Hal14 wrote:playa-hater wrote:return2glory wrote:I'm hoping at least one of Jalen Johnson, Kai Jones and/or Ziaire Williams is still there at 16.
that is so close if not dead on my top 3 right now. As I have already declared Z Williams "Tatum Lite"
One year of heavy training, Tatum and/or Giannis style in the weight room and Bam! another star. How many draft picks have that true "star" potential.
Ziaire and BJ Boston are very similar. Both were top 10 recruits coming out of high school. Both had somewhat disappointing freshman seasons compared to what the expectations were for them. Both had poor FG and 3 point shooting percentages but both have really smooth/fluid shooting form and releases combined with really high FT% which leads you to believe that both will improve their FG and 3 point percentages, especially since they're only 19 so still lots of time to develop.
Both have insane/freakish athleticism and really good length and ability to make highlight reel dunks and highlight reel shots off the dribble. Ziaire is 1 inch taller at 6'8", but he has a 6'10.5" wingspan compared to a 6'11" wingspan for Boston. Also, they're both 185 lbs. Both obviously need to bulk up and add strength but I'm more worried about Ziaire having to bulk up because a) he's 6'8", 185 compared to Boston who's 6'7", 185 lbs which means Ziaire is a little more frail and b) Boston plays bigger - he is better at going down low, getting his nose dirty in the paint and grabbing offense boards as well as better at finishing strong through contact - even scoring at the rim over bigger defenders.
Ziaire shot 29% from 3. Boston shot 30% from 3, so basically the same but Boston shot 33.7% from 3 after December 1 - and his form/stroke nice really nice from 3. Ziaire has a nice stroke in the mid-range area but he seems to struggle from 3 moreso than Boston.
Defensively they're both solid, but Boston seems a little better at a) jumping the passing lanes for steals when defending perimeter and b) blocking shots from the weak side whereas Ziare seems a little better defending on the ball so I'd give a slight edge on D tio Boston.
Boston has slightly longer wingspan and seems a tad quicker. Both have those long strides which allows them to cover more ground with less effort, especially when driving to the rim.
Both show good flashes as a play maker.
Boston, I see a little more of that "it" factor, like I could seriously see him turning into a star in this league. Ziaire I can see it too, but not as much - and with Ziaire I feel like his success in the NBA is more dependent on being able to add strength/bulk up - Boston could certainly stand to hit the weight room as well but the lack of strength doesn't seem to be as much of a hindrance to him.
Overall, I'd rank Boston slightly higher. I think Boston could end up being better than both Nesmith and Langford - and Boston is taller/longer than both of them. Just not sure if it's a good idea for us to draft him or Ziaire, given that we already do have Langford and Nesmith on the team and just drafted them with our last 2 lottery picks.
Also, when looking at the 3 point percentages of Boston and Ziare being low, keep in mind Nesmith only shot 33.7% from 3 his freshman year (same thing Boston shot after December 1) . Nesmith also averaged just 11 PPG his freshman year, same thing Boston and Ziaire averaged this season, while playing in a tougher conference than Nesmith played in. Nesmith improved a lot from freshman year to sophomore year - Ziaire and Boston could see similar development next season.
Both Ziaire and Boston look like they could use another year in college to develop their game and develop their physique. 16 might be a reach for either. Somewhere late in the 1st round I would take them for sure..
Then you have Malcolm Cazalon. Similar measurements to Boston and Ziare. Cazalon is 6'6", 186 lbs so not quite as frail as Boston and Ziaire but also not as tall. Cazalon does have a 6'11" wingspan so similar to Boston and Ziaire in terms of length. Cazalon is atheltic but definitely not as freakishly athletic as Boston and Ziaire. All 3 of these guys are 19 years old. Cazalon however is by far the best shooter of the 3. Cazalon is shooting 41% from 3 this season, so MUCH higher than Boston or Ziaire. And Cazalon did that facing tougher competition professionally in europe. Cazalon is a lefty with a beautiful shooting stroke, smooth as butter. He seems very poised out there for a 19 year old.
Defensively, Cazalon looks average. He's scrappy and he'll battle you. But seems like at times he gets beat off the dribble when defending quicker guards/wings and but does do a decent job holding his own when he switches onto bigger guys who try scoring on him down low.
Cazalon appears to be slightly better defensively than Kispert and both of them are 2 of the better shooters in the draft at over 40% from 3 but Cazalon did it vs tougher competition, without a top 3 pick in the draft feeding him the ball (Jalen suggs feeding ball to kispert) and Cazalon is 3 years younger. I'm not sure where I'd rank Cazalon in relation to Boston and Ziaire (Cazalon is more udner the radar so there's not as much footage on him on youtube) but I would definitely rank Cazalon over Kispert.
