backasswards wrote:I see Dipo as a Gilbert Arenas type.
The only comparison I can draw is that they look similar handling the ball in terms of their posture, high dribble, and how they come off of picks.
Outside of that...they are two completely different players. Arenas was a lethal scoring threat...Oladipo still has a long way to go.
This is pretty amusing though...look at the scouting report I found on the 2001 draft that Arenas was in...
Size will be in great abundance in this year's draft, which will include a record number of players attempting to make the jump from high school to the pros. Unfortunately for the Washington Wizards, who hold the top overall selection, there is no clear-cut number one pick. Even worse, none of the top overall talents available are over 20 years old. Due to the impact that players such as Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady have had on the NBA in recent years after bypassing college ball for the NBA, teams will be under extreme pressure to make a decision based more on a prospect's potential than on his production. In the old days, teams weighed both production and potential in order to make their decisions, but no GM will want to end up looking as foolish as the Golden State Warriors did in 1996 when they drafted productive NC State center Todd Fuller over the young and unproven Kobe Bryant. Therefore, expect highly productive collegians such as Shane Battier and Jamal Tinsley to slide down the draft rankings.
Here is how we rate the top prospects available in this year's draft:
1. Kwame Brown
2. Eddy Curry
3. Rodney White
4. Eddie Griffin
5. Tyson Chandler
6. Richard Jefferson
7. Jason Richardson
8. Joe Johnson
9. Shane Battier
10. DeSagana Diop
11. Pau Gasol
12. Loren Woods
13. Zach Randolph
14. Brendan Haywood
15. Michael Bradley
16. Gilbert Arenas
17. Steven Hunter
18. Joseph Forte
19. Tony Parker
20. Jamaal Tinsley
21. Kedrick Brown
22. Vladimir Radmanovic
23. Gerald Wallace
24. Omar Cook
25. Ousmane Cisse
26. Jason Collins
27. Troy Murphy
28. Terence Morris
29. Brian Scalabrine
In a draft where there was no clear cut #1 pick, look at all of the impact players that ended up being a part of it, I bolded them. It ended up being an insanely deep draft.
As for Arenas...
Positives: As the go-to-guy on a loaded Arizona squad last season, Arenas was one of the most explosive scorers in college basketball. A long-armed athlete with great body control, speed and quickness, Arenas excels as a finisher both off the drive and in transition. His perimeter shooting has improved to the point where he must now be respected as a threat. Arenas handles the ball and passes well enough to spend some time at the point and can defend at both backcourt spots.
Negatives: Some scouts are concerned about whether Arenas possesses the size to play off guard in the NBA, but his wingspan allows him to play much taller than his listed height.
Prognosis: Arenas is vastly underrated, despite having starred for one of the most high profile college basketball programs in the nation. He has the athleticism and explosiveness to develop into a player similar to Cuttino Mobley. Do not be surprised if Arenas is suddenly a 15-16 ppg scorer.
Arenas' report does sound similar to Oladipo's, but Arenas was a couple years ahead of the curve. Oladipo could end up being a similar type player if he continues to work on his shot and ability to finish in the lane...not just get there.
