Overview: A veteran combo guard who is light years away at this point from being a franchise player. Was once an imposing athlete, but a series of injuries have relegated him to minor roles on the teams hes played for recently. Pretty tall and very strong for a point guard. Used to have an extremely quick first step and first-class leaping ability. Had the ability to score at will off the dribble. Seems to have lost much of his explosiveness. Has never played a full season, but has missed more games than usual in recent years. Possesses the versatility to still be a nice role player as he uses the season to get back into shape. Has proven capable of putting up great numbers. Had a nice college career despite spending time at two community colleges and a single season at Maryland. Won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2000. Three time All-Star. May not have the mindset to function as merely a role player. Needs to show that he can play within a team concept and defer to teammates in order to receive a chance to return to form.
Offense: A once dynamic offensive player who has seen his role limited in recent seasons. Gets a quarter of his offense from pick and rolls with another quarter coming from spot up situations. Sees another third of his touches on fast breaks and in one-on-one isolations. Good ball handler and passer, but is incredibly turnover prone. Doesnt always make the best decisions with the ball. Was never a great shooter, but isnt as good now as he used to be, partially due to knee and quad injuries. Isnt much of a factor from three point range. Will knock down midrange shots with solid consistency though. Much more effective off the dribble. Can create separation without a lot of trouble. Doesnt finish as well as he used to, but can still get to the rim for easy baskets. Used to get to the free throw line at a great rate. Used to be more efficient across the board. It will be interesting to see how he plays once he rebounds from his recent injury problems.
Defense: Very capable and very aggressive defender in spurts. Has the athleticism to really be a nuisance, but injuries have decreased his ability to deny penetration to an extent. Can defend the shooting guard spot defending on the match up. Doesnt make a lot of plays off the ball. Wont always stay in good position when his man makes a move. Will create turnovers with his quick hands and ability to jump into passing lanes. Very good shot blocker for a point guard due to his leaping ability. Rebounds well for the same reason. Shows good intensity when it counts, but doesnt always play up to his potential.
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