Free Agent Dark Horse: Evan Turner

People seem to be fantasizing too much. All the talk that is currently being heard among NBA fans is his or her team’s odds of signing Kevin Durant or DeMar DeRozan. Not to be misunderstood, either one of these amazing athletes coming to Atlanta would be spectacular in every aspect. But, Hawks fans cannot forget about the other free agents that would be a perfect fit for the team. Out of all the worthy players, Evan Turner seems to be the most beneficial to the Hawks.

Player Profile: Evan Turner

• 6’7” / 207lbs
• SF/PG
• 27 years old
• Career: 10.1 ppg

At Ohio State, Evan Turner was thought of as a potential NBA superstar because of his all-around play. He was drafted 2nd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the 76ers with high hopes of replicating his college success. Unfortunately, his career never really exploded. After three and a half seasons in Philadelphia, fans finally thought they were beginning to see Turner develop into a star. He was averaging 17.4 points per game and was matching pace with the game’s best players. However, he was traded to Indiana halfway through his breakout season and was made a bench player. After a short, half-season stint with the Pacers, he joined the Celtics. He then served as their starting point guard before becoming a valued 6th man. Now, he is the free agent dark horse for the Hawks because he is only player that fills nearly all of the holes that the Hawks have.

Ball Handling:

Looking at the situation that the Hawks are currently faced with, Kent Bazemore (free agent) is likely to leave the team. Bazemore is the player with the higher ceiling; however, Turner has already developed many aspects to his arsenal that Bazemore has yet to master. Ball handling is the prime asset. In Boston, Marcus Smart preferred playing off the ball, so, this made Turner the primary ball handler off the bench. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.1 ranked him in the top 20 of all forwards who had more than 150 assists. Turner has had multiple triple-doubles in his career. He is a smart passer that can be counted on to make the right decision.

Turner’s ability to play the point helps tremendously in the Teague/Schroder issue currently hovering over the Hawks. Obviously, one of them has to go and as of right now, it is looking like Jeff Teague is heading out. So, having Turner would take pressure off of Dennis Schroder. Turner could back him up, or, his stature (6’7) could allow him to be on the court as the same time as Schroder. This also takes pressure off the front office, as they would not be in immediate need of a backup point guard.

Scoring:

Turner is your typical point-forward when it comes to scoring. He is a streaky shooter, but, coaches like his chances when he is left open behind the arc (30%). Turner excels when it comes to getting to the basket in pick-and-roll situations as he uses his ball-handling and lateral quickness to work his way to the hoop. His quickness also plays a huge part when running in the open court, which he does a lot. Whether he needs to use his handles or post his man up, Turner takes the majority of his shots from 7-20 feet from the basket. Not only is an all-around balanced scorer, but he has a knack for making shots in the clutch. As some might remember, he hit one of his many clutch shots against the Hawks.

A player with his arsenal on the offensive end is welcomed by any team, especially the Hawks, who can look lost of offense at times. Turner’s clutch shooting will also prove to be pivotal.

Below is a video showing everything explained in the “Scoring” portion.

Defense:

Turner is one of the most under-rated defenders in the NBA. He is frequently put on the other team’s best scorer. His athletic ability and size once again factor in; however, he understands that defense is mental just as much as it is physical. He is quick to read offenses and always makes the smart play.  [pulled quote] “I’m kind of over that. I’ve gone up against Kobe, Brandon Roy, T-Mac (Tracy McGrady), guys I watched my whole life. It’s LeBron, I’ve played him a million times, there’s no awe or anything.” [/pullquote] He has experience shutting down the best players that the league has to offer and he is unfazed by superstars. Just as he is able to play the offensive roles from point guard to small forward, he can defend all three positions with equal effectiveness. At times, he can even be seen guarding power forwards as well. If he had no offensive game, his versatility to play defense on the perimeter and on the high or low post makes him a valuable asset by itself.

Potential Role in Atlanta:

Turner’s versatility and skill set gives the Hawks the luxury of trying him out in different positions and roles. He could either replace Bazemore as the starting 3, or be the team’s 6th man (something that the Hawks having been looking for). Looking at his game, he would be more effective as a 6th man.

From 2010-2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder chose to start Thabo Sefolosha over James Harden, but give Harden more minutes and play him almost the entire second half of every game. The Hawks can do something similar with Turner. Start Sefolosha and make Turner the 6th man, but play Turner more (around 30-32 mpg). It is highly possible that Turner will get 6th man of the year considerations if this is done.

Other options include starting Turner at the 2 with Sefolosha and benching an aging Kyle Korver, who might show signs for regression.

Also, Turner is relatively cheap. He is worth between $4.5-12 million, depending on what role he is put in.

No matter what role he plays in Atlanta, his versatility on offense and defense will benefit the Hawks.