Denzel Valentine

[rick_21]

In the same planet where Jared Dudley has played minutes at Center often.

It is possible that the Wizards have played some minutes without any center, but that doesn't make Jared Dudley a center. For me there are two very different situations. Dudley has not guarded Drummond or Brook Lopez for sure...

The same when Warriors play the famous deadly lineup with Curry, Thompson, Iggy, Barnes and Green. They're playing a lineup with four wings and one PF, but that doesn't make Barnes a PF nor Green a C. At least that's how I see it.

Coming back to Valentine, I think he's a SG/SF, more of a SF because I think we won't have the quickness to defend most SG's. Maybe his coach decides to play small lineups with only one big, or with no bigs, but he will still be a SF, and he will play like a SF.

[King Ken]

Draymond and Denzel are compared because of the school and triple double tears, but I'd think a closer comparison for Denzel is Joe Johnson. Both are less athletic, ball handing wing players who can run their teams if need be but also score from anywhere on the court.

Joe is very athletic, he's just not a leaper

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[Rockmaninoff]

I don't get the Jared Dudley comparison. Maybe they share similar traits (well rounded, high IQ), but I think they are really dissimilar college players, and project to different roles as pros.

[doordoor123]

There's no comparison for Denzel Valentine and whoever takes him will want him to play his game. I think he's what Boris Diaw would be if he were a 6'5 shooting guard. His ceiling (for me) is third or fourth best player on a team.

[Rockmaninoff]

I think his game and body are similar to someone like Manu Ginobili. I don't see why he couldn't excel in that same type of 6th man role.

[BigSlam]

I see him as a Joe Johnson type.

Good shooter
Can post up
High BBIQ
Good passer
Good size

Not super athletic
Below the rim player



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[No-Man]

I see him as a Joe Johnson type.

Good shooter
Can post up
High BBIQ
Good passer
Good size

Not super athletic
Below the rim player



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Johnson is a bigger, stronger, better athlete, with a much better handle and iso game.
That comparison has 0 base compared to what JoJo career has been.

[BigSlam]

So your criteria for player comparisons is that their measureables have to be exactly the same?

Interesting.

You know it's called "player comparison" and not "player duplication". Right?

And if you believe that Valentines handle isn't comparable to Johnsons can I suggest you watch their games?

Same with the iso. Valentines post up and jump hook is very similar to Johnsons - as is his scoring from the P&R as the ball handler. His long range shooting speaks for itself.




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[Ell Curry]

I'm really asking because I honestly don't know and don't watch MSU. But how are people getting that a guy who is 6'5 is being projected as a 3/4 in the NBA? In this thread I've seen people compare him to Danny Green and then others saying he could be a small ball 4. Why is his projections so over the board like this? I've only seen highlights of his play, and I hear him being discussed on local radio, that's the extent of my Valentine knowledge. But the guy actually sounds like Aron Afflalo. I'm just really not getting on what planet he would ever be slotted in as a PF.

I think he's a regular old 3 when I watch him. He looks and plays slightly bigger than his size (6'6, 220) and he's smart and tough like most Izzo players. Don't think he's quick enough to chase 2s through lots of picks particularly well. So, yeah a solid all-around 3.

[No-Man]

So your criteria for player comparisons is that their measureables have to be exactly the same?

Interesting.

You know it's called "player comparison" and not "player duplication". Right?

And if you believe that Valentines handle isn't comparable to Johnsons can I suggest you watch their games?

Same with the iso. Valentines post up and jump hook is very similar to Johnsons - as is his scoring from the P&R as the ball handler. His long range shooting speaks for itself.




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Valentine gets assisted a ton on his shots, no his 1on1 game is not even in the same ballpark at IsoJoe who has been one of the best scorer in the league the past decade.
People need to tune their expectations down, even if you are comparing stylistically, Denzel is not that type of guy, he is not going to be an on-the-ball type of guy at the next elvel, more so an off-the-ball shooter who can keep the play alive and move the ball.

That comparison is just off.

[doordoor123]

Valentine's skill as a passer is largely helped by bad college defense. Valentine is great at finding open spaces in the defense (capitalizing on defensive mistakes) and understanding plays to the level where he could read them and read where people will be before they get there (often breaking plays). In the NBA he's going to be a great transition passer and he can flourish on a play-heavy team like Atlanta or Memphis. The reason he's a good rebounder is the same as why he's a good passer, he sees box out mistakes and reads open spaces by the basket. He's literally getting by without athleticism and skill with intelligence. Very smart player. At the same time he has had four years to learn these plays so will his passing translate at the next level? It depends how quickly he can pick up the plays.

[R-DAWG]

Valentine seems like a high IQ guy who does a lot of things well, nothing great, but doesn't have a true weakness. He's versatile enough to play the 2, 3 and even some small ball 4 (I don't look at height rather strength, also, in a lot of cases small forwards are starting at the 4). I kind of see some Shane Battier in him. I'd take him on my team. Might not ever be a star but is going to have a role in the NBA.

[HotelVitale]

I think his game and body are similar to someone like Manu Ginobili. I don't see why he couldn't excel in that same type of 6th man role.

Manu was lightning quick, had one of the game's great first steps in his prime. As far as general skills I see the comp but DV won't have that ability to juke and create at will that was Manu's hallmark.

So your criteria for player comparisons is that their measureables have to be exactly the same? Interesting. You know it's called "player comparison" and not "player duplication". Right? And if you believe that Valentines handle isn't comparable to Johnsons can I suggest you watch their games? Same with the iso. Valentines post up and jump hook is very similar to Johnsons - as is his scoring from the P&R as the ball handler. His long range shooting speaks for itself.

JJ's iso game is tied pretty closely to his mixture of size, handle, and coordination, so I think the criticism is accurate here. Iso and post games are all about an inch here or there, so lacking that same size and fluidity is pretty crucial.

I also don't see at all how Valentine looks like JJ, at least the good peak version of him. Prime JJ was bigger and as good of a shooter in a better body, and there's a reason why so few guys can pull off iso wing stuff in the NBA.

[MotownMadness]

I've got to see him quite a bit. I think he would thrive as a combo guard off the bench letting him run the second unit offense.

[DetroitSho]

In the same planet where Jared Dudley has played minutes at Center often.

It is possible that the Wizards have played some minutes without any center, but that doesn't make Jared Dudley a center. For me there are two very different situations. Dudley has not guarded Drummond or Brook Lopez for sure...

The same when Warriors play the famous deadly lineup with Curry, Thompson, Iggy, Barnes and Green. They're playing a lineup with four wings and one PF, but that doesn't make Barnes a PF nor Green a C. At least that's how I see it.

Coming back to Valentine, I think he's a SG/SF, more of a SF because I think we won't have the quickness to defend most SG's. Maybe his coach decides to play small lineups with only one big, or with no bigs, but he will still be a SF, and he will play like a SF.

Good post

[SlowPaced]

LOL I had MSU reaching the Championship Game. To say I'm off would be a gross understatement.

[saintEscaton]

Still think he's a 4 year Tom Izzo, product of the system player who can still be a elite positionless role player,. More of a versatile swingman than a small ball 4 he was previously listed as an undersized SF but probably lacks the length/lateral agility to guard either wing position in the NBA but has great awareness on the other end. Pop must be salivating over him, maybe he finds a way to trade into thlate lotto and team him up with SloMo Anderson

[Slartibartfast]

LOL I had MSU reaching the Championship Game. To say I'm off would be a gross understatement.

Same here.

No soup for me.

[cedric76]

6to

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[Chuck Everett]

I want DeAndre Bembry over him personally. You still need to be somewhat of an athlete on the wing in the NBA. Diaw and Draymond are bigs who are highly skilled. Valentine will never be the third or fourth best player on a good team. Good bench player sure, I could see it, but starter on a contender, not seeing it.