This is the first in a quick series of posts outlining what our summer acquisitions have turned out to be. We start off with Jarrett Jack, who was hired as a back-up point guard but has suddenly found himself in the thick of the starting unit.
Vitals:
Height: 6′ 3″.
Weight: 197 lbs.
Age: 26, born October 28, 1983.
Position: Combo Guard, primarily PG
College: Georgia Tech, 5th year.
Strengths:
- Bullish player who prefers to drive the ball and can finish in the face of contact. Looks to exploit smaller, weaker PGs using strength.
- Deceptive passer who can recognize developing action and make pin-point passes; works with PnR with Bosh very well.
- Good shot selection, can hit corner three when given space. 46% shooter from the floor, is getting better at making the J when defender goes under screen.
- Physical defender, matches up well with bulkier PGs who rely on strength. Likes to make PGs he can’t defend work on the other end.
- Drive-and-kick mentality serves team well. Exploits gaps in transition defense by forcing the issue.
- Defers to Turkoglu and slots into off-guard position well; spaces the floor.
- Strong wrists, ability to make “quick fire” snap passes in a fraction of a second.
- Vocal floor general.
Weaknesses:
- Career 34% three-point shooter, defense will always take chances with him making the jumper and use his defender as doubler.
- Undersized as a 2 which results in conceding unblockable looks to SGs. Disappointment as a defender at the 2.
- Cannot create his own shot consistently. Perennial backup, unproven as a starter in the league.
- Lacks the court vision to create for players who need to be spoon-fed.
- Passing can be very lazy at times, especially skip ones. Doesn’t anticipate defenses very well which results in turnovers; a poor AST/TO ratio of 1.76.
- Lacks “shake and bake” and effective one-on-one game so it’s not feasible to put the ball in his hands in end of clock situations.
- Trouble handling quicker, smaller PGs.
Inconsistencies and improvements:
- Mid-range game needs to be better and make up for his lack of great lateral quickness for him to seriously be considered a starter on a good team.
- Sticks to his man well on the perimeter, but is notoriously late in recognizing situations where he must rotate and help.
- Needs to control the urge to do too much on offense and rely more on his ability to read defenses.
- Getting better at executing floaters, runners and glass on his forays to the rim, potentially his biggest means of scoring.
Value to the team:
Very high. With Calderon injured, he is the only thing saving us from starting Marcus Banks. Chris Bosh and him have lately renewed the chemistry they had at Georgia Tech and the two seem to be on the same page. As our best PG defender, he fits in well with an offensively minded starting unit.
Contract:
20M/4yr is a good contract considering his age (26) and durability (has missed only 6 games in 4 years). Given his good work ethic and gritty mentality, his skills/attitude will always be required around the league making his tradeability high. Using the mid-level exception to sigh Jack was Bryan Colangelo’s most efficient move in Toronto.
