Reggie Bullock

Reggie Bullock
SG/SF - 6’7, 205lbs - 27 years old - 5 years of experience

Having barely played in his first four NBA seasons across three different franchises - only 147 regular season games and 1,629 minutes in that time is not a good return - the Pistons brought Bullock back this past summer despite playing him less than 1,000 minutes over the previous two seasons combined. They clearly saw a future in that jump shot. And on a team that has made some bad determinations of player value in recent years, they got this one right.

Initially just filling in as a starter, Bullock eventually stayed as one for the majority of the season, and played more minutes in 2017/18 than in his career hitherto combined. He thus put up career-highs in all categories without ever doing all that much different to what went before. Bullock knows he is that most coveted of things, the three-and-D specialist, and thus limited himself according.

Offensively, he would move off the ball, either via runs to the corner, curls to the wing or the occasional dive to the rim. From there, he took a boatload of catch-and-shoot threes that he hit extremely efficiently, and took layups at the rim only if the front door was left wide open. 88.8% of Bullock’s made shots were assisted, which gives some idea of quite how many dribbles he took in traffic all year. Defensively, he used good size and good reads to generally do the right thing, if occasionally a bit overmatched in isolation possessions or when up against true speedsters (the small forward position better suits his body type going forward, awkward reconciliation with Stanley Johnson notwithstanding).

All in all, good season. Go have another.

Player Plan: One year and $2.5 million remaining. It is unguaranteed, but don’t worry about that.

Reggie Bullock
SG/SF, 6’7, 205lbs, 26 years old, 4 years of experience

A late flurry saw Bullock win the role as the team’s best three-point shooter, as well as occasional cutter. In Detroit, although the role is limited and injuries a factor, Bullock found the stability he did not have in his first two seasons, and was able to prove both some immediate worth and some potential as a three-and-D player. But that is not to say he proved very much. Still unable to take a dribble against any kind of pressure and struggling with screens on defence, Bullock is a fringe rotation player, whose shots will keep him relevant (especially if he stays on the Pistons), but who needs to continue to improve to cement his NBA place.

Player Plan: Expiring rookie scale deal, thus potential a restricted free agent. Has not merited much if anything beyond the minimum salary, however, and the drug suspension is not going to drive the market any higher. Minimum salary candidate but his shooting is only of use if he can get on the court.

[...] At guard, UNC can give multiple looks. Dexter Strickland is a very athletic sophomore and an absolute dynamo in the open floor, who has improved his ability to get to the basket in the half court, and who also does an acceptable job of masquerading as the backup to Marshall now that Drew has stomped off. Strickland lacks for an outside shot, but he's athletic and fearless, and plays decent defense as well. The shooting role goes to fellow sophomore Leslie McDonald, who does little else but shoot threes at this juncture, and who does so at 41%. (Freshman Reggie Bullock was formerly a key part of the rotation, a comparable shooter to McDonald, and with a better mid-range game, reminiscent of a younger Terrico White. But he is injured and will miss the tournament.)