Offseason questions: Has the time finally come to free Roddy B.?
Earl K. Sneed takes a look at the young career of Dallas Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois and ask if it's time to unleash the budding star.
Offseason questions: Has the time finally come to free Roddy B.?
We all remember his career-high 40-point performance on the road as a rookie against Golden State on March 27, 2010.
We also have great recollection of his 16 points versus San Antonio in a series-clinching Game 6 win for the Spurs during the first round of the 2010 playoffs.
Other than a dazzling play here or there, however, there hasn’t been a lot of fund memories for Rodrigue Beaubois’ young career since. But now, after the departures of veterans Jason Kidd and Jason Terry in free agency, has the time finally come to free Roddy B.?
Since showing glimpses of stardom as a first-year pro, Beaubois has dealt with a multitude of nagging injuries. He played in just 28 games (26 starts) in his sophomore campaign while suffering setbacks to his surgically-repaired left foot. He followed that up with just 12 starts in his 53 appearances last season, hampered by the injury bug yet again, the unexpected death of his father and a veteran-laden backcourt.
With a spike in his minutes came better numbers a season ago, although his 3-point shooting slipped to just 28.8 percent. But after averaging a career-best 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 21.7 minutes a night last year, Beaubois appears ready to thrive now that his injuries are behind him.
Still, he may have plenty of bodies in front of him on the depth chart.
When the Mavs missed out on Deron Williams in free agency before also losing Kidd and Terry to the Eastern Conference, it was naturally assumed that Beaubois would take on a leading role. That is until the Mavs made up for the losses of Kidd and Terry by bringing in the likes of young guards Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo, in addition to eight-year defensive specialist Dahntay Jones.
Fellow eight-year guard Delonte West, who started 33 of his 44 outings for the team last season, also re-signed this summer after the organization added rookie guard Jared Cunningham in the draft this June to further bolster what is now a very deep backcourt rotation for Mavs coach Rick Carlisle. Add to the fact that Dominique Jones’ performance in the Las Vegas Summer League turned heads, and that could leave Beaubois as the odd man out this upcoming season.
But maybe not.
While it is still uncertain whether Beaubois is a natural point guard or better playing off the ball, it is unquestionable that the cat-quick 24-year-old still possesses the necessary tools to run a team. Again, he's only 24 years old. And maybe, just maybe, all he needs is more time on the court.
After watching from the sideline while Kidd and then-backcup J.J. Barea ran the offense to perfection en route to the 2011 NBA title, Beaubois learned first-hand just how to combine penetration and playmaking when running the point. Still, with so many bodies at Carlisle’s disposal, will the minutes be there for Beaubois to recapture his first-year magic?
We shall see.
