Steve_424
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We'll continue the series with Derrick Williams, who NBADraft.net now has as their #1 overall pick.
Age: 19
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 241
College: Arizona
Position: Forward
NBA Comparisons
Michael Beasley, David West, Wilson Chandler, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute
Scouting Report
From NBADraft.net
Strengths: Williams had an excellent freshman season, averaging 15 and 7 for a rebounding Arizona team ... A long, 6'9 forward, Williams possesses sound footwork and fundamentals when dealing in the paint... He absorbs contact well, and gets to the line at an excellent rate, attempting 7.5 attempts per game... One of his best assets revolves around his high offensive awareness level- he times his cuts in the paint in rhythm with his point guard and the ball movement around him ... He uses pump fakes and positions his body efficiently when going up for a layup or dunk under the rim ... With his back to the basket, Williams uses his strength, along with long and efficient drop steps to create separation where he can score on 10 foot turn around jumpers and touch hooks ... He is capable of facing up, where he can attack by putting the ball on the floor, and though he doesn't have the speed or handle to blow by his defender, he uses his body to shield his defender, making it difficult to contest his shot ... Defensively, he does a good job bodying up and defending the post ... Only averaged 2.5 personal fouls per game illustrates his high defensive IQ and understanding of defensive positioning ... 7-plus foot wingspan also helps him on the boards and blocking shots ...
Weaknesses: Williams is slightly undersized for a power forward at the next level, lacking great bulk ... He will likely always use speed and length to compensate for a lack of brute strength ... He would really benefit from developing a consistent mid range jump shot ... His face up game would be more effective, and it would add another dimension to his offensive repertoire ... At times, takes him a little too long to execute his move and get off his shot ... Needs to improve vision in the post - when the ball goes down low to him it rarely gets kicked out ... Goes through cold spells from the FT line. Must become more consistent ...
Overall: Earned Pac-Ten freshman of the year. Williams is a smart kid, who works hard and maintains a high activity level every time he steps on the floor ... He's gifted in terms of scoring in the paint with great instincts and strength ... If he can broaden his offensive game by developing a mid range game while improving his handle, Williams could be one of the premier players in college this season, and a potential mid-first rounder
From NBADraftExpress:
Williams has had one of the hottest starts in college basketball this year. He’s a natural post player making a solid transition to the perimeter game, proving he can play small forward if needed. No one has outplayed Williams yet this season, nor have they played harder than the fiery forward.
Last time we checked in on Derrick Williams, he was in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign that garnered him 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors. Though his team finished with a disappointing 16-15 record, Williams solidified himself as one of the top power forwards on the West coast and a potential conference player of the year candidate heading into this season. As productive as Williams was as a freshman, he still has quite a bit more to prove, as he has some clear limitations as a NBA prospect.
When we checked in on Williams last December, we observed that while he has some physical tools that match up extremely well with his savvy interior play offensively, he's lacking in other areas. Williams isn't explosive in the paint, not playing above the rim unless he has at least one step to gather himself, but looking more bouncy than you would expect when he does. He shows good body control when finishing, uses his physical strength to get to the line at a simply phenomenal rate, and benefits from a long wingspan defensively, but could still stand to continue to maximize his frame and improve his lower body strength. The California native may not have ideal athleticism for a NBA power forward, but his physical tools fit his game well at the moment, even if he could stand to expand his offensive repertoire to mask his shortcomings on the next level.
Last season, Williams did the vast majority of his damage inside the key, with some two-thirds of his touches on the offensive end coming from cuts, post-ups, and offensive rebounds. Showing a great activity level, Williams does an excellent job working off his teammates, spacing the floor, showing impeccable timing flashing to the open area, and generally finding himself in the right place at the right time on more than a few occasions each game. Once Williams receives the ball, he immediately looks to attack his man with an aggressive dribble or pivot to position himself to score.
Arguably Williams' best asset on the offensive end at the college level is his ability to get to the foul line. He does a tremendous job seeking out and playing through contact, ranking amongst the top-5 players in our database in free throw attempts per-40 minutes pace adjusted. Though he's prone to getting his shot blocked on occasion, Williams does the little things to compensate for his lack of great leaping ability at the rim, shielding the ball with his body, scoring with either hand, playing the angles, and using the rim to screen potential blockers out of the play.
In terms of his ability to create his own shot and score in one-on-one situations, Williams flashes some advanced moves in the post, can create separation with his spin move attacking the left block off the dribble, and is able to be fairly effective with his back to the basket by virtue of his physicality and touch alone, but still has some room to grow. He does a solid job gaining position, but tends to set up a bit too far away from the rim on occasion, minimizing his excellent finishing ability and forcing himself to get creative to score.
Williams isn't a great ball handler on the move, nor does he have excellent foot speed, but he puts the ball on the floor almost every time he touches the ball in a post-up situation. He's good at using his body to shield the ball from his defender, will surprise with his first step, can beat most centers and power forwards off the dribble at the college level, and doesn't turn it over at a high rate, but needs to continue polishing his footwork to become a more versatile post scorer in the traditional sense. Improving his court vision and becoming a better overall passer would also benefit him.
His ability to become more versatile on the whole boils down to his how consistent he can become as a shooter. Shooting 59.4% from inside the arc and a respectable 42% from the post, Williams proves to be very good at what he does offensively, ranking prominently in our database in true shooting percentage. An area of interest for NBA scouts this season will be the progress of his jump shot. Capable of knocking down shots from the midrange with time and space off the catch, Williams has a long release that isn't always terribly smooth and isn't an asset to him when he is defended. If Williams can improve his jumper, it would open up his game tremendously. He'd be able to convert more of the impressive number of free throws he produces each game, allow him to be a bigger threat when facing up, and afford him a much smoother transition to the NBA, where his strengths around the basket won't be as pronounced.
On the defensive end, Williams spends most of his time defending the post and sitting on the block when Arizona decides to drop into a zone. While he isn't a dynamic shot blocker and doesn't possess excellent defensive tools, Williams is able to find success thanks to his blend of toughness and fundamentals. Frequently defending the opposing team's center, Williams goes straight up almost every time his man puts up a shot in the post, and does a terrific job reacting to his man's moves in the post to not give up easy looks. His ability to stay in front of his man helps him on the glass, where his knack for not giving his man any angles compensates for the fact that he does have a great second bounce –something that limits him on the offensive glass.
Away from the rim, Williams does a good job pressuring bigger players and denying penetration, even if he falls victim to much quicker power forwards on occasion. Showing active hands, pursuing the ball off the rim, and rotating crisply to help his teammates, Williams is an excellent team defender on the college level, even if his lack of ideal physical tools renders him just an average rebounder at this stage.
Intangibles
Though he was only a freshman last season, Williams showed a toughness and savvy to his game that one would expect from a much more seasoned player. He has a solid basketball IQ, and while he doesn't show a ton of emotion on the floor, proves to be a hard worker on both ends of the court. Though Williams spent quite a bit of time on the interior last season, his touch and innate ability to score in traffic make him a player to watch this season. Despite being a bit undersized and just an average athlete, Williams is a premier college player with promises of an NBA future that could grow even brighter if he becomes a reliable midrange threat.
My Take
Williams seems like he'll be a solid NBA player, and it looks like he'd be willing to put in the work needed to improve his game. However, he seems to be more of a #2 or #3 option, not a guy you can build a team around. If the Cavaliers get a top three pick, I'd rather they grab Irving, Jones, or Sullinger.
Age: 19
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 241
College: Arizona
Position: Forward
NBA Comparisons
Michael Beasley, David West, Wilson Chandler, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute
Scouting Report
From NBADraft.net
Strengths: Williams had an excellent freshman season, averaging 15 and 7 for a rebounding Arizona team ... A long, 6'9 forward, Williams possesses sound footwork and fundamentals when dealing in the paint... He absorbs contact well, and gets to the line at an excellent rate, attempting 7.5 attempts per game... One of his best assets revolves around his high offensive awareness level- he times his cuts in the paint in rhythm with his point guard and the ball movement around him ... He uses pump fakes and positions his body efficiently when going up for a layup or dunk under the rim ... With his back to the basket, Williams uses his strength, along with long and efficient drop steps to create separation where he can score on 10 foot turn around jumpers and touch hooks ... He is capable of facing up, where he can attack by putting the ball on the floor, and though he doesn't have the speed or handle to blow by his defender, he uses his body to shield his defender, making it difficult to contest his shot ... Defensively, he does a good job bodying up and defending the post ... Only averaged 2.5 personal fouls per game illustrates his high defensive IQ and understanding of defensive positioning ... 7-plus foot wingspan also helps him on the boards and blocking shots ...
Weaknesses: Williams is slightly undersized for a power forward at the next level, lacking great bulk ... He will likely always use speed and length to compensate for a lack of brute strength ... He would really benefit from developing a consistent mid range jump shot ... His face up game would be more effective, and it would add another dimension to his offensive repertoire ... At times, takes him a little too long to execute his move and get off his shot ... Needs to improve vision in the post - when the ball goes down low to him it rarely gets kicked out ... Goes through cold spells from the FT line. Must become more consistent ...
Overall: Earned Pac-Ten freshman of the year. Williams is a smart kid, who works hard and maintains a high activity level every time he steps on the floor ... He's gifted in terms of scoring in the paint with great instincts and strength ... If he can broaden his offensive game by developing a mid range game while improving his handle, Williams could be one of the premier players in college this season, and a potential mid-first rounder
From NBADraftExpress:
Williams has had one of the hottest starts in college basketball this year. He’s a natural post player making a solid transition to the perimeter game, proving he can play small forward if needed. No one has outplayed Williams yet this season, nor have they played harder than the fiery forward.
Last time we checked in on Derrick Williams, he was in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign that garnered him 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors. Though his team finished with a disappointing 16-15 record, Williams solidified himself as one of the top power forwards on the West coast and a potential conference player of the year candidate heading into this season. As productive as Williams was as a freshman, he still has quite a bit more to prove, as he has some clear limitations as a NBA prospect.
When we checked in on Williams last December, we observed that while he has some physical tools that match up extremely well with his savvy interior play offensively, he's lacking in other areas. Williams isn't explosive in the paint, not playing above the rim unless he has at least one step to gather himself, but looking more bouncy than you would expect when he does. He shows good body control when finishing, uses his physical strength to get to the line at a simply phenomenal rate, and benefits from a long wingspan defensively, but could still stand to continue to maximize his frame and improve his lower body strength. The California native may not have ideal athleticism for a NBA power forward, but his physical tools fit his game well at the moment, even if he could stand to expand his offensive repertoire to mask his shortcomings on the next level.
Last season, Williams did the vast majority of his damage inside the key, with some two-thirds of his touches on the offensive end coming from cuts, post-ups, and offensive rebounds. Showing a great activity level, Williams does an excellent job working off his teammates, spacing the floor, showing impeccable timing flashing to the open area, and generally finding himself in the right place at the right time on more than a few occasions each game. Once Williams receives the ball, he immediately looks to attack his man with an aggressive dribble or pivot to position himself to score.
Arguably Williams' best asset on the offensive end at the college level is his ability to get to the foul line. He does a tremendous job seeking out and playing through contact, ranking amongst the top-5 players in our database in free throw attempts per-40 minutes pace adjusted. Though he's prone to getting his shot blocked on occasion, Williams does the little things to compensate for his lack of great leaping ability at the rim, shielding the ball with his body, scoring with either hand, playing the angles, and using the rim to screen potential blockers out of the play.
In terms of his ability to create his own shot and score in one-on-one situations, Williams flashes some advanced moves in the post, can create separation with his spin move attacking the left block off the dribble, and is able to be fairly effective with his back to the basket by virtue of his physicality and touch alone, but still has some room to grow. He does a solid job gaining position, but tends to set up a bit too far away from the rim on occasion, minimizing his excellent finishing ability and forcing himself to get creative to score.
Williams isn't a great ball handler on the move, nor does he have excellent foot speed, but he puts the ball on the floor almost every time he touches the ball in a post-up situation. He's good at using his body to shield the ball from his defender, will surprise with his first step, can beat most centers and power forwards off the dribble at the college level, and doesn't turn it over at a high rate, but needs to continue polishing his footwork to become a more versatile post scorer in the traditional sense. Improving his court vision and becoming a better overall passer would also benefit him.
His ability to become more versatile on the whole boils down to his how consistent he can become as a shooter. Shooting 59.4% from inside the arc and a respectable 42% from the post, Williams proves to be very good at what he does offensively, ranking prominently in our database in true shooting percentage. An area of interest for NBA scouts this season will be the progress of his jump shot. Capable of knocking down shots from the midrange with time and space off the catch, Williams has a long release that isn't always terribly smooth and isn't an asset to him when he is defended. If Williams can improve his jumper, it would open up his game tremendously. He'd be able to convert more of the impressive number of free throws he produces each game, allow him to be a bigger threat when facing up, and afford him a much smoother transition to the NBA, where his strengths around the basket won't be as pronounced.
On the defensive end, Williams spends most of his time defending the post and sitting on the block when Arizona decides to drop into a zone. While he isn't a dynamic shot blocker and doesn't possess excellent defensive tools, Williams is able to find success thanks to his blend of toughness and fundamentals. Frequently defending the opposing team's center, Williams goes straight up almost every time his man puts up a shot in the post, and does a terrific job reacting to his man's moves in the post to not give up easy looks. His ability to stay in front of his man helps him on the glass, where his knack for not giving his man any angles compensates for the fact that he does have a great second bounce –something that limits him on the offensive glass.
Away from the rim, Williams does a good job pressuring bigger players and denying penetration, even if he falls victim to much quicker power forwards on occasion. Showing active hands, pursuing the ball off the rim, and rotating crisply to help his teammates, Williams is an excellent team defender on the college level, even if his lack of ideal physical tools renders him just an average rebounder at this stage.
Intangibles
Though he was only a freshman last season, Williams showed a toughness and savvy to his game that one would expect from a much more seasoned player. He has a solid basketball IQ, and while he doesn't show a ton of emotion on the floor, proves to be a hard worker on both ends of the court. Though Williams spent quite a bit of time on the interior last season, his touch and innate ability to score in traffic make him a player to watch this season. Despite being a bit undersized and just an average athlete, Williams is a premier college player with promises of an NBA future that could grow even brighter if he becomes a reliable midrange threat.
My Take
Williams seems like he'll be a solid NBA player, and it looks like he'd be willing to put in the work needed to improve his game. However, he seems to be more of a #2 or #3 option, not a guy you can build a team around. If the Cavaliers get a top three pick, I'd rather they grab Irving, Jones, or Sullinger.
