San Antonio Spurs Officially Sign Livio Jean-Charles

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Livio Jean-Charles (28) dribbles the ball during an NBA Summer League game against the Knicks at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Livio Jean-Charles (28) dribbles the ball during an NBA Summer League game against the Knicks at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Livio Jean-Charles. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

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The 6-foot-9 225 pound forward was originally drafted by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Jean-Charles played on the Spurs’ Las Vegas Summer League team. Though he played in just three games, he averaged four points, 1.7 rebounds and one assist.

Last season with ASVEL, he saw action in 25 games, averaging 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.2 minutes while shooting .552 from the field and .655 from the foul line. In the playoffs he appeared in 11 games and his play excelled upping his averages to 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25.9 minutes helping lead ASVEL to the French League championship.

Jean-Charles does have the physical tools to be a prototypical NBA player for his natural position of power forward. He has a wingspan that stretches to 7-foot-2. With some added strength, he should be capable of holding his own against post brutes and switch out onto guards in a pinch.Jean-Charles has a long way to go before he emerges as an NBA-caliber player. The upside is that he’s still young and has time to develop a more well-rounded offensive game, and figure out how to use his physical tools better.

He can be a good role player off the bench for San Antonio once he settles in with the system. He can help on both sides of the ball. Offensively he is a slasher, which helps him get to the basket and finish. Very agile player that shows excellent speed in the open floor, something the Spurs front-court lacks. He has the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers which can stretch the floor. Though the Spurs are not a one-on-one type team, Jean-Charles shows that he can face up against a defender and find a way by his man and get to the rim .

Defensively he is a strong defender. He uses his length to his advantage in crowding opponents. What also helps him is his reflexes and quick feet. For a player as long as he is, to be able to have quick feet against some of the more athletic forwards in the NBA is a must.

He shows that he is hard working and has the desire to improve. He can bring energy to a team off the bench to help ignite a run. Providing a spark with effort, defense and some scoring, without needing plays called for him.

With Jean-Charles officially signed, the Spurs now have 15 players on the books for the 2016-17 season. Two of those players, Ryan Arcidiacono and Bryn Forbes, are on partially guaranteed contracts.

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