Breaking Down Tomas Satoransky’s Fit With the Wizards

With the 32nd pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the Washington Wizards selected Tomas Satoransky out of the Czech Republic. After playing overseas with Sevilla and then Barcelona for the past 4 years news finally broke this summer that Satoranksy would be signing with the Wizards on a three-year $9 million deal. Despite standing 6’7″ Satoransky has traditionally played the point guard position, though he certainly has the size to slide over the two or even the three. What can he bring to the table for the Wizards?

Off-Ball Offense

Satoransky was seen as a prospect with some shooting questions a few years ago, but shooting 41.9 percent from three across 303 attempts in his past two seasons has turned what used to be a question into a clear strength of his game. He shoots a bit of a set shot and is much more comfortable in a spot-up role than on the move, but is definitely someone defenses cannot ignore on the perimeter.

Satoranksy is the rare guard who can provide value off-the-ball even when he’s not spotting up. Due to his lengthy frame and solid above the rim athleticism, Barcelona liked to run set lob plays for him, and his natural instincts as a cutter allow him to get loose for finishes around the rim.

On-Ball Offense

Satoransky’s ball-handling skills are probably most similar to another wiry point guard — Shaun Livingston. Like Livingston, Satoransky doesn’t break down smaller guards off-the-dribble with an array of moves, but he has a solid handle and uses his size to play under control and protect the ball. Satoransky can use his size in the post some but not at Livingston’s level, and is instead better suited to attacking in the pick-and-roll due to his superior outside shooting.

In pick-and-roll situations, Satoransky can pull-up if the defense goes under, and does a good job using his combination of size, handling, and solid athleticism to attack downhill against the big man. He does a great job of playing in space both in pick-and-roll and transition situations, and when he gets to the basket he’s a creative finisher.

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The reason Satoransky is used as a point guard is mostly his combination of heady decision making and exemplary passing vision. He’s not an exceptionally creative playmaker, but he just knows how to run an offense and does a good job finding shooters or big men around the rim when the defense messes up.

Satoransky is the classic example of a player that does a great job playing in space but struggles to create that space for himself. He’s not going to break people down in isolation or beat good pick-and-roll defense, but he doesn’t force the action, and when you put him in transition or attacking a scrambling defense that has already been punctured he can really hurt a team with his slashing and passing ability.

Defense

The main reason you would even play a 6’7″ guy at point guard is the extra value they can provide on the defensive end. While Satoransky is at a quickness disadvantage compared to most smaller guards, he is quick enough that he can compensate with his length advantage. He doesn’t have elite instincts or athleticism, but he’s just a very solid perimeter defender whose only real weakness is he tends to play a little too upright when fighting over screens.

Satoransky’s size helps a lot in deterring perimeter shots, and also allows him to comfortably switch onto opposing shooting guards and some small forwards. That type of defensive versatility is rare in a guard, so even if Satoransky isn’t a high impact defender he can help a team a lot with his ability to fill any hole. As an off-ball defender, Satoransky is experienced playing high-level basketball so he understands how to execute his scheme, but he never jumps off the screen as a defensive playmaker either.

Fit With the Wizards

After the signing of Trey Burke, the Wizards come into 2016-17 with a theoretical 4-guard rotation of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Satoransky, and Burke. Even if the Wizards also re-sign Alan Anderson, managing the minutes of three point guards in Wall, Satoransky, and Burke will be an interesting challenge. The great thing about Satoranksy is precisely the flexibility he brings.

Standing 6’7″ and being able to space the floor means he could comfortably play the 2 next to Wall or Burke, or slide over and run the offense from the 1 — possibly with Beal aiding him in playmaking. The fit with Wall is particularly interesting, as the way Wall can create space for others on the weak side could allow Satoransky to attack a weakened defense and really look good.

The lineup I’d really be interested in seeing the Wizards try is one with Wall-Beal-Satoransky all on the court at the same time. Otto Porter will (deservedly) get most of the minutes at small forward, but a lineup with three guys who can really attack from the perimeter could potentially be dynamic offensively. Against a three-man like LeBron or Paul George such a lineup would be untenable, but Beal has the girth and Satoransky the length to match up with most opposing small forwards.

The bottom line is that getting Satoransky at just $3 million a year in this market is an absolute steal for the Wizards. He’s not a dynamic enough playmaker to be an NBA starter, but he’s a solid two-way guy with positional versatility that should be able to provide a lot of value off-the-bench. As a Wizards fan, I’m excited to see how things shake out.