Free Agent Target: Guerschon Yabusele

Charles Lee could use a big that can space the court

🐝 Good morning, and thank you for subscribing! The NBA Draft is a week and a half away, but we can’t forget about free agency starting shortly thereafter. Today, I will release my first piece on free agent targets. If you have an annual subscription, you can access my rankings for over 40 players, categorized by archetype. In this selection, I’ll highlight someone I have ranked in the top 3 of the Versatile Big category. On Wednesday, there will be another article spotlighting a guy of the 3-and-D mold. Let’s jump in!

Guerschon Yabusele | PF/C | 6-8 / 260 lb. | 29 years | Former Team: PHI

Guerschon Yabusele has bounced around internationally, playing in France, China, and Spain. He has only completed three seasons in the NBA, and his most recent season with the Sixers was his first since 2019. After signing a one-year contract, the 29-year-old is due for a pay raise, and Philadelphia has expressed interest in keeping him. Charlotte would be wise to look into this versatile big that could help Charles Lee stretch the court from the center position.

Charlotte’s Financial Situation

If you’ve viewed our Buzz Beat+ shared document, you’ve likely glanced at the Cap Sheet tab. The Charlotte Hornets, barring miraculous maneuvers, are expected to be over the cap by a significant margin. The more important thing to note is the tax threshold of $187.9 million.

Charlotte will have access to the $14.1 million standard mid-level exception, which is approximately how much flexibility they have until they hit the tax line; one they won’t cross. The easiest way to create wiggle room is to renounce free agent holds and waive non-guaranteed contracts.¹ While Yabusele might not demand the full midlevel exception, don’t be surprised if his yearly salary approaches (or exceeds) $10 million.

Offense

Yabusele had a chance to showcase his complete skillset this past season in Philadelphia, where he played in 70 games and averaged over 27 minutes per contest. If Jeff Peterson were to sign him, he would be doing so because of what he can contribute on the offensive end. He would offer a unique blend of abilities that won’t be found among Charlotte’s other bigs.

Let’s start with his shooting from behind the arc. Charles Lee has worked with bigs like Brook Lopez, Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Mike Muscala. All of these guys share something in common: an outside threat. Guerschon Yabusele would instantly bring that to Charlotte’s offense. According to PivotFade, he finished in the 84th percentile on above-the-break threes.

A big who can stretch the court is a point guard’s best friend, especially for a team that has stressed the importance of hitting the paint. Yabusele, if signed, would be heavily involved in the pick-and-pop game, and if the defending center has to sit back to contain the dribbler, the “Dancing Bear” will capitalize on those open looks. While his shot is somewhat elongated, he has proven that this doesn’t hinder his ability to convert from behind the arc. All 203 of his above-the-break shots were assisted, demonstrating that he’s quick to recognize the available window of opportunity.

With the threat of a perimeter shot, it’s effective to have a response to how defenses aggressively close out. Luckily, Yabusele isn’t one-dimensional, and he has that counter in his repertoire. For a 265-pound big man, it’s remarkable to see how he navigates his way to the paint. He can finish on the run, converting 63% of his driving layups. Thus, not only does he help create space for the team, but he can also take advantage of a scrambling defense.

Yabusele’s frame, if you couldn’t tell, is stocky, and he uses that to his advantage in various ways on the offensive end. If he’s not spotting up, playing out of the pick-and-pop, or driving into the paint, you can occasionally spot him posting up. While this has become a lost art in the NBA, he knows how to take advantage of his sturdy build. Whether through a switch following a screen or simply recognizing that his man is incapable of keeping him out of the paint, he has no trouble backing his way down to the restricted area. He converted 61% of his shots following a post-up.

Looking at some of the most frequent spots and shot types that Yabusele attempts

While Yabusele isn’t an overly skilled passer, he keeps the offensive flow moving. He’s not going to do anything outside of his comfort zone, and that makes his presence on offense a positive one. You can count on him to space the floor, drive if there’s a hard closeout, and use his build to score in various ways.

Defense

There are a few more inconsistencies on the defensive end for him. While he’s still a few inches from being 7 feet, he’s much more comfortable guarding centers than any other position. His wingspan and strength are useful in preventing shots near the rim, despite not being much of a shot-blocker. Another area to note is his ability to be a defensive playmaker. He has some anticipation skills that help him get to the ball before others. He averages 1.5 steals and 3.5 deflections per 100 possessions.

While he spends some time guarding power forwards, his presence on the perimeter is shaky. He’s not nimble enough to stay in front of shiftier players and is susceptible to the occasional blow-by. So, that limits the types of players he should feel comfortable guarding. Opposing teams going small would be a good way to combat his offensive strengths and expose him on the opposite end. Additionally, he’s not a great defensive rebounder, only tallying a 14.9 defensive rebound percentage.²

Charles Lee, known for his emphasis on defensive intensity and attention to detail, could maximize Guerschon's value and discover ways to conceal him in crucial situations. That would be the sell.

Quick Recap

Strengths: Perimeter Shooting, Driving, Rim Finishing, Strength

Weaknesses: Containing Agile Forwards/Centers, Rebounding

1. Charlotte has three players on non-guaranteed contracts: Diabaté, Okogie, and Jeffries.

2. For comparison's sake, Nurkić: 29.3 DRB%, Williams: 25.1 DRB%, and Diabaté: 21.4 DRB%.