http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-draft-news-l-a-selects-thomas-bryant-with-42nd-pick-in-nba-draft/2017/06/22/
The 6’11 big man gives the Lakers another frontcourt prospect to develop, having a mixed bag of tools that could make Bryant an interesting talent. His massive wingspan - 7’6 with a 9.’5’’ standing reach - puts him in elite NBA territory.
That, along with his total physical profile, give him significant defensive potential which the Lakers desperately need at center. Bryant doesn’t have explosive athleticism, but he uses his length and size effectively to make up for it in all facets of his game.
Bryant also shows flashes of being a stretch big man, shooting 38.3 percent from deep on 1.8 attempts per game as a Sophomore. If it’s not floor spacing, he also has signs of being a great rim-running big man which should mesh well with the kind of uptempo team the Lakers envision
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2017/6/22/15860182/nba-draft-results-2017-la-lakers-thomas-bryant-news-42-trade-utah-jazz
Bryant is one of the biggest players in this draft from both a length and strength standpoint. He’s 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-4.5 standing reach, along with a muscular 250-pound frame. The big man moves pretty well for his size, although he doesn’t have much vertical bounce.
Bryant made an impact at Bloomington by carving out position in the post, being active on defense and sprinkling in occasional 3-pointers. The youngster towered over most NCAA foes, however, and he won’t be quite as physically imposing in the NBA.
Bryant has a decent post-up skill set, but the NBA doesn’t value that as much as it did 10 years ago. He’s not going to command a ton of back-to-the-basket touches because he’s not quite crisp enough with the ball. Rather, he’ll do more damage in pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops and quick duck-ins for one-dribble finishes.
His foot speed and footwork will be an issue on defense. Bryant will do alright against traditional centers in post-up defense, but he’ll get exposed away from the basket. Opponents will challenge him to guard ball-screen plays as much as possible when he’s on the floor. Bryant will find NBA success by bringing energy, finishing strong and working on the boards. His ability to step away from the hoop and shoot will keep him in the rotation.
NBA comparison: Roy Hibbert with a better shot
2016-17 stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 51.9 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 73.0 FT%
https://www.btpowerhouse.com/2017/6/22/15845592/2017-nba-draft-thomas-bryant-indiana-hoosiers-basketball-selected-by-the-los-angeles-lakers
