Moderators: Moonbeam, DeBlazerRiddem
DeBlazerRiddem wrote:If Kasparas slips to our pick I think he could very likely be BPA, at least has the best potential. Don't love his length and he could have trouble finishing but his ability to move with the ball and shoot off the dribble seems way better than anyone else projected to be available.
Short-term start Thybulle at SG. Thybulle, Deni, Camara is just going to make your defense solid. Ayton/Clingan are a fine defense C rotation (although Clingan is better).
BlazersBroncos wrote:Short-term start Thybulle at SG. Thybulle, Deni, Camara is just going to make your defense solid. Ayton/Clingan are a fine defense C rotation (although Clingan is better).
Thybulle - Camara - Deni just isnt enough offense. Sharpe is the starter next season 100%. His late play after getting (rightly) benched by Billups really seemed to light a fire under him. I think you wait on the extension and give him the reigns at SG next season. He is still the highest potential guy on this team.
Tim Lehrbach wrote:oldfishermen wrote:I sincerly appreciate all of the time, effort, and passion you put into your scouting reports. I learn alot from them. Thankyou.
However, I respectfully disagree with one point. I believe guard is our weakest group, even if Simons stays. Not our strongest.
Simons is not the floor general this roster needs. He is a shooter that puts up 20 ppg, while giving up 24.
Both Scoot and Sharp are works on progress. Sharp has the higher ceiling of the two. That is why I believe our weakest position is point guard.
I don't see a point guard in this draft that fits our needs. As of today, trading the pick and a player or 2, may be the best option.
Second option woild be to trade down for a couple of firsts. Or trade a player for another frp. Take a couple of high ceiling players, and hope one turns into a keeper.
The lottery is full of one trick ponies with huge warts. Their are several nice two way players later in this draft.
Yes, the backcourt remains a mess. The team's #1 need is a credible lead guard. Unfortunately players like Damian Lillard don't come around very often.
dckingsfan wrote:DeBlazerRiddem wrote:If Kasparas slips to our pick I think he could very likely be BPA, at least has the best potential. Don't love his length and he could have trouble finishing but his ability to move with the ball and shoot off the dribble seems way better than anyone else projected to be available.
I think he will have trouble finishing in the NBA and guarding in the NBA. I think there are better players and specifically for the Blazers.
DeBlazerRiddem wrote:dckingsfan wrote:DeBlazerRiddem wrote:If Kasparas slips to our pick I think he could very likely be BPA, at least has the best potential. Don't love his length and he could have trouble finishing but his ability to move with the ball and shoot off the dribble seems way better than anyone else projected to be available.
I think he will have trouble finishing in the NBA and guarding in the NBA. I think there are better players and specifically for the Blazers.
Maybe, but I'm seeing a lot more "role player" potential from those guys at our pick and am having trouble picking out who has real high end potential, if we are looking for "big swing" type of pick.
The two players I see as having the most "potential" at our picks right now are Sorber and Kasparas. Of course the only reason they are available to us is some flaws that our front office would have to evaluate. If they don't like what they see then it would make sense to pick someone with lower top end potential but a better floor, maybe even trade back and take two shots at it instead.
Sorber - elite physical profile, great energy. He's a decent passer who doesn't commit a ton of turnovers and get good stock numbers with low fouls, those seem like minor things but those are typically things that young bigs struggle with. Shooting is the big issue but with 73% from the line it may not be hopeless, worth having our coaching staff see what he can do. But the foot injury is another concern there as well and we don't really need a defensive big since I'm pretty happy with Clingan, although Sorber has more potential in being able to defend the perimeter.
Kasparas - really good moving with the ball, great floor vision, the ability to shoot off the dribble. Outside the top 4, Fears and Johnson are the only guys really comparable to him in that regard and they are probably gone by our pick due to better physical/athletic measurements. But to me that is the package that is necessary for a star offensive player to have.
Both are definitely more boom or bust picks though. There are safer picks for sure. The other guys with decent potential:
Essengue - Good physical profile, seems to have some developing skills that could let him eventually take a larger-than-role-player role. Not entirely sure what his top end looks like (maybe Jerami Grant before he got lazy? A versatile defender who can shoot/score from different spots on the floor depending on what the defense is giving him) but he has a decent floor, with his size/length/athleticism he should be a fine role player even if he doesn't become a star.
CMB - not bad potential, especially his ability to draw fouls and be a playmaking option (not a primary one but someone who can make plays for himself and others). I see more PJ Washington than Draymond but that is still a pretty solid pick.
Queen, Richardson, Newell, McNeeley, Demin don't seem to do much for me.
Beringer, Clifford, Bryant, Lendeborg, Fleming are interesting if we move back but #10 seems too high to take any of them.
Walton1one wrote:As long as Simons is here (and Thybulle to a lesser extent, although he can swing b\t G\F) there will be little\no minutes available.
As it is now, Scoot will be going into his 3rd year and likely coming off the bench, which is just ridiculous IMO.
dckingsfan wrote:Walton1one wrote:As long as Simons is here (and Thybulle to a lesser extent, although he can swing b\t G\F) there will be little\no minutes available.
As it is now, Scoot will be going into his 3rd year and likely coming off the bench, which is just ridiculous IMO.
Just want to take on this point. I see no reason not to start Thybulle, Camara & Deni. Build around that for next season. Build around that successful three forward run based upon team D.
Scoot wasn't all that until later in the season (February was a very good month, then he took a header in March). I just hope he takes the next step (his February performance) and forces the flip of minutes (between he and Simons). Although as you point out Simons being moved would be addition by subtraction.
I still would rather they take one of the two-way players in the draft (hence why I don't want to see Jakucionis) unless they luck out and get Harper.
Newell has a great foundation to work with. He’s productive, and you know what you’re getting from the jump. I still believe in the outside shot and I think there’s some untapped potential offensively with his game. If I was a team with a natural center on the roster, Newell would be very intriguing to add to the mix, as it would immediately give you some lineup versatility.
Kasparas Jakucionis is still a name I’m buying all of the stock in. It’s so easy to cool off on a prospect that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but that’s why this is the most important time of the year. If you go back and watch Kasparas at the beginning of the year, you see a dominant player. He then had to deal with a forearm injury and once he returned, it looked like he was still bothered by it. The Northwestern game was one of my favorites from Jakucionis, as he was in takeover mode. He drew rave reviews from his coaching staff throughout the year with his professionalism and willingness to take instruction. He’s a gamer and a talented floor general who brings a lot to the table, even with his deficiencies.
This dude can absolutely play and he’s sensational off the ball when it comes to feel and awareness. He’s a gamer.
The funny thing about Kon is when you go back and look at his numbers throughout the year, you find yourself wondering why you were ever “cooling off.” Kon continued to be efficient, and then the game started to reach another level.
He’s going to be a heck of a get for his next NBA team, as he could be the “high floor” prospect that allows GMs to sleep well at night.
Teams like him and are very intrigued. But his combine process is drawing all of the attention. Teams aren’t convinced he’s going to measure at 6’7”—they’re almost sure of it. Despite that, I’m still putting Murray-Boyles at 10. I understand there’s going to be questions about his role at the next level, especially if the height question becomes a bigger deal. But I’m going off of what I’ve seen on tape the last two years. CMB is a gifted defensive prospect with slept on playmaking upside. I also think he’s just smart, knowing how to use his strength and power to get around the basket.
There have been plenty of boards with Essengue much later than this, near the late teens. I completely understand that, but I think Essengue would be a name I’d want to swing on here if everything checked out. I’ve been watching Essengue closely over the last couple of years, ever since his days with Ratiopharm Ulm’s “junior” team. He’s seen remarkable growth with his game and I’ve loved the intel I’ve heard.
Clifford rocks and checks every box you’d want. If you obsess over his age + the factor of him being an upperclassmen, you’re going to miss a heck of a basketball player. It’s early for some, but Clifford is the type of pick that makes a lottery team take a step towards playoff contention.
Carter Bryant (Arizona) is still one of my guys. Honestly, I could make a self-argument to have him move up the board a little here. Bryant won’t wow you with his stats, but when you start to look at the impact he made on that Arizona team, you find yourself giddy. He’s oozing with upside and is one to watch throughout the process as he tests the waters. A strong pre-draft process could get his stock smoking. Let’s put him at #16 for now.
Demin is going to be around 6’8”-6’9” and one of the most gifted natural playmakers we’ve seen in recent drafts. When we’re evaluating these prospects, scouts are trying to figure out what specific players do to warrant time on an NBA court. With Demin, it’s his playmaking, feel, and positional versatility. If you’re buying the shot (I am), then why wouldn’t you have Demin higher?
Plenty will point at Demin’s lack of creation off the bounce, or the fact that he needed a screen often to get space. I agree with those concerns, but I also push back with the fact that I’m pretty sure they screen a lot at the NBA level, too.
Hugo Gonzalez has a LOT of fans in NBA circles. I’m also still a big buyer. Hugo was in a tough spot as the classic “he’s fun and young, but he’s on a powerhouse team with no minutes available” guy. Seriously, go look at Real Madrid’s roster and if you’re an NBA fan, you’ll laugh when you see some of the names
Philon is such a fascinating evaluation. When you turn on the tape, he’s special. Philon has some ridiculous feel, and his ability to change gears and set defenders up with hesitations is a joy to watch. He’s crafty getting downhill and can finish with finesse around the basket. I love the floater game and think there’s some fun tools including his playmaking and on-ball defense.
The frame is definitely something that needs work, as Philon was listed at around 6’4”, 174 pounds at one point.
Riley is the definition of raw when it comes to his physical development. He’s listed at around 6’8”, but I’m not sure I’m buying that—he looks gigantic to me on tape. Personally, I’m wondering if Riley will be closer to 6’10” at the combine than 6’8”. There’s a long way to go with the talented freshman wing when it comes to his game being ready from a physical perspective. But the highs are sensational. Riley has a smooth outside shot with some underrated craftiness off the bounce.
If I was a team with multiple first round selections, I’d be wanting to get my hands on Riley as an asset with awesome upside. If I was a team that could work some magic to get up into the second half of the first round, I’d do it as well.
Wolf is going to be an agent of chaos when it comes to the pre-draft process. So far, every NBA team you ask will have a different answer on Danny Wolf. Some love him, some would like to get him later. He could end up having the widest range before the draft, just because he’s a classic “eye of the beholder” player. Wolf has the size of a center but the skills of a guard. He can run the show offensively at the top of the key with outstanding feel and playmaking ability. Wolf also has the ability to be a pick-and-pop weapon with some serious floor spacing potential.
There’s questions defensively, especially when it comes to the lack of vertical pop. But I think Wolf does enough as a team defender where he can be a real asset if you have the pieces in place.
With Fleming, I’m just simply buying the floor being higher than others. You’re getting a floor-spacing asset with tremendous size and power that has the tools to carve out a lengthy career as a 3-and-D asset. But there’s also the potential that I’m being a little too upbeat about that.
Egor Demin is a 6-foot-9 ballhandler who is arguably the best passer of his draft class — especially in the pick-and-roll — but with questions to answer about how he creates space in the half-court, beats defenders consistently, and scores on a regular basis.
In a best case scenario, Egor is a wing-sized playmaker who makes others better out of screens and in transition. That probably means being the secondary ballhandler on a very good team, but still having an important role with lots of minutes. Realistically, Demin will add value with his passing and size, but be a trickier fit against set defenses and in terms of roster construction.
A lower end outcome sees him struggling for minutes because he can’t truly initiate, shoot, or defend.
...requires a heavy volume of pick-and-rolls to come up with creative reads that generate good shots from three and at the rim. Demin fizzes passes off the live dribble, is accurate with his deliveries in the paint, and can use his size to access difficult angles. However, he needs a screen to get downhill because his handle, athleticism, and physicality are not dynamic enough in the half-court. Demin has real issues separating against defenders, leading to problems with his finishing, turnovers, and shot selection.
...more optimistic about Demin’s shooting than most. The numbers weren’t good this season, and he is prone to cold stretches, but Egor has historically shown me a willingness and volume from three pulling up and spotting up. I really do not think that he is a non-shooter — but his lowest case outcome definitely involves being a non-factor in that area, which would really limit him as an on-ball heavy player. The issues with manufacturing space and creating good looks pop up again.
A worst case scenario for Demin looks something like this: when defenders pressure him, the handle is an issue. When defenders go under, the pull-up is a question. In drop, he needs to be more physical and assertive with his handle and size at the rim. If played off-ball, he’s unproven but he’d definitely need to adjust his tendencies and become more efficient out of spot-ups.
OFFENSE -PROS
Passing is his standout trait
Pick-and-roll chops are impressive
Leverages his size to tilt the court with skip passes or see over the top for drop-offs. Can make passes out of the live dribble.
Makes his bigs better
Can run NBA sets.
More optimistic on his three-point shooting than consensus...encouraging volume and willingness.
- In 23 Liga EBA (2023-24) games: 36.3 3P% (49/135), 78 FT% (32/41)
- In 7 Spanish Championship (2023-24) games: 36.1 3P% (13/36), 100 FT% (12/12)
- In 23 Liga EBA (2022-23) games: 36.3 3P% (49/135), 72.6 FT% (45/62)
- In 7 Spanish Championship (2022-23) games: 23.1 3P% (9/39), 69.2 FT% (9/13)
Putting all of this together puts Demin at 31.5 3P% (194/615) and 73.8 FT% (192/260) in my tracked numbers, which is nowhere near catastrophic. It’s fine to wonder how and when he’ll shoot, but he is not a non-shooter.
Will need to prove that he can make threes.
OFFENSE - CONS
Handle and space creation process in the half-court is his biggest point of improvement.
Almost always needs a screen to get past his defender.
Can’t break defenders down 1v1. Handle lacks genuine shake. Reliant on size and feel more than anything else. Can’t manufacture space. Finds it hard if defenders pressure his handle.
Can take a long time to create an advantage, or fail to do so, when he struggles to separate.
Want to see him extend his drives more — both to score and pass.
Did most of his scoring using ballscreens.
Made 63.6% (70/110) of his total shots at the rim this season.Half-court: 61.6% (53/86) Transition: 75.0% (15/20) 11 dunks in 33 games
Wants to go left when he gets downhill.
Relies on scoop finishes and screens for better or worse
Should get more free throws for his size and skill.
Upside partly depends on becoming a grab-and-go threat.
Does not add value as a rebounder right now.
“Despite playing up a year at age 15, Demin shined as one of the top long-term prospects we saw abroad. Standing 6-foot-7 with long arms, big feet and clear growth potential, the Russian guard has ideal size for a modern playmaker and the type of focus, intensity and poise you look for in an international prospect.”
“He might not have the burst or vertical explosion of a traditional lead guard, but his size allows him to see over the top of the defense to make most of the necessary reads, and his overall court sense helps him control the game when the ball is in his hands. Even if he doesn't ultimately play the point guard position, he'll have more than ample size to operate as a floor-spacing, shot-creating wing.”
“Although a bit on the streaky side (30% from 3), Demin has all the makings of a big-time shotmaker. He has excellent balance and touch -- both off the catch and off the bounce -- and has no shortage of confidence, knocking down 13 triples in just 116 minutes with several coming from beyond the NBA line.”
DEFENSE
Tools exist, but production is lacking, Didn’t have many defensive responsibilities in college.
Size, length, and improving frame gives him enough margin for error and, probably, a safe enough floor long-term.
Able to make plays with his length and size when engaged. Not a defensive playmaker right now, though.
Taps into length to come up with steals in the passing lanes.
Does not protect rim despite size and feel.
Off-ball engagement needs to improve. Probably at his best helping.
Versatility on-ball is more theoretical than functional. Lacks strength to defend wings and forwards, although hasn’t truly been tested yet. Too stiff and upright to defend guard-sized ballhandlers. Lacks output overall.
Footspeed is slower than most guards, especially in the NBA. High center of gravity. Probably feels most comfortable defending smaller ballhandlers, though. Can use length and size to cause issues.
Size and feel probably give him a survivable outcome in most situations — as long as he produces on offense.
Walton1one wrote:So Sharpe & Scoot are coming off the bench again? I can't see that happening, Thybulle is a nice off the bench piece that could come in and offer a defensive presence to cover for Sharpe (if his D woes continue) or spell Camara\Deni, that is where his defensive flexibility would be best served IMO. I would much rather have Sharpe's offense on the floor than Thybulle.
Kon Knueppel is a great shooter and a tidy decision maker who will have a long NBA career. In a high-end outcome, he could be the fourth or fifth starter on a playoff team. More realistically, he profiles as a valuable role player for a contender, while a lower-end scenario still has him as a useful bench piece.
Knueppel will knock down his catch-and-shoot threes for as long as he plays basketball...He can also attack a closeout to pass and score...an Kon adapt to a tougher and larger volume of shots coming off screens, movement, hand-offs, etc? Is he primarily a spot-up shooter who can put the ball on the floor, or does he have more self-creation juice than what’s been displayed at Duke?
I’m also wondering about Knueppel’s volume when it comes to his passing...He lacks the first step, wiggle and space creation skills needed despite having good vision and a safe enough handle... feel like Kon is more of a second side guy in the NBA
OFFENSE
Awesome shooter who already looks like a catch-and-shoot specialist with great numbers from three and the free throw line.
Shooting 39.5 3P% (66/167).
Plays off Cooper Flagg’s gravity...Shooting 40.1 3P% (59/147) on catch-and-shoot threes.
Proven high-level shooter during every step of his basketball career so far
...he isn’t necessarily making super tough catch-and-shoot threes, quick-movement shots, etc.
Draws closeouts and knows how to attack them as a scorer and passer within 2-3 dribbles.
Likes to get to two feet. Also has a fallaway two that he can get to.
As a passer, can get a paint touch and make the right kick-out read
Lack of speed, lift, and flexibility is his biggest limitation.
Limited bag as a finisher when he’s met by length.
Underrated pick-and-roll playmaker. I think he’s Duke’s point guard more than Tyrese Proctor or Caleb Foster, and just about the same as Sion James.
I don’t think he’s a primary initiator in the NBA - but I’m very comfortable with him as a connector or running a second side pick-and-roll. Can take the load off a team’s alpha.
Solid connector.
Turnovers are linked to athletic limitations. Handle is generally safe, but also not very creative. Lacks shake. Struggles to beat defenders off the bounce.
Has shown basically no pull-up shooting/self-creation in college. Important limitation to keep in mind.
Can he maybe self-create as a mismatch in the post? Effective using his body and touch after getting to two feet.
DEFENSE
Footspeed is the main question, and production is lacking.
Switches onto forwards and bigs.
Makes multiple efforts fronting, disrupting, boxing out, etc. down low.
Strength is his biggest athletic advantage. Otherwise, lack of speed, twitch, and pliability can be limiting.
What position does he defend in the NBA? Will give up the lane to guards, but needs to be a pretty good defender to be effective on wings. Then, also lacks length and will give up the athletic edge to a lot of 3s and 4s.
Needs to be ready for teams to target him.
Makes few mistakes, and doesn’t compound them. Won’t gamble or take unnecessary risks. Generally just tries to fulfill game plan.
dckingsfan wrote:Walton1one wrote:So Sharpe & Scoot are coming off the bench again? I can't see that happening, Thybulle is a nice off the bench piece that could come in and offer a defensive presence to cover for Sharpe (if his D woes continue) or spell Camara\Deni, that is where his defensive flexibility would be best served IMO. I would much rather have Sharpe's offense on the floor than Thybulle.
No. I am saying move Simons if at all possible. Have Simons and Sharpe come off the bench... unless... Sharpe materially steps up his defense.
The identity of this team has to be D. Put those players out there first and foremost. You wanna play - then play D.
Walton1one wrote:dckingsfan wrote:Walton1one wrote:So Sharpe & Scoot are coming off the bench again? I can't see that happening, Thybulle is a nice off the bench piece that could come in and offer a defensive presence to cover for Sharpe (if his D woes continue) or spell Camara\Deni, that is where his defensive flexibility would be best served IMO. I would much rather have Sharpe's offense on the floor than Thybulle.
No. I am saying move Simons if at all possible. Have Simons and Sharpe come off the bench... unless... Sharpe materially steps up his defense.
The identity of this team has to be D. Put those players out there first and foremost. You wanna play - then play D.
I 100% agree about trading Simons, but given Cronin’s past, I am very skeptical on whether or not he will be traded so I am viewing things as if he will be here and if that is the case, then they have a problem taking another guard because that means either Cronin is horribly indecisive or he really views Simons as a long term\key piece which is problematic in all sorts of ways, either way it makes drafting another guard kind of redundant?
If Simons is traded, I don’t see any anyway they don’t start Sharpe and Scoot, defense issues aside you need to find out what they can do, if they can improve, to start Thybulle, who is a short term stopgap at best on this team over guys who could potentially be long-term pieces seems counterproductive and that is not even addressing his offensive shortcomings,
I thought Sharpe played much better the last month or so of the year when Simons was not available, and given his age and his production already, I am more bullish on him him than not
This whole discussion around Sharpe reminds me of all the talk around LA, it was all about, myself included, what he wasn’t doing instead of what he was, and even if Sharpe is not that alpha player, he is still going to be a 20 PPG player, who is a #2/#3 which is valuable for any team, and the book has not been written on him yet like it has been some of the “older” players on this team
zzaj wrote:BlazersBroncos wrote:Short-term start Thybulle at SG. Thybulle, Deni, Camara is just going to make your defense solid. Ayton/Clingan are a fine defense C rotation (although Clingan is better).
Thybulle - Camara - Deni just isnt enough offense. Sharpe is the starter next season 100%. His late play after getting (rightly) benched by Billups really seemed to light a fire under him. I think you wait on the extension and give him the reigns at SG next season. He is still the highest potential guy on this team.
I'll add to this to say that Sharpe needs to answer some questions defensively. If he's only going to be a 1-way player then that informs how much money the Blazers should throw at him. He needs every minute possible to continue to develop on both sides of the ball...
Questions Sharpe needs to answer:
1) Can he actually play off-ball without "disappearing"? Both Deni and Scoot are going to need the ball in their hands a lot to be their best selves...can Sharpe find a balance of on-ball and off-ball while keeping the intensity up.
2) Can he make strides in his defensive processing? He tends to miss rotations after 2 passes and ball watches way to much.
3) He bought into the "3s and Dunks" philosophy last year, but his 3pt shot selection was downright bad. Truly great players are able to create good looks in the mid-range to help open up perimeter and rim scoring. Can Sharpe find a balance of taking only good 3pters, self-creation in the mid-range, and continue attacking and finishing at the rim at a high level?
Sinobas wrote:zzaj wrote:BlazersBroncos wrote:
Thybulle - Camara - Deni just isnt enough offense. Sharpe is the starter next season 100%. His late play after getting (rightly) benched by Billups really seemed to light a fire under him. I think you wait on the extension and give him the reigns at SG next season. He is still the highest potential guy on this team.
I'll add to this to say that Sharpe needs to answer some questions defensively. If he's only going to be a 1-way player then that informs how much money the Blazers should throw at him. He needs every minute possible to continue to develop on both sides of the ball...
Questions Sharpe needs to answer:
1) Can he actually play off-ball without "disappearing"? Both Deni and Scoot are going to need the ball in their hands a lot to be their best selves...can Sharpe find a balance of on-ball and off-ball while keeping the intensity up.
2) Can he make strides in his defensive processing? He tends to miss rotations after 2 passes and ball watches way to much.
3) He bought into the "3s and Dunks" philosophy last year, but his 3pt shot selection was downright bad. Truly great players are able to create good looks in the mid-range to help open up perimeter and rim scoring. Can Sharpe find a balance of taking only good 3pters, self-creation in the mid-range, and continue attacking and finishing at the rim at a high level?
I'm not that high on Sharpe, because there are too many holes in his game and I don't see much improvement. But I think he has a lot of trade value around the league due to his potential. I'd cash in on either him or Scoot now, package with the #10 and expirings and upgrade a position in our starting lineup.
Edrees wrote:JRoy wrote:Monta Ellis have it all
I was hoping and expecting this to be one of the first replies. You did not disappoint. Jroy have it all.
A for Average" Asa Newell 6'11 PF
Comp: Jalen Smith/Bobby Portis
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Solid Scorer (95th PPG)
-Athletic Slasher (97th RimM/DunkM)
-Theoretical Shooter (36th 3PM, 87th TS%)
Cons:
-Terrible Playmaker (17th APG, 11th AST/TO)
-Meh Reb (84th RPG)
-Uninspiring Def (58th SPG, 68th Stops, 79th BPG)
Fell short of the 3&D label I was hoping for. Although athletic, doesn't put it to good use on reb & def. He also doesn't process plays well, turnover prone.
Solid scorer with rim running ability & a theoretical jumper (I have faith here). But being tweener archetype w/ no standout skill (think Marvin Bagley), Newell is graded around 14-18 on my board.
Asa Newell's Defense + Rebounding production is an eyesore. Pairing that w/ poor playmaking - theres some real concerns.
I’m holding out hope that his jumper comes around. But yeah, good instinct. He might end up being Bagley with better PR.
"Shifty Floor General" Labaron Philon 6'4 PG
Comp: Blend (Kira Lewis-Delon Wright)/Darren Collison
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Elite Playmaker (97th APG, 72th AST/TO)
-Theoretical 3 Lvl (56th 3PM, 67th MidM, 77th RimM)
-Disruptive Hands (90th Steals)
Cons:
-Inefficient Shooter (60th TS/eFG%)
-Athleticism (28th DunkM)
-Light Frame
Highly efficient playmaker with unique pace & shifty ball handling-slicing defense. Philon's a crafty finisher w/ sneaky ability to initiate contact or decelerate on defenders, showing flashes of Dejounte Murray here.
The talent & IQ is there on film but a vertically challenged light-frame Point guard + inefficient shooting won't survive in todays league, giving him a pretty low floor and earns him a 16-22 on my draft board.
Query: PGs past 8 drafts
- Labaron Philon's Playmaking production + efficiency must be pretty legit when you're in elite company with Tyrese Haliburton & Reed Sheppard.
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Slasher (97th RimM, 100th DunkM)
-Solid Blocker (89th BPG)
-Efficient Shooter (98th TS%/eFG%)
-Shooting Touch (62 Rtg - Hovers Sabonis/Ayton)
-Nimble Feet
Cons:
-Below Avg Scorer (73th PPG)
-Poor Playmaker (11th APG)
-Poor Mid game (38th MidM)
Shooting Touch Rtg (3PA, FT%, etc.), helps evaluates low volume shooters & Maluach rating hovers Sabonis.
For avg usage rate, Maluach has below avg production. His poor Playmaking ability really limits his potential/ceiling more than people realize. Bigs with low production & playmaking are red flags: Mo Bamba, Thabeet, Cauley-Stein.
As of now, Maluach is a rim running big with theoretical shooting. That being said, 7'2 with ungodly length & nimble feet may neutralize his cons. Although a gamble, I buy his physical tools and personally still have Maluach in my top 5.
Query: All bigs drafted in the 1st round.
Khaman Maluach's lackluster offensive production sticks out like a sore thumb. It is hovering Rudy Gobert...
Even his defensive production is somewhat, forgettable (Reb, Blocks, Stops).
"Blast from the Pass" Thomas Sorber 6'10 C
Ceiling Comp: Wendell Carter Jr/Marcus Camby
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Good Reb (91th RPG)
-Good Passer (72th APG)
-Great Def (95th BPG, 82th SPG, 98th Stops)
-OK 2 Lvl Scorer (86th PPG)
Cons:
-Weaker Competition (Strength Schedule 79th)
-Low Vol Shooter (7th 3PM)
-Inefficient Shooter (75th TS%/71th eFG%)
-Inefficient Playmaker (21th Ast/TO)
Thomas Sorber is a throwback big w/ mid range pop, bruising footwork & soft touch at the rim.
His inefficient Playmaking & Shooting against weak competitions, raises eyebrows.
Sorber being a coveted archetype (Defensive Playmaking Big) is a floor raiser, and sits around 10-14 on my draft board.
Take with a grain of salt (since it is against weaker competition).
Thomas Sorber's Playmaking + Defensive production is very underrated, and is among the best of them.
Same, I’m waiting for combine measurements before I release a draft board. Analytics & film are great tools but measurements matters a lot too, for certain players.
He has all the indicators to be a Defensive Playmaking Big. Marcus Camby would’ve been even more impactful in today’s games.
"Lukewarm Microwave" Tre Johnson 6'6 Combo G
Comp: Jumbo Keyonte George/(Inefficient Tyler Herro)
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Elite Scorer (97th PPG)
-Elite Middy (97th MidM)
-Good 3PT Shooter (90th 3PM)
-Underrated Playmaker
Cons:
-Awful Def (Hovers Stauskas/C Thomas)
-Inefficient Shooter (63th TS%, 56th eFG%)
-Inefficient Playmaker (31th Ast/To)
-Below Avg Slasher (28th DunkM, 44th RimM)
-Nonexistent FTs (13th FTR)
-Terrible Rebounder (15th Reb)
Helluva tough shotmaking scorer, Tre Johnson doesn't do himself any favors w/ lacking inability to get to FT line & questionable slashing to attack closeouts. Being jumpshot reliant, his huge cons + inefficient shooting raises concerns what else he offers if his shots aren't falling.
Although proven off-ball shooter, he has questionable on-ball space creation to improve shooting efficiency.
Defense is a huge red flag, when you make Rob Dillingham & Darius Garland look good. I hold out hopes his + size can bring him closer to a Lavine/Huerter.
The # of concerns as a microwave archetype, puts Tre Johnson closer to the 9-13 range, for me.
For how + size Tre Johnson is, chart below (querying players w/ his shot diet) highlights how historically poor his perimeter defense has been:
Bad is an understatement.
Tre Johnson is a very polarizing prospect. I think his best quality at the next level will be the elite offball shooting. Allan Houston is a solid one. Inefficient Tyler Herro is another.
"Moscow Mule-gician" Egor Demin 6'9 PG
Comp: Blend (Fred VanVleet/Josh Giddey)
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Sublime Playmaker (99th APG)
-Theoretical Scorer (60th 3PM, MidM, RimM, DunkM)
Cons:
-Inefficient Shooter (40th TS/eFG %)
-Low FTs (22th FTR)
-Slight Frame (190 lbs)
Jumbo Playmaker notoriously has high floor, Demin's slew of criticism (inefficient shooting) is nothing new for his archetype. Is it enough to overshadow his huge upside?
Demin is bigger, better passer than his archetype and packs more scoring dexterity than Giddey (Shot Diet & analytics identical to VanVleet).
I buy his shooting mechanics, P&R maestro with exceptional pace - blended with his size, Egor is fail proof and earns him a top 10 draft grade.
Querying Egor Demin's Shot Diet w/ labeled 'Playmakers':
Noticeable well-rounded players: RJ Barrett, Harper, Flagg, Chet Holmgren, Da Silva, LeVert, Dillon Brooks, Nique Clifford
His shooting tree blended w/ playmaking & size, Demin truly is an outlier
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