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NBA Free Agency: Is three-point specialist Anthony Tolliver attainable for the Bucks?

By Jordan Treske

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 4: Anthony Tolliver #43 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 4: Anthony Tolliver #43 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – APRIL 1: (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – APRIL 1: (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Strengths

A three-point specialist through and through, Tolliver is coming off his best season shooting the ball across numerous statistical categories.

Those marks range from field goal percentage (46.4 percent), three-point percentage (43.6 percent), effective field goal percentage (63.2 percent) and true shooting percentage (66.3 percent), all of which Tolliver logged on 8.9 points per game, the second highest scoring mark of his career.

To add to that, Tolliver stood as one of the most potent spot up shooters in the league this year as he tallied 1.31 points per 100 possessions in those situations, which ranked him in the 97th percentile, per NBA.com/stats.

While knocking down shots from beyond the arc stands as Tolliver’s bread and butter, the Missouri native is capable of attacking hard closeouts and putting his 7’2″ wingspan to good use to help him finish attempts at the rim.

This comes with the small sample size caveat, but Tolliver converted 46 of his 65 attempts at the basket this season, which comes in at 70.8 percent, per Basketball-Reference.com.

Switching sides, Tolliver is a solid team defender who prides himself on being in the right spot at the right time to make up for the athletic disadvantages he holds at his semi-advanced age. It also helps that he’s a passable rebounder on the defensive glass, seeing that he’s posted a 14.8 defensive rebounding percentage throughout his stops on the NBA level.

From that same profile by Edwards late last year, Tolliver expounded on the qualities and intangibles he’s honed in on over the course of his career and not letting down shooting nights affect his effort level defensively:

"“As a young kid, when I was in Golden State, I scored more, rebounded more, I played more, I started a lot of games and stuff like that,” said Tolliver, who was adjusting the ice bags strapped to his grizzled knees. “I wasn’t mature, I wasn’t as good on defense — really, there was not much defense at all played there with Don Nelson. As far as being a complete player, I feel, right now, I’m as complete as I’ve ever been. To be able to help a team out on a nightly basis, I’m in a position to where, mentally, I’m not focused on the wrong things, I’m focused on the things to help a team win. I know there are going to be nights when I shoot it and shoot it well, and I know there are going to be nights when I don’t shoot it well, but I don’t let that affect my defense, affect my hustle, and the little things that help a team win. “I’m in the best position I’ve ever been in playing basketball than ever before.”"

Above all else, the combination of the veteran presence Tolliver brings and the net positive he stands as, at least last year, are fine marks to have associated to his name when scoping out the role he could have on a team looking to compete next season.

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