Re: NBA Draft 2021
Seems like there's generally a consensus top 4 of Cunningham (widely expected to be #1), Evan Mobley (big man that reminds people of Chris Bosh), Jalen Suggs (PG with good size, athleticism, and all the instincts you look for), and Jalen Green (G-League guy that gets comped to Zach LaVine fairly often).
I'd throw Scottie Barnes in that group as well; John Hollinger compares him to SD State/Early Spurs Kawhi but I'm not sure I really see that personally. Extremely versatile defender, good finisher around the rim, and a good playmaker for others though. His shot is pretty atrocious at this point in time.
Some other people would put Jonathan Kuminga in that group. I think he's the youngest prospect in the draft or close to it and he has the perfect frame for a big wing, but he shot like absolute crap at all three levels in the G-League and I'm not sure he's particularly good in any area right now. Those that are high on him view him as potentially a three-level scorer with elite defense but he's none of those things at the moment.
And for my yearly Euro prospect shoutout:
John Hollinger recently moved Alperen Sengun (big man) up ahead of the two Jalen's on his big board. Sengun won MVP of the Turkish pro league and is only 18 years old. I'm really curious to see how he turns out. The track record of Euro teens that are this good this early is very good and his repertoire of post moves is as advanced for a draft prospect as I can remember seeing in a long time. Honestly, it's advanced compared to nearly anybody in the NBA. I wouldn't really say he's an under-the-rim finisher; he dunks a ton, but he's not very explosive without a full head of steam; doesn't elevate well out of his post moves, but he fakes people out so regularly/draws fouls a ton so it hasn't limited his offensive game much yet, though TBD against NBA athletes. Smart and gifted passer too, so if his post game translates, he's going to be able to pick defenses apart. He's not the freak of nature passer that Jokic is, but if his post moves translate against NBA defenders, it's not hard to envision him as at worst a team's #2 option offensively. He averaged 19 and 9 per game (24 and 12 per 36) on 72% TS%.
In terms of shooting, he shoots a set shot and doesn't shoot it well, but his free throw numbers are good and he shows great touch around the rim, so those that are high on him believe he'll eventually be able to stretch the floor.
Defensively, he's going to get cooked on switches if he doesn't become a better athlete/doesn't improve his defensive footwork in the NBA. He's really slow to change directions on the defensive end to hang with perimeter oriented players and might not be big enough to deal with the bigger centers in the league either. Having said that, he has a nice feel for drop coverage, protecting the rim with verticality and baiting guards into pocket passes that he can get his hands on. He also loves to box dudes out at both ends of the floor. It's a bit like both the good and bad of watching Brook Lopez defensively, but he's only 6'10" and doesn't seem to have a great wingspan either, though I haven't seen an official wingspan on him.
It's really going to boil down to the post game for him (and maybe stretching his shot out to the 3 point line). If it translates and he can actually be a go-to guy offensively, his team will probably be able to live with his defensive shortcomings. If not, he could just end up being a less black-holey Enes Kanter or Luis Scola or something.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UT-kb_n9ikk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TkNv4Go_fw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uuyt9hLSl0Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Seems like there's generally a consensus top 4 of Cunningham (widely expected to be #1), Evan Mobley (big man that reminds people of Chris Bosh), Jalen Suggs (PG with good size, athleticism, and all the instincts you look for), and Jalen Green (G-League guy that gets comped to Zach LaVine fairly often).
I'd throw Scottie Barnes in that group as well; John Hollinger compares him to SD State/Early Spurs Kawhi but I'm not sure I really see that personally. Extremely versatile defender, good finisher around the rim, and a good playmaker for others though. His shot is pretty atrocious at this point in time.
Some other people would put Jonathan Kuminga in that group. I think he's the youngest prospect in the draft or close to it and he has the perfect frame for a big wing, but he shot like absolute crap at all three levels in the G-League and I'm not sure he's particularly good in any area right now. Those that are high on him view him as potentially a three-level scorer with elite defense but he's none of those things at the moment.
And for my yearly Euro prospect shoutout:
John Hollinger recently moved Alperen Sengun (big man) up ahead of the two Jalen's on his big board. Sengun won MVP of the Turkish pro league and is only 18 years old. I'm really curious to see how he turns out. The track record of Euro teens that are this good this early is very good and his repertoire of post moves is as advanced for a draft prospect as I can remember seeing in a long time. Honestly, it's advanced compared to nearly anybody in the NBA. I wouldn't really say he's an under-the-rim finisher; he dunks a ton, but he's not very explosive without a full head of steam; doesn't elevate well out of his post moves, but he fakes people out so regularly/draws fouls a ton so it hasn't limited his offensive game much yet, though TBD against NBA athletes. Smart and gifted passer too, so if his post game translates, he's going to be able to pick defenses apart. He's not the freak of nature passer that Jokic is, but if his post moves translate against NBA defenders, it's not hard to envision him as at worst a team's #2 option offensively. He averaged 19 and 9 per game (24 and 12 per 36) on 72% TS%.
In terms of shooting, he shoots a set shot and doesn't shoot it well, but his free throw numbers are good and he shows great touch around the rim, so those that are high on him believe he'll eventually be able to stretch the floor.
Defensively, he's going to get cooked on switches if he doesn't become a better athlete/doesn't improve his defensive footwork in the NBA. He's really slow to change directions on the defensive end to hang with perimeter oriented players and might not be big enough to deal with the bigger centers in the league either. Having said that, he has a nice feel for drop coverage, protecting the rim with verticality and baiting guards into pocket passes that he can get his hands on. He also loves to box dudes out at both ends of the floor. It's a bit like both the good and bad of watching Brook Lopez defensively, but he's only 6'10" and doesn't seem to have a great wingspan either, though I haven't seen an official wingspan on him.
It's really going to boil down to the post game for him (and maybe stretching his shot out to the 3 point line). If it translates and he can actually be a go-to guy offensively, his team will probably be able to live with his defensive shortcomings. If not, he could just end up being a less black-holey Enes Kanter or Luis Scola or something.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UT-kb_n9ikk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TkNv4Go_fw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uuyt9hLSl0Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Comment