2014 NBA Draft Prospects Thread #5 | Raps picking 20th

[Double Helix]

Anderson isn't an elite playmaker, though. He's got good court vision because of his height, but a lot of his passes were simple kick-out passes or drop-off passes from bullying smaller opponents to the basket to create an advantage. I didn't see him use ball screens too much to create for his teammates, so his passing doesn't impress me.

Here's a well-written tournament article on Kyle Anderson with many video examples.
http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-many ... 1553171560

I think he's a better passer than you're suggesting. Is he the next Nash? No. But what other players above 6'6 this year in college ball can you think that passed better at any position?

Watching Diaw and Leonard's impact in game 3 has me even more excited about how either Anderson or McDaniels could play significant minutes in big basketball games someday. It's not that either are clones but that there are good aspects of Diaw I can imagine being there with Anderson in his prime and same with some elements of Kawhi that I see and like in McDaniels.

[Volcano]

Anderson isn't an elite playmaker, though. He's got good court vision because of his height, but a lot of his passes were simple kick-out passes or drop-off passes from bullying smaller opponents to the basket to create an advantage. I didn't see him use ball screens too much to create for his teammates, so his passing doesn't impress me.

Even as a SF?

The problem is that the league is catered towards ball-handlers and it's extremely deep in PG's nowadays. Almost every team has a starting caliber PG and half of them have players who could be threats to make an all-star game.

So why should we compete with mediocre play making from an SF when other teams are getting near all-star caliber play from their PG's? Sure, on a depleted team that needs someone to run an offense through, he may help, but a depleted team isn't going to be serious contenders.

On a winning or good offensive team, the best he can do is play within the flow of the game rather than having the offense run through him, but his opportunity to contribute with his play making decreases substantially. At that point, we'll have to look at his scoring. If his touches are limited to a 3rd options, then we'll have to see how he contributes without the ball: defensively, on the boards, hustle, screens..etc. If he's below average, then he's hurting the team.

[ciueli]

I'll be surprised if Warren is still there at 20. Does anyone really think that Porzingis will go in the teens?

[Undefeated]

But what other players above 6'6 this year in college ball can you think that passed better at any position?

To me, there's a difference between being a playmaker and a passer. Anderson can dish finding the open man due to his height, but he's not a playmaker instructing and directing where guys should go, dropping dimes with no look passes, threading the needle, or probing the defense with his dribble alive waiting for a favourable passing angle to develop. The passes in those videos were outlet passes, and drop-off passes exactly like I described. Jabari is probably the best playmaker at SF even though his assists don't reflect it. Calderon could pass effectively, but no one would call him a playmaker which is what Anderson is virtually.

[Double Helix]

But what other players above 6'6 this year in college ball can you think that passed better at any position?

There's a difference between being a playmaker and a passer. Anderson can dish finding the open man due to his height, but he's not a playmaker instructing and directing where guys should go, dropping dimes with no look passes, threading the needle, or probing the defense with his dribble alive waiting for a favourable passing angle to develop. The passes in those videos were outlet passes, and drop-off passes exactly like I described. Jabari is probably the best playmaker at SF even though his assists don't reflect it. Calderon could pass effectively, but no one would call him a playmaker.

I understand and agree with the difference between and passer and a playmaker. I also think your example of Calderon is about as good a modern example of the one extreme as there is. However, I would argue that Anderson is closer to the middle between either label. I've seen Anderson make the kind of passes you're referring to. Difficult passes that aren't easy to make. Not necessarily flashy no-looks. Again, he's not Nash but he's not just backing the ball down and swinging it around the perimeter either.

[bonjovi0308]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

[OAKLEY_2]

I'll be surprised if Warren is still there at 20. Does anyone really think that Porzingis will go in the teens?

Yes. I think Capela has a much better shot at being there. There are a lot of enticing wings possibly getting selected in the first and if Capela drops and is there he would be a very good upside pick and possible small ball centre.

Then if there is still an impetus to draft a small forward to work into the rotation Cleo Early is likely a good choice to be able to step in. We would have to acquire another pick to get him but getting Philly's 32nd shouldn't be too difficult. Because he is a senior and will be close to 24 by the time he does anything meaningful means he is good talent available later than normal but for a reason.

Capela backing up JV. Early sharing small forward time with Ross. That would be a good MU draft.

[SkywalkerAC]

Watching Diaw and Leonard's impact in game 3 has me even more excited about how either Anderson or McDaniels could play significant minutes in big basketball games someday. It's not that either are clones but that there are good aspects of Diaw I can imagine being there with Anderson in his prime and same with some elements of Kawhi that I see and like in McDaniels.

I know what you mean (drooling watching the Spurs) but I'm going to hazard a guess that KJ is more Gerald Green (in a good way) than Leonard. Leonard is cerebral, has the uber wingspan and hands, and is just a versatile player. I agree about Anderson though as a possible step towards the elite ball-movement that the Spurs possess.

[Roland Brice]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

[SkywalkerAC]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

McRoberts is a good to great passer at his position?

[TankNation123]

I want someone that plays alike to diaw or leonard

god dam!

[bigmandinky]

Anderson isn't an elite playmaker, though. He's got good court vision because of his height, but a lot of his passes were simple kick-out passes or drop-off passes from bullying smaller opponents to the basket to create an advantage. I didn't see him use ball screens too much to create for his teammates, so his passing doesn't impress me.

Here's a well-written tournament article on Kyle Anderson with many video examples.
http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-many ... 1553171560

I think he's a better passer than you're suggesting. Is he the next Nash? No. But what other players above 6'6 this year in college ball can you think that passed better at any position?

Watching Diaw and Leonard's impact in game 3 has me even more excited about how either Anderson or McDaniels could play significant minutes in big basketball games someday. It's not that either are clones but that there are good aspects of Diaw I can imagine being there with Anderson in his prime and same with some elements of Kawhi that I see and like in McDaniels.

Yeah I don't see that comparison at all. Andersen I suppose is similar to Diaw since he's a combo forward with good ball handeling and passing, though I don't see him ever developing the strength to play inside like Diaw. Inglis, while very young and raw, seems to have the skillset and frame to develop into a Diaw type player.

McDaniels on the other hand is nothing like Leonard IMO. Leonard is much bigger than KJ in just about every way, and plays with a kind of relentless energy that I don't see in KJ, who I agree is similar to Gerald Green.
Speaking of Kawhi though, Thanasis reminds me very much of him, both based on his frame and style of play. He actually seems to be the most athletic out of all 3 as seen by his 39.5 inch max vert and his 3pt shot looks more promising than KJ's. A guy like that is tremendous value in the second round.

[Thespianoid]

I want someone that plays alike to diaw or leonard

god dam!

Dario Saric = slightly better Diaw? He's more like Phoenix Diaw than current fat Diaw.

Saric won't need to be ball-dominant (unlike Anderson), and I doubt he's going to have all the defensive troubles people are expecting just because he has a mediocre wingspan and only average lateral quickness. He makes up for those with sheer effort and basketball IQ, but he'll need to gain some strength to better defend on the block.

Not sure about a Leonard comparison in this draft. Haven't really looked into it enough

[bonjovi0308]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

McRoberts is a good to great passer at his position?

Definitely.

[bonjovi0308]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

They both can pass well and to shoot 3s. McBob may be a better rebounder.

[ballislife]

I want someone that plays alike to diaw or leonard

god dam!

Saric = slightly better Diaw?

Not sure about Leonard

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

[Roland Brice]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

They both can pass well and to shoot 3s. McBob may be a better rebounder.

McBob is more of a big man and Anderson is more of a guard. Although McBob passes and shoots well he wouldn't be put at a wing spot for it, he doesn't have the same handle or creativeness as Anderson.

[Thespianoid]

I want someone that plays alike to diaw or leonard

god dam!

Saric = slightly better Diaw?

Not sure about Leonard

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

I can see your point about Anderson, but the one factor I'm not sold on with Anderson is his ability to produce when he doesn't have the ball in his hands at all times like a PG, which will be a necessary transition in the NBA. Saric has at least shown the ability to be productive playing off the ball full-time.

I'll have to look into Jerami Grant more. Kinda disregarded him early as I thought he didn't move very fluidly, not enough to play SF full-time anyway.

[bonjovi0308]

I want someone that plays alike to diaw or leonard

god dam!

Saric = slightly better Diaw?

Not sure about Leonard

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

Are you so sure that Anderson can play D like Diaw did?

[SkywalkerAC]

Saric = slightly better Diaw?

Not sure about Leonard

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

Are you so sure that Anderson can play D like Diaw did?

It's hard to be sure but Diaw didn't come into the league as a good defender. Also Diaw is much more so a 4 than a 3; It's possible that the same goes for Anderson but by all accounts he's a 3, if not a 1.