Alex Len is a free agent no longer. The 25-year-old and the Atlanta Hawks agreed to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
The Ukranian big man spent the first five years of his career in Phoenix. Len was the fifth overall pick in 2013, but he's never truly lived up to the hype of a top-five pick. Len has career averages of 7.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. Not the type of production most teams expect from a lottery pick.
Len has a chance to rejuvenate his career in Atlanta. He joins a young team in the process of rebuilding. He should get an opportunity to prove his worth on the court. It's possible that a change of pace is exactly what Len needs.
The problem with Len is that he doesn't defend the perimeter well and he has never shot the ball well from the outside. These are becoming common traits of NBA big men. Len barely shoots from behind the arc and when he does, he's only a 24 percent shooter.
Additionally, his inability to defend on the perimeter puts him in precarious positions in today's pace and space game. He can get victimized when teams pull him out to defend pick and rolls.
But Len rebounds the ball at a very good rate and he's skilled in the post. Despite the changing tide in the NBA, these are valuable skills for a big man. Len may not be the stretch big that seems to be en vogue around the league, but there's still a place for him in Atlanta.
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