June 29, 2018

Jabari Bird
SG - 6’6, 198lbs - 23 years old - 1 year of experience

In his time in the G-League, Bird averaged 19.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the Maine Red Claws, shooting 51.7% from the field, 32.5% from three-point range (on 5.9 attempts per game) and 59.7% from the foul line. All pretty good numbers except the last one, especially considering Bird is increasingly better defensively.

That defence is better on the ball than off of it. Bird has improved in this area over the years, and stood out more on that end in his first season as a pro. He can apply a lot of ball pressure on both lead guards and off guards - too much, sometimes - which gives rise to impressive defensive moments, even if he does tend to get lost or caught looking off of the ball.

To go with that, while there clearly still needs to be work done on that shooting stroke, Bird looks the part offensively. He is not a ball handler up top much, but he is a timely driver, transition player, cutter, slasher and pull-up guy, with pretty good shot selection and a good combination of strength and body control.

Bird’s issue from an NBA point of view is the lack of an obvious one major skill onto which to hang his hat [NB; he does not play in a hat]. He is not a shooter, not quite a microwave type, not quite a defensive specialist, not quite an elite athlete. Bird has developed a decent all-around game over the years, and would be a passable 14th man in the NBA; he already is, even. But there is more to do to get higher up the list than that.

Player Plan: Expiring two-way contract. I would argue he is more worthy of another one than Kadeem Allen is.

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