Suns Squared: Free Agent Analytics

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin enters free agency after a couple of arguably disappointing years with the Clippers. Blake has been plagued by injuries that have limited his time on the court, playing only 61 games this year, the least of these five players.

He boasts the best overall stats of the bunch though and likely has the highest ceiling as well. Griffin’s athleticism has long been the calling card of his game and it still shows in not just his dunks but his rebounding numbers, grabbing 20.2% of all defensive rebounds. However, Griffin has refined his skills and shown an ability to do even more. Griffin put up a 24.5% assist rate, the best of this group which puts him fifth among forwards (behind Lebron James, Nicolas Batum, Draymond Green, and Giannis Antenkumpo).

Griffin’s playmaking skill goes beyond his assist percentage, he proved extremely effective in the pick and roll, not just as the screen but also as the ball handler. In the possessions where Griffin handled the ball in pick and roll, the Clippers scored 1.04 points per possession putting Griffin in the 94th percentile among all NBA players. Per Synergy Sports Griffin is also adept at getting to the free throw line with 0.434 free throw rate and has improved 3 point shooting.

Griffin has shown to be an extremely capable playmaker and would instantly become the best playmaker and scorer on the Suns. He could mentor Chriss and Bender while combining with Booker to form a deadly pick and roll combination and highlight factory.