Phil Pressey

Three-year NBA veteran Pressey has been out of the league for a couple of years, spending one in the G-League and one in the EuroLeague with Barcelona. Falling out of the league is not the same as falling off the radar, and, as a pesky defender with excellent ball control, he embodies a lot of the indelible qualities coaches like to have from reserve point guards. His lack of size, athleticism and shot though made him an overall net negative in the NBA, and remain true even after his time out of the league. So to make it back in, someone will have to really like him.

Phil Pressey - Pressey is an excellent passer out of the pick and roll. Very excellent. And his overall floor game continues to develop - an assist to turnover ratio of nearly three to one is good from anyone and very much so from an overmatched rookie. But overmatched is the big word there. The small Pressey just looked like he couldn't make a shot at the NBA level, even though he continues to try, a great passer and terrible scorer who still tries to score. He still takes ones he can't make, and while it is understood he needs defenses to respect the jumpshot so as to be able to penetrate them, he can't shoot and it hurts the team when he tries. With two other non-shooting point guards in the fold next year, Pressey's position and his unguaranteed contract are under threat. Best get them shots up in practice.

Phil Pressey

Pressey is, or was, one of the purest pass-first point guards in the draft, but high assist numbers alone weren't enough to get drafted. They belie a floor game that isn't entirely under control - Pressey's a good passer, especially out of the pick and roll, but he makes more mistakes than you'd like from a floor general, and is rather ball dominant in the process. He's quick enough, mediocre enough of a shooter, and a useful enough defender (he gambles, but he has to) to overcome his height disadvantage at the NBA level, but only if his point guard game is beyond doubt. Which, right now, it isn't.