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Mickael Pietrus: Should a Team Take a Flier?

By Michael Dunlap

Dec 21, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors guard Mickael Pietrus (20) gestures during their game against the Orlando Magic at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors guard Mickael Pietrus (20) gestures during their game against the Orlando Magic at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mickael Pietrus had played for five different teams in his NBA career (Warriors, Magic, Celtics, Suns, Raptors) before he took a hiatus in 2013-14 to get healthy. According to Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group, Pietrus is back to 100 percent and is ready to make an impact for an NBA team in 2014-15. Should a team take a flier on him?

At 32 years old, Pietrus’ peak athleticism is behind him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide solid team defense and energy off the bench. Pietrus has the confidence to come back, as evidenced by his feelings about his future and what he can bring to a team:

"When healthy, teams know what I can provide on the court. I’m still young and I’m healthy. If teams are looking to win basketball games, I’m the guy. I have experience in the playoffs and I’m great in the locker room. I’ll do whatever it takes to win. I can still play this game."

You have to love his attitude, but his numbers paint a different story. Pietrus hasn’t shot above 40 percent from the field since 2009-10, when he shot 43.2 percent. In his last season (with the Raptors in 2012-13), he shot an abysmal 34.7 percent from the field.

As a Minnesota Timberwolves fan, it sounds too much like when Brandon Roy was proclaiming he was completely healthy and felt like he was ready to contribute. It took all of about five games to see that bodies don’t just suddenly regenerate and become less fragile. To be fair, Pietrus didn’t have the serious injuries that Roy did.

Here’s a look at some highlights when Pietrus was with the Celtics back in 2011-12:

When Pietrus was at his absolute best, he was able to provide quality perimeter defense and an above-average 3-point shot. All teams would be interested in a quality 3-and-D guy in today’s NBA, but the questions about Pietrus’ ability to stay healthy linger. Is it worth taking a flier on a guy who has appeared in more than 67 games just twice in his career?

Only the Sacramento Kings have reached out and met with Pietrus, but that meeting didn’t culminate in any kind of offer.

In my opinion, there are enough young, hungry guys in the D-League and coming out of college who can play serviceable defense and provide energy. The fact that Pietrus has a long track record of getting hurt and wasn’t much of a scorer when he was healthy would scare me away.

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