Shabazz is being under valued.

[eastsideballer]

I totally agree with the Caron Butler comparisons; much more so than the Carmelo/Pierce comparisons. I see Shabazz eventually becoming a decent #2 option on a bad team or a #3 option on a good team. However, if Shabazz greatly improves his handle, I think he could even become a #2 option on a good team, but great ball handling skills aren't developed overnight, so we'll just have to wait and see how he develops.

Funny some of you mention Caron Butler because I've been checking a different site for a while now and they've been drawing comparisons to Butler for quite some time and have a nice profile of Shabazz on their site (which analyze his strengths, weaknesses, etc); probably one of the better Shabazz profiles I've seen. Here's the link for those who are interested: http://usportshub.com/content/2013-nba- ... er-profile

[165bows]

Butler is a top5 in this Draft, that's why Bazz is undervalued, most of the experts put him in late lottery.
Actually I don't understand at all why Porter is ranked higher than him, but whatever...

Butler was also a "a slightly older sophomore as a freshman, played a lot of minutes and took a lot of shots" in UConn, and then he improved a lot, shot, defense, physique, Bazz has a lot of room for improvement under the right coach/direction.

By the way, Butler played more minutes as a freshmen than Bazz, and he shot worse than him, Bazz was also in bad shape the whole year, cause the injury+eligibility issues, so there's a leap he can make right there, also with Larry Drew leaving UCLA, he would have a more prominent role on the team, no question.

That's all true. From the sound of it, there is a wide discrepancy in scouts' views as well, if he can make that leap. From DX's day one write-up, he seemed to have one of the wider ranges of opinions.

[JES12]

Bazz is going to be more like Corey Maggette (a better shooter, though) or Al Thornton. The Caron Butler comparison is a joke to me. Butler is taller, was a great defender, a better passer and certainly not a black hole the way Shabazz is.

[No-Man]

Bazz is going to be more like Corey Maggette (a better shooter, though) or Al Thornton. The Caron Butler comparison is a joke to me. Butler is taller, was a great defender, a better passer and certainly not a black hole the way Shabazz is.

Butler was a better passer and defender that's true, but a clearly worse scorer and shooter, and they're almost the same height and length, but Bazz is more explosive and faster.

Height w/o Shoes Height w/shoes Weight Wingspan Standing ReachNo Step Vert Max Vert Bench Press Lane Agility 3/4 Court Sprint
6' 5.25" 6' 6.5" 222 6' 11.5" 8' 7.5" 27.0 31.0 2 12.15 3.33

Butler's

Height w/o Shoes Height w/shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach Body Fat No Step Vert Max Vert Bench Press Lane Agility 3/4 Court Sprint Class Rank
6' 4.75" 6' 6.25" 222 6' 11" 8' 8.5" 9.0 29.5 37.0 10 10.99 3.32 NA

Bazz's

[Mlockhart]

Bazz is going to be more like Corey Maggette (a better shooter, though) or Al Thornton. The Caron Butler comparison is a joke to me. Butler is taller, was a great defender, a better passer and certainly not a black hole the way Shabazz is.

Are we watching the same players here? Magette was a top notch athlete and a physical specimen. I can maybe see Magette in terms of never met a shot he didn't like, but it would stop about there. The Butler comparison I agree with although Butler was more well rounded. They are about the same size, and have similar builds.

If Bazz has the career that Butler did I think he would be one of the best players in this year's draft.

[richboy]

With 9 foot standing reach Bazz will have plenty enough athleticism on the court. That is insane for a player his size. He is pretty much as tall as many 7 footers with arms up.

[Brauer]

I honestly agree. I still think Bazz will be a 20 ppg scorer in the NBA.

[CBB_Fan]

Don't forget the Howland bump. Honestly, the biggest argument for Shabazz is how much better other UCLA guys have looked in the NBA (Westbrook and Love mostly). Unlike "good" college coaches like Bill Self, who get the maximum out of their players and probably get them overvalue come draft time, Howland managed to consistently get the minimum out of players that end up being good in the NBA.

[MalonesElbows]

With 9 foot standing reach Bazz will have plenty enough athleticism on the court. That is insane for a player his size. He is pretty much as tall as many 7 footers with arms up.

8'8.5" is not 9'. He has average reach for a SF.

[ManualRam]

Don't forget the Howland bump. Honestly, the biggest argument for Shabazz is how much better other UCLA guys have looked in the NBA (Westbrook and Love mostly). Unlike "good" college coaches like Bill Self, who get the maximum out of their players and probably get them overvalue come draft time, Howland managed to consistently get the minimum out of players that end up being good in the NBA.

the howland "bump" doesn't apply. usually players don't put up gaudy numbers because of the slow pace and grind-it-out style of his style.
they did not play that way this yr. howland granted more freedom and allowed them to get out in the open floor, look for quick strikes without micromanaging every possession.

[TheGoodDoctor]

I think the TWolves draft him.

[ADoaN17]

The Kings really need a SF so he may be a possibility.

[pmfg10]

Austin Rivers also had an "NBA type" of game and we all saw what he did his rookie year

[ImHeisenberg]

Austin Rivers also had an "NBA type" of game and we all saw what he did his rookie year

Historically terribly rookie season!

Comparing the two isn't fair. Rivers was full of himself but it never actually translated to anything of value on the floor, they just kept making that "nba ready game" excuse. Shabazz put up a solid 18PPG, rebounded well, and can absolutely shoot.

[HeartBreakKid]

Rivers was romanticized by a few clutch plays through out the year, he was far inferior than Shabazz during his college tenure.

[richboy]

Rivers and Shabazz are nothing a like. Rivers had I'm a superstar game. He was ball dominate and wanted to play like Kobe Bryant. In reality he has to work his way to being a role player.

Shabazz at worst should be a quality role player. At worst he should be a better version of John Salmons. He has to much all around offensive skill to not find a legitimate role in the league.

[KembaWalker]

trying to figure out why this kid has been bestowed the title of a "clutch" "prime time takeover mentality" type player. he didnt even play a regular season game in college that was big enough to be labeled a prime time game. hasn't played a meaningful game in his whole career. 6/18 chokejob in round 1 upset in the tournament is the closest thing to an important game Shabazz has played.

[wildvikeswolves]

Really hoping the Twolves pick this guy

[UGA Hayes]

Would it kill him to get into better shape already?

[richboy]

Would it kill him to get into better shape already?

I been saying the same thing for years.Imagine what he might do if he actually got in shape. How can KG come in great shape and Paul Pierce look like he didn't know a season was coming.