David.
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A not so little birdy said to look for him.
"Bamba with a jumpshot" is what they said.
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2018 NBA Draft - June 21
- Thread starter The Process God
- Start date
"Bamba with a jumpshot" is what they said.
Adam
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He's an interesting case and he might be a workout wonder but there's very little game footage. DX posted a workout and he moved well but not as good as bamba
3 Ball...GOT IT
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Thing to realize about him is he's actually older than all the other top prospects other than Mikal. It's unusual, perhaps even unprecedented, to have a prospect that age who hasn't even seen college level competition. It'll be a uniquely difficult adjustment for him to get up to NBA speed.
MirORich
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NBA GMs find new ways each year to outsmart themselves. All we need is one of the 3-4 picks directly in front of us to decide they’ll be the genius that knew Robinson would be a stud(whether he is or isn’t) and another guy gets pushed down to us.
3 Ball...GOT IT
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I'd shit a brick if Robinson went top 8-9... but I'd keep an eye on John Hammond in Orlando. Took Giannis at 15 (at the time was considered a reach), and just two seasons ago I the last draft he had control he took Thon Maker at 10 - which was nuts.
Undeveloped guys with great length and some mystery lol. Mitchell Robinson is the definition of that. IF he were to go that high, I'd expect it to be Orlando... but again I'd be shocked.
Certainly not ruling out that possibility...I've really tried to emphasize over the last few months how unpredictable this draft is, and how a lot of the top players could go as high as #1/#2 or as low as #8/#9. I'm just saying that I'm personally somewhat cool on Robinson. So many bigs who have enticing skillsets on paper flop because they just can't process the game quickly enough mentally, and I think there's a serious risk that Robinson could follow in their footsteps.
Sir'Dom Pointer
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There is nothing to go by to talk about him.
I will say this, judging by his interviews, he doesn't instill much confidence. Dude lacks some qualities. I put a lot of value on being a high character, high IQ, charismatic and well spoken, and he fails in that regard.
MirORich
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If we stay at 8, I’m not counting on the trifecta Young, Robinson, or Miles Bridges being taken before our pick, but I’m pretty confident that one of the three will be taken ahead of us.
Still think the dream is alive that one of the “big6” is there at 8, most likely one of Porter Jr, Bamba, or Bagley, as Doncic, Ayton, and JJjr are locks for the top5.
But this happens every year, at least 1-2 guys go in the top6-7, that people were expecting to go a little later.
Then again, the odds have to be well higher than 50% that whoever we trade is dealt draft night or in the summer anyways.
Still think the dream is alive that one of the “big6” is there at 8, most likely one of Porter Jr, Bamba, or Bagley, as Doncic, Ayton, and JJjr are locks for the top5.
But this happens every year, at least 1-2 guys go in the top6-7, that people were expecting to go a little later.
Then again, the odds have to be well higher than 50% that whoever we trade is dealt draft night or in the summer anyways.
Cavatt
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No dummies on this team. You have to draft a guys with a high BBIQ to succeed with Lebron. Stars are always smarter than your average player. Only Zach Randolph and Rose come to mind as 2 that weren't. Once Rose's athleticism was done, so was he. It took Randolph so much maturing until he was really a guy that could be relied upon and he was in his late 20's by that time.
Sir'Dom Pointer
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So another name that isn't mentioned enough...Elie Okobo.
He might end up being the best PG in the draft. SOOO underrated. Love his game.
He might end up being the best PG in the draft. SOOO underrated. Love his game.
I've been doing my best to highlight all the interesting guys in this Euro class. Okobo and Bonga (and Doncic) in action again today. Hard to find Bonga-specific highlight videos, but here's at least one highlight. 2:05, takes it coast-to-coast...don't see many 6'9+ guys his age doing that. Announcer knows what's up: "NBA talent!"
For what it's worth, Givony has the Cavs picking Porter Jr in most of his mocks.
http://www.espn.com/nba/lottery2018/mockdraft
http://www.espn.com/nba/lottery2018/mockdraft
To follow up, he apparently believes that if the Hawks remain at 5, they're taking Trae Young and that would push Porter Jr down to the Cavs.
If the Hawks end up in the top 3, they're taking one of the elite prospects and Young would fall to Cleveland.
8 players done. Having made several of these now, one big takeaway...this system certainly seems to favor well-rounded prospects over one-dimensional prospects, which could be seen as a positive or a negative.
Zhaire Smith, for instance, is a below-average ballhandler, which stands out because that's normally the first offensive skill you look for in a perimeter player. However, almost every other aspect of his game offensively appears to be somewhere between average and exceptional, so his overall rating comes out solidly above average.
Jontay Porter's in a similar position on defense. He's a below-average shotblocker, which stands out because that's normally the first defensive skill you look for in a big. But he's average or better at virtually everything else defensively, so his overall defensive rating ends up being very good.
Are these really scenarios where a bunch of small positives will make up for a big negative, or not?
Luka Doncic (48/60 overall)
Jaren Jackson (48/60 overall)
Zhaire Smith (43/60 overall)
Wendell Carter (40/60 overall)
Jontay Porter (45/60 overall)
Trae Young (38/60 overall)
Michael Porter (36/60 overall)
Marvin Bagley (31/60 overall)
Zhaire Smith, for instance, is a below-average ballhandler, which stands out because that's normally the first offensive skill you look for in a perimeter player. However, almost every other aspect of his game offensively appears to be somewhere between average and exceptional, so his overall rating comes out solidly above average.
Jontay Porter's in a similar position on defense. He's a below-average shotblocker, which stands out because that's normally the first defensive skill you look for in a big. But he's average or better at virtually everything else defensively, so his overall defensive rating ends up being very good.
Are these really scenarios where a bunch of small positives will make up for a big negative, or not?
Luka Doncic (48/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 9/10
Very high shooting volume reflects his go-to scorer role. Capable of elevating and getting a shot up with good form from anywhere in the halfcourt. Continued improvement in accuracy off the dribble and a quicker release should come with time.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Led Euroleague in free throw rate. Can struggle to get past quicker defenders, but combination of rapidly improving handle and size give him significant upside in this area. Shooting nearly 60% on 2-pointers and had his shot blocked only 6 times in 31 Euroleague games, using a dizzying array of fakes as well as the threat of his passing ability to outwit shot blockers again and again. Flashes of above-the-rim finishing ability in traffic, but not naturally a strong finisher. Uses his size and length to follow his misses.
Team offense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 10+/10
Simply a prodigy. Natural intuition for how to get the most out of the talent around him and get everyone involved. Good velocity, timing on routine passes, great passing out of traps and to break the press. Unteachable ability to trick defenders with his eyes, frequently opening angles by looking away from his target even when under duress.
Total offense - 29/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 7/10
Above-average combination of length, strength, and lateral quickness for a wing. Competitive in one-on-one situations; wants to body up, good anticipation contesting shots. Lack of elite quicks limits his potential as lockdown defender.
Interior defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 5/10
Strong enough to hold his own in the post, but fairly ineffective contesting shots around the rim. Plus defensive rebounder for a wing, but struggles vertically when matched up against bigs.
Team defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 7/10
Good feel for the game overall; knows how to jump passing lanes, how to help and recover. Good at limiting careless, live-ball turnovers on offense. Lapses stand out some due to the greater age/experience of his teammates, but they seem mostly correctable. Coach trusts him enough to leave him in on late game offense-for-defense subs. Can be lackadaisical chasing shooters off the ball, which could be a problem in the NBA. Nonexistent shot blocker in help defense, which will be a weakness if he plays PF defensively.
Total defense - 19/30
Very high shooting volume reflects his go-to scorer role. Capable of elevating and getting a shot up with good form from anywhere in the halfcourt. Continued improvement in accuracy off the dribble and a quicker release should come with time.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Led Euroleague in free throw rate. Can struggle to get past quicker defenders, but combination of rapidly improving handle and size give him significant upside in this area. Shooting nearly 60% on 2-pointers and had his shot blocked only 6 times in 31 Euroleague games, using a dizzying array of fakes as well as the threat of his passing ability to outwit shot blockers again and again. Flashes of above-the-rim finishing ability in traffic, but not naturally a strong finisher. Uses his size and length to follow his misses.
Team offense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 10+/10
Simply a prodigy. Natural intuition for how to get the most out of the talent around him and get everyone involved. Good velocity, timing on routine passes, great passing out of traps and to break the press. Unteachable ability to trick defenders with his eyes, frequently opening angles by looking away from his target even when under duress.
Total offense - 29/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 7/10
Above-average combination of length, strength, and lateral quickness for a wing. Competitive in one-on-one situations; wants to body up, good anticipation contesting shots. Lack of elite quicks limits his potential as lockdown defender.
Interior defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 5/10
Strong enough to hold his own in the post, but fairly ineffective contesting shots around the rim. Plus defensive rebounder for a wing, but struggles vertically when matched up against bigs.
Team defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 7/10
Good feel for the game overall; knows how to jump passing lanes, how to help and recover. Good at limiting careless, live-ball turnovers on offense. Lapses stand out some due to the greater age/experience of his teammates, but they seem mostly correctable. Coach trusts him enough to leave him in on late game offense-for-defense subs. Can be lackadaisical chasing shooters off the ball, which could be a problem in the NBA. Nonexistent shot blocker in help defense, which will be a weakness if he plays PF defensively.
Total defense - 19/30
Jaren Jackson (48/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 8/10
Rapidly developing jumpshot could make him a unique offensive threat for his position. Potential to be a big-time scorer from the perimeter, not just a floor spacer. Questionable mechanics suggest he may never have dead-eye accuracy, but high 3-point and free throw percentages are good reasons for optimism.
Interior offense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 8/10
Plays more like a giant wing than a big. Flashes of ability to face up and drive with a good first step and long strides. Unorthodox skillset could make him a uniquely difficult player to defend. Out of control at times, but has natural quickness with and without the ball that's rare in players his size.
Team offense - simple rating 3/10, advanced rating 4/10
Just an adequate passer for a young big man, an area of his game he'll be forced to develop if and when defenses start to hone in on him. Pretty good instincts finding soft spots in the defense to put himself in position for open shots and easy finishes. Good at setting screens? Could use some help in this section.
Total offense - 20/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 10/10
Huge wingspan and quick feet make him an excellent perimeter defender. No problem switching onto guards.
Interior defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Great size and length with the shot-blocking instincts to put them to use. May be too weak to handle big NBA centers right away, but has a frame that should naturally fill out over the next couple years.
Team defense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 9/10
Ridiculously good instincts/understanding of the game for such a young player. Rotates flawlessly, and sniffs out plays to come up with blocks that most bigs would be out of position for. Just-ok defensive rebounding numbers, but that seems to be more a result of team strategy (have him focus on contesting shots, other bigs rotate to box out) than a lack of ability. Leadership? Could use some help here too.
Total defense - 28/30
Rapidly developing jumpshot could make him a unique offensive threat for his position. Potential to be a big-time scorer from the perimeter, not just a floor spacer. Questionable mechanics suggest he may never have dead-eye accuracy, but high 3-point and free throw percentages are good reasons for optimism.
Interior offense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 8/10
Plays more like a giant wing than a big. Flashes of ability to face up and drive with a good first step and long strides. Unorthodox skillset could make him a uniquely difficult player to defend. Out of control at times, but has natural quickness with and without the ball that's rare in players his size.
Team offense - simple rating 3/10, advanced rating 4/10
Just an adequate passer for a young big man, an area of his game he'll be forced to develop if and when defenses start to hone in on him. Pretty good instincts finding soft spots in the defense to put himself in position for open shots and easy finishes. Good at setting screens? Could use some help in this section.
Total offense - 20/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 10/10
Huge wingspan and quick feet make him an excellent perimeter defender. No problem switching onto guards.
Interior defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Great size and length with the shot-blocking instincts to put them to use. May be too weak to handle big NBA centers right away, but has a frame that should naturally fill out over the next couple years.
Team defense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 9/10
Ridiculously good instincts/understanding of the game for such a young player. Rotates flawlessly, and sniffs out plays to come up with blocks that most bigs would be out of position for. Just-ok defensive rebounding numbers, but that seems to be more a result of team strategy (have him focus on contesting shots, other bigs rotate to box out) than a lack of ability. Leadership? Could use some help here too.
Total defense - 28/30
Zhaire Smith (43/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 5/10
Limited to catch-and-shoot 3's, though he's made significant strides in that department over the last year. Good mechanics suggest there's at least an outside chance of him developing a more diverse perimeter game in the future.
Interior offense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 8/10
Not a great ballhandler at the moment, but very dangerous when he gets a step on his man going to the basket, as his combination of strength, speed, and explosiveness makes it almost impossible for defenders to recover and contest. Puts stress on rotating bigs with his ability to elevate quickly in traffic for alley-oops.
Team offense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Upside as a creator somewhat limited due to below-average ballhandling ability, but a very smart passer given the opportunity. Willing, strong screen setter; shows good intuition for how to disrupt defensive rotations, then pick the right moment to dive to the rim. Hustle plays on defense and on 50/50 balls lead to transition opportunities and easy looks for his teammates. Selfless, team-first attitude.
Total offense - 20/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 9/10
Ideal physical tools to defend all three perimeter positions, with the speed to stay with quick guards and the length/strength to battle big wings. Just-ok steal rate possibly due to his spending significant time playing PF defensively, but does reflect the fact that he doesn't have particularly quick hands on the perimeter.
Interior defense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Not at all easy to shoot over or overpower, but ultimately limited by his size if tasked with guarding bigs at the NBA level. Can be a little too over-eager and bite on fakes.
Team defense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 7/10
A serious shot blocking threat; flies around on defense to bother shots and break up plays. Can legitimately switch 1-5; good enough length and athleticism to deny the entry pass to bigs. Tendency to try to do too much at times leaves shooters open, which more polished NBA offenses will try to take advantage of.
Total defense - 23/30
Limited to catch-and-shoot 3's, though he's made significant strides in that department over the last year. Good mechanics suggest there's at least an outside chance of him developing a more diverse perimeter game in the future.
Interior offense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 8/10
Not a great ballhandler at the moment, but very dangerous when he gets a step on his man going to the basket, as his combination of strength, speed, and explosiveness makes it almost impossible for defenders to recover and contest. Puts stress on rotating bigs with his ability to elevate quickly in traffic for alley-oops.
Team offense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Upside as a creator somewhat limited due to below-average ballhandling ability, but a very smart passer given the opportunity. Willing, strong screen setter; shows good intuition for how to disrupt defensive rotations, then pick the right moment to dive to the rim. Hustle plays on defense and on 50/50 balls lead to transition opportunities and easy looks for his teammates. Selfless, team-first attitude.
Total offense - 20/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 9/10
Ideal physical tools to defend all three perimeter positions, with the speed to stay with quick guards and the length/strength to battle big wings. Just-ok steal rate possibly due to his spending significant time playing PF defensively, but does reflect the fact that he doesn't have particularly quick hands on the perimeter.
Interior defense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Not at all easy to shoot over or overpower, but ultimately limited by his size if tasked with guarding bigs at the NBA level. Can be a little too over-eager and bite on fakes.
Team defense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 7/10
A serious shot blocking threat; flies around on defense to bother shots and break up plays. Can legitimately switch 1-5; good enough length and athleticism to deny the entry pass to bigs. Tendency to try to do too much at times leaves shooters open, which more polished NBA offenses will try to take advantage of.
Total defense - 23/30
Wendell Carter (40/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 4/10
Decent mechanics and efficiency on a small volume of attempts from 3. Reasonably likely to develop an NBA-range set shot, but probably will a 1-dimensional scorer at best from behind the arc.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Very skilled for his age with NBA size and athleticism. Has quick feet in small spaces and likes to throw his weight around, allowing him to outmaneuver defenders and work his way into advantageous positions. Has some ballhandling ability, but much more comfortable operating in the low post than out on the perimeter.
Team offense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 5/10
Really good basketball IQ for a young big. Surrounded by offensive talent at Duke, he showed a good team-first attitude, keeping his head up when he had the ball and making smart passes to keep the offense humming. Does the little things to help create driving lanes for guards. In the long run, seems like a guy who could thrive in a second-banana role alongside a ball-dominant perimeter star.
Total offense - 18/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 5/10
Largely untested on the perimeter thanks to Duke's zone defense. Reasonably nimble for a big, and good steal rate is a positive sign, but not a catlike athlete in space like Jackson.
Interior defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 10/10
Rock solid 1-on-1 defender inside thanks to his strong, chiseled frame, high IQ, and good reflexes. Makes it hard for opposing bigs to get to their spots, positions himself well to deny strong moves to the basket. Good hands make him a threat to poke the ball away on entry passes and in the post.
Team defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 7/10
Somewhat hard to evaluate due to Duke's zone defense, but positive signs. Not overly long or athletic, but covers ground well to get a hand up and bother shots around the rim. Doesn't bite on fakes; knows it's better to give up a hand-in-the-face 10 footer than to let the guard drive past him and finish with a layup. Confident enough to show some leadership.
Total defense - 22/30
Decent mechanics and efficiency on a small volume of attempts from 3. Reasonably likely to develop an NBA-range set shot, but probably will a 1-dimensional scorer at best from behind the arc.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Very skilled for his age with NBA size and athleticism. Has quick feet in small spaces and likes to throw his weight around, allowing him to outmaneuver defenders and work his way into advantageous positions. Has some ballhandling ability, but much more comfortable operating in the low post than out on the perimeter.
Team offense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 5/10
Really good basketball IQ for a young big. Surrounded by offensive talent at Duke, he showed a good team-first attitude, keeping his head up when he had the ball and making smart passes to keep the offense humming. Does the little things to help create driving lanes for guards. In the long run, seems like a guy who could thrive in a second-banana role alongside a ball-dominant perimeter star.
Total offense - 18/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 5/10
Largely untested on the perimeter thanks to Duke's zone defense. Reasonably nimble for a big, and good steal rate is a positive sign, but not a catlike athlete in space like Jackson.
Interior defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 10/10
Rock solid 1-on-1 defender inside thanks to his strong, chiseled frame, high IQ, and good reflexes. Makes it hard for opposing bigs to get to their spots, positions himself well to deny strong moves to the basket. Good hands make him a threat to poke the ball away on entry passes and in the post.
Team defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 7/10
Somewhat hard to evaluate due to Duke's zone defense, but positive signs. Not overly long or athletic, but covers ground well to get a hand up and bother shots around the rim. Doesn't bite on fakes; knows it's better to give up a hand-in-the-face 10 footer than to let the guard drive past him and finish with a layup. Confident enough to show some leadership.
Total defense - 22/30
Jontay Porter (45/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 9/10
Remarkably quick and compact release. Small sample size, but good form seems to hold up when contested or off-balance. These attributes combined with his size could give him a lot of gravity as a floor spacer.
Interior offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 6/10
Like Jackson, perhaps better thought of as a giant wing than a big. Naturally fluid ballhandling ability suggests he may be able to take bigs off the dribble in the future in spite of an average first step. Seriously lacks explosiveness at the moment, though his body is a work in progress and he could reasonably be expected to improve a bit in this department.
Team offense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 8/10
Perhaps the best passing big man prospect since Jokic. Acted as the focal point of Missou's offense for stretches even before his 18th birthday, which would be notable for a point guard prospect let alone a big. Budding ability to read the defense on the move. Flashes of creativity, albeit to the point of turning the ball over on too-ambitious passes. Showed a lot of leadership on the court in spite of his age, communicating well and encouraging teammates.
Total offense - 23/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 8/10
Surprisingly quick feet laterally for a player who's otherwise an unremarkable athlete at best. Makes a serious effort to hound ballhandlers out beyond the 3-point line instead of simply protecting against the dribble drive.
Interior defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 7/10
Plays with good energy, and quick feet keep him competitive, but lack of verticality hurts him significantly in this department. Probably will be able to hold his own in the post after he replaces baby fat with muscle, but will likely be forced to foul or give up easy baskets vs. elite bigs.
Team defense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Covers a lot of ground thanks to good instincts and plus agility. Plays like a veteran, keeping his hands up and out to make himself a presence. Limited upside as a shotblocker, but good nose for the ball, and positions himself well to force a more difficult shot attempt. Good communication; serious signs of leadership on this end too.
Total defense - 22/30
Remarkably quick and compact release. Small sample size, but good form seems to hold up when contested or off-balance. These attributes combined with his size could give him a lot of gravity as a floor spacer.
Interior offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 6/10
Like Jackson, perhaps better thought of as a giant wing than a big. Naturally fluid ballhandling ability suggests he may be able to take bigs off the dribble in the future in spite of an average first step. Seriously lacks explosiveness at the moment, though his body is a work in progress and he could reasonably be expected to improve a bit in this department.
Team offense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 8/10
Perhaps the best passing big man prospect since Jokic. Acted as the focal point of Missou's offense for stretches even before his 18th birthday, which would be notable for a point guard prospect let alone a big. Budding ability to read the defense on the move. Flashes of creativity, albeit to the point of turning the ball over on too-ambitious passes. Showed a lot of leadership on the court in spite of his age, communicating well and encouraging teammates.
Total offense - 23/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 8/10
Surprisingly quick feet laterally for a player who's otherwise an unremarkable athlete at best. Makes a serious effort to hound ballhandlers out beyond the 3-point line instead of simply protecting against the dribble drive.
Interior defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 7/10
Plays with good energy, and quick feet keep him competitive, but lack of verticality hurts him significantly in this department. Probably will be able to hold his own in the post after he replaces baby fat with muscle, but will likely be forced to foul or give up easy baskets vs. elite bigs.
Team defense - simple rating 7/10, advanced rating 7/10
Covers a lot of ground thanks to good instincts and plus agility. Plays like a veteran, keeping his hands up and out to make himself a presence. Limited upside as a shotblocker, but good nose for the ball, and positions himself well to force a more difficult shot attempt. Good communication; serious signs of leadership on this end too.
Total defense - 22/30
Trae Young (38/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 10+/10, advanced rating 10/10
Quick release with unlimited range off the dribble. Takes a full-team effort to keep him bottled up.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Great handle, hesitation moves, and threat of quick-trigger jumper keeps defenders off balance and creates opportunities to get in the paint and draw fouls. Again, generally takes a team effort to keep him in check as bigs have a hard time contesting without fouling.
Team offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 9/10
Quite turnover prone at OU due to the outsize defensive attention he attracted, but easy to imagine him thriving as a facilitator on a team with other capable offensive players. Sees the floor well, and seems to genuinely recognize the importance of getting his teammates going. Textbook, accurate passer in general, with the ability and willingness to make more advanced passes when given breathing room.
Total offense - 28/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 4/10
Decent physical tools for a point guard with some competitiveness, but really looked like a fish out of water on the rare occasions he was forced to defend the ball one-on-one. Not entirely clear if this is due to a lack of experience, as OU routinely looked to hide him to save his energy, or just really poor instincts in this area.
Interior defense - simple rating 2/10, advanced rating 2/10
Decent physicality and can occasionally poke the ball away, but ultimately way too small and athletically limited to do anything of consequence.
Team defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 4/10
Made himself useful off the ball getting his hands in passing lanes for steals and generally showed decent IQ for a team defender, but effort level was often poor, and short arms limit his potential as a disruptor.
Total defense - 10/30
Quick release with unlimited range off the dribble. Takes a full-team effort to keep him bottled up.
Interior offense - simple rating 10/10, advanced rating 9/10
Great handle, hesitation moves, and threat of quick-trigger jumper keeps defenders off balance and creates opportunities to get in the paint and draw fouls. Again, generally takes a team effort to keep him in check as bigs have a hard time contesting without fouling.
Team offense - simple rating 8/10, advanced rating 9/10
Quite turnover prone at OU due to the outsize defensive attention he attracted, but easy to imagine him thriving as a facilitator on a team with other capable offensive players. Sees the floor well, and seems to genuinely recognize the importance of getting his teammates going. Textbook, accurate passer in general, with the ability and willingness to make more advanced passes when given breathing room.
Total offense - 28/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 4/10, advanced rating 4/10
Decent physical tools for a point guard with some competitiveness, but really looked like a fish out of water on the rare occasions he was forced to defend the ball one-on-one. Not entirely clear if this is due to a lack of experience, as OU routinely looked to hide him to save his energy, or just really poor instincts in this area.
Interior defense - simple rating 2/10, advanced rating 2/10
Decent physicality and can occasionally poke the ball away, but ultimately way too small and athletically limited to do anything of consequence.
Team defense - simple rating 6/10, advanced rating 4/10
Made himself useful off the ball getting his hands in passing lanes for steals and generally showed decent IQ for a team defender, but effort level was often poor, and short arms limit his potential as a disruptor.
Total defense - 10/30
Michael Porter (36/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 8/10
Appears to have a nice clean motion not unlike his brother's. Maybe some ability to pull up off the dribble? Relatively unproven, but promising.
Interior offense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 7/10
Pretty advanced skillset off the dribble for his size, though he seems to lack the natural fluidity of truly elite ballhandling wings. Length and competitiveness help him around the basket, but appears to have lost some bounce since his back injury. Skinny frame and lack of natural physicality may limit his upside. Will be interesting to see how he looks in this department after workouts.
Team offense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 6/10
Had a reputation as a bit of a point forward coming out of high school, but didn't show any such tendancy in college. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt a little bit with this rating; might be a 3/4 based only on his college performance, but a 7/8 based on his overall reputation.
Total offense - 21/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 5/10
Length will save him some, but didn't show great anticipation skills or lateral speed in his brief college appearances, though this could be partly attributed to rust. Another area of fairly high uncertainty for him.
Interior defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 4/10
Competes, but again, didn't show great anticipation skills inside. Skinny frame and injury history may seriously limit what he can do defensively against NBA bigs. Tall enough to make some plays with his length alone.
Team defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 6/10
Game seemed too fast for him at times, but again hard to tell if this is due to fundamentally poor awareness or simply rust. Good reputation in this area, and certainly uses his length well on the glass.
Total defense - 15/30
Appears to have a nice clean motion not unlike his brother's. Maybe some ability to pull up off the dribble? Relatively unproven, but promising.
Interior offense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 7/10
Pretty advanced skillset off the dribble for his size, though he seems to lack the natural fluidity of truly elite ballhandling wings. Length and competitiveness help him around the basket, but appears to have lost some bounce since his back injury. Skinny frame and lack of natural physicality may limit his upside. Will be interesting to see how he looks in this department after workouts.
Team offense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 6/10
Had a reputation as a bit of a point forward coming out of high school, but didn't show any such tendancy in college. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt a little bit with this rating; might be a 3/4 based only on his college performance, but a 7/8 based on his overall reputation.
Total offense - 21/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 5/10
Length will save him some, but didn't show great anticipation skills or lateral speed in his brief college appearances, though this could be partly attributed to rust. Another area of fairly high uncertainty for him.
Interior defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 4/10
Competes, but again, didn't show great anticipation skills inside. Skinny frame and injury history may seriously limit what he can do defensively against NBA bigs. Tall enough to make some plays with his length alone.
Team defense - simple rating N/A, advanced rating 6/10
Game seemed too fast for him at times, but again hard to tell if this is due to fundamentally poor awareness or simply rust. Good reputation in this area, and certainly uses his length well on the glass.
Total defense - 15/30
Marvin Bagley (31/60 overall)
Perimeter offense - simple rating 3/10, advanced rating 3/10
Shot 40% from deep on limited attempts, but form is seriously suspect, and he seemed to have unusually many "bad" misses. 63% foul shooting not a great sign.
Interior offense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 10/10
Not a particularly advanced ballhandler, but has enough moves to put himself in position to utilize his outstanding athleticism. A serious menace around the basket in spite of just-average length, capable of slithering around defenders with quick feet and elevating for a strong finish given a glimmer of daylight.
Team offense - simple rating 2/10, advanced rating 3/10
Not a plus decision maker, though not particularly poor for his age either. Defenses will likely bring help liberally when he gets the ball in scoring position and challenge him to make the correct pass. Wasn't expected to do much off the ball besides make himself a target in the paint, but to be effective at the NBA level he'll have to learn to make himself useful without clogging the lane.
Total offense - 16/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 5/10
Sort of in a similar boat to MPJ; good enough physical tools that he won't be a total traffic cone, but instincts seem to be lacking.
Interior defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 6/10
Quick and strong enough to hold his own in theory, but again doesn't seem to have the best instincts, and isn't long enough to bother most bigs without leaving his feet.
Team defense - simple rating 3/10, advanced rating 4/10
Doesn't bring much in the way of team defense...not great awareness of opposing shooters, and seems slow and hesitant helping on penetration. More at home crashing the boards, where his raw motor and athleticism make up for questionable fundamentals.
Total defense - 15/30
Shot 40% from deep on limited attempts, but form is seriously suspect, and he seemed to have unusually many "bad" misses. 63% foul shooting not a great sign.
Interior offense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 10/10
Not a particularly advanced ballhandler, but has enough moves to put himself in position to utilize his outstanding athleticism. A serious menace around the basket in spite of just-average length, capable of slithering around defenders with quick feet and elevating for a strong finish given a glimmer of daylight.
Team offense - simple rating 2/10, advanced rating 3/10
Not a plus decision maker, though not particularly poor for his age either. Defenses will likely bring help liberally when he gets the ball in scoring position and challenge him to make the correct pass. Wasn't expected to do much off the ball besides make himself a target in the paint, but to be effective at the NBA level he'll have to learn to make himself useful without clogging the lane.
Total offense - 16/30
Perimeter defense - simple rating 5/10, advanced rating 5/10
Sort of in a similar boat to MPJ; good enough physical tools that he won't be a total traffic cone, but instincts seem to be lacking.
Interior defense - simple rating 9/10, advanced rating 6/10
Quick and strong enough to hold his own in theory, but again doesn't seem to have the best instincts, and isn't long enough to bother most bigs without leaving his feet.
Team defense - simple rating 3/10, advanced rating 4/10
Doesn't bring much in the way of team defense...not great awareness of opposing shooters, and seems slow and hesitant helping on penetration. More at home crashing the boards, where his raw motor and athleticism make up for questionable fundamentals.
Total defense - 15/30