Should Your Favorite NBA Team Give Jimmer Fredette A Second Chance?
(Hoops Hype) – Former lottery pick and college basketball star Jimmer Fredette wants to return from China to play in the NBA.
The 29-year-old’s last NBA stint was with the New York Knicks in 2016. Since then, the 6-foot-2 combo guard has made two Chinese Basketball Association All-Star appearances and won CBA’s International MVP award last year.
He has averaged 37.4 points per game since playing in China, shooting 41.2 percent from downtown. HoopsHype recently caught up with Fredette to discuss his future plans and his desire to come back to the United States.
“I want to have another opportunity in the NBA because there is some unfinished business for me there. After this season is over, I want another NBA chance. This time, I’ll succeed. I feel really good about how I am playing. I know that if I get a chance, I will take advantage of it and be successful and help a team win. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I’m going to finish my contract in China this season and be the best I can be for my team. But after that, I will see what is out there and try to be on a roster for the NBA postseason.”
First off, I know Donny can confirm that Jimmer can in fact still light it up and while I don’t want to see him completely leave the Sharks after Donny already had to deal with the loss of Yabu, at least Jimmer is talking about after the year is over. It always surprised me that Jimmer never really worked out in the NBA, mostly because towards the end of his tenure while he was in the league things were starting to trend towards the three point shot. Let’s not act like he didn’t shoot 49% from deep in 41 games as a King in 2013-14. Overall though he was clearly a disappointment given all he hype he had in college, but I feel like the NBA is different now. Who cares if he can’t play defense, as long as he can knock down an open shot you’re telling me there is NO place for him in today’s NBA? I refuse to believe that.
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Now that we know he wants back in, who should give him a look? There are plenty of teams that need outside shooting, and I can’t imagine it will take a lot to bring him in, so lets’ make it happen. Here’s where I could see
Los Angeles Lakers
Were you guys watching last night when this team missed 30 3PA? They are currently 20th in 3PM and 20th in 3PA and I can’t see things getting all that much better by the time Jimmer would be available. Why not give him an end of the bench spot and maybe get lucky? It’s not like playing defense is a requirement for this team anyway, and we all know the key to playing with LeBron is to surround him with shooters.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers aren’t as bad in terms of their outside shooting, they make around 11 a night which is good for 13th in the league. But with Fultz basically gone, they don’t really have the guard depth you may want heading into a playoff series. Why not kill two birds with one stone and bring in Jimmer to be an emergency PG/shooter? We all know the key to defending PHI in a playoff series is to just back off and dare them to shoot, well you do that against Jimmer and he’s going to bury you
Houston Rockets
Many of the same issues as PHI. They need guard depth, and their system is basically a Jimmer wet dream. Remember the WCF where they missed 27 straight threes or some shit? No chance that happens if you let Jimmer take a couple open looks. Hell if they did this last year they probably win the title since they for sure beat CLE. I don’t think Daryl Morey can rule this out
Chicago Bulls
Sure things didn’t really work out in his 8 games as a Bull, but what do they have to lose? They don’t want to win and will need everything they can to get people to show up to games in the Spring since they most certainly will not be making the playoffs. They also need guards so why the hell not.
Golden State Warriors
No clue how this happens since I don’t think they have a roster spot, but tell me you wouldn’t watch a lineup of Curry/Jimmer/Klay/Durant/Boogie. You would, I would, we all would. You’re telling me it wouldn’t be awesome when they are blowing someone out to toss that lineup out and make it a rule they can only shoot threes? Jimmer was built to be a 2018 Warrior so I need this to happen.
Phoenix Suns
Go ahead, name the Suns starting point guard. Exactly.
We’ve seen guys come over from China/Europe and get a second chance and it’s not always a complete disaster. Somewhere there has to be a GM that says fuck it and brings this sort of action to their roster
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So cross your fingers that in just a few more months it may once again be Jimmer Time.