HarthorneWingo wrote:moocow007 wrote:If the Knicks can come out of this draft with something like Paul Reed and Grant Riller with the 27 and 38 picks that would be great for me. Competitive, great feel guys with high skill in specific aspects of the game.
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No Desmond Bane? Or are you selecting him at no. 8?
I'm just really not a big fan of Bane. I know the stats are real good and he has the type of maturity that you like in players heading into the NBA...and some folks have dreams of sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads about him...but it's his translation into the NBA that I'm concerned about.
The short arms is obviously the most glaring thing. He's got the shortest arms (proportionately speaking) among players generally considered draft-able in the draft. And while I'm not one to go nuts about wingspan's like many people, the lack of length and reach is a big concern, especially considering he lacks ideal lateral quickness. Biggest concern in this area is defense and his ability in that area when facing NBA level talent regardless of how competitive he may be.
Offensively while he has put up excellent numbers in college especially from 3 but the concerns here is that he has a weird hitch in his shooting form. Not glaring but every little thing will get magnified once you hit the NBA that may be forgivable in college. I see his 3 point percentages dropping significantly in the NBA. Also I'm not sure about his ability to actually put the ball on the floor and create separation for himself, which he's going to need due to length issues. When he does try to drive to the basketball, he looks mechanical and uncertain.
Physically he can use his strength to compensate in other areas in college, but that isn't going to work as well in the NBA.
Sure he can improve but that's an rational that can be applied to everyone in this draft so it really doesn't carry a whole lot of weight when used. I just don't see a lot of what he's able to do in college translating well into the NBA.
It's also hard to really try to come up with comps. Similar body types? Quentin Richardson is one guy that pops to mind. Q was a lot more talented offensively and just was a more physical player (Q also had a 7 foot wingspan). A Miles Bridges or a PJ Tucker? Not really as both guys were really tougher, more interior players in college as well. Lance Stephenson? Stephenson was a much better playmaker, shot creator and defender. Just don't recall too many (any?) SG/SF types with Bane's profile being successful at the NBA level.
