Should the Sacramento Kings sign Cedi Osman?

We’re nearly two months away from the start of free agency, and seven-year veteran Cedi Osman is still without a employer.

Currently, our Sacramento Kings have 14 (out of 15) roster spots filled, with three being two-way contracts and one training camp contract. In theory, that means we can still add Osman a minimum contract for veterans (or something similar) if they wish.

On WednesdayKings Beat Writer Brenden Nunes suggested Osman as a potential target for the Kings. But should they try to sign him?

As we discussed it throughout the offseasonThe Kings need functional size. What do I mean by that? They need a big forward who can space the floor, attack closeouts, defend and provide secondary rim protection.

The question now becomes: Can Osman do what the Kings expect of him?

As any good analyst will tell you, you have to take a holistic approach to evaluating players. That means looking at anecdotal, analytical, and real-world information (e.g., film analysis) to form an opinion.

That said, I’ve found over the years that there are certain stats that provide a good indicator of how good a role player is in the modern NBA. Some of the metrics I like to look at include a player’s wingspan, 3-point percentage, 3-point attempts per 75 minutes, true shooting percentage on drives, drives per 36 minutes, defensive plus-minus rating (DEF EPM), steal rate, and block rate.

(Box: All data in the chart above comes from Dunks & Threes and the Thinking Basketball database.)

Based on these numbers, it seems like Osman is a good spacer who gives you a lot of volume (he’s 6’1″ with a 6’1″ wingspan). Unfortunately, he doesn’t drive much and his efficiency is only average for the league (hopefully the lower a player’s volume, the higher his efficiency).

But more importantly, Osman appears to be a fairly below-average defender based on the numbers we pulled. This trend has continued throughout his career, as he has never had a positive DEF EPM.

I think Cedi Osman can help an NBA team. But that team would probably have to have a better defensive infrastructure than the Kings currently boast.

I’m not saying we’re going to be a bad defensive team next season. But with all the offensively oriented players we currently have on our roster, I don’t think it’s a good idea to add another player like Osman. Overall, we shouldn’t use a position on our roster for Osman.

During his career, Osman played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 9.3 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game.