2019 NBA Draft Prep

[EazyRoc]

This seems a classic example of achievement vs potential: which of these is the greater portent of success in teenagers?

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The Most Disappointing 2019 NBA Draft Prospects This Season

Cam Reddish (Duke, SG/SF, Freshman)



Scary stats

True shooting percentage: 50.9 percent

Spot-ups: .766 PPP, 29th percentile

Guarded catch-and-shoot jump shots: 6-of-35

Cam Reddish will get a pass from NBA teams for the inconsistency, given his dramatically changed role from No. 1 option in high school to role player (spot-ups account for 31.3 percent of offense) behind Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. His inability to adapt has still been disappointing.

He's shooting just 37.4 percent, generating .784 points per possession in the half court (34th percentile), where he's converting 29.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot chances and 36.0 percent of his pull-ups.

Reddish hasn't been able to build or sustain any rhythm from outside, but he's also struggled to create and finish in tighter two-point windows. He's missed nine of 11 mid-range shots and all four of his runners, while a lack of strength, explosion and feel has led to an uninspiring 50.0 percent finishing mark around the basket.

He's also totaled 49 turnovers to 26 assists, with poor shooting performances appearing capable of affecting his decision-making.

The NBA long-term scouting scope still admires his positional tools, shot-making (2.4 3PTM) and defensive potential. But since he arrived at Duke, more questions have been raised about whether Reddish can convert talent into impact.

Bleacher Report

He can shoot 10% from the field. I’ve already seen what he can do and it translates better than 90% of the prospects over the last 5 or more drafts. He’s got the smooth NBA game. He just needs to have better body language on the court but the swag is getting in the way a bit.

Dude is Andrew Wiggins 0.5

[King Ken]

He ain't Wiggins. Not even close. I don't think he is as talented as Wiggins but he does a lot more for winning than Andrew. Reddish plays defense hard. Offensively, he just needs to be feed the rock.

[atlantabbq99]

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Wow! Grant just put up 40pts. I'm not a fan, but you have to respect the stats. Watching the film on Grant, he looks like Rockets' Charles Barkley. He looks like he is 6'4, short arms with a 12 inch vertical, nothing really special about the guy. I wish their was something more I could hold onto to be a fan.

The only thing I can say about him is that he looks like one of the most mentally tough guys in college basketball today and just flat out fearless. Their is something to say about being ranked #1 and hitting 20 free throws. I hope he can make an NBA career but he would just be a horrible teammate for Collins.

[Jamaaliver]

Wow! Grant just put up 40pts. I'm not a fan, but you have to respect the stats. Watching the film on Grant, he looks like Rockets' Charles Barkley. He looks like he is 6'4, short arms with a 12 inch vertical, nothing really special about the guy. I wish their was something more I could hold onto to be a fan.

I know you're a big 'measurements' guy, and I suspect his short stature and limited wingspan is the only reason he isn't a surefire 1st rounder.

I doubt he's a star at the next level, but I see the makings of a very capable backup due to motor and skill set. If we can snag him in the early 2nd, he could be the steal of the draft.

He's built like Draymond and plays like Millsap.

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[Jamaaliver]

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5. Atlanta Hawks - Cameron Reddish | SG | Duke

Reddish passes the eye-test at first glance as a sweet-shooting wing with 7’1 wingspan who feels like a perfect fit in today’s NBA. While that still may be true, his struggles at Duke this season have been undeniable. Playing third fiddle to Williamson and Barrett, Reddish has had a difficult time finding his place in the offense, going cold for long stretches with his shot and simply having too many games where he fails to make an impact. He lacks explosiveness around the basket and is only shooting 41 percent on two-pointers. NBA teams will wonder if he has the mentality and feel for the game to be a consistent difference-maker.

At the same time, his combination of size, shooting, and length gives him plenty of margin for error. He’s one of the best three-point shooters in this class and has been using those long arms to get into passing lanes and rack up steals all season. If he puts it all together during the stretch run, his ceiling is as high as No. 2 in this draft.



8. Washington Wizards - Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas

Hayes is the epitome of a late bloomer. He started high school at 6’1 before a massive growth spurt made him nearly 7-feet while allowing him to maintain the agility and coordination he had growing up. Now he’s a long, active center who protects the rim on defense and moves like a wing on offense, opening the eyes of NBA evaluators everywhere.

Hayes’ nimbleness in tight space is truly rare for someone with his size. It’s the backbone of his offensive game, where he gets so many easy baskets (76 percent field goal percentage) by knowing where to be and having a size and athleticism advantage on anyone he’s playing. Defensively, he’s already top-10 in the country in block rate. He’s raw in terms of his skill level and badly needs to add strength, but the tools are here for a Clint Capela-like center who can run and jump for days. That might be worth a top-10 pick in this draft.



9. Atlanta Hawks - Romeo Langford | SG | Indiana

Langford was a prodigious high school scorer in Indiana who chose to stay home and play for the Hoosiers. He’s lived up the hype for the most part, averaging 18 points per game and showcasing some truly crafty scoring moves inside the arc. He’s also had an impact defensively, where has the length (6’11 wingspan) and the frame to eventually grow into the type of switchable perimeter defender the NBA covets.

There’s only one major problem: Langford is shooting just 22 percent from three-point range. If an NBA team thinks it can fix his shot with an easy mechanical change, he should end up going much higher than this. If the shot doesn’t come around, he may ultimately need to hone his playmaking chops and start being used more on-the-ball.



15. Charlotte Hornets - Sekou Doumbouya, F, France

Doumbouya is strong 6’9 forward who will intrigue NBA teams with his frame and quickness. His skill level remains a work in progress, but it’s worth noting he’s one of the youngest players in this draft — born Dec. 23, 2000 if you want to feel old. He was starting to come into his own for his pro team before suffering a thumb injury.



22. Portland Trail Blazers - Grant Williams | F | Tennessee

Williams would have a case to be college basketball’s national player of the year were it not for Zion Williamson. He’s lifted Tennessee to its first No. 1 ranking in more than a decade by taking his game to new heights as a junior, eclipsing his numbers across the board from an SEC Player of the Year-winning season last year. At 6’7, 240 pounds, Williams looks more like a traditional power forward than a new-age NBA one. But his combination of quickness, strength, and feel for the game can’t be discounted.

[jayu70]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

[EazyRoc]

He ain't Wiggins. Not even close. I don't think he is as talented as Wiggins but he does a lot more for winning than Andrew. Reddish plays defense hard. Offensively, he just needs to be feed the rock.

Hence the 0.5 or 1/2 lol. Reddish could be great, but he his head never seems to be in the game. Just like Wiggins. Close to the end of the season reality will set in and he will realize millions are on the line for sliding back significantly and he will mentally check in and play up to his talent level. This is all a hunch of course, but watch!

[Hazer]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

Bruno Fernando was just named a DPOY candidate, I’d take him with the Dallas pick:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwji6qPI4YbgAhVDnOAKHSJKAqsQzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2F247sports.com%2Fcollege%2Fmaryland%2FArticle%2FTerps-Center-Bruno-Fernando-Defense-Watch-List-Naismith-Player-of-the-Year-Maryland-Basketball-128168331%2F&psig=AOvVaw2pye6JodGcvIteOoFTW5RN&ust=1548431120169729

[EazyRoc]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

Only player who fit the bill as a two-way big is Johntay Porter. He blew his knee out before the season started after already having question marks about athleticism/fitness. Huge gamble at this point to draft him.

[King Ken]

He ain't Wiggins. Not even close. I don't think he is as talented as Wiggins but he does a lot more for winning than Andrew. Reddish plays defense hard. Offensively, he just needs to be feed the rock.

Hence the 0.5 or 1/2 lol. Reddish could be great, but he his head never seems to be in the game. Just like Wiggins. Close to the end of the season reality will set in and he will realize millions are on the line for sliding back significantly and he will mentally check in and play up to his talent level. This is all a hunch of course, but watch!

His head is in the game. He moves off the ball and makes cuts. He is more like Marvin Williams to me. But a much better shooter and a much worse post player. Not as versatile but a better perimeter defender. That's really who he reminds me of. More coordinated but not as long. I would take that on this team. We don't really need a #1 option. We just need guys who can hold their own and defend 1-3

[King Ken]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

Only player who fit the bill as a two-way big is Johntay Porter. He blew his knee out before the season started after already having question marks about athleticism/fitness. Huge gamble at this point to draft him.

Porter defense is pretty bad

[EazyRoc]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

Only player who fit the bill as a two-way big is Johntay Porter. He blew his knee out before the season started after already having question marks about athleticism/fitness. Huge gamble at this point to draft him.

Forgot about Bruno Fernando, but he is probably going to be the best big man prospect in this draft not counting Zion.

[Jamaaliver]

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7. Nassir Little | F | North Carolina
Atlanta via Dallas

over the past three games, Little has exploded, averaging 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds on 63 percent shooting from the field. The Tar Heels have won every game, including on Monday a huge bounce-back victory over Virginia Tech.

Little looked like a brand new player on Monday night at home, playing confidently and turning defense into offense. Some believe he has slimmed down from his early-season weight but regardless, he looks far sprier than before. As North Carolina went on a 20-0 run late in the first half Monday, it was Little’s aggressive defense creating easy opportunities. That boost gave him — and coach Roy Williams — the confidence to spot up from 3. Little nailed two of three from deep after not taking a single 3 the past two contests.

North Carolina’s talent on offense is an embarrassment of riches. Fellow freshman Coby White scored 27 points of his own Monday and senior Luke Maye put the game away with two daggers 3s midway through the second half. But to make strides as a team and avoid bad losses like Jan. 12 at home against Louisville, the Tar Heels will need to play better defense. Little is the secret key to the team’s upside on that end.

If he swarms the ball and creates turnovers like he did Monday, Little could see his stock rise in a hurry.

5. Cam Reddish | G/F | Duke
Atlanta Hawks

It’s really tough to enter the NBA as a 3-and-D prospect when you…um… can’t consistently make 3s. Reddish is hot and cold from behind the arc, as Duke fans saw at the end of December to close out non-conference play when the freshman went 1-of-9 over the course of three games. In his past three contests, however, Reddish is hot again, shooting 53 percent from deep, including a fantastic 4-7 performance in a close win over Florida State on Jan. 12. Will it be enough to keep the defense honest when it matters most and show NBA scouts he’s a real-deal shooter?

In that same contest in which Reddish nailed four 3s, he was 0-of-4 from the line. The Stepien’s NCAA shot chart shows Reddish has been particularly inefficient from the corner, making just 1-of-4 3s from either sideline. However, his NBA range appears to be legit so far. Reddish has a higher percentage on 3s from NBA distance — 39.3 percent — than his overall mark on the year.

If the draft were tomorrow, NBA teams likely wouldn’t feel great about Reddish as a shooter. He takes a ton of 3s to help Duke’s spacing but the numbers show his shooting may not be as good as it looks at the surface. The Hawks would probably still take this chance as part of their mission to stock the roster full of shooters at every position. Reddish would theoretically fit right in alongside Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and John Collins, taking spot-up 3s and competing on defense.

[Hazer]

I’d be pretty stoked to come away with Nass Little and Bruno Fernando in this draft. 2 very good defenders, SF and C, Nass can hit the 3, Fernando on DPOY list and is a frikin grown a$$ MAN.

[atlantabbq99]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

Bol Bol is by far the best defensive big in the draft. He also shoots 78% from the free throw line. He is the player that Bamba is suppose to be, or a poor man's Porzingis.

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[kg01]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

I think the Gafford kid has that type of billing. After seeing him vs GT, he does seem to be talented. Not DAL pick talented though IMHO. He'd be a guy I'd target if we had like the 19 pick again or something. Deandre Jordan-like but will probably take a couple years to get there.

ETA. Bol has the 'name' but I don't think we've seen near enough to make any determination on what kind of defender he can be. Again, I don't like Bol at all. He's a new-age "big" aka a 7' guard tryna play perimeter. Yuck.

[Spud2nique]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

I think the Gafford kid has that type of billing. After seeing him vs GT, he does seem to be talented. Not DAL pick talented though IMHO. He'd be a guy I'd target if we had like the 19 pick again or something. Deandre Jordan-like but will probably take a couple years to get there.

ETA. Bol has the 'name' but I don't think we've seen near enough to make any determination on what kind of defender he can be. Again, I don't like Bol at all. He's a new-age "big" aka a 7' guard tryna play perimeter. Yuck.

Agree with the Gafford assessment and I’d also consider him but only around 15-25.

Agree with Bol as well. Love the size and length and all but you have to have some good fundamental skills to go with this new age 7 footers shoot fade-away thing. Get more solid Bol! He gets with a guy like Pop though and you never know.

Kg, you’ve had your head on too straight to start 2019, you been enjoying those wheaties Jamaal ordered to your house. Aka the bribe.

[Spud2nique]

Wow! Grant just put up 40pts. I'm not a fan, but you have to respect the stats. Watching the film on Grant, he looks like Rockets' Charles Barkley. He looks like he is 6'4, short arms with a 12 inch vertical, nothing really special about the guy. I wish their was something more I could hold onto to be a fan.

I know you're a big 'measurements' guy, and I suspect his short stature and limited wingspan is the only reason he isn't a surefire 1st rounder.

I doubt he's a star at the next level, but I see the makings of a very capable backup due to motor and skill set. If we can snag him in the early 2nd, he could be the steal of the draft.

He's built like Draymond and plays like Millsap.

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Noted.

[kg01]

Is there a defensive Center in this draft with some offense worth a look?

I think the Gafford kid has that type of billing. After seeing him vs GT, he does seem to be talented. Not DAL pick talented though IMHO. He'd be a guy I'd target if we had like the 19 pick again or something. Deandre Jordan-like but will probably take a couple years to get there.

ETA. Bol has the 'name' but I don't think we've seen near enough to make any determination on what kind of defender he can be. Again, I don't like Bol at all. He's a new-age "big" aka a 7' guard tryna play perimeter. Yuck.

Agree with the Gafford assessment and I’d also consider him but only around 15-25.

Agree with Bol as well. Love the size and length and all but you have to have some good fundamental skills to go with this new age 7 footers shoot fade-away thing. Get more solid Bol! He gets with a guy like Pop though and you never know.

Kg, you’ve had your head on too straight to start 2019, you been enjoying those wheaties Jamaal ordered to your house. Aka the bribe.

Wait, @jamall is sending folks bribes? That's it. I'm withholding his 'likes' until I get my bribe(s).

I'm totally sour on "new-age" bigs. It's too much now. I don't need you traipsing around the 3pt line all game, dude. I'm not saying you gotta be friggin Kevin Duckworth but jakin' up fadeaways long 2's and 3's can't be the staple of your game.

Bol seems to have the skillset to be really good but how long do you have to deprogram all the AAU junk before he actually contributes to winning? And, before all that, how many years do you gotta wait for his injury to heal before that process starts?

And on the Grant Williams kid. Pass. Low athleticism, bully-ball PF's at the college level feasting off poor-a** college officiating do not translate well to the NBA. See Tyler Handsblow, the May kid from UNC, Sullinger, Caleb Swanigan, Trevor Booker, James M McAdoo .. need I go on?

[atlantabbq99]

I think the Gafford kid has that type of billing. After seeing him vs GT, he does seem to be talented. Not DAL pick talented though IMHO. He'd be a guy I'd target if we had like the 19 pick again or something. Deandre Jordan-like but will probably take a couple years to get there.

ETA. Bol has the 'name' but I don't think we've seen near enough to make any determination on what kind of defender he can be. Again, I don't like Bol at all. He's a new-age "big" aka a 7' guard tryna play perimeter. Yuck.

Agree with the Gafford assessment and I’d also consider him but only around 15-25.

Agree with Bol as well. Love the size and length and all but you have to have some good fundamental skills to go with this new age 7 footers shoot fade-away thing. Get more solid Bol! He gets with a guy like Pop though and you never know.

Kg, you’ve had your head on too straight to start 2019, you been enjoying those wheaties Jamaal ordered to your house. Aka the bribe.

And on the Grant Williams kid. Pass. Low athleticism, bully-ball PF's at the college level feasting off poor-a** college officiating do not translate well to the NBA. See Tyler Handsblow, the May kid from UNC, Sullinger, Caleb Swanigan, Trevor Booker, James M McAdoo .. need I go on?

I was thinking that Grant is another DeJuan Blair, but Sullinger is a pretty good comparison too.