Sessions just has some real defined strengths that I like for a point guard--his ability to pass which of course everyone knows, but also his ability to get to the free throw line (he's fifth among PGs in free throw attempts/field goal attempt). Those two attributes are usually mutually exclusive among point guards, and only Chauncey Billups and Kyle Lowry (explains why I like Lowry) had higher assists/possession and free throw attempts/field goal attempt; that alone makes him very very intriguing. And he's very young (22 years old), has pretty big primacy (as seen by his high usage rate), so needless to say if we get him he would be our point guard of the future, being able to step right up and produce.
I sense that he's becoming more and more scoring oriented (his assists/field goal attempt dropped from 1.09 in his breakout rookie season to 0.58 just last year) as his passing has become more ordinary, but defenses are focusing more on him and he rightfully is diversifying his game as a scorer. That's also consistent with what he did in college. While he can score, his scoring efficiency is quite average overall--he doesn't wow in points/possession, will pretty much never take a three pointer and his mid-range game is not really dependable at all, thus accounting for his average TS%--which is why his PER did not budge much because he traded off some of his great passing for less efficient scoring.
But the reason Sessions can still make an impact offensively is because his game is predicated around attacking the basket, and his ballhandling skill and craftiness allow him to be effective--think early Andre Miller with this guy in that he's not really that athletic, but he just wills himself to success around here. Another reason, like Lowry, his jumpshot has potential is because of what he shoots from the free throw line--80% on a high rate of attempts, and considering that shooting is the easiest thing to learn in the league, that really gives him a good chance to improve the shot and extend the range. But even on the off chance he doesn't develop the range, he can still slash effectively, and the lack of jumpshot will really only affect him once he reaches his 30s.
So he's a ready-made player with unique strengths for a point guard and fairly correctable flaws that don't appear to hinder his game much at all. He's really productive in athletic markers (really good rebounder in addition to the ability to draw fouls) despite not being that athletic, sticks to his strengths in general and passes the ball really well. Think a career trajectory of Andre Miller--besides their similarities in slashing and lack of range/jumper, Miller also traded off his passing for more scoring as his career progressed, and I suspect Sessions might do the same. He's a pure point guard, but he'll start to look to score more.
I sense that he's becoming more and more scoring oriented (his assists/field goal attempt dropped from 1.09 in his breakout rookie season to 0.58 just last year) as his passing has become more ordinary, but defenses are focusing more on him and he rightfully is diversifying his game as a scorer. That's also consistent with what he did in college. While he can score, his scoring efficiency is quite average overall--he doesn't wow in points/possession, will pretty much never take a three pointer and his mid-range game is not really dependable at all, thus accounting for his average TS%--which is why his PER did not budge much because he traded off some of his great passing for less efficient scoring.
But the reason Sessions can still make an impact offensively is because his game is predicated around attacking the basket, and his ballhandling skill and craftiness allow him to be effective--think early Andre Miller with this guy in that he's not really that athletic, but he just wills himself to success around here. Another reason, like Lowry, his jumpshot has potential is because of what he shoots from the free throw line--80% on a high rate of attempts, and considering that shooting is the easiest thing to learn in the league, that really gives him a good chance to improve the shot and extend the range. But even on the off chance he doesn't develop the range, he can still slash effectively, and the lack of jumpshot will really only affect him once he reaches his 30s.
So he's a ready-made player with unique strengths for a point guard and fairly correctable flaws that don't appear to hinder his game much at all. He's really productive in athletic markers (really good rebounder in addition to the ability to draw fouls) despite not being that athletic, sticks to his strengths in general and passes the ball really well. Think a career trajectory of Andre Miller--besides their similarities in slashing and lack of range/jumper, Miller also traded off his passing for more scoring as his career progressed, and I suspect Sessions might do the same. He's a pure point guard, but he'll start to look to score more.
If we could sign him, and Thabeet is gone, then I would draft Evans with the 4th pick. Evans could be your backup at the Point and at the shooting guard position.