Noa Essengue

[blabla]

I don't think he belongs in the top-20, which is where everyone seems to mock him
Barely possesses any basketball skill.
Reminds me of Patrick Williams where people fall in love with the concept of a player - in this case, tall and mobile - without actually seeing the crap that goes on during the games

Watch on YouTube

[babyjax13]

I think he has absolutely no motor. The physical traits are really interesting as is some of the skill, but I've seen him about 5 times now and he just seems disinterested.

[RipCity71252]

He moves incredibly well for his size and I kinda like the passing and overall feel, but not sure what to do with that when it's unclear what role he can play offensively if he can't shoot.

I'd probably still swing on the special traits and size in the late first though and like him more than his teammate, Ben Saraf.

[clyde21]

usually people make threads to push pro-prospect propaganda but you went the opposite route, you opened a thread to **** on a prospect.

respect.

[Catchall]

I'm generally cynical towards prospects who are this skinny, but I have to say that Essengue is starting to win me over. I haven't watched him extensively, just his highlights, but he shows a lot of *potential* and he's been reasonably productive.

Watch on YouTube

** Runs the floor like a gazelle. Flies past defenders with huge strides to finish on top of the rim. Can catch a pass at mid-court and finish with one dribble.
** Not super twitchy, but athletic enough to really use his length driving to the rim. Likes to get downhill. Cuts well off the ball.
** Has some ability to finish with either hand.
** Shows good balance and adequate touch on his jumpers. Shows signs of being a serious shooter.
** Able to catch-and-shoot over wing-sized defenders closing out.
** Shows the ability to handle the ball with either hand, and shows good timing on his passes. Able to rebound and push.
** Has adequate defensive instincts and plays defense with good energy. Willing to use his length to challenge passing lanes and compete for 50-50 balls.

The main downside is his skinny frame. So it may be difficult for him to put on good weight.

[CP War Hawks]

Obvious physical comp is Mcdaniel. Squinting eyes maybe an iteration of AK47. One of, if not the youngest prospect in this cycle.

[BlazersBroncos]

I'm generally cynical towards prospects who are this skinny, but I have to say that Essengue is starting to win me over. I haven't watched him extensively, just his highlights, but he shows a lot of *potential* and he's been reasonably productive.

Watch on YouTube

** Runs the floor like a gazelle. Flies past defenders with huge strides to finish on top of the rim. Can catch a pass at mid-court and finish with one dribble.
** Not super twitchy, but athletic enough to really use his length driving to the rim. Likes to get downhill. Cuts well off the ball.
** Has some ability to finish with either hand.
** Shows good balance and adequate touch on his jumpers. Shows signs of being a serious shooter.
** Able to catch-and-shoot over wing-sized defenders closing out.
** Shows the ability to handle the ball with either hand, and shows good timing on his passes. Able to rebound and push.
** Has adequate defensive instincts and plays defense with good energy. Willing to use his length to challenge passing lanes and compete for 50-50 balls.

The main downside is his skinny frame. So it may be difficult for him to put on good weight.

This is me. I am very high on him. He moves absurdly well for a guy his size, and his hands are outrageously huge (Measured at Basketball w/o Borders as the same size as 7'2 Maluach). His finishing when going downhill is also very nice for someone his size and age. Shot mechanics are workable.

I dont know if he has the passing chops but he has some Batum to him. McDaniels is another nice comp. But I also think he has the chance to be the 'where did this guy come from' type who develops into a true stud (Ala Giannis, Kawai, PG13 - type taken in the teens to be a 3/D and he just keeps growing his game and becomes a star).

If all the blue chips are off the board (Flagg, Ace, Harper, VJ, Tre, Kasparas) I could talk myself into taking Noa at 7 - and even 6 potentially as Kasparas cools a bit. I am low on the non-blue chip portion of this draft though (Special Top 5/6, talent REALLY levels out after that from 6/7 to mid 20's IMO).

[Catchall]

I'm generally cynical towards prospects who are this skinny, but I have to say that Essengue is starting to win me over. I haven't watched him extensively, just his highlights, but he shows a lot of *potential* and he's been reasonably productive.

Watch on YouTube

** Runs the floor like a gazelle. Flies past defenders with huge strides to finish on top of the rim. Can catch a pass at mid-court and finish with one dribble.
** Not super twitchy, but athletic enough to really use his length driving to the rim. Likes to get downhill. Cuts well off the ball.
** Has some ability to finish with either hand.
** Shows good balance and adequate touch on his jumpers. Shows signs of being a serious shooter.
** Able to catch-and-shoot over wing-sized defenders closing out.
** Shows the ability to handle the ball with either hand, and shows good timing on his passes. Able to rebound and push.
** Has adequate defensive instincts and plays defense with good energy. Willing to use his length to challenge passing lanes and compete for 50-50 balls.

The main downside is his skinny frame. So it may be difficult for him to put on good weight.

This is me. I am very high on him. He moves absurdly well for a guy his size, and his hands are outrageously huge (Measured at Basketball w/o Borders as the same size as 7'2 Maluach). His finishing when going downhill is also very nice for someone his size and age. Shot mechanics are workable.

I dont know if he has the passing chops but he has some Batum to him. McDaniels is another nice comp. But I also think he has the chance to be the 'where did this guy come from' type who develops into a true stud (Ala Giannis, Kawai, PG13 - type taken in the teens to be a 3/D and he just keeps growing his game and becomes a star).

If all the blue chips are off the board (Flagg, Ace, Harper, VJ, Tre, Kasparas) I could talk myself into taking Noa at 7 - and even 6 potentially as Kasparas cools a bit. I am low on the non-blue chip portion of this draft though (Special Top 5/6, talent REALLY levels out after that from 6/7 to mid 20's IMO).

I do think Essengue stands out as a high-ceiling guy outside the top 6 or 7 or so. I think someone who believes in their ability to develop bigs will take Maluach in the top 10. I think Derik Queen's size and talent level place him in that range. However, I'd believe in Essengue's ability to gain 20 lbs and become a significant scorer sooner than I'd believe in Asa Newell developing true wing skills and playing more than a Nic Claxton-type role.

[peZt]

I'm generally cynical towards prospects who are this skinny, but I have to say that Essengue is starting to win me over. I haven't watched him extensively, just his highlights, but he shows a lot of *potential* and he's been reasonably productive.

Watch on YouTube

** Runs the floor like a gazelle. Flies past defenders with huge strides to finish on top of the rim. Can catch a pass at mid-court and finish with one dribble.
** Not super twitchy, but athletic enough to really use his length driving to the rim. Likes to get downhill. Cuts well off the ball.
** Has some ability to finish with either hand.
** Shows good balance and adequate touch on his jumpers. Shows signs of being a serious shooter.
** Able to catch-and-shoot over wing-sized defenders closing out.
** Shows the ability to handle the ball with either hand, and shows good timing on his passes. Able to rebound and push.
** Has adequate defensive instincts and plays defense with good energy. Willing to use his length to challenge passing lanes and compete for 50-50 balls.

The main downside is his skinny frame. So it may be difficult for him to put on good weight.

Looks like skinny Giannis only smaller

[Catchall]

I'm generally cynical towards prospects who are this skinny, but I have to say that Essengue is starting to win me over. I haven't watched him extensively, just his highlights, but he shows a lot of *potential* and he's been reasonably productive.

Watch on YouTube

** Runs the floor like a gazelle. Flies past defenders with huge strides to finish on top of the rim. Can catch a pass at mid-court and finish with one dribble.
** Not super twitchy, but athletic enough to really use his length driving to the rim. Likes to get downhill. Cuts well off the ball.
** Has some ability to finish with either hand.
** Shows good balance and adequate touch on his jumpers. Shows signs of being a serious shooter.
** Able to catch-and-shoot over wing-sized defenders closing out.
** Shows the ability to handle the ball with either hand, and shows good timing on his passes. Able to rebound and push.
** Has adequate defensive instincts and plays defense with good energy. Willing to use his length to challenge passing lanes and compete for 50-50 balls.

The main downside is his skinny frame. So it may be difficult for him to put on good weight.

Looks like skinny Giannis only smaller

He's not as long as Giannis was (7'2" wingspan), and he's not as twitchy, aggressive or shifty on the ball as Giannis was. But Giannis was also 6'9"/195 lbs. at age 18.

Let's say he turns out like Andrei Kirilenko or Nic Batum. Those are still good outcomes worthy of a late lottery selection, imo.

[peZt]

I don't think he belongs in the top-20, which is where everyone seems to mock him
Barely possesses any basketball skill.
Reminds me of Patrick Williams where people fall in love with the concept of a player - in this case, tall and mobile - without actually seeing the crap that goes on during the games

Watch on YouTube

I dont know anything about his game, haven't seen any games of him, but a video like that you could make for every single 18 year old prospect, including Flagg, and make them look like a bum. They are completely disengenious and unfair to the player. Hell you could probably make a clip like that for an NBA all star right now and make them look like a bum

[Catchall]

Looks like Noa Essengue got officially measured. He's grown an inch, added 10 lbs and added nearly 2 inches to his wingspan since his measurements from more than a year ago at Basketball Without Borders. Standing reach seemingly has gone down an inch or so in this measurement. It was measured at 9'3" before. His hands are also big, if that matters.

Read on Twitter

[Chi town]

Looks like Noa Essengue got officially measured. He's grown an inch, added 10 lbs and added nearly 2 inches to his wingspan since his measurements from more than a year ago at Basketball Without Borders. Standing reach seemingly has gone down an inch or so in this measurement. It was measured at 9'3" before. His hands are also big, if that matters.

Read on Twitter

Will be surprised if he doesn’t go 8 to BKN or 9 to Raps.

Those are quite the measurables.

Think he has the 3rd highest ceiling in the draft. Would take him over Ace. High IQ and motor. Think his floor is impact rotation wing/big. Eventually I think he becomes a cheat code at the 5 ala Chet.

[babyjax13]

Essengue doesn't have the athletecism of Kirilenko pr young Batum, IMO, and he is position locked as a 4. Not really a problem, I just think people are making unfair comps for him. Physically he reminds me of Jared Jeffries, but I think he is a better player than Jeffires was.

[CP War Hawks]

Noa hasn't been physically tested yet that I know of, but he looks twitchy for a player his size. Betting my money he's still growing by the contrast of previous measurements.

While still being 18 for another six months, in shoes he's 6-11, 9-3 sr, and 7-1 ws. He can guard 1-5 legitimately, dude is just a freak unicorn. Those teams that passed on Giannis are not going to let that happen with him.

[Catchall]

Essengue doesn't have the athletecism of Kirilenko pr young Batum, IMO, and he is position locked as a 4. Not really a problem, I just think people are making unfair comps for him. Physically he reminds me of Jared Jeffries, but I think he is a better player than Jeffires was.

Kirilenko was extremely mobile and crafty with the ball. Noa doesn't compare to Kirilenko. I think he does compare fairly well to Nic Batum, however, and lately Noa's been a bit more aggressive than Batum attacking the paint and rebounding in traffic.

I agree he's a ultimately a 4, but he's mobile enough he can take some minutes at the 3 in the near-term. The question with Essengue is whether he can gain another 15-20 lbs and become a stronger paint presence on both ends. The other swing skill is obviously shooting, then shooting some off the dribble.

[Telfaire]

Essengue doesn't have the athletecism of Kirilenko pr young Batum, IMO, and he is position locked as a 4. Not really a problem, I just think people are making unfair comps for him. Physically he reminds me of Jared Jeffries, but I think he is a better player than Jeffires was.

My comp for him is Jefferies on D, and a less athletic (but potentially a better shooting) Marion on offense.
Jefferies would've been quite a coveted prospect/veteran in this age.

[JMAC3]

Looks like Noa Essengue got officially measured. He's grown an inch, added 10 lbs and added nearly 2 inches to his wingspan since his measurements from more than a year ago at Basketball Without Borders. Standing reach seemingly has gone down an inch or so in this measurement. It was measured at 9'3" before. His hands are also big, if that matters.

Read on Twitter

Idk the measurements are just okay to me, he is tall yes, but his wingspan isn't all that much of a plus for a player his size tend to be. Also, he is very light. For instance Ace Bailey has the same wingspan, same weight despite being 2.5 shorter

[FarBeyondDriven]

I don't think he belongs in the top-20, which is where everyone seems to mock him
Barely possesses any basketball skill.
Reminds me of Patrick Williams where people fall in love with the concept of a player - in this case, tall and mobile - without actually seeing the crap that goes on during the games

Watch on YouTube

this is silly. It takes years to learn all the nuances of the game and most of these highlights show he's no different than any other 18 y/o. He's not ever going to be posting guys up in the NBA nor will he often be defending point guards like you see in this video.

[Chi town]

Lots of silly receipts in this thread.

Keep watching. It may take a couple seasons but this kid will show out.