Cameron Boozer

[JMAC3]

I do kinda see some of the stat padding being mentioned with Boozer.

35 pts vs Indiana St in a 38 pt win.
26 pts vs Howard in a 37 pt win.
26 pts vs Lipscomb in a 24 pt win.
30 pts vs Stanford in 30 pt win.
32 vs Wake Forest in 21 pt win.
19 pts vs Lousiville in 31 pt win - 31 mins.

It does seem to be an effort to make sure he gets numbers whether that is for POY, recruiting tactic or draft views.

[JMAC3]

I do kinda see some of the stat padding being mentioned with Boozer.

35 pts vs Indiana St in a 38 pt win.
26 pts vs Howard in a 37 pt win.
26 pts vs Lipscomb in a 24 pt win.
30 pts vs Stanford in 30 pt win.
32 vs Wake Forest in 21 pt win.
19 pts vs Louisville in 31 pt win - 31 mins.

It does seem to be an effort to make sure he gets numbers whether that is for POY, recruiting tactic or draft views.

He has played almost 100 more minutes than any other player on Dukes roster. I would just think with them smacking teams they would rest him a bit more, but maybe I am looking at the wrong thing.

[King Ken]

I think he is massively underrated on this site offensively. I think he's clearly better than Detroit Blake Griffin. That said.... defensively, Atlanta John Collins with even less rim protection and better hands for steals is pretty much what I see at best on that end. His lateral quickness is really really bad. I might have overestimated his defensive potential. Offensively, PF Jokic. He's elite on that end. Not comparing him to Dirk but his value charts will favor more of Dirk.

While he's #3 for me. Wagler and Flemings may end up better values down the road. I am not as sold on Caleb Wilson. He got spec questions like Jalen Johnson. Jalen is an all star so he's still a clear top 5 pick but if you want franchise player, I am not sure he is it. Mikel Brown Jr is interesting from an traits stance. LeMelo Ball comes to mind so he can't be slept on as a potential all star. I love Quintance, I know his offense is wack but his defense is wow!

[FrodoBaggins]

I'm all in on taking him #1. He's going to be the closest thing to Jokic, IMO. A PF version with big wing characteristics. Not quite as skilled as a shooter-passer-playmaker, but more impactful on defense relative to position. You'll be able to hide him easier as he's not locked into the C position like Jokic is.

[JMAC3]

His usage is nuts, especially for a player of his archetype. Duke really does do everything offensively just to get him the ball and the rest of the guys are just virtually role players.

[ReggiesKnicks]

His usage is nuts, especially for a player of his archetype. Duke really does do everything offensively just to get him the ball and the rest of the guys are just virtually role players.

Yeah I agree with how impressive this is for someone his age to shoulder his usage and efficiency. At a certain point the production being the biggest outlier we have seen in modern college basketball needs to be taken at face value.

[JMAC3]

I still like my Kevin Love comp, will be really good on boards and put up points and have a crazy PER. Just don't know if he translates that into being a real star or if its more so just huge numbers.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I still like my Kevin Love comp, will be really good on boards and put up points and have a crazy PER. Just don't know if he translates that into being a real star or if its more so just huge numbers.

Kevin Love with a bit more mobility and ahead of the development curve is a hell of a player. Kevin Love already peaked as a low-end MVP candidate and had incredible impact metrics, both in Minnesota and then as a 3rd option in Cleveland.

We won't know what he translates into, but what we do know is players in his same mold have been MVP candidates in the NBA and Boozer is putting up the best statistical freshman season of the data-ball era.

[FarBeyondDriven]

what I don't understand is all the outrage from people when you suggest that he isn't in the running for #1 and not a top 3 lock? This isn't the 2024 draft where there wasn't an elite prospect so he'd easily go #1. This is arguably one of the strongest draft classes ever. Going after dynamic players like Peterson and Dybantsa or a PG because a PG needy team has the 3rd pick, isn't an insult.

A modern day Kevin Love, is still a damn good, all-star level player with all-NBA potential. Sure, Love was putting up empty stats via high usage on garbage teams as a #1 but he was the perfect compliment to superstar Lebron allowing them to spread the floor more successfully to aid Lebron's driving in Cleveland as one of the league's best stretch 4s. Love has helped lead his teams to 4 different Finals. Any team getting that out of Boozer would be ecstatic.

I think Boozer is a much better prospect than Love. Love is his floor. He's still an elite prospect that goes #1 in many draft classes.

[FrodoBaggins]

Utah just acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. He seems like the ideal player to pair with Boozer. Markannen, too. I think Boozer-JJJ-Lauri works, but I wonder where Kessler fits into the equation. Does he come back healthy? What kind of contract does he get? Will Utah re-sign him? Will he come off the bench?

[tmorgan]

That chart above tells me Yaxel needs to go pretty early. As the best player on a very good team with a lot of talent, but not much NBA talent, he just gets stuff done. A bit of everything.

(Mara is absolutely not ready for the NBA, btw. He may come out, but he’s a major project.)

[babyjax13]

I still like my Kevin Love comp, will be really good on boards and put up points and have a crazy PER. Just don't know if he translates that into being a real star or if its more so just huge numbers.

Love, older Blake Griffin, Sengun, has some qualities from all those guys. Watched some UCLA highlights of Love, lots of similarities. I think Boozer is a worse athlete than Paolo, but a better basketball player. He is going to be really good.

[FarBeyondDriven]

gotta say, after seeing him on the floor with Wilson and his inability to guard him or Veesaar, his defense is pretty concerning. They were both able to easily shoot over him because Boozer is such a limited athlete. But man, he's a big dude. He's gotta have 30-40 lbs on Wilson which is making me think he's going to actually play center in the NBA similar to Sabonis and Sengun which means the chances of the offense running through him are even greater. Like those two, his lack of defense seriously lowers his team's ceiling and he'll need a long shot-blocker next to him but he's going to put up huge offensive numbers and probably has all-nba potential

[Benjammin]

I think there's a better chance Boozer goes fourth than first.

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[RipCity71252]

It's really quite impressive how much of a nothing burger he is as an interior defender.

He does bring value defensively with how strong he is and has pretty good hands. And while he's not a great lateral athlete, I think he does a good job gapping off of so so shooters and anticipating dribble moves to stay in front. I don't see him as some guy that often out of position of ball either. Actually pretty smart there imo.

Is he like a Luka type defender where the film looks pretty bad but the impact metrics come out looking ok. Luka has the same combination of ++ strength, hands and defensive rebounding for his position/role...idk

But man...0.4% block rate in 11 conference games for a guy that you are going to want to steal some minutes with at the 5 is definitely a bright red flag for him.

[Benjammin]

The 4 has a bigger role defensively than Luka who you can hide covering someone.

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[vincecarter4pres]

what I don't understand is all the outrage from people when you suggest that he isn't in the running for #1 and not a top 3 lock? This isn't the 2024 draft where there wasn't an elite prospect so he'd easily go #1. This is arguably one of the strongest draft classes ever. Going after dynamic players like Peterson and Dybantsa or a PG because a PG needy team has the 3rd pick, isn't an insult.

A modern day Kevin Love, is still a damn good, all-star level player with all-NBA potential. Sure, Love was putting up empty stats via high usage on garbage teams as a #1 but he was the perfect compliment to superstar Lebron allowing them to spread the floor more successfully to aid Lebron's driving in Cleveland as one of the league's best stretch 4s. Love has helped lead his teams to 4 different Finals. Any team getting that out of Boozer would be ecstatic.

I think Boozer is a much better prospect than Love. Love is his floor. He's still an elite prospect that goes #1 in many draft classes.

Idk, I’ve really warmed some on Boozer, but he still has so many red flags on a path to actual stardom, and his deficiencies are glaring if he’s an All Star level complimentary player who puts up MVP numbers on paper, like Kevin Love.

I just feel like unless he’s drafted to the picture perfect situation, he will be exactly like a Love or Kat, where he’s this huge numbers guy(counting stats and advanced) who is monumentally polarizing on message boards, in the media and in real life NBA front offices; and so the team that drafts him, just like the two aforementioned above, are just the farm team/developmental squad for his second landing spot.

And that team will get him relatively cheap asset-wise and his numbers will go down some, but his impact up, and it will be mainly accepted he’s a really great 2nd to 3rd best player on any team with aspirations and there has to be a perennial top 10 in the league player next to him if you even have a puncher’s chance.

But I’m still warming to him, cause even though that’s the stronger way I feel, he also might become so good he’s just… so good. A unicorn and a ridiculous floor raiser that makes any team with a solid number 2 and a bunch of smart athletic shooter/finishers a legit contender.

That ultimate upside is what makes him worth a shot anywhere after Peterson or Wilson to me.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think there's a better chance Boozer goes fourth than first.

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20%/25%/30%/25%

[RipCity71252]

The 4 has a bigger role defensively than Luka who you can hide covering someone.

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Agreed. Just comparing simply because of the similar film vs advanced stats dichotomy.

[One_and_Done]

I'd be pretty scared to draft this guy. He is just so ground bound, without quick twitch athleticism. My early impressions of Caleb Wilson are much more favourable.