3. Raef LaFrentz
One could fairly argue that Ryan Anderson is the superior offensive player, but Raef LaFrentz had value on both ends of the floor. In addition to being ahead of his time as a sharpshooting big, LaFrentz was also a high-quality shot-blocker.
If Luke Kornet is aiming to embody the two-way aspect of the stretch 4 game, then LaFrentz would be an excellent example of whom he should emulate.
LaFrentz finished his NBA career with averages of 0.8 three-point field goals made and 1.6 blocks per game. His numbers translated to 1.2 three-point field goals made and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes, which better displays his two-way abilities.
Kornet has the potential to thrive in a similar capacity, as evidenced by the fact that he averaged 1.5 three-point field goals made and 2.0 blocks per game in 2016-17.
What made LaFrentz even more difficult to play against was the fact that he could post players up and attack off the bounce. Those weren’t skills that he developed to an elite level, but they were weapons in his arsenal that kept defenses off balance.
Kornet has the tools to excel in a similar way, and studying what worked for LaFrentz would be a significant step in the right direction.