Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
With the Los Angeles Lakers tumbling toward the bottom of the NBA standings with or without Kobe Bryant, the task for general manager Mitch Kupchak becomes evaluating as many players as possible to secure assets going into the 2015 NBA draft.
This appears to be the motive behind adding undrafted rookie big man Tarik Black.
Black was waived by the Houston Rockets to make room for their addition of Josh Smith. Black is averaging 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds a game this season in 15.7 minutes of play, and he started 12 games in the absence of Dwight Howard. There was interest in Black from at least one other club, the Charlotte Hornets.
Black is a raw, athletic big man who is 23rd in the NBA among all players in rebound rate this season, or the percentage of missed shots he rebounds while he’s on the floor, at 18.2 percent. He’s 18th in the NBA in the same measure among players averaging 15 minutes a game or more. Upon joining the Lakers, Black will lead his club in rebound rate, minutes qualification or not — this is his discernible NBA skill.
An area of concern thus far for Black is his shot blocking, as he has recorded only two blocks in 25 games this season. While scouting reports on his height vary from 6-foot-7, according to the Los Angeles Clippers measurements, to 6-foot-9 at the University of Memphis, to 6-foot-11 according to ESPN, Black has a 7-foot-2 wingspan (according to the Clippers), and incredible leaping ability (no measurements needed to verify this). He has the physical tools necessary to improve his current rate of a block every 196 minutes of play.
Offensively, Black has limited offensive skills. While there is always hope a player in their early 20’s (Black is 23) can improve weaknesses in their game, the track record of post players dramatically increasing their scoring ability as their careers progress is not good. If Black could add a pet move and a counter to said pet move, it would likely be enough to maintain a steady NBA career.
If Black can prove to be an asset for the Lakers, the likelihood of him returning next year is very high. He will cost next to nothing against the cap, when the Lakers will again look to lure a max type free agent onto the roster. He excels at rebounding, limiting his bust potential, and has the tools necessary to continue to improve in other areas of his game. Furthermore, all reports are that Black is an upstanding citizen and an asset to the locker room. He is expected to make his debut for the Lakers on Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets.
Ian McEwan is a blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanClarkMcEwan,“Like”him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. He is not the British author.
