FanPost

Two low cost suggestions for the PF spot

Here are two guys that I think could help the Nets to improve that PF spot.

Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans Hornets

2.3 steals, 2.7 blocks, 0.3 charges taken per 40 minutes (5.4 total defensive plays p40; 3rd among qualified players)

Ayon, 26, has been one of the most intriguing surprises of this year’s rookie class. He does not exactly have a world of potential, but Ayon plays within himself and covers the court exceptionally well. His understanding of defensive footwork and angles is perhaps best described as Varejao-ian, though Ayon seems to put more of a premium on strong shot contests than positional charge-drawing.

Brandan Wright, Dallas Mavericks

1.1 steals, 4.1 blocks, 0.0 charges taken per 40 minutes (5.2 defensive plays p40; 5th among qualified players)

Injuries and poor fit did well to mask Wright’s athleticism in Golden State and New Jersey, but the 24-year-old big man has been an unexpectedly dynamic asset for the Mavericks this season. Wright’s finishing ability may be his best short-term skill, but his defense has come a long way in the Mavs’ system; there is still ample room for improvement in Wright’s defensive rotations, but his length and willingness to challenge shots in the paint have made the learning curve much less daunting.

http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/singing-the-praises-of-five-unsung-defenders/

Ayon:

Why he could be available: Frustration with playing time.

Traded from the Orlando Magic to the Milwaukee Bucks this season, he's found little playing time behind a deep frontcourt. It's frustrating for Ayon, who simply wants to contribute. The Bucks hold a $1.5 million player option for next season, and coach Jim Boylan likes what he sees so far. Still, the future is unknown. "Without stability and regular playing time I find it hard to motivate myself," Ayon told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I want to be playing, not sitting on the bench. If in a year my contract runs out and I am not playing here I would return to Europe."

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/bucks-gustavo-ayon-is-nbas-only-mexicanborn-player-6d99098-199717851.html

Per game averages: 12.9 mpg 3.6 ppg 3.2 rpg 1.3 apg 0.4 spg 0.3 bpg

Per 36 minutes: 10.0 ppg 9.0 rpg 3.7 apg 1.1 spg 0.9 bpg

Best game of the season: Feb 10 vs Portland - 16 pts 11 rebs 6 ast 1 stl 1 blk

What MagicBasketball.net has to say about him:

The first thing that meets the eye with Ayon, as mentioned, is his smart play. Ayon rarely does the things he’s bad at — 60 percent of his shots came in the immediate basket area, where he converted 65.4 percent of his attempts, as he left his jumper in the closet more often than not. This definitely seems like the right decision, as he shot only 36.5 percent away from the basket all year.

The best thing about Ayon offensively, though, is his passing. Ayon has fantastic court vision, and is great at both recognizing who has been left open by an over-eager help defender, and who lost his man cutting to the rim. His 1.4 assists per night don’t seem impressive, until you remember that he is a big man who only played roughly 20 minutes a game. His 18.1 assist percentage, conversely, is fantastic for a power forward.

Defensively, Ayon is very effective. He positions himself well, grabbing 19.3 percent of all available defensive rebounds, and his hands are constantly active, to the tune of about a steal and a block every night. His size prevents him from being bullied down low — MySynergySports ranked him as the 91st-best post defender in the league –- and his speed enables him to close out well on shooters or stay with drives. He can even occasionally switch onto guards in pick-and-roll situations without embarrassing himself.

http://www.magicbasketball.net/2012/07/24/getting-to-know-gustavo-ayon/

Brandan Wright:

Why he could be available: Unrestricted free agent. Current salary: $990k

Per game averages: 16.7 mpg 7.9 ppg 3.8 rpg 0.6 apg 0.4 spg 1.0 bpg

Per 36 minutes: 17.1 ppg 8.1 rpg 1.3 apg 0.8 spg 2.2 bpg

Best game of the season: Mar 22 vs Bos - 23 pts 8 rebs 1 stl 1 blk

What The Two Man Game had to say about him:

This could easily be called “The Brandan Wright Game” (23 points on 11 for 16 shooting, eight rebounds). Though his best offensive game as a Maverick was exciting to watch, I remain impressed by his growth as a help defender and rebounder. Early in the season he would challenge anything within 15 feet of the bucket, often leaving his man for the offensive rebound. Wright’s much more selective in his challenges as of late, and it has helped improved the Maverick’s rebounding ability. His on ball defense has improved as well. In the fourth quarter, Wright made a brilliant strip/steal of Jeff Green on a fast break attempt that he passed to Darren Collison as he was falling out of bounds. Collison drove the length of the floor for a pull up jumper. That strip/steal is not a play Brandan Wright makes at the start of the season.

http://www.thetwomangame.com/2013/03/mavericks-vs-celtics-2013/

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