Scouting Report

Arron Afflalo was acquired by the Denver Nuggets in a trade with the Detroit Pistons last off-season. Based on his performance last season, the fact that Denver got Arron from the Pistons for a second round pick in 2011 made that one of the biggest steals of the decade.

In two seasons with Detroit, Afflalo only played 2204 combined minutes, which is barely more than his minute totals for his first season with the Nuggets. Considering the situation that Detroit is currently in, it was extremely odd to see them let a young player like Arron that had shown some promise in a reserve role go for nothing. One would think the better move for this team would be dealing veteran Richard Hamilton to a contender for young pieces and allowing Afflalo to develop in a starting role.

Afflalo, like Dahntay Jones before him, was thought to bring a defensive mindset to the Nuggets’ starting five, drawing the opposing team’s top player until it was time for J.R. Smith, an offensive force, to provide a scoring spark off the bench, and he has filled that role to a tee this season. The six-foot-five shooting guard has emerged as one of the top defenders in the league this season. Whether he has been stuck on Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant or LeBron James, Afflalo makes them work for all of their buckets and has even shut a couple of superstars down on the year.

Offensively, Afflalo has been better than expected. Dahntay Jones wasn’t much of an outside threat for the Nuggets, getting almost all of his scoring done from mid-range and closer, and was never thought of as an offensive option (just four field goal attempts a game). Afflalo is completely the opposite. He’s averaging seven shots a game and he is very efficient with his jumpshot. In fact, Afflalo ranked as the eighth best three point shooter in the league at 43%.

According to Synergy Sports Technology, Afflalo scored 1.05 points per possession last season, the 31st best rating in the entire league. Additionally, Arron made 99 of his 227 spot-up three point attempts (44%), good for an offensive rating of 1.1 points per possession, the 63rd best mark in the league. On the other end, Afflalo’s ppp ratings do not do him justice in my opinion. Afflalo fell victim to several unstoppable shots last season though he did everything he could to try to prevent them. At least in one area, Arron’s numbers look sparkling. When defending the ball handler in a pick and roll situation, Afflalo allowed just .66 points per possession (16th best in the league) and held his man to 33% shooting.

Because J.R. Smith is coming off a very poor season, Afflalo is now the most important two guard in Denver and his play last year has made Smith an expendable asset. And that isn’t a bad thing. Unlike Dahntay Jones, who couldn’t pump up a crowd or swing a game like Smith could, Arron is certainly capable of hitting huge momentum shots. He’s did a better job of that than J.R. did last season.

In the playoffs, the ability to check and make life hell for Kobe or Durant or Brandon Roy, is a very very valuable commodity. And when you throw in the ability to get the Pepsi Center as loud as possible with huge three’s, you’re going to make a big difference. Afflalo may not be the complete package but what he does, he does very well and he is one of the best 3/D guys in the league.