Boban Marjanovic has agreed to sign a three-year offer sheet with the Detroit Pistons. What does he add to Detroit and what does it mean for the Pistons’ rotation?
Restricted free agent Boban Marjanovic has agreed to sign a three-year, $21 million offer sheet with the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Marjanovic, 27, is a fan favorite that everybody in the NBA knows. The 7-foot-3, 290-pound Serbian center stood out on the basketball court among some of the world’s best athletes. Marjanovic can hold his own though, despite his height and size.
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He proved that he can get up and down the court with the best of them, unlike most seven-footers. Marjanovic’s best use on defense is as a rim protector.
Marjanovic blocked 1.6 shots per 36 minutes during his rookie campaign. He only played 9.4 minutes per game for the San Antonio Spurs, but they were big rotational minutes. Not only does Boban block shots, but he alters shots when players are driving through the lane.
He’s has an efficient offensive game, too. He shot 60.3 percent from the floor, scoring 21.0 points per 36 minutes. Offensively he’s able to utilize his great size for easy dunks and a slew of nice post moves. He can also operate in the midrange as a face-up center or off of pick-and-rolls.
The Spurs are unlikely to match Marjanovich’s offer sheet, according to Stein. Signing free agent big man Pau Gasol takes up all of their salary cap space, and means they don’t have space to bring Marjanovic back.
Pistons’ head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy has grown accustomed to bringing in former Spurs big men. Aron Baynes served as the Pistons’ backup center after previously playing for the Spurs, and now Marjanovic enters the mix.
Marjanovic should be a major factor in the Pistons’ rotations. He isn’t the most athletic big man in terms of quickness, but his unique combination of size and strength makes him a perfect fit in Van Gundy’s system.
With the ability to be the screener in the pick-and-roll, Marjanovic could be great in operating with newly acquired point guard Ish Smith and Reggie Jackson. Having shown the ability to shoot over defenders with his midrange game and roll to the basket for an easy dunk, Marjanovic will be a perfect fit.
Perhaps the biggest part of Boban’s game for the Pistons is his free throw shooting. He shot 76.3 percent from the field last season, which means he can be a reliable option off the bench when teams begin intentionally fouling Andre Drummond, who shot 35.5 percent from the free throw line last season.
His sneaky quickness to get down the court is an added bonus for the quicker teams in transition. Marjanovic will be the perfect mismatch that Eastern Conference foes won’t be able to compete with.
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Marjanovic is a great signing for the Pistons and is an upgrade over Baynes. He has a versatile offensive game and creates mismatches on both ends of the court, which will aid the Pistons in another postseason run.