Seven Sleepers To Watch In NBA Free Agency

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2015/06/30/seven-sleepers-to-watch-in-nba-free-agency/



Seven sleepers to watch in NBA free agency
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By Neil Greenberg June 30 at 10:42 AM  






Charlotte Hornets’ Bismack Biyombo (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)


You know LeBron James, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol are going to be among the top players available in the free agent pool, but every offseason there are a handful of players who fly under the radar and still make an impact on their club.

[2015 NBA Free Agent rankings: Top 50 headlined by James, Aldridge, Love]

Here are a few names to keep an eye on:


Bismack Biyombo, C

Biyombo, a 6-foot-9 center, played in 64 games and averaged 4.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19.4 minutes in his fourth season with the Hornets.

His 6.3 block percentage was the third highest among players who appeared in at least 70 games or had at least 100 blocks.



Biyombo’s total rebound percentage of 18 was 18th highest among that same group.



Jonas Jerebko, PF

Jerebko flourished after being moved to Boston, averaging 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while burying 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts. He has a great jump shot (52.4 effective field goal percentage) and is a threat to score on the catch-and-shoot while guarded (0.9 points per play) or unguarded (1.5 points per play).

He’s also an excellent defender, keeping opponents to scoring just 32.1 percent off the time for a low 0.7 points per play. And Jerebko’s versatility allows him to defend a myriad of plays run against him:




Alexis Ajinca, C

Ajinca turned in his best season since entering the league in 2008: 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 55 percent from the field.



Shotchart_1435668487029
Alexis Ajinca shot chart, 2014-15 regular season


The 7-foot center is gifted offensively, producing 1.1 points per play when a screen was set for him on the pick and roll and 1.1 points per play with his back to the basket. Defensively, however, he needs some work.

Ajinca allowed opponents to shoot 52.3 percent at the rim and yielded 0.9 points every time the opposing player posted up to the basket. He was able to shut down players one on one, allowing them to score 27.3 percent of the time for just 0.6 points per play.


Will Barton, SG

Barton made the most of his opportunity after being traded by Portland to Denver, averaging 11 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 28 games with the Nuggets.

The Baltimore native was good in one-on-one matchups (1.1 points per play, including passes) and could help a team looking to get better in transition. Barton scored 1.1 points per play overall and was dangerous on either the left-wing (1.3 points per play) or right-wing side (1.1 points per play).


Darrell Arthur, PF

The Denver Nuggets were 9.6 points per 100 possessions better defensively this season with Arthur in the lineup and he held opponents to 0.9 points per play when he was called on to defend in the post.

The biggest challenge is staying on the court: Arthur has played fewer than 70 games in five of his seven NBA seasons.


Alan Anderson, SG

Anderson has spent the last two seasons in Brooklyn, where he averaged 7.3 points and shot 34.3 percent from beyond the three-point line. He was also a capable defender: the Nets were 6.7 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him than without during the regular season.

The 32-year-old can also provide an offensive boost by spotting up opponents, where he scored an above average 1.2 points per play. And Anderson did it driving right (1.0 points per play), left (1.0) and up the middle (0.9).


Kevin Seraphin, C

Seraphin has an array of moves around the basket which could give opponents fits – scoring 0.8 points per play posting up opponents. Defensively, he held opponents 4.4 percentage points below their shooting average within six feet of the basket.


Kevin Seraphin - Defending

Points per play stats from Synergy Sports



bob



.

I loved what Jonas brought to the party last season.  Unfortunately, he's more of a support player, and the Celtics need PF to be a major impact position in at least one end of the court and preferably both.

Sam