Xavi Rabaseda

[vincecarter4pres]

What can you tell me about this kid?

I have read the little I could find and watched some game footage of him on youtube.

There's some actual game footage to, not just mixes, but it's still cut up and it obviously only highlights his positive play.

Can someone give a thorough breakdown of him in general as a player and then your thoughts on him as an NBA player?

How likely do people think it is he even declares for this draft?

Is he going to come over to the NBA soon?

Is he ever going to come here period?

Will he be a sieve on defense?

Anything to note?

Thanks in advance.

[sergiio_88]

He is a good player, physically he can plays in NBA in SG position. Defensively is OK for the NBA.
He needs to improves his 1vs1 and his outside shot.

And he was born in 1989, so he's eligible for this draft.


I think he will be a half 2nd rounder.

And at least in the next three years he will not go to the NBA.

[droponov]

Rabaseda is a shooting-guard with good size for the position. About 6'6'' although fairly short armed. Good motor and work rate. Fairly athletic, good first step and some explosiveness getting off the floor.

Solid spot-up jumper with his feet set. Quick release and consistent mechanics. Poor off the dribble, frequently finds himself off-balance (especially if he's forced to pick up his dribble by a defender or the shot is well contested). Not a natural cutter off-the-ball, tends to stay stagnant and telegraph his moves. His team runs some sets for his cuts, but they're patterned. If the cuts aren't there by design, he tends to be less active and to watch the ball too much. Solid ball-handler. No advanced ball-handling moves but a quick first step and ability to create a shot off those 1-2 dribbles moves. More of a power dribble-driver. Can finish with both hands and deals with contact well. Can pass off the dribble, but too much of a risk-taker. Good player on transition, runs the lanes well, finishes well, sometimes forces things too much. Somewhat prone to have bad games, very inconsistent with his decision-making and self-confidence.

Good defender, will struggle in the NBA. Mediocre lateral quickness. Active hands and uses his body well though. A bit mistaken prone but getting better. Solid rebounder at the 2, below average at the 3, I think. Hard to tell, because he's been playing along some serious glass cleaners.

NBA comparable: Sasha Pavlovic

I think he's automatically eligible for this years draft.

He'll play for Barcelona next season. I'd expect him to stay in Europe at least 2 more seasons. After that, it depends on his development.

NBA wise, I think he'll struggle to keep the quicker, more explosive players between his knees but he seems to have the tools and awareness to not be a sieve. Good defender in Europe, did a great job on Navarro this weekend.

Next season will be very telling about Rabaseda's future. We'll get a better idea of the level of player he can be. He needs to get more consistent - as a shooter, as a decision-maker. Still too erratic and streaky these days. Needs to be more active off the ball and to work on a pull-up jumper.

He's worth a mid second round pick or even an earlier 2nd round one if it's a team looking for a player to stash in Europe for a couple of seasons.

[vincecarter4pres]

I think he'll struggle to keep the quicker, more explosive players between his knees but he seems to have the tools and awareness to not be a sieve.

That's what she said.

No but seriously, awesome breakdown, thanks man.

Reading it though, I get the feeling of Carlos Delfino.

Good comparison?

[sergiio_88]

I think he'll struggle to keep the quicker, more explosive players between his knees but he seems to have the tools and awareness to not be a sieve.

That's what she said.

No but seriously, awesome breakdown, thanks man.

Reading it though, I get the feeling of Carlos Delfino.

Good comparison?

More or less...
Not as talented as Argentinian player, but better team player and better in defense.

[droponov]

I disagree about Rabaseda being better in defense - or to project him as a better defender in the NBA. Carlos is a little bit more athletic too. A bit better shooter, better cutter, better shot-creator, clearly a better rebounder... And Delfino has bad games when he starts chucking those 3 pointers from Buenos Aires, when he's trying to do too much. Rabaseda suffers a bit from that too, but his biggest problem is the tendency to be invisible in many games. Delfino is a mature player though, Rabaseda is still growing.

I prefer the comparison to the younger Sasha Pavlovic.