Name: Ryan Boatright
Height/weight (per Basketball-Reference.com): 6-0, 175 pounds
Career stats (four years at Connecticut): 128 G, 33.8 MPG, .416 FG%/.380 3FG%/.794 FT%, 14.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 109.8 offensive rating, 100.2 defensive rating
How he was acquired: Signed by Nets as an undrafted free agent on July 3rd, 2015
2014-15 season recap: Boatright, who was a key member of UConn’s 2014 national championship team, had his best statistical college season last year as the Huskies were undeniably his team to run with Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels having moved on the NBA. However, UConn didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, instead settling for the lower NIT and losing in the first round to Arizona State.
Expected role: Boatright is right there with Donald Sloan for the potential No. 3 point guard spot on the Nets (assuming Shane Larkin in Jarrett Jack’s backup). Sloan obviously has him edged in terms of NBA experience but Boatright has far more upside, would be slightly cheaper and is more athletic than Sloan, who is around four inches taller than him. It should be an interesting preseason battle.
Best-case scenario: He makes the team over Sloan and sees garbage time in the regular season and, with possible injuries, see legitimate run during important in-game situations.
Worst-case scenario: Boatright’s lack of size hurts him and he doesn’t make the team. He could get flat-out released but it’s more likely the Nets would try to work something out to get him to the D-League and maybe up to the big-league team at some point during the season.
General thoughts: Ryan Boatright, during his successful college career, showed a clear ability to make plays and lead a top offense, especially in close and important games against other big programs. That could translate to the NBA but it’s possible he simply doesn’t have the size to make an impact.
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