Kezie Okpala

RipCity71252 · Post #41 » by **RipCity71252** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 1:50 am

Don't see it with Kezie.

Pretty slow and not vertically explosive. Lacking a middle game, which is scary considering athletic issues. Don't really buy that he's any more than an ok spot shooter with little versatility to it. Don't like his decision making or motor either so hard to see him becoming more valuable in a smaller role if his on ball stuff doesn't translate.

He's long, fluid, can handle it and book smart, but not really sure what he brings at a valuable level in the NBA.

clyde21 · Post #42 » by **clyde21** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 5:28 am

thoughts on Kyle Kuzma as a comp?

first person I thought of when I saw these two plays

CP War Hawks · Post #43 » by **CP War Hawks** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 5:55 am

Catchall wrote:Guys with KZ's measurables don't have to be super athletic to impact a game. Put his well-rounded skillset and adequate IQ in a good system and he can put up 14/5/3 pretty easily.

I think his draft range starts around 11 and his floor is probably 17 or 18.

Not an explosive athlete at all. I believe if he wants to make a name for himself, he'll have to get his body and strength up to Ben Simmons level, minimum. Looks like he barely weighs 200, and that's what probably makes him stay for another year. I had heard there has never been a Stanford guy to declare after two years.

clyde21 · Post #44 » by **clyde21** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 6:00 am

CP War Hawks wrote:
Catchall wrote:Guys with KZ's measurables don't have to be super athletic to impact a game. Put his well-rounded skillset and adequate IQ in a good system and he can put up 14/5/3 pretty easily.

I think his draft range starts around 11 and his floor is probably 17 or 18.

Not an explosive athlete at all. I believe if he wants to make a name for himself, he'll have to get his body and strength up to Ben Simmons level, minimum. Looks like he barely weighs 200, and that's what probably makes him stay for another year. I had heard there has never been a Stanford guy to declare after two years.

why cant he get stronger in the NBA?

Catchall · Post #45 » by **Catchall** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 6:17 am

He lists at 6'9" and 215 lbs, sames as Kevin Durant and Robert Horry out of Alabama. He's not fully developed physically, but he can add 10 - 15 lbs on his frame.

Catchall · Post #46 » by **Catchall** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 6:19 am

clyde21 wrote:thoughts on Kyle Kuzma as a comp?

first person I thought of when I saw these two plays

He's not big enough to play the 4 right now. Think more like Otto Porter at the 3. The question will be whether he can defend wings on the perimeter well enough. He's also closer to Kevin Knox than Kyle Kuzma.

atlantabbq99 · Post #47 » by **atlantabbq99** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 11:47 am

Catchall wrote:He lists at 6'9" and 215 lbs, sames as Kevin Durant and Robert Horry out of Alabama. He's not fully developed physically, but he can add 10 - 15 lbs on his frame.

I have Okpala as another Rashard Lewis. He is a 3, but he can give you some minutes as a small ball 4. Put him with an all star center like prime Dwight or current AD, he can probably give you starter minutes as a 4.

No-Man · Post #48 » by **No-Man** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 12:24 pm

KZ is so slow, comparing him with dudes like Lewis, or even Kuzma it's just bad

King Ken · Post #49 » by **King Ken** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 12:50 pm

Fischella wrote:KZ is so slow, comparing him with dudes like Lewis, or even Kuzma it's just bad

He looks like a long strider like a Young pre NBA Giannis. I don't see slow

Catchall · Post #50 » by **Catchall** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 10:40 pm

I think he can improve his speed and explosiveness by adding strength. Also, he plays under control and isn't playing at a full sprint.

clyde21 · Post #51 » by **clyde21** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 11:03 pm

i don't think he's fast but he's not particularly slow. he's a long strider like King Ken said.

I don't think Kuzma is particularly fast either btw

King Ken · Post #52 » by **King Ken** » Mon Mar 4, 2019 11:05 pm

clyde21 wrote:i don't think he's fast but he's not particularly slow. he's a long strider like King Ken said.

I don't think Kuzma is particularly fast either btw

Kuz isn't a bad comparison but KZ has maybe has 2 to 3 inches on him wingspan wise.

doordoor123 · Post #53 » by **doordoor123** » Tue Mar 5, 2019 1:12 am

clyde21 wrote:i don't think he's fast but he's not particularly slow. he's a long strider like King Ken said.

I don't think Kuzma is particularly fast either btw

As someone who watches every Lakers game, Kuzma is really fast. He’s usually the first one down the floor in transition. I do think Kezie is a long strides guy and he can get up and down the floor, but his issue isn’t that he isn’t quick, his issue is that he doesn’t have a first step. Running down the floor versus beating a guy with speed are two different things. Kuzma is actually good at running off of screens and beating guys with his first step, Okpala is not. So there are two sides to this story and I think you both are right. He can run in transition, but doesn’t have a quick burst when he starts running. Okpala is a little slow footed when he’s not running the entire court, like in the half-court. He’s not Kyle Kuzma, but when he’s running down the floor he seems to have the same top-speed. So no, I don’t think he has Kuzma’s ceiling and they’re different players altogether. That lack of burst changes Okpala’s game and makes him more of a standstill shooter and an opportunity cutter in the NBA. That’s also not to say he can’t become more explosive, but I wouldn’t expect it.

Coeur · Post #54 » by **Coeur** » Thu Mar 7, 2019 7:40 pm

doordoor123 wrote:
clyde21 wrote:i don't think he's fast but he's not particularly slow. he's a long strider like King Ken said.

I don't think Kuzma is particularly fast either btw

As someone who watches every Lakers game, Kuzma is really fast. He’s usually the first one down the floor in transition. I do think Kezie is a long strides guy and he can get up and down the floor, but his issue isn’t that he isn’t quick, his issue is that he doesn’t have a first step. Running down the floor versus beating a guy with speed are two different things. Kuzma is actually good at running off of screens and beating guys with his first step, Okpala is not. So there are two sides to this story and I think you both are right. He can run in transition, but doesn’t have a quick burst when he starts running. Okpala is a little slow footed when he’s not running the entire court, like in the half-court. He’s not Kyle Kuzma, but when he’s running down the floor he seems to have the same top-speed. So no, I don’t think he has Kuzma’s ceiling and they’re different players altogether. That lack of burst changes Okpala’s game and makes him more of a standstill shooter and an opportunity cutter in the NBA. That’s also not to say he can’t become more explosive, but I wouldn’t expect it.

That’s a really good bottom end look. His ceiling is 100% above kuzma. I love Kuzma and did before that was cool. And KZ may not get to where Kuzma is at even now. But he could get even farther with the right breaks

doordoor123 · Post #55 » by **doordoor123** » Thu Mar 7, 2019 8:06 pm

Coeur wrote:
doordoor123 wrote:
clyde21 wrote:i don't think he's fast but he's not particularly slow. he's a long strider like King Ken said.

I don't think Kuzma is particularly fast either btw

As someone who watches every Lakers game, Kuzma is really fast. He’s usually the first one down the floor in transition. I do think Kezie is a long strides guy and he can get up and down the floor, but his issue isn’t that he isn’t quick, his issue is that he doesn’t have a first step. Running down the floor versus beating a guy with speed are two different things. Kuzma is actually good at running off of screens and beating guys with his first step, Okpala is not. So there are two sides to this story and I think you both are right. He can run in transition, but doesn’t have a quick burst when he starts running. Okpala is a little slow footed when he’s not running the entire court, like in the half-court. He’s not Kyle Kuzma, but when he’s running down the floor he seems to have the same top-speed. So no, I don’t think he has Kuzma’s ceiling and they’re different players altogether. That lack of burst changes Okpala’s game and makes him more of a standstill shooter and an opportunity cutter in the NBA. That’s also not to say he can’t become more explosive, but I wouldn’t expect it.

That’s a really good bottom end look. His ceiling is 100% above kuzma. I love Kuzma and did before that was cool. And KZ may not get to where Kuzma is at even now. But he could get even farther with the right breaks

Kuzma has been pretty bad this year even if hes had career type of games. Last year he had great pace, played in rhythm and used more of his advanced footwork. This year hes become a chucker, Kobe probably gave him bad advice. It just isn’t good basketball. Okpala is a better defender, so there’s that, but he doesn’t have the rhythm that Kuzma had last year. Kuzma is a better player than hes shown this year. Having said that, there’s no way Okpala can be as fluid as Kuzma and he has nowhere near the ability to create separation off the dribble. Okpala is a roleplayer while Kuzma the the physical ability and skill to be a featured player.

Coeur · Post #56 » by **Coeur** » Mon Apr 1, 2019 12:33 am

Most underrated prospect in this draft right now. 4-10

Stillwater · Post #57 » by **Stillwater** » Mon Apr 1, 2019 12:57 am

Coeur wrote:Most underrated prospect in this draft right now. 4-10

pretty underrated on most boards , but I am not sold he is a lottery pick myself either.
maybe late lottery for the right team but more likely goes 20-25

Najee12 · Post #58 » by **Najee12** » Wed Apr 3, 2019 1:29 am

clyde21 wrote:thoughts on Kyle Kuzma as a comp?

Personally, K.Z. Okpala reminds me of former Arkansas all-American Todd Day -- comparable lanky bodies, creating shots off the dribble, probably better in transition than in the halfcourt. Not quite a true shooting guard, not big enough to be a small forward.

Stillwater · Post #59 » by **Stillwater** » Wed Apr 3, 2019 1:31 am

Najee12 wrote:
clyde21 wrote:thoughts on Kyle Kuzma as a comp?

first person I thought of when I saw these two plays

Personally, KZ Okpala reminds me of former Arkansas all-American Todd Day -- comparable lanky bodies, creating shots off the dribble, probably better in transition than in the halfcourt. Not quite a true shooting guard, not big enough to be a small forward.

He's plenty big enough to defend the 3 at 6'8" with 7'2" ws.
but he is a 2 guard.

Najee12 · Post #60 » by **Najee12** » Wed Apr 3, 2019 1:50 am

Stillwater wrote:He's plenty big enough to defend the 3 at 6'8" with 7'2" ws.
but he is a 2 guard.

I was referring to K.Z. Okpala's size when I referred to "not big enough," not his height. He's a skinny 6-foot-8 and needs to add some muscle to hang with NBA wings and forwards.