Utah Jazz Free Agency: Potential Center Targets
By Ryan Aston
Marrese Speights
2015-16 stats: 7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 0.8 apg, .432 fg%, .825 ft%, 17.1 PER
When I went through this exercise last offseason, Marreese Speights was one of my favorite free agent centers on the market. Although some of his numbers dipped this season, I still feel the same way one year later.
In terms of scoring punch, Speights is one of the best bang-for-your-buck big men in the Association. In 2015, he averaged 10 points in just 15 minutes per game for the Warriors. With the emergence of Festus Ezeli and less minutes to go around this year, his average dropped to seven points per game.
While he posted the second-lowest field goal percentage of his career this season, he did manage to display a previously unforseen ability to hit from deep. Speights made nearly 39 percent of a career-high 64 three-point attempts during the 2015-16 regular season. I’m not saying he’s the next Sam Perkins or anything, but it’s worth noting.
The trade-off with Speights comes on the defensive side of the ball. Even at his best, he’s not going to lock anyone down or provide you with crazy, weakside shot-blocking. What he will do, though, is get you buckets.
Something the Jazz bench sorely needs
Next: Ian Mahinmi