Zach LaVine

[machu46]

His high school highlights seem to show that he has quite a few moves in his repertoire that he isn't showing off yet in college.

It's funny that somebody mentioned him being like a Klay Thompson with elite athleticism, because that's the exact conclusion I came to when I was watching him the other night. I don't think it's the skin tone at all. He looks very good coming off of screens like Thompson, and based on what I've seen from him in college and high school, I think he has the skills to handle the ball some and facilitate some like Thompson was able to do in college.

If I'm picking towards the back-end of the top 10, I'd definitely be looking at this kid.

[Eoghan]

oh and i don't see the allan houston comparison. lavine's moves are much quicker and he's more athletic. who knows how his body will respond to more weight, but right now he's plenty quick and explosive, adjectives that i would have never used to describe allan houston.

I don't either. Even before the injuries, Houston didn't have ups or handles like this kid.

[Ruzious]

I'd like to see if he can play PG in the Steph Curry/Kyrie Irving mold - since he has some PG background and has some PG skills. No question he can play the 2 in the NBA, but I'm not sure he'll be strong enough to be a great player there. Then again, considering his age, he should get naturally get stronger.

[DiplomaticMagic]

westbrook? that is such a lazy comparison.
athletic? ucla? derp, he's like westbrook.

I see this happen far too much

[doordoor123]

Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

if you just watch his mixes i could see that. if rivers was more talented, like if he was quicker, longer and more athletic then he'd be lavine. also, if rivers could shoot and could handle the ball without predetermining his moves he'd play like lavine too.

lavine's got some wiggle to his game. i definitely see the seattle influence in his style, but he's playing a more streamlined, complementary, off-the-ball role for ucla and he's looking fantastic while doing it. rivers tried doing that and looked pretty damn mediocre to downright awful.

zach's got a bag of tricks at his disposal that i don't think he'll need to dip into much while in college with his role, but you still see it in flashes (like his crossover pull up). in the nba i think he will use more of it, but hopefully not too much. i'd prefer he build off his athletic, sharpshooter role who can get his shot off in a number of situations. i noticed that when he plays with the ball he tends to take some questionable shots. he gets much easier jump shots off of movement and spotting up, but he does have that ability to create his own shot if he needs it.

oh and i don't see the allan houston comparison. lavine's moves are much quicker and he's more athletic. who knows how his body will respond to more weight, but right now he's plenty quick and explosive, adjectives that i would have never used to describe allan houston.

Have you seen LaVine play in-game or are you just watching the highlights? He really isn't THAT quick. He's quick off the break, but in traffic, he's rather slow. And the only times LaVine is alone on the other side of the floor is when he cherry-picks. Other than that, he has defenders right there with him. I think you're mistaking his intelligence on the floor with speed.

I must say, my mind is also blown that he's listed as a PG. He's definitely a shooting guard.

[ManualRam]

Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

if you just watch his mixes i could see that. if rivers was more talented, like if he was quicker, longer and more athletic then he'd be lavine. also, if rivers could shoot and could handle the ball without predetermining his moves he'd play like lavine too.

lavine's got some wiggle to his game. i definitely see the seattle influence in his style, but he's playing a more streamlined, complementary, off-the-ball role for ucla and he's looking fantastic while doing it. rivers tried doing that and looked pretty damn mediocre to downright awful.

zach's got a bag of tricks at his disposal that i don't think he'll need to dip into much while in college with his role, but you still see it in flashes (like his crossover pull up). in the nba i think he will use more of it, but hopefully not too much. i'd prefer he build off his athletic, sharpshooter role who can get his shot off in a number of situations. i noticed that when he plays with the ball he tends to take some questionable shots. he gets much easier jump shots off of movement and spotting up, but he does have that ability to create his own shot if he needs it.

oh and i don't see the allan houston comparison. lavine's moves are much quicker and he's more athletic. who knows how his body will respond to more weight, but right now he's plenty quick and explosive, adjectives that i would have never used to describe allan houston.

Have you seen LaVine play in-game or are you just watching the highlights? He really isn't THAT quick. He's quick off the break, but in traffic, he's rather slow. And the only times LaVine is alone on the other side of the floor is when he cherry-picks. Other than that, he has defenders right there with him. I think you're mistaking his intelligence on the floor with speed.

I must say, my mind is also blown that he's listed as a PG. He's definitely a shooting guard.

yes i have watched him play in games. he's quick. quick hands, quick feet. his moves are quick: his release, his cross. his burst is great in the open floor. turn the ball over near the halfcourt line and he's at the hoop in a blink of an eye in 2 dribbles. i don't think he's used his quickness enough to slash so far this yr. i can't blame him though. his jumper is wet and he doesn't have the strength to absorb contact. also i noticed that when he slashes he tends to be a "hopper" or jump stopper. he's quick and fast though. you can even see when he's running curls. he's so far ahead of his defender that he can take an under control balance jumper. same thing when he sprints to corners for a 3.
there are some things i doubt about his game, one isn't athleticism/burst.

[youngthegiant]

Hope he declares, will make this draft one for the books.

[MellowRose]

if you just watch his mixes i could see that. if rivers was more talented, like if he was quicker, longer and more athletic then he'd be lavine. also, if rivers could shoot and could handle the ball without predetermining his moves he'd play like lavine too.

lavine's got some wiggle to his game. i definitely see the seattle influence in his style, but he's playing a more streamlined, complementary, off-the-ball role for ucla and he's looking fantastic while doing it. rivers tried doing that and looked pretty damn mediocre to downright awful.

zach's got a bag of tricks at his disposal that i don't think he'll need to dip into much while in college with his role, but you still see it in flashes (like his crossover pull up). in the nba i think he will use more of it, but hopefully not too much. i'd prefer he build off his athletic, sharpshooter role who can get his shot off in a number of situations. i noticed that when he plays with the ball he tends to take some questionable shots. he gets much easier jump shots off of movement and spotting up, but he does have that ability to create his own shot if he needs it.

oh and i don't see the allan houston comparison. lavine's moves are much quicker and he's more athletic. who knows how his body will respond to more weight, but right now he's plenty quick and explosive, adjectives that i would have never used to describe allan houston.

Have you seen LaVine play in-game or are you just watching the highlights? He really isn't THAT quick. He's quick off the break, but in traffic, he's rather slow. And the only times LaVine is alone on the other side of the floor is when he cherry-picks. Other than that, he has defenders right there with him. I think you're mistaking his intelligence on the floor with speed.

I must say, my mind is also blown that he's listed as a PG. He's definitely a shooting guard.

yes i have watched him play in games. he's quick. quick hands, quick feet. his moves are quick: his release, his cross. his burst is great in the open floor. turn the ball over near the halfcourt line and he's at the hoop in a blink of an eye in 2 dribbles. i don't think he's used his quickness enough to slash so far this yr. i can't blame him though. his jumper is wet and he doesn't have the strength to absorb contact. also i noticed that when he slashes he tends to be a "hopper" or jump stopper. he's quick and fast though. you can even see when he's running curls. he's so far ahead of his defender that he can take an under control balance jumper. same thing when he sprints to corners for a 3.
there are some things i doubt about his game, one isn't athleticism/burst.

Where do you rank him? Top 10?

How is his defense?

[ManualRam]

i'd have him top 10.
defense is tougher to analyze this yr because of the rule changes. because of their lack of depth, ucla uses a number of different defenses, from man, zone to token pressure. like during their last game vs ucsb. they used a lot of token, 3/4 court 1-2-2 pressure with zach at the head of it to close the game out.
projecting his tools, he does have quick hands and feet. he looks long, but i haven't seen updated measurements on him since his growth spurt. he'll probably be bodied on drives until he gets his weight up, but he does have a skinny frame so strength might always be an issue. he hasn't been aggressive pursuing stls, which could be notable if you value that stat. it's also notable b/c ucla is a high stls team. as of now i'd say his offense is far ahead of his defense.

[MellowRose]

i'd have him top 10.
defense is tougher to analyze this yr because of the rule changes. because of their lack of depth, ucla uses a number of different defenses, from man, zone to token pressure. like during their last game vs ucsb. they used a lot of token, 3/4 court 1-2-2 pressure with zach at the head of it to close the game out.
projecting his tools, he does have quick hands and feet. he looks long, but i haven't seen updated measurements on him since his growth spurt. he'll probably be bodied on drives until he gets his weight up, but he does have a skinny frame so strength might always be an issue. he hasn't been aggressive pursuing stls, which could be notable if you value that stat. it's also notable b/c ucla is a high stls team. as of now i'd say his offense is far ahead of his defense.

How's this?:
1, Wiggins
2. Parker
3. Randle
4. Smart
5. Exum
6. Joel Embiid
7. Zach LaVine
8. Aaron Gordon
9. Noah Vonleh

[ManualRam]

7-9 is right around where i'd have lavine.

[No-Man]

i'd have him top 10.
defense is tougher to analyze this yr because of the rule changes. because of their lack of depth, ucla uses a number of different defenses, from man, zone to token pressure. like during their last game vs ucsb. they used a lot of token, 3/4 court 1-2-2 pressure with zach at the head of it to close the game out.
projecting his tools, he does have quick hands and feet. he looks long, but i haven't seen updated measurements on him since his growth spurt. he'll probably be bodied on drives until he gets his weight up, but he does have a skinny frame so strength might always be an issue. he hasn't been aggressive pursuing stls, which could be notable if you value that stat. it's also notable b/c ucla is a high stls team. as of now i'd say his offense is far ahead of his defense.

How's this?:
1, Wiggins
2. Parker
3. Randle
4. Smart
5. Exum
6. Joel Embiid
7. Zach LaVine
8. Aaron Gordon
9. Noah Vonleh

Gordon and Vonleh are too high, my top20 prospects will look like

Parker
Wiggins
Exum
Randle
Smart
Embiid
LaVine
Harris
Adams
Young
Carson
Payton
Hood
Vonleh
Gordon
McGary
Harrison
Cauley-Stein
Anderson
Saric

[Ruzious]

Might as well give it a shot:
1. Parker
2. Embiid
3. Wiggins
4. Randle
5. Exum
6. Adams
7. Smart
8. Lavine
9. Hood
10. McGary
11. Saric
12. Gordon

[MellowRose]

Might as well give it a shot:
1. Parker
2. Embiid
3. Wiggins
4. Randle
5. Exum
6. Adams
7. Smart
8. Lavine
9. Hood
10. McGary
11. Saric
12. Gordon

What makes you put Smart at 7 and Exum at 5? Do you think Smart won't be able to sustain his current shooting percentages?

Personally, I'm much higher on Smart than I am on Exum.

[doordoor123]

I would put Exum at #1.

[MellowRose]

I would put Exum at #1.

Based on what?

[GANGSTERDOG]

I would put Exum at #1.

Same , easily

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[Jory04]

A weaker but faster Glen Rice.

[No-Man]

I would put Exum at #1.

Based on what?

I've seen him live in Prague, I've also seen Smart there.
Exum is miles away, in terms of talent and ceiling, miles.
Exum is a year younger also.
Exum ceiling is the highest in this Draft with Wiggins, not even close.
Exum tools in offense are far ahead of Smart's.
His first step and quickness are elite.

[Ruzious]

Might as well give it a shot:
1. Parker
2. Embiid
3. Wiggins
4. Randle
5. Exum
6. Adams
7. Smart
8. Lavine
9. Hood
10. McGary
11. Saric
12. Gordon

What makes you put Smart at 7 and Exum at 5? Do you think Smart won't be able to sustain his current shooting percentages?

Personally, I'm much higher on Smart than I am on Exum.

Good question. There are things I love about Smart - his intangibles, his strength, his defense. But I'm still not sure that he's a PG. And if he's not a PG, then his shooting is questionable. I don't think he has the best set of teammates to help him develop, either.