Name: Donald Sloan
Height/weight (per Basketball-Reference.com): 6-3, 205 pounds
Career stats: 157 G, .394 FG%/.276 3FG%/.757 FT%, 4.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.8 RPG, 98 offensive rating, 108 defensive rating
2014-15 stats: 53 G, 20.9 MPG, .408 FG%/.313 3FG%/.779 FT%, 7.4 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.7 RPG, 104 o-rating, 106 d-rating
How he was acquired: Signed by the Nets as a free agent on August 10th, 2015
2014-15 season recap: Sloan spent the last two seasons with the Indiana Pacers as a backup to point guard George Hill and sometimes starter when Hill was out with injury. Much like the Nets’ Jarrett Jack, Sloan had some big games in Indianapolis but too often limited the offense with bad shot selection and poor decision-making, which accounts for his field goal percentage hovering around 40 perfect, where no point guard ever wants to be.
Still, he performed well enough in his role — a 104 offensive rating with a 106 defensive rating is nothing to scoff at — to get the job done for the Pacers. He has undeniable scoring ability — in October and November alone last season, he posted double-digit points 10 times, with two games of 29 or more — and can distribute the ball, but needs to work on his inconsistencies.
Expected role: Sloan joins the Nets’ glut of backup point guards who are all fighting for playing time behind Jack, the starter. Sloan actually has the most NBA experience of the group — which includes Shane Larkin, Ryan Boatright and even Markel Brown — and probably is the most qualified for the job. But, the Nets really like Larkin, the former Knick, so if Sloan doesn’t beat him out in training camp, he might not see the floor a ton this season, except for injury fill-ins.
Best-case scenario: If the Nets can get the Sloan that was a sufficient bench piece for the Pacers, they’ll be pleased since he shouldn’t have to play more than 10-15 minutes a game and start once in awhile. He won’t be asked to score a ton of points — even though he has shown he can do that — but just lead a mistake-free offense and get the ball to Brook Lopez down low and Joe Johnson on the perimeter.
Worst-case scenario: Another low-risk, medium-reward signing from Billy King. Should Sloan not impress the coaching staff in training camp and the preseason, it won’t be hard to cut him loose and forget the whole matter.
General thoughts: Donald Sloan has proven to be a slightly above replacement-level backup point guard in his abbreviated NBA career so there’s no reason he doesn’t at least bring something positive to the table for the Nets. Considering how weak their point guard position is, any decent contributors are needed, and Sloan can be that.
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