Marreese Speights

Speights enjoyed a redemptive season in 2014-15. After signing a three-year deal with the Warriors prior to the 2013-14 season, he showed up out of shape and was never a reliable bench option for then-coach Mark Jackson. He was then charged with driving under the influence in August 2014, making it look like he'd continue to be an under-used bench player as the third-string power forward. But something happened. Maybe the DUI prompted Speights to become serious about his game. He went on a scoring binge in November – earning the nickname "Mo Buckets" – that prompted head coach Steve Kerr to make him the first big off the bench at both the four and the five. He finished averaging a career-high 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game while shooting 49 percent from the field, five percentage points higher than the previous year. Speights became a reliable mid-range shooter and had a career-high 19.5 PER. His reliable production off the bench made the decision to pick up the team option for this coming season a no-brainer. He's been working hard in the offseason and changed his diet, feeling he got a little heavy late last season. He'll be playing for his next contract. In that respect, he's hoping to get more minutes, but the addition of Jason Thompson will impact his playing time.

Speights was signed to a three-year deal prior to last season to be the Carl Landry replacement, a competent backup at power forward/center with little drop off when starters get a breather. The design was for Speights to play 20-25 minutes per game. Unfortunately for Golden State, he was not in the best condition when he arrived at camp, and that extended into the regular season, shooting just 32 percent after the first quarter of the season and never becoming a reliable fill-in. In 79 games, he averaged 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 12 minutes per game. It wasn't entirely bad for Speights. He shot a career-high 82 percent from the free-throw line. His shot eventually came around, but Speights was not trusted on a team screaming for help in the frontcourt. He reportedly dedicated himself to getting in better shape for the upcoming season, but he recently made headlines for getting charged with driving under the influence. With the Warriors looking to get more minutes for Draymond Green, a wing player that can defend the four, it appears Speights' role will not be a growing one this season.

Speights started the 2012-13 season in Memphis before a mid-season trade to Cleveland, where he averaged a career-best 10.2 points in 19 minutes per game over a 39-game stretch. He signed a three-year deal with Golden State, which will be his fourth team in six seasons. Speights is known as a gifted offensive player, has a mid-range game and can rebound. Can he replace Carl Landry's production? That's essentially why the Warriors signed him – a frontcourt backup that can spell David Lee without giving up much offensively. If all hands are healthy, Speights will be one of four bigs in the regular rotation of the frontcourt, so the Warriors are not looking for much more than 20 minutes a night from him.

The Grizzlies acquired Speights from the Sixers in early January when they were in need of a big body to fill Zach Randolph’s spot, so Speights started a career-high 54 games. Not surprisingly, he also set career-bests in points per game (8.8), rebounds per game (6.2) and shots per game (8.1). While his raw averages were career-highs, his points per 36 minutes was actually a career-low (14.1). He will shift back to a reserve role in 2012-13, but he should be an active player in the Grizzlies’ frontcourt rotation.

Speights is a bruiser off the bench at 6-10 and 255 pounds. He played in 62 games last season, averaging 11.5 minutes per game. He's strictly a role player and should continue in that role.

In his two professional seasons, Speights has shown a the sort of skills-scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking-that, were he able to secure north of 30 minutes per game, would make him something like a top-100 or, at least, top-125 player. And unlike other big men, he doesn't kill you in free throws: he's shot 75.8% from the line for his career. Unfortunately, he's currently blocked by Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young at center and power forward, respectively.

Speights showed a great deal of promise in his rookie season. He should see an increased role this season as the primary backup at the center and power forward positions. Any injury to the increasingly fragile Brand would open large minutes for the second-year forward. Speights was an average rebounder and above average scorer, and converted both field goals and free throws with high percentages last year. While he averaged less than a block per game last season, he also recorded 13 multi-block games, which shows he has the ability to average at least a block per game with an increased role this season.

Speights is an explosive rookie who could see time at power forward and center this season. He slid in the draft as many teams questioned his work ethic and passion. Speights' strong showing in the summer league erased any question of whether this he deserves a place on a NBA roster.

Speights is an explosive rookie who could see time at power forward and center this season. He slid in the draft as many teams questioned his work ethic and passion. Speights' strong showing in the summer league erased any question of whether this he deserves a place on a NBA roster.