A Royal Pain
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Opinion: Is Arron Afflalo Worth the Dollars?

By Tyler Watts

Dec 7, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (4) works the ball around Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Dallas Mavericks won 104-97. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (4) works the ball around Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Dallas Mavericks won 104-97. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (4) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Arron Afflalo (4) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Skills and Production

Arron Afflalo’s traditional defensive stats are not eye-popping, to say the least.  Last season, he averaged 3.4 defensive rebounds, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 33.4 minutes a contest.

For his career, he averages 2.6 defensive rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game in 28.7 minutes per game.  Clearly, Afflalo does not produce big traditional defensive stats for his career.

Let us examine Arron Afflalo’s on-ball defense to see how he stacks up.  Below is Afflalo’s career defensive shot courtesy of NBASavant.com to help illustrate Afflalo’s on-ball defending.

As you can see, Afflalo has struggled to defend shots from every area on the court except right corner 3 pointers.  This is especially concerning for the Kings.  We all know about the team’s defensive struggles a season ago and now to sign a player who is expected to be your starting two guard who can’t produce traditional defensive stats or guard on the ball is definitely worrisome.

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