Tarik Black

Tarik Black
PF/C – 6’9, 250lbs - 26 years old - 4 years of experience

Essentially as the backup to the backup (Nene) this season, Black had a limited role all season, with a lot of those appearances attributable to the vast amount of garbage time that Houston racked up amid their regular season dominance. A pure post player (apart from an odd determination this year to become a Valanciunas-like straight-on three-point shooter, which did not go well), Black is on a team that plays only one post player at a time, and thus he had little to do and little opportunity to do it in.

When he did play, though, he was pretty solid. Black is an explosive and capable finisher around the basket, if a limited creator. He best makes his mark on the interior defence by doing the dirty work, making good plays on the ball around the rim, fouling when needs be, going to the glass and grinding it out. He does not step up and defend the perimeter much, but so be it - this is a reserve post we are talking about.

While Black did not improve much on any previous seasons of his, at least he did not decline. Nene did. The Rockets would be best served keeping a few options for the interior on their roster, especially as pure posts, because even the most switch-heavy defensive schemes still need someone on the back line to tidy up. Nene may have the inside track on the spot by virtue of his guaranteed contract, whereas Black is once again headed for free agency. Nevertheless, Black might be better at the role going forward, so it is not as simple as that.

Player Plan: $3.29 million salary. Offer the minimum.

Tarik Black
C, 6’9, 250lbs, 25 years old, 3 years of experience

Black noticeably improved his offensive game this past season, most obviously in the form of a much improved free throw stroke that is now good where previously it was poor. The jump shot is still poor, and never will Black be confused for anything other than a physical, rebounding, fouling post player who should finish around the basket and otherwise avoid trying to score. But at being that, he is good. Black is unguaranteed for next season, but expires after that, and so if the plan is for 2018 cap space, his contract does not interfere with that. He is thus worth keeping; after all, there may be a second round pick floating out there some-where for him.

Player Plan: Expiring and unguaranteed $6,655,325 contract. Even with the addition of Lopez and the breakout of Lopez, it is not worth waiving him and getting the cap space savings.

Fundamental part of rebounding - looking the right way. Poor technique, Tom Herzog.

Slightly undersized height wise for the position, Black has added a ton of muscle to his frame and has a 7'3 wingspan, looking very much like the post player that he is. He is however more of a physical specimen than overly skilled player.

In his three years at Memphis, Black was frustratingly inconsistent in both results and effort, and frustratingly foul prone. The latter one never changed - Black fouls EVERYBODY, through clattering into the defender wildly on the offensive end, hitting every driver who comes his way on defense, and shoving everybody who seeks to get position on him at any time. Nevertheless, he improved at the first two things in his time at Kansas, and became an effective backup off the bench. He was no replacement for Embiid, obviously, yet he would have an impact on the game in his limited minutes and use his physicality on both ends.

Black's exceedingly efficient offensive game comes from his power, explosion and athleticism. He is a finisher not a creator, but he's a rugged one who will take it at anyone, clumsy or not, and is strong enough to go through them. Rarely asked to create, Black nevertheless has the motor and position awareness to get open off the ball, as well as the tenacity to fight for position. He will also run the court well for his size, always pursuing the ball if not always receiving it, and has improved his footwork to finish in the post with reverses and step throughs.

On both ends, though, Black's is a rather limited game. Offensively, Black does not handle, take any shot outside of about two feet, pass, drive, defend the perimeter or do much outside of what is availed to him by his physical tools. He is very rarely asked to create in the post and is very predictable when heh does - it is not team needs that restrict him to being a finisher rather than his own limitations. Defensively, he also is still prone to occasionally switching off on the glass and the interior defense, albeit less so than he was. Black's physicality, strength and athleticism can be disruptive presences inside the paint, a decent rebounder and effective man to man defender when plugged in, a wall you don't want to run into if not the best help side rim protector. But the fouls offset it a bit.

Despite all of the above, Black might go into football instead of basketball. Couldn't blame him if he did. Yet if he stays with the roundball game, there's money to be made.