Nugg Love
Fansided

Denver Nuggets: Five cheap options at point guard

By Grayson Moore

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 3: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on January 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Option #2: Shane Larkin

Shane Larkin 2017-18 Stats: 4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.1 bpg, 38.4% FG%, 36.0% FG3%, 10.4 PER, 1.1 Win Shares

Shane Larkin did not have the most impressive season in Boston, but he was still a very valuable bench contributor. Playing behind Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, and Marcus Smart, he averaged just 14.4 minutes per game. In an expanded role, however, he could blossom into an effective sixth man.

This year, he proved he could shoot the 3 at a consistent rate. He made 36.0% of his attempts on the highest 3-point attempt rate of his career(39.3%). Larkin made and attempted the most 3-pointers of his career despite playing the second-fewest minutes of his career. He also showed that he can create his own shot. This  was evidenced by the fact that only 77.4% of his 3-point shots that were assisted. In summary, he is an asset to any team in today’s 3-happy league.

He also improved on the defensive side of his game. Despite recording the fewest minute and game totals since his rookie year, he had the most defensive win shares of his career(1.1). He posted a positive defensive box plus/minus score(0.2) for the first time in his career, and he posted a lower defensive rating(106) than he ever has before.

He has never been more than an average passer for a point guard. In his final season at the University of Miami, he averaged 4.6 assists on 36.1 minutes a game. In 2017-18, per 36 minutes, he averaged 4.6 assists. Larkin possesses a career average assist percentage of 22.9% yet has never had more than 350 assists in a season.

In conclusion, Larkin is a backup PG option who is capable of hitting 3-pointers consistently, playing above-average defense, and supplying assists at about an average rate. He’s nothing more than a bench 3-and-D player at this point in his career. However, he has shown that he is able to carve out effective minutes on a contending team.