G9.
Pistons GM
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Quick peek into the upcoming Free Agency class.
Small Forwards
Dontrez Styles
C+ A- C- B+ C+
32 yo
Career Stats:
28.2MPG 13.2PPG 6.1RPG 1.7APG 0.8SPG 0.3BPG 1.1TOPG
45% FG, 76% FT, 39% 3PT
Last Season Stats:
34.4MPG 15.1PPG 7.9RPG 1.7APG 1.2SPG 0.4BPG 1.2TOPG
45% FG, 77% FT, 41% 3PT
Headlining the potential small forward class is Dontrez Styles ... who isn't much of a headliner. Rather, Styles has been a consistent glue guy since 2028. Since '28 he has had five different stints with four different teams, including a one-year Championship winning stint with the Denver Nuggets in 2032. During that stint, Greeme and Jon used Styles exactly as he is intended: as a glue guy. Styles spent a few sims starting for Denver, but his most important contributions came during his time coming off the bench at the 3, 2, and 1. Since joining the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2034, Styles has produced on both ends of the court and as a leader in the locker room. He will be 32 years old in the off-season and looking to sign one final long-term contract. Don't expect him to be a leading scoring option, but he is certainly worth ~>15M/yr.
Patrick Baldwin Jr.
B- A- C C+ C-
32 yo
Career Stats:
34.2MPG 17.1PPG 5.9RPG 3.1APG 1.6SPG 0.4BPG 2.6TOPG
45% FG, 79% FT, 41% 3PT
Last Season Stats:
31.7MPG 15.7PPG 6.1RPG 2.7APG 1.2SPG 0.3BPG 1.7TOPG
46% FG, 81% FT, 39% 3PT
For over a decade Patrick Baldwin Jr. tried to be "that dude" in Brooklyn. Drafted #1 overall 13 seasons ago by the Nets, PBJ tried his absolute hardest to bring a Championship to the city. Despite all his efforts, PBJ's best seasons often resulted in 2nd round exits. After a one-year stint on a miserable NY Knicks team, PBJ decided it was time to ring chase and demanded a trade. The Chicago Bulls ponied up and sent a decent package to NY for the former top draft pick. On the tail-end of his career, PBJ now finds himself "ring chasing." Expect that trend to continue in the off-season, as he either a) demands a large contract from Chicago or b) gets one elsewhere. Careful though, PBJ is a shell of his former self and his defensive effort has been significantly decreasing for years now.
Terrence Clarke
A- C+ C+ B D+
32 yo
Career Stats:
31.3MPG 14.5PPG 4.0RPG 3.3APG 1.9SPG 0.5BPG 1.9TOPG
44% FG, 65% FT, 33% 3PT
Last Season Stats:
33.2MPG 15.1PPG 3.1RPG 3.4APG 1.5SPG 0.5BPG 1.8TOPG
44% FG, 61% FT, 32% 3PT
I really do not know where to start with Terrence Clarke... 13 years in the league, 8 different teams. He has played SF, SG, and PG. Career highs of 39 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals. 3 All-Defensive 2nd Teams. Seasons where he has averaged >50% FG. Seasons where he has averaged ...40% FG. He cannot really shoot, technically speaking, but that does not stop him from trying. If you do sign Terrence Clarke, expect him to shoot the ball >15 times per game and be a hustler on defense. He moves quickly up and down the court, seeking those Fast Break moments where he really thrives. Similarly to Richard Howell (Potential FA C), Terrence Clarke will at the very least provide you some fun options with your depth charts. Multiple GM's have had fun attempting to maximize upon Terrence's intriguing "A-" inside scoring.
Wendell Alexis
C+ B D+ B+ C+
26 yo
Career Stats:
24.4MPG 9.7PPG 5.9RPG 1.0APG 0.6SPG 0.5BPG 1.2TOPG
43% FG, 73% FT, 33% 3PT
Last Season Stats:
22.8MPG 7.5PG 6.1RPG 0.9APG 0.8SPG 0.4BPG 1.7PG
44% FG, 68% FT, 23% 3PT
Wendell Alexis, our first intriguing potentially expiring rookie-contract, and our first SF who came in as a true PF. Wendell's defense and rebounding mirror those of the aforementioned glue guy, Dontrez Styles. Alexis entered BSL as a Power Forward in the 2032 draft but management and coaches swiftly moved him to the 3 in hopes of developing a wing during BSL's wing drought. He has performed ... okay as a Small Forward and could easily continue to start at the position. His flexibility and ability to move him up the depth chart to PF or even C make Alexis quite enticing. His shooting certainly needs work, but if Alexis can continue to develop (even if marginally), he could see a career arc very similar to Dontrez Styles and it may be worth offering him a long-term contract.
Len Bias
B C C B B-
26 yo
Career Stats:
30.3MPG 13.6PPG 7.6RPG 2.0APG 1.0SPG 0.4BPG 1.6TOPG
44% FG, 80% FT, 24% 3PT
Last Season Stats:
30.6MPG 11.8PG 7.6RPG 1.5APG 0.9SPG 0.4BPG 1.4TOPG
43% FG, 84% FT, 32% 3PT
Rounding out the top 5 potential Small Forward Free Agents is former #1 overall pick, Len Bias. Bias was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers 3 seasons ago with "A" potential and B C C- B C+ ratings. Since draft night Len Bias has gone +2, with improvements to his handling and defense. Exciting? Right? ... Or, maybe not. By the end of his second year in Los Angeles, Bias found himself riding the bench. His offense was ugly and his defense lackluster. Something was slipped into NY Knicks GM's drink or something, as we saw them trade the dope wing SF Jalen Weaver for Bias in 2034, and we now see them back on the trade market in search of a dope wing. Nonetheless, expect Bias to attract some hefty bids in Free Agency. Vancouver Grizzlies GM has been after Bias since draft night. As the #1 selection was being made in 2032, Donkey offered the Clippers a record-breaking number of draft picks for the rights to draft Bias. With >60M cap space and nothing to lose, expect the Grizzlies to launch the bag at Len. I'm not sure if anyone else should follow.
See Also:
Keldon Johnson
Nassir Little
Aminu Mohammed
AJ Griffin Jr.
Deshaun Thomas
Jack Marin
Dar Tucker
Bonzi Wells
James Bell
Kyree Walker
Ryan Minor
Samuell Williamson
Rodney Cooper
Terren Frank
Jeff Nordgaard
Brandon Ingram
Buck Johnson
Janis Timma
Gediminas Orelik
Donatas Sabeckis
Sava Lesic
Todd Blanchfield
Darko Jukic
Sebastian Koch
