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Brooklyn Nets: Examining potential Andre Roberson fit

By Liam Gallagher

Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) and Houston Rockets guard Lou Williams (12) reach for the ball in the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) and Houston Rockets guard Lou Williams (12) reach for the ball in the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite his offensive limitations, Andre Roberson is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. Should the Brooklyn Nets offer him a deal this off season?

Andre Roberson is the definition of a one-trick pony. Despite being one of the best defenders in the NBA, his offensive limitations are so severe that they will cause a lot of teams to look twice in free agency. After struggling to find his footing in his rookie season, Roberson has started at a wing position for the last three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His versatility on defense is clearly one of his strengths, as he has played significant minutes at shooting guard, small forward, and even power forward throughout his career. This versatility is especially attractive to the Brooklyn Nets, who should be looking for a little bit of everything.

Although Roberson struggled offensively in the 2017 playoffs, his marquee defense was on display against James Harden and the Houston Rockets. The best example of this was Game Four. Roberson’s airtight defense severely impacted the potential MVP’s performance. Harden had just 16 points on 5-17 shooting, accompanied with seven turnovers and a plus/minus of zero. The highlights of Roberson’s defense are available here. His defensive impact is clear, as he was contesting and affecting shots the whole night.

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However, the game perfectly represented Roberson’s play style, as he was flat-out horrendous offensively. Although his 5-9 shooting mark from the floor doesn’t exactly meet this definition, he was a putrid 2-12 from the stripe. He was such a liability offensively that head coach Billy Donovan was forced to pull him in the closing minutes, which lead to Harden getting back in control of the game.

While his offensive game may seem like too much of a hindrance to justify a large contract (he shot under 25 percent from three last season), there is actually hope for his long term offensive future. His struggles stem from his wild shooting form, not unlike the form Rondae Hollis-Jefferson used his rookie year. His shot releases at a funny angle, his guide hand falls off too early, and he’s too inconsistent with his release speed.  Adam Harrington, the Nets’ shooting coach, helped correct some of the flaws in RHJ’s jumper. There’s no reason he can’t do the same for Roberson.

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Roberson’s future with the Brooklyn Nets depends on the type of attention he receives this offseason. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale projects him signing a deal upwards of 20 million per year this off season. A back-loaded contract similar to the one offered to Allen Crabbe would be more suitable in my opinion. If the Nets’ front office constructs a smart deal, it will be hard for OKC to match, especially given their contract situation.  Regardless of the contract he gets, Roberson is the same high-risk, high-reward that Sean Marks has pursued in the past. It will be interesting to see what the market determines his price is.