twix2500 wrote:
Do you think Holmes has the athleticism to be able to play the forward position and defend elite forwards?
I'm not banking on Holmes to be a pure full-time PF for my base case for him. But, I also wouldn't rule it out and think that if his 3ball progress continues and his feet on the perimeter hold up with increased exposure, then it takes him to another level as a guy who CAN be a full time PF and still has ability to be a rotational option at Center.
As a base case, I believe Holmes will warrant part time PF and part time C minutes. That's why I note players like Naz Reid (22% PF; 78% C) , Bobby Portis (53% PF; 46% C), Al Horford (19% PF; 81% C--with multiple seasons closer to 50-50), Jalen Smith (28% PF; 72% C--my base case for Holmes), because that is exactly what their NBA experiences have been. The versatility to provide positive contributions in both capacities shouldn't be dismissed IMO, even if not all of these players are full time starters at one spot.
Then, when I look at Holmes potential fit specifically with Miami, I see how he can earn regular minutes playing alongside Bam Adebayo and also alongside Niko Jovic (5 out bench unit without losing rim protection and length sounds good to me). IMO Bam's unique mobility, ballhandling and playmaking for a center opens up the door for Miami to add a broader range of frontcourt partners than most teams (caveat being they need to have some semblance of a 3 pt shot).
Da Silva spent time at center, but like Siakam neither are projected to be centers in the NBA. I thinking looking at the players who made it in the NBA being undersize all came with a unique skill set to defend multiple positions and at the sametime anchor the center spot. The purpose of posting undersize NBA centers college vids is show their athelticism in college and to forecast why it translated to the NBA. Many players can play center in college, can a player play center in college wasnt the point.
You're right that Da Silva got some rotation minutes at Center in college. But his game never resembled Holmes or any of the other players mentioned as a combo 4/5 (bears out with his rebounding, lack of rim protection, shot distribution, dunking, etc). Siakam spent more time in that capacity and in function he was the leading rebounder and rim protector for his college team. While Siakam played alongside part-time centers in college, his college function and game had a lot of similarities to Holmes. I think Holmes would need to show some more burst and would need to make a huge jump with his handle to be a full-time PF of Siakam's caliber. I'm definitely not expecting that as Holmes' base projection. But, it is an informative comparison IMO, and it's one Holmes has made himself when naming NBA players he looks to model his game after (he named Naz Reid, Siakam, Horford IIRC).
I take it you don't believe Holmes has the feet or versatility to hang on the perimeter on defense in the NBA?
I see many encouraging glimpses of him having the defensive chops to do so on the tape. He's one of the better prospects I've seen at blocking jump shots in space (Robert Williams showed a lot of that too). His use of length and elite hand-eye coordination allow him to give space and recover against faster players. Realistically, I see Holmes ability to defend along the perimeter translating on par with what we saw from Niko Jovic this past season, with the potential for it to improve (same with Jovic).
I'd say almost none of the comparisons to other college centers we've discussed showed more than glimpses of perimeter defense at the college level. It's too important for their team to have them dropping and protecting the paint.
In regards to Bobby Portis not only has sufficient height but he had sufficient size to bang with the bigs in the NBA and he was and is extremely fast for his size that he could play eitehr PF or C. In 2015 the Heat were highly considering Bobby Portis. Personally I thought he was gonna be the pick if Justise didnt fall. I was pushing for Booker and Rozier and Rishaun Holmes in the 2nd back then. Portis as well as Holmes could run and move like a deer.
I guess I don't see some of these players the same as you on the tape. I would never describe Bobby Portis as someone who moves like a deer. I think he's slower footed (as a college prospect and today) than Da'Ron Holmes and Richuan Holmes. Eye test tells me that. But, for the little that it's worth, Portis tested worse than both Daron and Richaun Holmes in each of the Lane Agility, Shuttle, 3/4 Sprint, and Max Vertical at the combine (Daron topped Richaun in all but Max Vertical).
Comparing notes with you all to dig deeper on all of this is fun for me--this is the good stuff that keeps me coming back to this board. It's got me diving way deeper into this draft than I expected to lol. Let's keep it going!
