Strengths: Prototypical new age, two-way combo forward with great defensive upside ... Solid size and wingspan (measured at 6-11 feet) for his position ... Really fluid athlete... Has NBA level athleticism ... Runs the floor and fills the lanes beautifully ... Bouncy athlete, who can either jump off two feet or from either foot... Has long strides and can cover a lot of ground ... His frame suggests that his body can fill up nicely ... Good teammate... Amazing in transition thanks to his athleticism ... He is a threat when he takes the ball on the move, since he can blow by his opponent... He has good shooting mechanics... When his feet are set he can shoot the ball at a good level... Attacks closeouts and goes all the way to the basket, mainly on straight lines... Good slasher ... Moves well without the ball... Doesn't shy away from contact, he even looks for it and likes to finish strong at the rim ... Can finish above the rim... Can post up smaller opponents and blow by bigger ones... Great rebounder on the offensive end... His size, length and athleticism help him be a good defensive rebounder ... He can start the break and make the occasional coast to coast ... Always willing to look for the extra pass ... Improving ball handler ... Versatile defender, who can guard from perimeter players to frontline players... Has all the necessary tools to become a beast defensively... Great lateral quickness when he has low stance on defense ... Not afraid to bang bodies while defending in the post... Really active while guarding the ball ... Excellent weakside shot blocker...
Weaknesses: Still learning the game, since he started playing basketball somewhat late, at 12 years old ... He doesn't have full control of his body yet, because he is still growing ... His body structure makes him look longer than he really is ... He is raw in just about every aspect of the game ... Relies too much on insticts... Lacks fundamentals ... His basketball I.Q needs work on both ends of the floor ... Can lose his concentration at times... His first step isn't as explosive as it should for a perimeter player, but it's OK for a power forward... His decision making needs work ... Suffers from tunnel vision while driving to the basket ... At times he is unselfish to a fault... Turnover prone ... At the junior level he was able to just rely on his athleticism to score, but at the next level this won't be as easy ... When the game slows down he is limited offensively, having problems in half court settings ... He can't really create his own shot of the dribble ... He must improve his pull-up game... He is a below average shooter for now ... He can't really mix it up on offense ... He has made strides as a ball handler, but he still needs work ... He mostly drives on straight lines ... He is right hand dominant ... He doesn't always box out on defense and depends too much on his athleticism ... He is occasionally trapped in no man's land on defense, being out of place ... Has problems reading screens on defense while chasing his opponent... His off the ball defense needs work, he is too focused on the ball ... Doesn't always have a low stance... Close out defense is still a work in progress, since he is still relying too much on his athleticism ...
Overall: Participated at the 2018 Basketball without Borders in Los Angeles, CA ... Also played at the ANGT in Berlin at the Euroleague Final Four in 2016 ... Sekou Doumbouya is one of the most intriguing international prospects of the last couple of years ... Projected by international scouts as a likely pick in the 10-20 range ... Blessed with a great body and NBA athleticim, he is by far a better athlete than a basketball player at this stage of his development ... His upside is undenial, especially on the defensive end of the floor ... If he finds a way to put everything together on offense, he could become a great player ...
If Cam Reddish is on our radar why wouldn' this kid be too. He looks just as good and has greater defensive potential. We are going to have to add defense to this team. We have to.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 4:18 pm
by _s_t_u_r_t_
I'm the original pro-Sekou advocate if you could dig back into the Squawk archives. But his injury took him out of action for so much of this crucial season for his development, I personally am not nearly as high on him simply because we don't have very much new progress to go on.
He's a capable shooter. He's a capable ball-handler. He's fast. He has a great frame. He can jump out of the gym. And like Luka this time last year, he's proven himself as a teenage kid to be someone who doesn't just hang with people 5 and 10 years older than him, but a difference-maker on the court.
But he's still raw by almost anyone's measure, and the basketball IQ was something a lot of people were hoping to see advance this season, and that didn't happen.
To the point of the question, he's still on my (very) short list of potential elite players in this draft, hanging on at the bottom with Reddish... Zion, Bruno and Bol are the others. So, in the right slot, I'd be good with it. Broken record alert, we have to come out of this draft with some asset that portends to become a cornerstone elite NBA talent.
That said, under the circumstances, If we would draft Doumbouya, I'd be very tempted to give him another year in Europe, me.
Strengths: Prototypical new age, two-way combo forward with great defensive upside ... Solid size and wingspan (measured at 6-11 feet) for his position ... Really fluid athlete... Has NBA level athleticism ... Runs the floor and fills the lanes beautifully ... Bouncy athlete, who can either jump off two feet or from either foot... Has long strides and can cover a lot of ground ... His frame suggests that his body can fill up nicely ... Good teammate... Amazing in transition thanks to his athleticism ... He is a threat when he takes the ball on the move, since he can blow by his opponent... He has good shooting mechanics... When his feet are set he can shoot the ball at a good level... Attacks closeouts and goes all the way to the basket, mainly on straight lines... Good slasher ... Moves well without the ball... Doesn't shy away from contact, he even looks for it and likes to finish strong at the rim ... Can finish above the rim... Can post up smaller opponents and blow by bigger ones... Great rebounder on the offensive end... His size, length and athleticism help him be a good defensive rebounder ... He can start the break and make the occasional coast to coast ... Always willing to look for the extra pass ... Improving ball handler ... Versatile defender, who can guard from perimeter players to frontline players... Has all the necessary tools to become a beast defensively... Great lateral quickness when he has low stance on defense ... Not afraid to bang bodies while defending in the post... Really active while guarding the ball ... Excellent weakside shot blocker...
Weaknesses: Still learning the game, since he started playing basketball somewhat late, at 12 years old ... He doesn't have full control of his body yet, because he is still growing ... His body structure makes him look longer than he really is ... He is raw in just about every aspect of the game ... Relies too much on insticts... Lacks fundamentals ... His basketball I.Q needs work on both ends of the floor ... Can lose his concentration at times... His first step isn't as explosive as it should for a perimeter player, but it's OK for a power forward... His decision making needs work ... Suffers from tunnel vision while driving to the basket ... At times he is unselfish to a fault... Turnover prone ... At the junior level he was able to just rely on his athleticism to score, but at the next level this won't be as easy ... When the game slows down he is limited offensively, having problems in half court settings ... He can't really create his own shot of the dribble ... He must improve his pull-up game... He is a below average shooter for now ... He can't really mix it up on offense ... He has made strides as a ball handler, but he still needs work ... He mostly drives on straight lines ... He is right hand dominant ... He doesn't always box out on defense and depends too much on his athleticism ... He is occasionally trapped in no man's land on defense, being out of place ... Has problems reading screens on defense while chasing his opponent... His off the ball defense needs work, he is too focused on the ball ... Doesn't always have a low stance... Close out defense is still a work in progress, since he is still relying too much on his athleticism ...
Overall: Participated at the 2018 Basketball without Borders in Los Angeles, CA ... Also played at the ANGT in Berlin at the Euroleague Final Four in 2016 ... Sekou Doumbouya is one of the most intriguing international prospects of the last couple of years ... Projected by international scouts as a likely pick in the 10-20 range ... Blessed with a great body and NBA athleticim, he is by far a better athlete than a basketball player at this stage of his development ... His upside is undenial, especially on the defensive end of the floor ... If he finds a way to put everything together on offense, he could become a great player ...
If Cam Reddish is on our radar why wouldn' this kid be too. He looks just as good and has greater defensive potential. We are going to have to add defense to this team. We have to.
Since we already have the elite core / cornerstone players, I'm all for drafting players to support them. Sekou fits that bill imo. High upside player that needs to develop. We have a coaching staff that develops players. Makes sense imo.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 10:28 pm
by Spud2nique
So draft anyone besides Sekou and I’m good.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 8:12 pm
by socialsavant
I really like Sekou. He's got as much upside as anyone in this draft Check. He has shown to be able to shoot the ball. Check. Handles the ball. Check. He's got a lot to learn but players with his frame and athletic ability are rare (he's the only guy in this draft who's legit 6'9 - 10" with his skillset and athleticism). I would hope that Atlanta takes him at 9 and develops him into a super wing. One of those super versatile wings that can defend 1 - 4, grab a rebound and push the pace, and knock down open shots. I don't know his percentages but his form and the arc he gets is very promising. I wouldn't want to miss out on a player of that potential in a draft that's supposedly this "weak". If you believe in the player development the Hawks have, then I think it's a no brainer decision if he drops to 9.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 8:34 pm
by _s_t_u_r_t_
Depends on who else is there. Like Reddish, he has a high ceiling, but he also has a low floor. If he'd been able to play this past season, and developed in the same trajectory that he'd shown previously, I think we'd be talking a solid top 5 pick. Now? I for one am guessing 10-15. Or, if you ask Spud, he's a 2nd rounder at-best.
If Bruno is there @ 9 or 10, he's my first option.
Though I hasten to add, if Schlenk would end up drafting Reddish there, it wouldn't make me flinch at all... I could get excited about that. And same could be said for the one whose nickname will become a loud Stuart Scott, "BOU-YAH!" if all goes well for him.
But so much happens in that last week as teams finish up the personal workouts, Sekou still could vault up the board to some degree. There always tends to be that hot item player in any draft who somehow catches fire and ends up going many slots above where he'd been previously presumed.
Also, this is only a weak draft at the very top. It is an exceptionally good draft in the middle. There are players who will go #25-#35 who ordinarily would be going in the #15-#25 range.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 10:48 pm
by fuzzy1
I like him, he's got a lot to learn but love his fluidity, reminds me of Pascal.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 11:25 pm
by EazyRoc
He’d be a big time score if he grew another couple of inches.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 11:44 am
by graymule
As you read his strengths, you might think they are writing about tonight's #1 pick! But, later on in the article you begin to know it's not Zion. But, wow! He has some of the same talents. He's raw. Hopefully, he's capable of learning. Not a bad pick for us if we don't get that #1 pick.
Here's a wild thought. If Atlanta gets two high top 10 picks but not #1, would you trade them and some 2nd round picks for the #1 pick? Some of these lottery teams really need more than one player, whereas, Atlanta will be giddy with #1.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:25 pm
by REHawksFan
graymule wrote::D
As you read his strengths, you might think they are writing about tonight's #1 pick! But, later on in the article you begin to know it's not Zion. But, wow! He has some of the same talents. He's raw. Hopefully, he's capable of learning. Not a bad pick for us if we don't get that #1 pick.
Here's a wild thought. If Atlanta gets two high top 10 picks but not #1, would you trade them and some 2nd round picks for the #1 pick? Some of these lottery teams really need more than one player, whereas, Atlanta will be giddy with #1.
Never gonna happen. As in, really never ever ever gonna happen. Terms like "gross negligence," "business malpractice," and "career suicide" have already been thrown about in the media to describe any GM that trades out of the No. 1 pick. There's just no way for it to happen, especially for a package of picks.
Now, I suppose I could see some scenario where a team would trade the No. 1 pick for an established Superstar player that is under team control for a while, but then no team with a Superstar player under control is trading said Superstar. So it's just not happening.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:41 pm
by _s_t_u_r_t_
graymule wrote::D
As you read his strengths, you might think they are writing about tonight's #1 pick! But, later on in the article you begin to know it's not Zion. But, wow! He has some of the same talents. He's raw. Hopefully, he's capable of learning. Not a bad pick for us if we don't get that #1 pick.
Here's a wild thought. If Atlanta gets two high top 10 picks but not #1, would you trade them and some 2nd round picks for the #1 pick? Some of these lottery teams really need more than one player, whereas, Atlanta will be giddy with #1.
Yes. Absolutely.
My best offer would be both 1sts and John Collins.
I'd rather keep those 2nd rounders, given how deep the draft is, and either see what falls down that far, or perhaps find an opportunity to trade back up into the late 1st.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 2:32 pm
by graymule
_s_t_u_r_t_ wrote:
graymule wrote::D
As you read his strengths, you might think they are writing about tonight's #1 pick! But, later on in the article you begin to know it's not Zion. But, wow! He has some of the same talents. He's raw. Hopefully, he's capable of learning. Not a bad pick for us if we don't get that #1 pick.
Here's a wild thought. If Atlanta gets two high top 10 picks but not #1, would you trade them and some 2nd round picks for the #1 pick? Some of these lottery teams really need more than one player, whereas, Atlanta will be giddy with #1.
Yes. Absolutely.
My best offer would be both 1sts and John Collins.
I'd rather keep those 2nd rounders, given how deep the draft is, and either see what falls down that far, or perhaps find an opportunity to trade back up into the late 1st.
Nope. Not me. Not with adding Collins. Just keep our 2 high picks and take Sekou with the 2nd one....
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 2:39 pm
by _s_t_u_r_t_
Well, to be better grounded, @graymule , I suppose it really does matter what actual slots we end up with tonight.
Odds are, we're going to end up with #7 and #9, and in that case, I definitely stand by that "best offer."
If we get #2 and #9, I'd probably have to hedge on that... probably something closer to #2 plus the other team's choice of either Collins or #9.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:51 am
by Jamaaliver
I like this kid quite a bit. Realistically, he's a Pascal Siakam caliber player. He measured in at 6'9" - 230 as a 17 year old last Fall. It's not unreasonable to think he hits 6'10" - 240 in a couple of years and can man the center position for us in the future.
If he's available at #10, I snatch him up without hesitation. I do hope we can stash him in Europe for at least another season.
Scouting report:
Spoiler:
Sekou Doumbouya
6-9 forward, 18 years old, Limoges (France)
Out of the international class, the multi-dimensional 6-foot-9 18-year-old originally from Guinea certainly looks to hold the most long-term value. Doumbouya had a tough start to the season, struggling to adjust to high-level pro basketball in France in the first three months of his season. Basically, he looked like a 17-year-old playing professional basketball for the first time. But then, in a trio of games around Christmas, it looked like the French international had turned a corner, scoring 12 points in each and looking much more comfortable. Unfortunately, Doumbouya suffered a thumb injury in a league game against Boulazac and required surgery to repair a ligament and missed just over a month of action. And after a few games of action to get himself back into game shape, Doumbouya has been much better over the last month and a half. In his last eight games, Doumbouya has seen his points per minute increase, his 3-point shooting volume and efficiency has increased, and generally he just looks much more comfortable with the speed of the game.
Overall, I’m encouraged that Doumbouya has figured things out quickly, but still question how ready for the NBA he is simply due to his inexperience at high levels to this stage. There’s a real chance that he might need an extra year of seasoning, or else the team that picks him may be wasting one or two valuable seasons of his entry-level contract. Much like someone like Al-Farouq Aminu, the team that gets the best value out of Doumbouya may not necessarily be the team that selects him unless they can delay his process for coming over. But NBA teams generally are relatively high on Doumbouya and consider him a likely lottery pick.
Right now he is my number one choice for the 8th pick. As a prospect he has alot of similarities that Kawhi and Giannis had when they were prospects.
He is also the highest risk pick, which I don't mind. The situation kind of reminds me of the Matt Ryan draft, because of all the top prospects in the 2008 NFL draft, Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long, Chris Long, McFadden, Gholston... Ryan was considered the 'swing for the fences' or 'biggest risk reward' player that draft. Falcons decided not to go with Dorsey, who was considered safer, but went with Ryan.
Sekou is only 18yr, he can still grow to be 7feet, just like Giannis.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:57 pm
by Jamaaliver
atlantabbq99 wrote:Right now he is my number one choice for the 8th pick. As a prospect he has alot of similarities that Kawhi and Giannis had when they were prospects.
Sekou is only 18yr, he can still grow to be 7feet, just like Giannis.
This is my hope. This is my dream.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:19 pm
by Spud2nique
Kawhi? Giannis lite? Are we watching the same highlights?
I still can’t see it with this kid. I mean he looks like he hustles and plays hard but where is the specific skills he has or power?
Comparing him to Pascal seems like a lazy comparison to me. I see Pietrus a bit.
I just don’t love the way his body moves mechanically. He has no bball flow to his body.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:22 pm
by _s_t_u_r_t_
I like Bouya's frame better than Giannis', and from where I sit, I don't really care if he grows another quarter inch... b/c he can already fly.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:37 pm
by Atlanta Hawk Fan
I find him very intriguing. I'll be excitedly cheering him on if Schlenk thinks he is the best value on the board with one of our picks. I'll be honest and say I haven't watched enough of him (and several other players) to know how he stacks up against other guys who will be available at 8-10.
Re: Sekou Doumbouya??
Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 3:00 pm
by Spud2nique
Can somebody please advise me on what I’m looking for when I watch his highlights. I can’t see what any of you are seeing that like this guy. Every top 10 prospect has a certain skill or skills that separate them, WHAT IS THIS GUY’S SKILL? I really want to know because these highlights don’t show me what he can do.
