RealGM

Spencer Hawes has shown improvement and growth throughout the season.

He is averaging as starter (5 starts):

13.0/8.8/2.0/.8/1.2

And he is only 19 years old!

As we know, Spencer is our center of the future. Considering that he is still young, what improvements would he need to be an elite big? (IMO he is going to be one of the best centers in the NBA for many years)

He needs to get stronger and from what I've seen, he needs to become a better finisher. There have been several times this year when he has gotten something like a good hook shot, that just hasn't fallen (that's what I mean by finishing).

He also needs to know when to do what offensively (i.e. when to make a move for a shot and when to just facilitate) and needs to be more aware of what to do defensively.

Mostly just things that most guys his age need to improve on.

Defense a lot of improvement

Everybody knows his defense and his rebounding rate needs a lot of work, he is a stud on offense tho.

He needs to get stronger to develop some power moves. When he's doing his finesse moves, he's often too far from the basket. He can really open up his post game through those power moves, both by giving himself some space to perform his finesse moves and by getting himself in better position (closer to the basket). He also tries to overcompensate sometimes, where a simple hook would do. Reggie has recognized this; he recently said they're trying to develop a hook from his strong hand, and Spencer says he wants to develop a sky hook (which would be SICK).

Defensively, he needs to learn to stay on his feet. He tries to block too many shots when just bothering people with his height and length would be a better course of action. As for his rebounding, box out for god's sake! Don't try to outjump more athletic people.

He's going to be such a stud. I look forward to watching him for 10+ years in purple

In time he'll learn to be a more disciplined defender, like has been said before, using his size and by positioning

Has to become an above-average rebounder. Especially in boxing out.

He'll get stronger, and more refined offensively.

I think he's going to be a quality player, I like the confidence and mannerism he shows, also.

I'm absolutely dumbfounded by how succesful Spencer has already been this year. I expected him to basically rot on the bench and do nothing the whole first year, but he's already proven that he is a good player *right now*. I mean, in the post he can nearly always get a good shot with his extremely complex moves (seriously there aren't many centers out there that have a greater array of moves, let alone players his age) and the fact that his shot has not been too effective actually encourages me (means he'll hopefully just stick to the post).

The things he lacks, defensive rotation, stopping cutters without hacking them, boxing out on rebounds, finishing and the like, will come with time, especially since he is aware of these deficiencies (see the interview at the Seattle game) and makes it his priority to work on them. I would really like to see what he'll look like in 2-3 years, he's definitely my biggest positive surprise this season.

He has a frame where he could add more pounds to. Also he should work out more so he can also become physical (he has flabby arms like Miller) He's still young, and at his age he is better than what Bynum was, but what sets him appart from someone like Bynum, Howard, Okafor, and Bogut, is that they are all toned. He is a great offensive Center, and had great instincts... with he right coaching staff he could be a top 10 center in 5 years.

mobiuseinz wrote:He has a frame where he could add more pounds to. Also he should work out more so he can also become physical (he has flabby arms like Miller) He's still young, and at his age he is better than what Bynum was, but what sets him appart from someone like Bynum, Howard, Okafor, and Bogut, is that they are all toned. He is a great offensive Center, and had great instincts... with he right coaching staff he could be a top 10 center in 5 years.

Right now being a top 10 center isn't that much of an accomplishment considering how many good centers there are. In 5 years Hawes should be a top 3 or top 5 center, if he's only top 10 I'd be disappointed.

The boxing out things just reminds me of how we really do need a big man coach. Because lord knows he won't pick that up from Brad.

If you ask me he just needs to turn 23!

Like ICMTM says....he just needs experience. He needs to learn about positioning. It's typical of the Kings to get a big guy who is basically ahead as far as offense is concerned.


I don't think Hawes will ever be a double digit rebound threat. If can learn to be that it's a big bonus for the Kings but if he can get in the range of 7-8 a game that would be a plus

VeeJay24 wrote:Like ICMTM says....he just needs experience. He needs to learn about positioning. It's typical of the Kings to get a big guy who is basically ahead as far as offense is concerned.


I don't think Hawes will ever be a double digit rebound threat. If can learn to be that it's a big bonus for the Kings but if he can get in the range of 7-8 a game that would be a plus

rebounding requires intelligence and strength as well as instinct, and Spencer is a very high IQ player, he just needs to strengthen up and he could do double digit rebounding.

I don't think he'll ever be a great rebounder, but if he can get over 9 a game, I'll be satisfied.

I think he might be one of those guys that will get you 13 or 14 one night, then follow it up with back to back 5 rebound games. Rather have a 9 rebound guy game in game out, and maybe he can be that, we'll see I guess.

SacKingZZZ wrote:I think he might be one of those guys that will get you 13 or 14 one night, then follow it up with back to back 5 rebound games. Rather have a 9 rebound guy game in game out, and maybe he can be that, we'll see I guess.

Yeah, I mean we obviously don't have much to go off of so far, but I could see that. That's why it's important to have a good rebounder next to him--so that on some nights we can get by on the boards and some nights we can dominate them.

Im not really worried about Hawes' rebounding - he's a 7 footer with long arms and you can't take that away from him. His strength and positioning will improve with time...I think he'll be in the 9-10 range in his prime.

Hawes is real effective on the catch and shoot when he runs off that pick/curl at the elbow. I think thats a difficult play for teams to defend because centers can't go out on the perimeter like that. And if they do, it leaves the paint wide open.

Yeah, I've been impressed with the kind of shooting ability he has shown

Agree with most of what's been said about rebounding

He looked good lastnight, I dont know why he wasnt playing last night at the end of the game tho. They had Mikki and Shelden in instead..

Bucks fan. Anyway, I think Hawes could be a 10 rebound guy. He'll likely get stronger and once he does he'll probably have good position more consistently, spend a bit more time in the paint than he does now, and pull down a few more through contact. I posted elsewhere that, like Bogut, he should get stronger just with age. Also, if he really doesn't box out as you guys say, doing that could help quite a bit.

Anyway, I agree that you guys have what looks to be a potentially great young center. He'll be as good and probably better than Bogut and at a cheaper price (draft pick).