June 29, 2018

James Ennis
SF - 6’7, 210lbs - 27 years old - 4 years of experience

In a season where Jameer Nelson was deemed to have trade value, it follows logically that James Ennis does too. Seemingly seeing more value in Ennis as reserve wing depth than in Brice Johnson as yet another athletic underskilled big, the Pistons dealt for Ennis to shore up the team for the playoff push. Yes, as hard as it is now to remember, there was one.

Continuing a solid career to date, Ennis was indeed a pretty solid depth reinforcement for the Pistons. Always a bit of a streak shooter, Ennis nevertheless contributes offensively through a ton of rim runs, transition, cuts and the occasional spot-up, finding enough opportunities in all of these departments to put up a decent volume of scoring despite not having a handle on the ball.

This is all made available by his good physical profile. Pretty big for a wing and with good speed, Ennis used that to get open offensively, and also to pass most tests defensively. He stands out at nothing, but helps at everything, and that’s enough.

Ennis does not have much value beyond that of a replacement player in this league. It is a limited skill set. But even though he is not consistent and has holes in his game, he is a solid NBA calibre reserve small forward. After all, most backups are inconsistent with holes in their skill set. That’s why they are backups.

Player Plan: Expiring $3,028,410 contract. Upgrades are needed and Ennis is likely capped out and surplus to requirements. It should be a worry that last year, he was the required upgrade. Specifically to Stanley Johnson.

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June 29, 2017

James Ennis
SF, 6’7, 210lbs, 26 years old, 3 years of experience

Overexposed in having to play a bigger role than suits his marginal talents. As a man who cannot take a dribble in traffic, commits a high amount of turnovers through trying anyway and who does not defend as well as it looks like he should do, Ennis is a ninth man time rather than a 1,500 minute player. Nevertheless, he shot 37.2% from three-point range on a .427% three-point attempt rate, which will help cement his future. Ennis needs to commit to using his physical prowess to cutting, defending and rebounding more than he does, but he is a useful if inconsistent role player paid accordingly.

Player Plan: One year and $3,028,410 remaining. No reason to move it, and surely no value in doing so, so play it out and re-evaluate.

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July 7, 2014

James Ennis - Last year's second round pick went to Australia and dominated. He averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game, and the only reason he didn't win MVP was because Rotnei Clarke's scoring was considered more valuable for whatever reason. The Australian league is not an athletic one, and Ennis's leaping ability and transition games were unparalleled and very unstoppable. Ennis also shot the ball fairly well from three (35% on quite high attempts), finished at the rim, and got there in the halfcourt better than usual. With the athleticism and frame to play defense at the NBA level, along with a long wing span and decent passing vision, he seems to be a legitimate roster spot candidate next season. The handle and shot creating in the half court are not there, but as an NBA role player, they wouldn't need to be.

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July 8, 2013

James Ennis

The Heat traded a future second round pick to get Ennis's rights, a strong endorsement of their opinion of him. He struggles to create his own shot, but this is the Heat - he shouldn't need to. If Ennis can just crash the glass, defend his position, move off the ball, finish with power in transition and off good looks from others, and hit his jumpshots, he could stick around. The latter of these is the most pressing, but Ennis has improved this facet of his game year on year and should continue to do so.

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