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2019 NBA Draft

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People are sleeping on Porter and Bol at the moment...they could both be top-10 or top-5 offensive big men five years down the road. The advantage of having a high-IQ center who can really shoot, not just make spot-up 3's when left wide open, is enormous and I think Jaren Jackson will demonstrate that in the NBA this year.

Porter I agree..

Bol Bol nooooooooo thank you.
 
The semblance between RJ and Simmons is that they both are fake lefties and have an awkard and unnatural shooting stroke. RJ, like Simmons is right handed, and yet he shoots with his left. I would be very wary of his shooting tbh.

You say that Zion is the one with the glaring deficincies, and I would actually argue that RJ is the one with the bigger holes in his game when you look at what they will have to show at the next level and what you want our of your superstar wing that doesn't have any elite size or athleticism.

Even this early, I can clearly see how Zion will get his production. At the next level he will still be quicker, more explosive and bigger than everyone else. He will be able to play 1-5 and exploit most matchups.

He is not just an atheltic marvel...he has real skills. He is not less skilled than Derrick Rose at Memphis.

If Draymond Green manages to be a plus on the offensive end, then Zion who is better than him at everything on that end will surely be one. Imagine this fucker grab a defensive board and go coast to coast...try stopping that. Zion at Point-Center will be a cheat.

He has a better first step and is more explosive than Lebron when he first came into the league and he weights in at 285...sheesh. Lebron actually got more explosive in the NBA, specifically in 2009...so we can only imagine.

Now for real, I don't see how you can put Nassir a tier above Zion. To me at least, he is a tier above both of them.

I guess the shooting thing is just in the eye of the beholder. I look at RJ and see a guy who has been given instructions on how to shoot the ball properly, and even though though the results aren't there yet I am moderately hopeful that it will get there, and it quite frankly has to. He isn't the most explosive athlete like you said, so he needs to have some sort of pull up game or a tighter handle to be able to truly start dicing up defenses.

With Zion I would agree that you get a pretty good idea of how his production is going to come at the next level, I just don't know that his impact is going to be as high as RJ's could turn out to be, same with Nassir. Like you said, he's not just an athletic marvel, he does have the handle to utilize it properly, but I don't trust him to develop a shot as much as I do RJ, I don't trust him to be a defensive stopper as I do Nas, and I don't think he's as good at making plays for others as RJ either. Comparing him to Draymond seems strange to me, because Draymond was a heavy, not too athletic 3rd year college player by the time he came into the league and a defensive specialist who turned into a playmaker. Zion is a ball dominant, hyper athletic slasher with a suspect jumper. Where is that comparison coming from?

With Nassir, it's down to the fact that I see his outside shot translating more cleanly than any other player in the top 5 on top of him being an explosive athlete who seems to be trending towards a defensive monster. it's not just a matter of being a 3 and D guy, because he's able to get his shot off in so many different ways. On top of that he's just an absolutely bloodthirsty competitor and what can I say, I like it when young players have that kind of fire in their belly.

This is all of course completely meaningless as none of us have seen a second of them going up against actual top level competition yet, but this is my read on those three so far. I'm looking forward to the season starting though, that's for sure.

EDIT: I should probably add, that if this sounds like I'm not very high on Zion, that isn't the case. I think he's an amazing player who can be extremely productive and impactful in the NBA provided a few things swing his way (defense/shooting). It's just that I think RJ and Nas are more of a sure thing when it comes to improving on their deficiencies on top of being great players in their own right.
 
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Porter I agree..

Bol Bol nooooooooo thank you.

As with everyone, I'll have to wait to see him in college this year to get a better feel. Bol doesn't seem to naturally have the quick, high release that Porter and JJJ have from three, which is a concern, but he sure is accurate, and naively that should create a perfect inside/outside threat between him and Kenny Wooten. If that plays out, I tend to think he'd be a great fit next to LNJ. Love-Zizic starting with Bol-Nance off the bench would be a really interesting frontcourt in the long run IMO.
 
Is Shareef O'neal elligable for this draft or did the scandal over the summer muck that up for him?
 
I guess the shooting thing is just in the eye of the beholder. I look at RJ and see a guy who has been given instructions on how to shoot the ball properly, and even though though the results aren't there yet I am moderately hopeful that it will get there, and it quite frankly has to. He isn't the most explosive athlete like you said, so he needs to have some sort of pull up game or a tighter handle to be able to truly start dicing up defenses.

He shoots like I(righty) shoot when I try to shoot a left handed set shot. Very mechanical and unnatural...it looks exactly like how you square your elbow for a left handed jumper if you are a right handed dominant player.

How can you be confident in his ability to shoot? he isn't good at the FT line or the College 3...not even the NBA 3, and the fact that he is really right handed doesn't instill confidence in me. I know that he is a high IQ player and he is a superh ard worker...but that's not enough.

This kind of player really relies on all 3 things at the next level:Jump shot, ball handling and to a lesser extent athleticism. Athleticism not so much for me because while he isn't explosive, he might be able to slither his way inside if he develops his handle.

I mean, he might develop it and he might not, but it makes me feel uneasy because we see time and time again how players like him need to have those types of skills at the next level.

I dunno, it's like his shots at the rim even feel so clumsy...even his passes. And when he dribbles the balls looks like it's slipping off of his hand.


With Zion I would agree that you get a pretty good idea of how his production is going to come at the next level, I just don't know that his impact is going to be as high as RJ's could turn out to be, same with Nassir. Like you said, he's not just an athletic marvel, he does have the handle to utilize it properly, but I don't trust him to develop a shot as much as I do RJ, I don't trust him to be a defensive stopper as I do Nas, and I don't think he's as good at making plays for others as RJ either. Comparing him to Draymond seems strange to me, because Draymond was a heavy, not too athletic 3rd year college player by the time he came into the league and a defensive specialist who turned into a playmaker. Zion is a ball dominant, hyper athletic slasher with a suspect jumper. Where is that comparison coming from?

I will say again, that i'm not familiar with this draft class yet. Other than Zion, I havn't watched RJ or Nas in highschool other than a few highlight clips.

To me, Zion looks like a generational talent. Right now, I can't say the same for Nassir or RJ. What separates RJ from other 6'8 wings? his passing? I guess.

I made that comparison to present Draymond or Draymond from a year ago; Right now Draymond is considered very athletic compared to other PFs. This comparison is not to say that Zion will be some kind of Green clone, but to say that he has some part of his game(on steroids that is) that resemble some parts of Green's game that currently work very well at the NBA level. So at minimum, he can make a better impact as an offensive player than draymond even if his shooting doesn't develop.

The comparison is a Forward/Center that can snag a board and just run with the ball coast to coast and either finish or pass. Doesn't have to pass to the PG to start a break and waste time, and instead just attacks when the defense has very little time to settle in. Draymond is also a playmaker in the half court and a vicious screener and doesn't need t 3pt shot in order to make a good impact.

Zion is that twice 3 as well as other things...he might not even need to develop a 3 pt shot.

He will be impossible to guard for Centers as a ball handler and impossibe to guard for wings as a Roll Man. Can you imagine Sexton, Cedi, Nance and Zion on the break? god damn. I don't see how bigs will be able to get back on defense before these guys, and Zion is so good as a finisher that I just don't see how smaller players will be able to stop him in transition.


With Nassir, it's down to the fact that I see his outside shot translating more cleanly than any other player in the top 5 on top of him being an explosive athlete who seems to be trending towards a defensive monster. it's not just a matter of being a 3 and D guy, because he's able to get his shot off in so many different ways. On top of that he's just an absolutely bloodthirsty competitor and what can I say, I like it when young players have that kind of fire in their belly.

With Zion you just need to see a few games to get a picture. With RJ and Nassir I will have to watch them for a full season to get a good idea.

I got the same picture by reading online about him. I agree that his mechanics look good..no doubt.

Still, that doesn't merit putting him a tier above a player like Zion.

This is all of course completely meaningless as none of us have seen a second of them going up against actual top level competition yet, but this is my read on those three so far. I'm looking forward to the season starting though, that's for sure.

Oh yeah..can't wait.

Cavs have to tank though(???). This is exactly the draft to do it.

EDIT: I should probably add, that if this sounds like I'm not very high on Zion, that isn't the case. I think he's an amazing player who can be extremely productive and impactful in the NBA provided a few things swing his way (defense/shooting). It's just that I think RJ and Nas are more of a sure thing when it comes to improving on their deficiencies on top of being great players in their own right.

That's fine...you are just higher on RJ/Nas.

To me, Zion is absolutely the safest pick as well as the player with the highest ceiling. That does not mean he will turn out to be better than them.[/QUOTE]
 
He shoots like I(righty) shoot when I try to shoot a left handed set shot. Very mechanical and unnatural...it looks exactly like how you square your elbow for a left handed jumper if you are a right handed dominant player.

How can you be confident in his ability to shoot? he isn't good at the FT line or the College 3...not even the NBA 3, and the fact that he is really right handed doesn't instill confidence in me. I know that he is a high IQ player and he is a superh ard worker...but that's not enough.

This kind of player really relies on all 3 things at the next level:Jump shot, ball handling and to a lesser extent athleticism. Athleticism not so much for me because while he isn't explosive, he might be able to slither his way inside if he develops his handle.

I mean, he might develop it and he might not, but it makes me feel uneasy because we see time and time again how players like him need to have those types of skills at the next level.

I dunno, it's like his shots at the rim even feel so clumsy...even his passes. And when he dribbles the balls looks like it's slipping off of his hand.




I will say again, that i'm not familiar with this draft class yet. Other than Zion, I havn't watched RJ or Nas in highschool other than a few highlight clips.

To me, Zion looks like a generational talent. Right now, I can't say the same for Nassir or RJ. What separates RJ from other 6'8 wings? his passing? I guess.

I made that comparison to present Draymond or Draymond from a year ago; Right now Draymond is considered very athletic compared to other PFs. This comparison is not to say that Zion will be some kind of Green clone, but to say that he has some part of his game(on steroids that is) that resemble some parts of Green's game that currently work very well at the NBA level. So at minimum, he can make a better impact as an offensive player than draymond even if his shooting doesn't develop.

The comparison is a Forward/Center that can snag a board and just run with the ball coast to coast and either finish or pass. Doesn't have to pass to the PG to start a break and waste time, and instead just attacks when the defense has very little time to settle in. Draymond is also a playmaker in the half court and a vicious screener and doesn't need t 3pt shot in order to make a good impact.

Zion is that twice 3 as well as other things...he might not even need to develop a 3 pt shot.

He will be impossible to guard for Centers as a ball handler and impossibe to guard for wings as a Roll Man. Can you imagine Sexton, Cedi, Nance and Zion on the break? god damn. I don't see how bigs will be able to get back on defense before these guys, and Zion is so good as a finisher that I just don't see how smaller players will be able to stop him in transition.




With Zion you just need to see a few games to get a picture. With RJ and Nassir I will have to watch them for a full season to get a good idea.

I got the same picture by reading online about him. I agree that his mechanics look good..no doubt.

Still, that doesn't merit putting him a tier above a player like Zion.



Oh yeah..can't wait.

Cavs have to tank though(???). This is exactly the draft to do it.



That's fine...you are just higher on RJ/Nas.

To me, Zion is absolutely the safest pick as well as the player with the highest ceiling. That does not mean he will turn out to be better than them.
[/QUOTE]

I would agree with you about watching RJ and Nas for a full season but I would probably still say the same about Zion even though it's pretty clear to see how he will make his bread and butter in the NBA. for the record, I can greatly recommend reading The Stepien's way too early breakdowns of those three as well as Jontay Porter and Cam. They do a good job of zooming in on their respective strengths and the allure of how they will look in the pros. If you haven't read them already they're worth a look!
 
Here are my totally subjective thoughts on the relative strengths/weaknesses of the top players in this draft. I'm attempting to go by the following template, but obviously I'm missing a lot of information on most of these guys. What skills am I overrating or underrating?

Offense:

-Interior Offense
  • Basic cues - Free throw volume, offensive rebound rate
    • Players who dominate the paint typically rank high in these statistics. A high free throw rate indicates suggests that the player attracts a lot of defensive attention inside the arc, while a high offensive rebound rate suggests athletic dominance, which elite prospects should be able to show at the college level. 2-point volume+accuracy a relatively poor indicator, probably because average 2-point shot difficulty varies way too much from one player to another.
  • Advanced cues - 2-point accuracy adjusted for shot difficulty, shot diversity, above-the-rim finishing ability, ballhandling ability and footwork
-Perimeter Offense
  • Basic cues - 3-point volume
    • Players who make the most threes are usually the best pure shooters, though their percentages may lag behind their lower-volume peers due to the higher degree of difficulty that typically comes with high-volume shooting.
  • Advanced cues - 3-point accuracy adjusted for shot difficulty, shot diversity, shooting form, free throw percentage
-Team offense
  • Basic cues - Assist rate, Assist:TO ratio, steal rate
  • Advanced cues - Passing accuracy adjusted for pass difficulty, pass diversity and creativity, top-level orchestration, off-ball IQ, leadership and mental makeup, creating transition opportunities and decision making on the break
    • Top-level orchestration refers to a player's ability to "run the offense" effectively by recognizing defensive schemes, strengths, and weaknesses, and initiating plays accordingly. Sparking fast break opportunities (with a steal or otherwise) isn't always thought of as an offensive skill, but I'm treating it as such here.
Defense:

-Interior defense
  • Basic cues - Offensive rebound rate, block rate, foul rate, height
    • Offensive rather is a good indicator for NBA defensive success presumably because it's a good proxy for contested rebound rate (defensive rebounds, in contrast, are largely uncontested).
  • Advanced cues - Strength and toughness holding ground in the post and on box outs, "nose for the ball" to get rebounds/strips in traffic, length and timing to block/alter shots around the rim
-Perimeter defense
  • Basic cues - Steal rate, foul rate
    • Counterintuitively, college foul rate is positively correlated with defensive success at the NBA level. The willingness to play with high intensity/physicality to the point of occasionally committing fouls is generally a positive sign, at least to a point.

  • Advanced cues - Lateral agility + length to contain, Hands to make ballhandlers uncomfortable and disrupt dribble drives
-Team defense
  • Basic cues - Assist:TO ratio, steal rate, block rate (edited to add block rate)
    • Preventing opponent transition opportunities by taking care of the ball isn't always thought of as a defensive skill, but I'm treating it as such here. Assists may also be an indicator for general basketball IQ which is applicable on defense as well as on offense.
  • Advanced cues - Anticipating passes/cuts/drives in order to disrupt plays or cause a turnover, understanding schemes and switching quickly and appropriately, off-ball IQ to track man while maintaining awareness of ballhandler, leadership and mental makeup

Zion

Interior Offense: 10

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 7

Team Defense: 4

Total: 39


Little

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 5

Team Offense: 4

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 9

Team Defense: 7

Total: 42


Reddish

Interior Offense: 7

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 4

Perimeter Defense: 6

Team Defense: 5

Total: 36


Barrett

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 7

Team Defense: 5

Total: 38


Bol

Interior Offense: 6

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 5

Interior Defense: 6

Perimeter Defense: 3

Team Defense: 8

Total: 36


Porter

Interior Offense: 6

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 7

Interior Defense: 6

Perimeter Defense: 6

Team Defense: 6

Total: 39


Doumbouya

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 4

Interior Defense: 9

Perimeter Defense: 8

Team Defense: 5

Total: 38
 
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Here are my totally subjective thoughts on the relative strengths/weaknesses of the top players in this draft. I'm attempting to go by the following template, but obviously I'm missing a lot of information on most of these guys. What skills am I overrating or underrating?



Zion

Interior Offense: 10

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 7

Team Defense: 4

Total: 39


Little

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 5

Team Offense: 4

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 9

Team Defense: 7

Total: 42


Reddish

Interior Offense: 7

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 4

Perimeter Defense: 6

Team Defense: 5

Total: 36


Barrett

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 6

Interior Defense: 8

Perimeter Defense: 7

Team Defense: 5

Total: 38


Bol

Interior Offense: 6

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 5

Interior Defense: 6

Perimeter Defense: 3

Team Defense: 8

Total: 36


Porter

Interior Offense: 6

Perimeter Offense: 8

Team Offense: 7

Interior Defense: 6

Perimeter Defense: 6

Team Defense: 6

Total: 39


Doumbouya

Interior Offense: 8

Perimeter Offense: 4

Team Offense: 4

Interior Defense: 9

Perimeter Defense: 8

Team Defense: 5

Total: 38

Way too early for me to evaluate ratings and stuff, but Zion's perimeter defense was atrocious from what I saw.

I think everyone is undervaluing Barrett's shooting. He can't shoot on-ball right now. His shooting off-ball is at least serviceable and has improved over the last year. He barely played off-ball in the games in Toronto. He's not a guy with a ton of handling/burst to be a primary creator anyways. He was not in his ideal role in these games, so I wouldn't be too critical of him yet. Only conclusion I would draw is that he has a way to go to be solid as your primary creator at the NBA level.
 
Is Shareef O'neal elligable for this draft or did the scandal over the summer muck that up for him?
He's eligible but he typically ranked around 25-30 in his class.

Not likely to be a one and done unless he really exceeds expectations.
 
He's eligible but he typically ranked around 25-30 in his class.

Not likely to be a one and done unless he really exceeds expectations.
Another patrick ewing jr??
 
He's eligible but he typically ranked around 25-30 in his class.

Not likely to be a one and done unless he really exceeds expectations.

I actually like him. I think he'll be a much better fit in the NBA than in college. If he shoots a good % from 3 I think he could end up declaring. There looks to be a fair number of stretch-4 types in the latter half of the 2019 first round, though.
 
Way too early for me to evaluate ratings and stuff, but Zion's perimeter defense was atrocious from what I saw.

I think everyone is undervaluing Barrett's shooting. He can't shoot on-ball right now. His shooting off-ball is at least serviceable and has improved over the last year. He barely played off-ball in the games in Toronto. He's not a guy with a ton of handling/burst to be a primary creator anyways. He was not in his ideal role in these games, so I wouldn't be too critical of him yet. Only conclusion I would draw is that he has a way to go to be solid as your primary creator at the NBA level.

Here is the whole issue with RJ in a nutshell, if there is one. At least for me. There's not any one thing you can really point to with him that is at an elite level, even amongst his peers. Except maybe for more intangible things like "feel" and basketball IQ. His athleticism is good--he'll be a better than average athlete on the wing in the NBA, but not elite either in terms of getting up over his defender or, even more so, past him. His handle is okay, good enough if he's never the primary creator on the floor, but definitely not a strength at this point. Same with his shot, as you said. Great size for a guard but without great guard skills and just decent size for a small forward with good ability as an off-the-ball wing. One thing definitely going in his favor is his tremendously young age, though. He's young for his class, almost a year younger than his teammate/classmate Cam Reddish, for instance...

...but not as young as his other teammate/classmate, Zion, astoundingly (RJ turned 18 in June; Zion in July).

And Zion, having just turned 18 a month ago, would be one of the top 3 largest men in the entire NBA in terms of just sheer weight if he stepped onto the court TODAY. I saw you are a fan of Zion too so I'm not trying to convince you or anything, I'm just still so in awe at the size of the lad that I have to talk more about it.

Every year, there are athletic "freaks." But I always think of it as a relative thing, as in it's always compared to the rest of the class. Marvin Bagley, for instance, was this year's pure athlete, with explosiveness lauded as absolutely elite. But to me Bagley is a guy with explosiveness that's a strength for him, but not off the charts when compared to the other plus athletes at the position in the NBA. There are a lot of great athletes in the NBA, after all. But Zion... Zion is virtually unprecedented just in terms of the sheer physics of the kid. Beyond the NBA... just in terms of the mass and power and lift being generated.

Take Myles Garrett for comparison. An absolute freak in the NFL. Per his combine, at 21, he was 6'4, 272, with a 41" vert. Zion is a freshly 18 year old kid that just reported to Duke at 6'7, 285 pounds, and while I have not seen the actual vert measurement published, he reportedly broke the max vert record at Duke. The video shows that they actually had to put something under the rack to raise it up when he cleared it his first jump.

LeBron is the freakiest human I have ever seen in terms of his combination of size, strength, speed, explosiveness. Might be the freakiest ever in terms of the major pro sports. And Zion at 18 is way heavier, maybe an inch or so shorter, and I would argue more explosive than LeBron at the same age. I can't believe I can even make that claim with straight face.

Then add to that some relatively unique traits that Zion has already shown at his young age, some of which aren't even dependent upon being bigger or jumping higher than his competition. First and foremost is his ball handling, which actually looks really good. Not just like a "hey he can put the ball on the floor if he needs to" or "I've seen him go coast to coast" kind of good for a big, but actually good. He has a compact controlled dribble and, unlike so many uber athletes, looks like he may actually be able to utilize his explosive first step bringing the ball with him. He looks in control dribbling in transition even with contact and can even keep his eyes up a little while running the break, which a lot of bigger guys struggle with early on. He's a plus passer. He's also extraordinarily skilled at finishing with finesse and agility around the rim when he can't just go up and over the defense.

His jumper is really whack though. Currently looks like he's playing beer pong. And I'm conveniently ignoring his defense as much as he has thus far, just because the settings haven't been exactly defense rich environments, but I do doubt that will ever be his strength.

Nevertheless, this kid is just about the most intriguing and unique prospect I've ever seen and I can't wait to see what he becomes and I'm rooting against that being a bust.
 
Here is the whole issue with RJ in a nutshell, if there is one. At least for me. There's not any one thing you can really point to with him that is at an elite level, even amongst his peers. Except maybe for more intangible things like "feel" and basketball IQ. His athleticism is good--he'll be a better than average athlete on the wing in the NBA, but not elite either in terms of getting up over his defender or, even more so, past him. His handle is okay, good enough if he's never the primary creator on the floor, but definitely not a strength at this point. Same with his shot, as you said. Great size for a guard but without great guard skills and just decent size for a small forward with good ability as an off-the-ball wing. One thing definitely going in his favor is his tremendously young age, though. He's young for his class, almost a year younger than his teammate/classmate Cam Reddish, for instance...

...but not as young as his other teammate/classmate, Zion, astoundingly (RJ turned 18 in June; Zion in July).

And Zion, having just turned 18 a month ago, would be one of the top 3 largest men in the entire NBA in terms of just sheer weight if he stepped onto the court TODAY. I saw you are a fan of Zion too so I'm not trying to convince you or anything, I'm just still so in awe at the size of the lad that I have to talk more about it.

Every year, there are athletic "freaks." But I always think of it as a relative thing, as in it's always compared to the rest of the class. Marvin Bagley, for instance, was this year's pure athlete, with explosiveness lauded as absolutely elite. But to me Bagley is a guy with explosiveness that's a strength for him, but not off the charts when compared to the other plus athletes at the position in the NBA. There are a lot of great athletes in the NBA, after all. But Zion... Zion is virtually unprecedented just in terms of the sheer physics of the kid. Beyond the NBA... just in terms of the mass and power and lift being generated.

Take Myles Garrett for comparison. An absolute freak in the NFL. Per his combine, at 21, he was 6'4, 272, with a 41" vert. Zion is a freshly 18 year old kid that just reported to Duke at 6'7, 285 pounds, and while I have not seen the actual vert measurement published, he reportedly broke the max vert record at Duke. The video shows that they actually had to put something under the rack to raise it up when he cleared it his first jump.

LeBron is the freakiest human I have ever seen in terms of his combination of size, strength, speed, explosiveness. Might be the freakiest ever in terms of the major pro sports. And Zion at 18 is way heavier, maybe an inch or so shorter, and I would argue more explosive than LeBron at the same age. I can't believe I can even make that claim with straight face.

Then add to that some relatively unique traits that Zion has already shown at his young age, some of which aren't even dependent upon being bigger or jumping higher than his competition. First and foremost is his ball handling, which actually looks really good. Not just like a "hey he can put the ball on the floor if he needs to" or "I've seen him go coast to coast" kind of good for a big, but actually good. He has a compact controlled dribble and, unlike so many uber athletes, looks like he may actually be able to utilize his explosive first step bringing the ball with him. He looks in control dribbling in transition even with contact and can even keep his eyes up a little while running the break, which a lot of bigger guys struggle with early on. He's a plus passer. He's also extraordinarily skilled at finishing with finesse and agility around the rim when he can't just go up and over the defense.

His jumper is really whack though. Currently looks like he's playing beer pong. And I'm conveniently ignoring his defense as much as he has thus far, just because the settings haven't been exactly defense rich environments, but I do doubt that will ever be his strength.

Nevertheless, this kid is just about the most intriguing and unique prospect I've ever seen and I can't wait to see what he becomes and I'm rooting against that being a bust.

Yeah I totally agree that Zion is a safe bet just on his physical tools. Only way that can come back to bite him is his weight leading to injuries. I haven't looked into what has happened, but someone mentioned foot injuries in the past. That's scary with his build.

I would consider Barrett's slashing as elite. Even if he doesn't have the handle/burst you see from most slashers that you'd consider elite, there are different ways that you can be great in that area. His is just more uncommon... getting where he wants by reading his defender/driving lanes and being able to out-stride pretty much anyone. I think the lack of explosiveness around the rim is largely a product of him using those long strides to get open looks there and not jumping from a position of strength, if that makes sense. So because of how easily he can get open looks, he doesn't necessarily have to be a high flyer to be effective. The way he plays also leads to an enormous # of FTs.

While I get what you mean as far as elite skills (you probably want more than one elite skill out of a #1 pick), I think he's at least solid in every other aspect of his game. Unless you have him as your primary creator... then the on-ball shooting is an issue. But that's not his ideal role imo. It wouldn't surprise me if one of the good-to-great areas he has now looks closer to elite territory by draft time.
 
Limoges began their season yesterday...Doumbouya played 11 minutes off the bench, and had 2 points on 1/3 shooting, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 block. There's a familiar face ahead of him in the depth chart...Samardo Samuels. It'll be interesting to see if and when he can earn that starting spot.
 
Limoges began their season yesterday...Doumbouya played 11 minutes off the bench, and had 2 points on 1/3 shooting, 4 boards, 1 assist, and 1 block. There's a familiar face ahead of him in the depth chart...Samardo Samuels. It'll be interesting to see if and when he can earn that starting spot.

Weak sauce.
 

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