Moderators: Jamaaliver, dms269, HMFFL
CP War Hawks wrote:I got Coward right there with Noa and Bryant. His two way potential is up there with the top guys. I mean I usually dump on older prospects, but his build and game is similar to today's Kawhi.
HMFFL wrote:I was hoping he would be available in the second round but his measurements are out and he's impressing people. I hope he's on our draft board.
Cedric Coward benefited from the pre-draft process more than most prospects. After missing the majority of his college season due to injury, Coward saw his stock rise meteorically after more scouts learned of his tantalizing measureables and shooting prowess. Coward will take time to develop, but just how high can his ceiling reach?
Team: Washington State
Height: 6’5
Weight: 213
Wingspan: 7’2
Age: 21.8 (September 11, 2003)
NBA Comparison: Moses Moody, Bilal Coulibaly
Coward could find himself in a role-playing wing role on a great team, hitting shots off-ball and playing defense like Moses Moody does in Golden State. His incredible physical tools and fluid movement could help him tap into more upside than appears on the surface, though, forming a similar prospect pitch to a rising player like Coulibaly.
Strengths
- Gigantic plus-9-inch wingspan offers huge defensive upside as a helper and playmaker
- Weaponizes his length and mobility to disrupt plays off-ball with great energy and activity on defense
Impressive off-ball shooter with an efficient shooting track and some movement shooting versatility- Has the touch to score off of the dribble in the mid-range and in the post
- Fluid and flexible enough to develop into a useful driver with handling and athletic improvement
Weaknesses
- Limited speed and explosion could lower his ceiling on both ends of the floor
- Raw driver and creator with the ball, lacks a great first step or the ball control to win off of the dribble consistently
- Inconsistent passer without spectacular floor processing or vision
- Lacks great lateral quickness to evade screens and defend the ball at an elite level
- Limited experience playing against high-level college competition for a near-22-year-old prospect
Offensive role: Floor Spacer/Mismatch Scorer
Defensive role: Off-Ball Disruptor
2025 NBA Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 18-25
Coward’s injury history, lack of high-level experience and age are all notable red flags that could lead him to fail at the NBA level. He’s a developmental prospect who will need time before he can impact winning, but his upside as a 3-and-D player is clear. If Coward can improve his handle, he could even tap into more offensive upside due to his great movement and touch.
No Ceilings NBA
Cedric Coward | G | Washington State
Profile: 6’6”, 206
Year: Senior (21)
17.7 PTS | 7.0 REB | 3.7 AST | 0.8 STL | 1.7 BLK
55.7 FG% | 40.0 3P% | 83.9 FT%
6 Games | 32.8 MIN
Atlanta has developed a winning formula around Trae Young in recent seasons: get out in transition & overwhelm opponents with a high-paced offensive blitz of athleticism. Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher & Onyeka Okongwu fit that identity as downhill attackers who thrive on the move. While Coward doesn’t have as fluid of a handle as some of the other perimeter options on this team, he’s excellent on the break, and he can knock down spot-up jumpers from three-point range. With impressive physical tools and a motor that runs hot, Coward is the type of project player who could thrive with the rest of his projected Hawks teammates.
