Some players' contributions can't be measured in a box score. His value to a team may not equate into worth for your fantasy squad. He may not even play 25 minutes a night.
Brent Barry is the poster boy of a true role player.
Signing with the San Antonio Spurs, an established basketball
organization with a super-superstar in Tim Duncan, a talented (and yet
sometimes erratic) supporting cast, and a proven coach, Barry knew he
had to fit with the team. The Spurs would not fit for him.
Barry, affectionately dubbed "Bones," was leaving a starting job and a
steadfast Seattle fan base. Undoubtedly, his chances of winning a
championship would skyrocket balling alongside Duncan, a two-time
Finals MVP. What he presented the Spurs, however, was the final piece
to their playoff puzzle.
No longer blessed with the clutch shooting of Stephen Jackson, the
veteran stewardship of Steve Kerr, or the lightning quick penetration
of Speedy Claxton, the Spurs collapsed to the fractured Lakers in '04.
Their quest to the Finals imploded alongside a Fisher buzzer-beater, a
shot that will likely be forever emblazoned in the retinas of Spurs
fans for years.
Barry's bourgeois style of play blends three aspects the Spurs
urgently require: he is a dependable shooter, can create shots for his
teammates, and, above all else, knows his role as a "veteran presence"
off the bench. Coach Popovich has the unusual luxury of a deep bench
with reliable play.
Horry didn't proffer what the Spurs had hoped; aside from a few mild
performances, Rob couldn't score when it counted. Barry, however, is a
natural wing player with an unnatural skill in driving and finishing
at the hoop. With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili endorsed to
multimillion dollar agreements, though, you can be sure they will
consume most of the minutes in San Antonio.
Some players' contributions can't be measured in a box score. His value to a team may not equate into worth for your fantasy squad. He may not even play 25 minutes a night.