Ryan Anderson
Age: 28
Height: 6-foot-10
Career stats: 26.0 mpg; 13.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg; 42.3/37.7/86.1 shooting splits
2015-16 Stats: 66 games, 30.4 mpg; 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg; 42.7/36.6/87.3 shooting splits
Strengths:
- One of the best catch-and-shooters in the league
- Dirk-esque fallaway mid-range game
- Can score in bursts
Weaknesses:
- Injury prone
- Weak defender
Why the Warriors make sense:
Anderson in the Harrison Barnes role would be a significant upgrade. A proven scorer with eight years of NBA experience, Anderson has long been one of the most underrated players in the league. Anderson’s skill set is essentially a Dirk Nowitzki type, but 10 years younger. After years of losing seasons, the Cal alum and El Dorado Hills native very well could want to return close to home with one of the NBA’s best franchises for a slightly discounted price.
Why the Warriors don’t make sense:
He’s very limited athletically. There isn’t an explosive factor you get with Anderson. Worse, you’ll have to hide him defensively. Someone like Serge Ibaka could tear him apart underneath. ESPN’s defensive ranking system ranks him at No. 370 in the entire league. Be prepared for health issues, too. In six of his eight seasons, he’s missed at least 15 games.