year, that would have been a likely possibility. Now, it would be irresponsible for the Pistons to not play this out into next year’s restricted free agency. 

Jaden Ivey:

Goal: Be one of the top five rookies

Result: Met

This goal was pretty easily defined by his draft position. Jaden Ivey was taken fifth overall in the 2022 draft, so the hope was that one year in he would still be ranked around that level. There were up and downs as expected, but overall the early returns are impressive. 

Ivey finished third among rookies in scoring (16.3), first in assists (5.2), and third amongst guards in rebounding (3.9). After the All-Star break, he improved to 19.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while drilling 36.4 percent of his 3s. 

The absence of Cade Cunningham, while brutal for most of the roster, may have been the best thing for Ivey’s development as a rookie. He was able to see significant on-ball reps early and often. He spent time sharing the court with other guards, allowing him to see the game differently. With Cunningham coming back, he will be sharing the court with a different player than he saw after the first 12 games. 

As someone who was unsure of the fit coming in, consider this my mea culpa. Ivey proved he can play on- or off-ball. Cunningham showed that last season. The duo will be one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league in short order. Kudos to the Pistons for being able to boast that. 

The post Pistons Season Review: Assessing the Rebuild appeared first on Swish Theory.

It needed to be said because media and fans alike have done plenty of joking and stressing about the move made at the deadline. And yes, I know the team drafted a center in the lottery last season. I also know they traded for a former lottery mistake a deadline ago who stands nearly seven feet tall. I even remember that Isaiah Stewart exists. But still, James Wiseman gets a thumbs up.

Given all of those facts that people seem to think Troy Weaver forgot when he swapped Saddiq Bey for the 2020 second-overall pick, the move for James Wiseman still makes sense. There is something to be found here and Weaver seems determined to be the one to find it. Even better, it fits their consistent goal. Even if people do not like the idea of playing two bigger bodies at the same time, Detroit does want this. For a team that did not have a stated goal for the better part of the last 15 years, seeing them build to that goal is relieving.

A rebuild gets easier when there is a plan in place. The plan was going to take a few drafts and trade cycles for Troy Weaver to get that in place in full. After tearing down the roster to the studs, keeping size with a variety of skill sets has been the archetype.

The Vision

For better or worse, Detroit has been adamant since Troy Weaver came to town that they wanted to employ a diverse set of big men. It started in 2020 when they selected Isaiah Stewart in the first round. They followed that up with free agent signings of Jahlil Okafor and Mason Plumlee. Then in 2021, the team brought in Luka Garza, Marvin Bagley, and Kelly Olynyk. Finally, 2022 saw the drafting of Jalen Duren and the trade for Nerlens Noel. 

In case you did not notice, Weaver believes that it is possible to play multiple big men. Luka Garza and Kelly Olynyk were often tasked with being floor spacers while contributing very little on the defensive end. Marvin Bagley has found ways to be a play finisher, dipping into his bag, while at this point Duren has been mostly used as a rim runner. Nerlens Noel, who has played sparingly, is there for his defensive role as either a drop big or hedging and recovering. Wiseman would likely fit more into the drop role while Duren fits more into the latter. Stewart, meanwhile is a different animal overall: Isaiah has improved as a passer (his assists per game have doubled in February) while continuing to stretch the floor but can also bang in the paint. On defense he just bodies people, embodying the Bouncer role.

So far this season, per Cleaning The Glass, 18 different lineups have played for at least 50 possessions in the Motor City. The second most common configuration combined Stewart and Duren with Bojan Bogdanovic, Killian Hayes, and Jaden Ivey. Bagley replaces Duren for the third most common lineup. 

Overall four of their top 12 lineups played two of their three bigs. This would have likely been more had Bagley not been limited to 25 games due to injury. Casey and Weaver seem aligned in wanting skilled size to anchor them. Stewart has developed nicely, teasing a 3-point shot. Duren is a freak of a 19-year-old who never looks like the youngest player in the league. Part of this is because they are playing with lottery guards who are looking to get them into positions to succeed. Cade Cunningham coming back next year will boost that even more. 

Given this being the goal, it makes sense for Detroit to take a low-cost, high-reward swing on a talented big man. This would allow them to field a four-player platoon and play the same style even if they are in reserve-only lineups. Simplicity will be key in teaching all of these young players to play at an NBA level and this type of continuity fits that. 

But why Wiseman?

We are not far removed from a time when Troy Weaver was likely conniving behind the scenes to trade up to select the top target in his first draft where he was at the helm. His per-36-minute numbers jump off the sheet: 19.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 assists. Sure he has only exceeded 30 minutes in a game twice in his short career, but that is part of this too. 

If Wiseman starts the rest of the season and gets normal starter minutes (the current rumor), he would log almost three-quarters of his entire time spent in the Warriors lineup. Raw is the understatement of the year. Detroit has grown accustomed to taking chances of change-of-scenery candidates since the commitment to losing and rebuilding was clear. Wiseman is the biggest swing, but he could be exactly what they needed. 

Given the chance to be a better Marvin Bagley III is both a doable goal and a reasonable request. Wiseman could be the lob threat that Killian Hayes has dreamed about since being drafted. More than half of Wiseman’s shots this season have come within five feet of the basket. More than 80 percent of his baskets have been assisted. 

His growth gives him a chance to pair with Hayes and Jaden Ivey this year, as well as Cunningham (and maybe Scoot Henderson?) next year. There is no pressure here. Detroit is going to lose most of the rest of its games.  Wiseman does not have to worry about the hook coming for him here. 

The Fit

For anyone worried about what this means for Jalen Duren, they are missing the point. Duren and Stewart have paired well together and will likely be played together plenty. Wiseman, if he starts, will get to pair with Stewart and/or Bogdanovic. This will give him space to work with. From here, Detroit should essentially hitch Wiseman’s minutes to Bojan. If the pair comes out, in comes Duren and either Hamidou Diallo, Alec Burks, or Isaiah Livers. 

This does not necessarily have to cut into Duren’s minutes. While it is unlikely Wiseman and Duren share the floor much (unless Wiseman starts drifting out to shoot more often), there is plenty of minutes opened up by the departure of Saddiq Bey. Bey slotted in as a power forward in two of the top seven most-used lineups this season. This can easily be turned into pairings with either Bagley or Stewart alongside Duren or Wiseman. Focusing on developing both of these young bigs should not be a problem.

Giving Wiseman ample time with Hayes and Bogdanovic will give him space to work with and smart passers to enable him. When he is on the floor with Stewart, he will have help on both sides of the floor down low. Hayes will likely be the best point-of-attack defender he has played with yet. 

That being said, the defense will be bad. The losses will pile up. That too is okay. Detroit is not bringing James Wiseman in expecting him to turn them into a contender tomorrow. He is perfect to grow with them, not for them. That is a distinction that he has never been able to appreciate.

Am I being too optimistic? Most Pistons fans would be screaming yes. They are tired of seeing centers and Ls. However, I appreciate that at long last we have a leadership group committed to a vision and taking chances. James Wiseman is a chance worth taking that fits the vision.

The post Why Adding James Wiseman Was the Right Move appeared first on Swish Theory.

The rocky, possibly suspicious, return of Gary Payton II (which I covered here) all but solidifies their potential playoff rotation. One of the best starting units in the league is now augmented by Jordan Poole, GP2, Donte DiVincenzo, Jonathan Kuminga. You could argue it’s an upgrade over last year’s rotation that brought home a fourth championship for the Steph Curry/Klay Thompson/Draymond Green core.

But the Warriors still sit at 28-27, sitting at the 9th seed and one game away from being out of the play-in or completely out of the playoffs. Every move on the margins is crucial. They have their iron man center in Kevon Looney, but some additional depth in the big man room would be very welcome. Let’s explore some potential options as the buyout market unfolds in the coming days.

Already Bought Out

These are the players who have been moved at the deadline and subsequently waived by acquiring teams, so they could be on the roster tomorrow if Warriors GM Bob Myers so chooses.

Dewayne Dedmon

The summary of my pitch for Dedmon comes down to this:

Besides Theragun-Gate, Dedmon has been a largely serviceable big for Miami over the past few years. Quality rebounding ability and providing enough shot deterrence to get by will get you something defensively. His 47.7 dFG% places him just above the bell curve amongst centers in the league this season. As a staunch drop big, he’s very attackable in the pick-and-roll, with nearly 70% of the offense generated against coming from PNR ballhandlers per Synergy Stats. His 1.04 PPP mark places him in the 17th percentile of the league, so…not great. But if you’re looking for an innings eater, it could be worse.

The current state of the roster could help mask his deficiencies. If 3/4ths of the bench wings trying to navigate screens above your drop are GP2, Donte, and Kuminga, it won’t look as bad on the defensive end of the floor. And if he’s cleaning up a high rate of rebounds to finish off defensive possessions, he could work himself toward being an average contributor on that end.

On the offensive side of the floor, being an above-the-break floor spacer brings a ton of value to this roster. Taking those higher-difficulty threes and making them at an above-average clip is not only good offense, but draws potential help defenders on drives away from the corner. Screening and popping back to the arc gives their rim pressure threats a cleaner lane and an easy outlet to boot. His playmaking isn’t a plus, but he’s done a fine job keeping the ball moving at times.

He’s been a serviceable roll and cut big, generating nearly 50% of his possessions in those scenarios, so he can fit into the system in the halfcourt. His 33-year-old legs don’t offer much in transition, but these are buyout guys we are talking. Nobody is perfect.

As a bonus, Dedmon would be coming back to the team he began his career with as an undrafted free agent from USC, making a brief four-game cameo with Golden State in 2013 while playing largely with the Sea Dubs. He’s an outer Los Angeles native, so it could be an extra incentive to come to the Bay.

Verdict: Sign him

Serge Ibaka

Despite being a shade younger than Dedmon, Ibaka is in a whole different tier of “over the hill”

Once upon a time, Ibaka was one of the more athletic players in the league, capable of ridiculous dunks and blocks on a nightly basis. But at 33 years old, that athleticism is all but gone.

In his first 5 years in the league, 15% of his field goals came via the dunk. That number has dropped to 8.8% over the past five seasons. Granted, shooting more is a factor here, but the man who once did this is no more:

(sorry for using a Westbrook stan account for content)

This year also brings the lowest defensive rebounding percentage and combined steal + block rate of his career. The impact defender that once was is also no longer there. In fact, he’s become a very clear negative, which is just unfortunate to see.

You’re probably thinking “hey, Dedmon is a negative defender and you’re in favor, what gives?”. The main point is the defensive rebounding rate. Ibaka’s 12.1% share rates him in the 14th percentile amongst bigs per Cleaning the Glass. That’s not going to cut it for a team that needs extra juice on the defensive glass. If he can’t clean up possessions or get stops, he can be a major liability even in a system capable of masking big-man defensive flaws.

His one saving grace is the floor spacing. The 38.7% mark on above-the-break threes over the past two seasons brings a similar utility to Dedmon and provides the same benefits for other players in terms of taking help away from drive threats. Unfortunately, that’s about where the utility ends.

He’s been one of the worst cutting bigs in the league over the past two years, and not for a lack of trying. There is still a bit of roll-man juice there, but the Warriors are second to last in the league in terms of roll-man possessions in the league per nba.com. One or two possessions a game aren’t going to make much of a difference, and if he’s not fitting into what they ask of other bigs, I don’t see him being much of a halfcourt scoring contributor outside of the occasional pick-and-pop or catch-and-shoot three.

He’s also pretty rough as a playmaker. His assist percentage has come in under 5% in the past two seasons, amongst the bottom 10% of bigs. Coupled with an assist/usage ratio under 0.4, he’s neither a willing playmaker nor a good one. Expecting him to run DHOs and pass out of the post would be a mistake, another knock on his overall system fit. A negative ATO across those two years would only exacerbate the turnover woes that have plagued the Warriors all year.

In short, Ibaka would likely hurt more than he helps on both ends of the floor. If they’re looking for a guy to be competent enough to eat minutes, this is not the place to look.

Verdict: Don’t sign

Unlikely Buyouts

Dario Šarić

On the other side of the potential playmaking coin is Dario Šarić. He’s posted the highest assist percentage and assist/usage ratio of his career during his time in Phoenix this season, ranking in the 87th and 79th percentile respectively amongst bigs. It’s coupled with a below-average turnover ratio, but his 1.35 ATO over his three-year stint in Phoenix is certainly a plus addition.

Much like the previous two players, his main scoring utility comes on above-the-break threes. Roughly 30% of his total FGA with Phoenix came from that range, making 36% of those looks. He’s never been a high-level rim finisher or attacker, a stretch big to the truest definition. Once again, he’s there to create a spaced floor for the drivers on the bench, and can do so adequately.

His performances at Eurobasket over the summer showed a player capable of contributing in a variety of ways in addition to post passing and shooting. Taking players off the drive, attacking closeouts, running solid PNRs. There could be more there than we’ve previously seen in the league.

Šarić’s numbers this year in terms of overall offensive contribution have been middling, but his July 2021 ACL tear has certainly played a role. Prior to that, he was a very solid transition player (albeit with 5th percentile frequency) who contributes with cuts and spot-up looks with the occasional roll man look. Bringing that diverse skillset to the motion offense would be a welcome addition.

Though he’s never been a great rim protector, never clearing the 13th percentile in block rate over his six-year career, Šarić has shown a decent ability to pilfer the ball in recent years. His smarts, length, and quick hands give him some ability to make big defensive plays.

He’s not quite the rebounder that the previous two can be, but has been 49th percentile or higher on defensive rebounding percentage over the past three seasons, so he can hold his own there. The lack of overall defensive impact will again be masked by the defensive quality of their rotation, and the overall offensive utility and ball-moving skill make up for it in the aggregate.

Of all reasonable buyout options, this might just be my favorite.

Verdict: Sign, Sign, Sign

Kevin Love

Unfortunately, it seems a Love buyout is unlikely, and that comes straight from the horse’s mouth:

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t explore the option in depth regardless, as he would be the biggest home run of any potential signings. I already broke down that possibility earlier in the week, and you can read it here:

Suffice it to say, Love would be amazing, but don’t get your hopes up.

Verdict: Cross your fingers

Nerlens Noel

The unlikeliness of this buyout is almost entirely due to money. Between the three non-pipe dream buyouts previously mentioned (Šarić, Dedmon, Ibaka) is $16.8M in total salary for this season with no money on the books for next season. Noel’s club option for next season brings the total of his two-year deal to $18.8M. Detroit has a glut of young centers they want to figure out, so Noel seems like he’s been squeezed from the rotation. But he probably doesn’t want to fork over money to hit free agency with that club option likely to be declined.

It also seems like odd business to

That being said, Noel represents perhaps the best buyout option with a chance to hit the market.

The defensive impact would be the main reason. Though a middling defensive rebounder (no higher than 44th percentile over his previous four seasons), his ability to create chaos plays from the paint would help create more stops and transition possessions for the offense. He has been no lower than 93rd percentile in steal percentage for his career, with great anticipatory timing to dig ballhandlers, front the post at the last second, or flash his hands in the passing lanes to create deflections.

He has also posted a block rate no lower than the 87th percentile over the past five seasons, consistently affecting shots in drop coverage. Last year, when Noel last got consistent minutes, he posted a borderline elite dFG% of 52.3%. Amongst centers to meet his 22.5 MPG threshold, here are the players who bested that dFG% in order: Isaiah Stewart, Jarrett Allen, Robert Williams III, Jaren Jackson Jr., Rudy Gobert, and Brook Lopez. Nic Claxton is another notable name who just missed the minutes-per-game mark.

Besides the random appearance by Stew, that is a who’s who of the elite defensive bigs in the league. Noel even being close to their company is very impressive. That would be a great addition to a defensive unit that is only trending up.

His offensive utility is below the level of the previously mentioned players (though Ibaka is similarly inflexible). He’s not going to space the floor, as his 15 career 3PA would confirm. Largely known for having stone hands offensively, Noel still puts himself in good spots while in a low-usage role. 75% of his total offense last year came from cuts, putbacks, and roll-man looks. Even if the finishing rates aren’t high, a player who knows what he is and doesn’t need post-up touches to create would fit into their current usage patterns.

Though a bit different from these others in terms of defensive utility/scheme versatility and overall offensive pliability, I think Noel should be considered the best mix of attainable and useful in a low-minute role.

Verdict: Get this man on the team ASAP!!!

Thaddeus Young

In a surprising turn of events, the Toronto Raptors turned from hard sellers to soft buyers at the deadline, bringing Jakob Poeltl back into the fold after parting ways in the Kawhi Leonard trade. This move pushes Precious Achiuwa to the bench, leaving promising rookie Christian Koloko and former Sea Dub Chris Boucher to fight for leftover minutes in the big man room. This seemingly leaves Thaddeus Young, acquired for a first-round pick at last year’s deadline, on the outs.

And though the Raptors seem to have confidence in their ability to rise in an Eastern Conference weakened by the Brooklyn fire sale, it’s possible that Young does not agree, and the 34-year-old may work out an agreement to find a more realistic contender.

The first thing that sticks out is his utility as a passer in this offense. A lot of the minutes he could potentially see in Golden State would come in the five spot, where his extra dose of playmaking would be welcome. Over his past three seasons, Young has turned in assist percentages no lower than the 79th percentile amongst bigs, and his assist/usage stats are even better. The highlights are nothing to sneeze at either:

His craftiness in a handoff role, passing both from the perimeter and out of the post would fit seamlessly into a system full of cutters and movement shooters. The synergy there would be incredible.

Thad has never been a scorer by trade, but the utility on that end has really diminished. His reduced athleticism has led to a steep decline in transition production. In the halfcourt, it’s not much prettier. He’s a poor roll and cut big, ranking in the 10th percentile or lower in both categories over the past two seasons. The good news is that Golden State has more than enough scoring to make up for it, and the offensive rebounding/passing combination is enough for him to get by.

On the defensive end, the main selling point is the steals. Thad’s steal rate hasn’t dropped below the 93rd percentile since the 2011/12 season, two whole presidents ago. Before being squeezed from the rotation, he was putting up some very impressive numbers:

Though not the perimeter defender he once was, Thad is still very good playing at the level on screens, with enough quickness and timing to make recoveries after stunting ballhandlers as you see here:

Young isn’t quite an impact rebounder, limiting his ability to contribute if getting minutes at the center spot. When playing at the center spot over the past two seasons, he’s been a 13th percentile defensive rebounder. That’s a tough obstacle to overcome for a bench lacking in size.

On the whole, the ability to create event plays and hold up on the perimeter could keep him above water defensively in this scheme. Combined with the passing chops and some floor spacing on the offensive side of the floor, he represents a solid enough depth addition.

Verdict: Sign if no other options present themselves

Free Agents

Hassan Whiteside

Unfortunately, being “ready are not” is the main question when it comes to Whiteside.

I’d argue that Hassan gets far too much hate from casual NBA fans. He can be a tad unserious at times, but is endearingly goofy. Seriously, how can you hate this man?

But readiness is the real concern here. After a cameo in Utah last season backing up Rudy Gobert, Whiteside has been in street clothes the entire season. And considering two thirds of the season have come and gone, can he #rampup his conditioning fast enough while learning a new system to make a regular season contribution?

Let’s just assume he comes ready to play on day one, fit enough for a sparing backup role. He’s as true a drop big as they come, much like Dewayne Dedmon. Granted, Dedmon hasn’t led the league in blocked shots and rebounds like Hassan has, but that lack of defensive system fit only makes the hurdles toward success higher.

But the value of a player who could inhale boards and spike shots into the upper level from the gun cannot be overstated. Even if a bit stiff and past his physical prime, Hassan would do a lot in the way of cleaning up what the other bench players cannot. And, *beats dead horse*, the personnel could hopefully mask his lack of switchability and hesitancy to play at the level of the screen. A rejection per game and a handful of boards could go a long way in limited minutes.

Luckily, his rebounding prowess isn’t just limited to one end of the floor. He was a 95th percentile offensive rebounder last season in Utah and could help Golden State tip the second chance scales in their favor. He’s no playmaker by any stretch of the imagination, which brings serious limitations to his pliability in the system. But in addition to being excellent on the glass, he can be a strong roll and cut big, one who boasted a 78% finishing mark around the rim last season.

The offensive utility may be limited, but an extra lob threat who finished in the 92nd percentile in half-court scoring efficiency could find himself contributing on that end as well.

All this assumes he is physically fit enough to contribute, or even wants to play. But if the Warriors find themselves getting the cold shoulder from the buyout market, they could do worse with that 15th roster spot, since it’s currently going to waste.

Verdict: Break glass in case of emergency

Despite the strange news regarding the Gary Payton II trade, a depth big remains the biggest priority. None of these names are the sexiest additions, and buyout players don’t win you championships as the Warriors hope to accomplish yet again. Yet the importance of depth and maximizing the margins of the roster cannot be overstated, and there are options out there. The question is: will Golden State seize the chance to improve?

The post Exploring the Big Man Buyout Market appeared first on Swish Theory.