Offense
Strengths
• Classic post player – great size and strength
• Good repertoire of post moves
• Patient against double teams – finds the open man
• Seals off lane well for teammates to penetrate
• Solid screener – good on the pick & roll
• Good touch on his shots
Weaknesses
• Footwork and ball-handling are average
• No threat outside of 8-10 feet
• Post moves are slow developing – teams have time to bring over help
Defense
Strengths
• Good shot blocker
• Strong enough to move offensive players off the box
• Solid rebounder
• Good outlet passer
• Very good help and recover off of screens
Weaknesses
• Has trouble guarding quicker offensive players
• Not a good perimeter defender – slow to close on jump shots
Analysis
Aldrich is a classic low-post player - good height, solid body, and an array of hook shots and drop steps. He is fundamentally sound at his position, getting good position in the post, and using his strength to back his defender down to either get a layup or passing out to the perimeter for a 3. Defensively, he is just as sound, if somewhat unspectacular. He is a good shot blocker, avoiding contact and the fouls that come with it. His biggest weakness is when he is matched up with a leaner, quicker post player. He can be beat off the dribble or slow to defend a perimeter shot. Overall, he can be a solid NBA player with a team that runs a half-court offense, but may struggle to play effectively in an up-tempo game.
- Ed Isaacson
