2019 NBA Draft Winners

The 2019 NBA Draft came and went last Thursday night, with draft grades and instant pick analysis pieces coming out of the woodwork’s. I’ve never been a huge proponent on giving instant reactions or definitive grades on a selection or player right after the draft. There’s so much left to be decided or determined with all of these prospects and so much unknown about how they’ll even fit in with their new franchises. But after seeing all the pieces come out and all the analysis post draft, I caved and thought I’d throw my thoughts out for the internet to dissect on what team’s really won the 2019 NBA Draft.

Memphis Grizzlies

Atlanta and New Orleans seem to be the two teams labeled the consensus “winners” of the night, really solidifying the young cores of both of their respective teams. But Memphis did the same thing as well and after trading longtime star Mike Conley Jr. to the Utah Jazz just prior to the draft, they’ve done a great job of turning the page to a new era of Grizzlies basketball with a collection of young talent. They started off the night selecting Murray State guard Ja Morant second overall (who as a I wrote a month ago is the best player in the 2019 NBA Draft in my opinion) finding the replacement for Conley Jr. and the new face of their franchise. Morant doesn’t necessarily represent the continuing of the “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies of old, but the evolution of a more transition-high paced offensive approach for the team.

Then after swapping late first round picks with Oklahoma City, Memphis selected Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke with the twenty first pick. This was an absolute steal for the Grizzlies, Clarke projected by some as a top five talent in this class, fits like peanut butter and jelly next to last year’s fourth overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt. Clarke’s going to undoubtedly help Memphis offensively and should have no problem running the floor next to Morant, but where he can make a real difference from day one for the team is on the defensive end of the floor.

Pairing Clarke’s athleticism and length with Jackson Jr’s, gives the Grizzlies an immense amount of versatility, switchability and rim protection that should cause nightmares for opposing teams for the next decade. Memphis might currently be in a transitional phase, but they now have one of the most talented young trio’s in basketball with Morant, Jackson Jr. and Clarke to go with a plethora of versatile complementary players like Grayson Allen, Dillon Brooks, Bruno Caboclo, Kyle Anderson and Ivan Rabb, all of whom are 25 years old or younger. General Manager Jason Wexler has put Memphis on a bright path to future contention, especially after the treasure trove he came away with in the 2019 draft.

San Antonio Spurs

Some things in life are just sure things in sports like Floyd Mayweather Jr. winning a fight, Tom Brady pulling off a fourth quarter game winning drive or the San Antonio Spurs making smart decisions. The power duo of R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich continued that trend for the franchise last Thursday night, selecting Croatian forward Luka Samanic nineteenth and Kentucky guard Keldon Johnson twenty ninth. Both seem like effortless fits in Popovich’s system and add much needed defensive versatility, length and shooting to the Spurs rotation. Samanic might not see significant minutes early, but offensively he should be a great fit next to LaMarcus Aldridge and provide the Spurs with one of the best shooting frontcourts in the league. He also should massively improve San Antonio’s pick and roll defense when he finds his place in the lineup, but until then Samanic will need to continue to develop his offensive post game and mainly get stronger in the weight room.

But the real gem San Antonio got was Johnson in my opinion, a player who easily could’ve gone in the lottery and potentially even top ten at one point. But Johnson seemed to disappoint many after underwhelming at Lexington this season averaging 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 46.1% from the field and 38.1% from the three-point line for the Wildcats. This made Johnson’s draft stock lukewarm which led to his fall to twenty nine, because many analysts don’t view him as having any one elite skill to his arsenal. However, I think Johnson is one of the most versatile players in this draft and should be a swiss army knife of sorts for Popovich to unleash on the league in the years to come. DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay seem like natural, perfect mentors for the 19-year old Johnson and playing behind both veterans should ease his development for an organization who’s shown they can nurture prospects as well as any.

Like Samanic, Johnson’s defensive versatility will be welcomed in San Antonio and his three point shooting ability, could find him seeing minutes sooner than expected in his rookie season. The potential three-headed defensive rotation of Johnson, Dejounte Murray and Derrick White should have opposing guards quaking in their Air Jordan’s going into the 2019 season. The Spurs also took Mississippi State guard Quinndary Weatherspoon forty ninth overall, to finish up the night in the second round. Weatherspoon might not find much room for playing time in the crowded guard heavy roster San Antonio has at the moment, but his career 39.6% three-point shooting percentage should be welcomed in the Alamo.

After watching franchise cornerstones Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili say their goodbyes the past decade, Buford has done a great of replenishing the talent pool for the next generation of Spurs basketball. Having players now like Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, Bryn Forbes, Lonnie Walker IV, Jakob Poeltl, Luka Samanic and Keldon Johnson builds a respective core of what could try to replace the legendary Spurs teams of old. Only time will be able to tell in those regards, but as of now, San Antonio continues to make intelligent decisions and was one of the bells of the ball of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Cleveland Cavaliers

At first I was somewhat puzzled and confused by what the Cavaliers were doing on draft night, but as I’ve had a few days to digest what all these teams have done and analyzing the fits for these individual prospects, I actually really love what Cleveland did. They begun the night taking a risk on Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland selecting him fifth overall, then ending the first round with the selections of Belmont forward Dylan Windler at twenty six and USC guard Kevin Porter Jr. at thirty. All three should be ideal fits in new head coach John Beilein’s offensive system which prioritizes shooting and his vision of the Cavs becoming a positionless team.

I tend to believe in that vision Beilein has laid out for Cleveland and even though some are worried by Garland and Collin Sexton’s ability to play off of eachother in the backcourt, they could be the backcourt that helps the Cavs finally move into a post-LeBron era of actually competing. I think those concerns are valid, but Garland excels coming off screens and should have no problem playing off of Sexton whenever needed. Garland might’ve been a risky pick at five, but his brief stint at Vanderbilt where he averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 53.7% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc, showcased his potential of becoming an elite lead guard in this league. He probably has the best handle in the class, incredible range as a shooter and flashes elements of an Damian Lillard-esque game. Now neither Garland or Sexton are elite facilitators which could cause some trouble, but both have elite creation ability and both should benefit from playing under an offensive mind like Beilein.

Windler was my favorite selection of the three that the Cavaliers made though, the Belmont star should become one of the most valued two-way players on the team. Coming off a stellar senior season that saw Windler average 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for the Bears, he could become one of the sleepers of this draft. He’s got the ability to defend potentially four positions, is a great rebounder for his size and gives Beilein so much line-up versatility to utilize next season. Plus like Garland, simply put Windler gives the Cavaliers another player who can flat out score and shoot the three with great efficiency, Windler shot a career 40.6% from the three-point line at Belmont. He should be able to play a myriad of roles for the Cavs when asked and is one of the biggest assets the team has going forward.

Lastly, selecting Porter Jr. to round out the first round continued the theme of scoring and shooting for Cleveland’s 2019 draft. After only averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game during a tumultuous season for the Trojans that saw him deal with injury and off the court issues, Porter Jr.’s draft stock was somewhat volatile coming in. But I think much of Porter Jr.’s perceived issues are a misunderstanding of his character and story personally. He once again adds much needed scoring to a Cavaliers team that finished 29th (104.5) in points per game last season and should slide ride into a sixth man role for them. Like Windler, Porter Jr. also gives Beilein another lengthy defender who could defend multiple positions potentially. Some will knock his defense, but when he’s dialed in Porter Jr. is a more than adequate defender, go watch how much trouble he gave Jarret Culver in Texas Tech and USC’s game from early last season. The Cavs had a polarizing draft for sure, but they drafted three players that all shoot 40%+ from beyond the arc, can really score and all fit what coach John Beilein’s new system values most. They might not be significantly better next season, but after what should be another top ten selection in 2020 to add to their roster and the core they’ve built here in 2019, Cleveland might soon be back in contention in the East.

 

Goga Bitadze – The Unknown

Goga Bitadze is probably not a name you’ve heard much in the lead up to Thursday night’s NBA Draft. Most of the attention in terms of international prospects in this year’s class has been focused on Guinean forward Sekou Doumbouya and Croatian forward Luka Samanic. Bitadze though, deserves to be mentioned with both as the best international player in the draft and could be the best prospect of the three, when we look back on this class year’s from now. I don’t believe any of these three are the level of prior international prospects like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kristaps Porzingis from past drafts of this decade, but Bitadze specifically looks to at least have the potential of becoming a solid starting big at the next level.

The Sagarejo native who’s father was a former professional basketball player, has already become one of the most accomplished players in his young career from the country of Georgia. This season he was named the EuroLeague Rising Star for his play with the Buducnost club, an award Luka Doncic, Nikola Mirotic, Ricky Rubio and Danilo Gallinari have won in year’s previous. Bitadze was also named the Serbian Super League and Adriatic League MVP in 2019, finishing up an impressive campaign overseas for him this year.

Bitadze’s value mostly is in his defensive versatility, but his offensive skill-set is very intriguing as well. He’s not the most athletic or agile big man and his lack of elite quickness concerns me for his projectability as an elite defender in the NBA. There’s times where guards will eat him up off the dribble for a blow by drive or open jumper and really expose his lack of athleticism, which could be problematic against some of the elite guards he will face as a pro.

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I still don’t believe Bitadze is moving in mud so to say athletically though and think he’s mobile enough to provide switchability defensively, defending guards and forwards. He can pull off some pretty remarkable defensive rotations given his lack of elite foot speed, shutting down pick and rolls frequently. But the biggest asset he adds to your defense is his mind, his IQ on that end of the floor. Bitadze is a good help defender, regularly coming over from the weak side to alter or contest shots. He communicates well with his teammates, calling out rotations and even if he doesn’t get there in time or whoever he’s running out on makes the shot, Bitadze is good at closing out and contesting onto three’s if a teammate misses a rotation.

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His motor is there on defense too, Bitadze is a guy who cares about defending, getting visibly upset at times when he fouls or gives up a score. That may sound stupidly simple to whoever is reading this right now, but you’d be surprised how many players despise playing defense or don’t care to defend at all. Even though he lacks great explosiveness, Bitadze is a sound shot blocker who protects the rim well, given his 7’2″ wingspan. Last season for Buducnost he finished with 30 blocks in 13 games for the club, averaging 2.3 denials per game.

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On the offensive end of the hardwood, Bitadze’s versatility mirrors his defense. His shooting is the first thing that sticks out, but Bitadze is by no means an elite shooter currently. He does have a pretty jumper still mechanically speaking and is capable of stretching the floor, shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc in the EuroLeague last season. Bitadze doesn’t shy away from contact, almost welcoming physicality when he’s operating on the low block. He doesn’t have the most polished footwork or moves, his touch isn’t great, however he has no issues really finishing through contact at the rim.

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Bitadze is a good rim roller in pick and rolls, he sets good screens, can finish with both hands effectively, while also showing the ability as a passer in short roll situations or in the high post. He’s not a natural playmaker like an Nikola Jokic, Marc Gasol or Bill Walton. I’m not sure he possess the same instincts, feel or vision for the game that those guys have displayed, also evident by Bitadze averaging 1.7 assists per 36 minutes this season in the EuroLeague. But his feel for the game is there and he can make defenses pay for missing assignments.

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He might get overlooked by many basketball fans, but Goga Bitadze should be a first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has him currently ranked seventh overall on his big board going into tomorrow night’s draft, showing high praise as well for the Georgian big man. I’m not sure I would take him in the top ten, but he should definitely be highly considered by teams in the late lottery.

Bitadze needs to get stronger, his shooting needs to continue to improve and his post game could use some refinement. But there is enough versatility defensively and potential offensively to warrant Bitadze being selected in the first round. He reminds me of center Brook Lopez, although I don’t think Bitadze is the scorer Lopez is, he does provide much more defensively. He’d be a great fit for any team looking to add a big man with length, shooting and someone who can switch on defense. All these thing Bitadze can do and given some time to develop on the bench, he could turn into a serviceable starter. You may not know his name now and you might be upset if your team selects him, but don’t be surprised if four to five years from now, Goga Bitadze is the best international prospect to come from this draft.

Ja Morant is the Best Player in the 2019 Draft

The New Orleans Pelicans won the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night and ultimately secured the rights to Duke forward Zion Williamson. Every reputable draft analyst or pundit this season has labeled him a transcendent talent, the next LeBron or the best prospect they’ve seen in the last 20 years. I’ve been on the complete opposite end of the spectrum however when it comes to Zion’s potential, believing he’s an All-Star level prospect but by no means a transcendent-can’t miss talent.

Now I’m not trying to downgrade Williamson as a player and think he’ll be a great fit for the Pelicans, whether ushering the franchise into a post-Anthony Davis era or teaming up with the former 2012 number one pick to create a dazzling duo in the bayou. But if I were the general manager holding the first selection in this draft, I would select Ja Morant the sensational point guard out of Murray State over Zion. It obviously doesn’t make much sense for the Pelicans to take Morant for a plethora of reasons, but the bigger picture of what I’m trying to saying here is that I view Morant as the real transcendent talent of this class over the high flying freshman from Duke.

While most of the nation was caught up around the hype surrounding Zion Williamson and the star studded 2018-2019 Duke team, Ja Morant had one of the best seasons from a point guard in the history of the college game. In his sophomore season he averaged 24.5 points, 10.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 49.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 81.3% from the free throw line. Morant also led the nation in assists (331) and points produced (913), while finishing top ten in points (808), PER (31.6), win shares (8.2) and free throws (221).

Offensively, Morant is as gifted of a point guard as I’ve seen this past decade coming from the collegiate level. His play-making is his most elite trait, showcasing incredible vision and creation out of pick and rolls. Morant really is a maestro in the high screen and rolls, he rarely doesn’t produce positive plays in those situations and utilizes crafty handling skills to slice apart opposing defenses like a Gyuto knife filleting fish.

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Morant’s play-making extends beyond the pick and roll though, as he’s great at creating opportunities in transition as well. In the open floor Morant excels due to his great speed and is insistent on grabbing a rebound and running, starting fast breaks consistently. His vision might not be on the level of Magic Johnson’s or Nikola Jokic’s, but Morant can make pretty much every pass in the book and has an uncanny ability to throw well timed lobs.

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His scoring potential though is what excites me most about Morant’s future in the NBA, as I believe he’s just scratching the surface as an iso scorer and the tools he has at his disposal to attack defenses. Morant already sports a slick handle favoring a killer crossover as his go to move and is an ambidextrous finisher, who might actually be better at the rim with his off hand. Plus physically, Morant has the profile to be a nightmare for opposing point guards given his length (6’3″ – 6’7″ wingspan), first step quickness and ability to finish above the rim or through contact.

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The main knock on Morant offensively is his shooting ability, most analysts view it as something that is missing from his offensive repertoire at the moment, but I tend to disagree. Morant showed flashes this year shooting a respectable 36.3% on 157 attempts from the three-point line, showcasing NBA range and efficiency in catch and shoot situations. Now could his mid-range game use some polish and mechanically does Morant’s shot need some work?, sure I’d agree with that, especially from the standpoint that he shoots with two hands currently. But I would by no means call his shot broken and think with some minor tweaks, he can become a more than competent overall shooter at the next level.

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The most undervalued part of Morant’s offensive skill set though is his ability to score and create off the ball. He might be amazing with the ball in his hands as a dual threat, but Morant is a very sound cutter and utilizes his athleticism well to beat defenders off the ball.

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The other two main criticisms of Morant’s game is his decision making and defensive effort and to be honest rightfully so. Morant led the nation in turnovers (170) and averaged 5.2 per game last year for the Racers, at time’s there’s a reckless abandon to the way he runs the offense similarly to what we’ve seen from Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook over the course of his career. Like Westbrook, I think this an aspect of Morant’s game that whatever franchise selects him is going to have to live and die with at times. But seeing as he’s only 19 years old and is such a natural play maker, I would hope that maturation will lead to Morant improving as a decision maker.

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Defensively I’m not as concerned with Morant’s projectability as a defender at the next level, I think he’s much more productive on that end of the floor than he’s given credit for. He posted a more than respectable 95.8 defensive rating last season and Morant makes plays on defense, he’ll use his length to get into passing lanes to force steals that usually lead to transition points. It’s just the effort defensively, as it does for most young players who carry much of their team’s offensive load, is a roller coaster of sorts with Morant. Sometimes he just gives up on closeouts, gets stuck on a screen or just looks disinterested in guarding his man, but to call him a liability defensively would be a reach to me.

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Ja Morant is the best player in the 2019 NBA Draft and will be in the argument alongside Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Mike Conley, De’Aaron Fox and Trae Young as the best point guard prospect of this century thus far. He’s going to make everyone around him better from the day he sets foot in his new team’s gym and immediately enhance multiple aspects of their offense. Morant will be a walking triple-double for much of his career and has the potential to change not only a franchise’s trajectory, but also the point guard landscape of the NBA for the next decade. He might be from a small school, you’ve may only seen YouTube highlights of him and you might think I’m crazy for doubting Zion, but I’ll bet on the lanky, dynamic point guard also simply known by one name…Ja, as the true prize of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Admiral Schofield: The Glue Guy

Admiral Schofield was a spark plug for the Volunteers the last two seasons, forming one of the best duo’s in college basketball alongside Grant Williams in Tennessee. But the spark doesn’t seem to be resonating with draft analysts, with Schofield currently being projected as a second round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft next week. Sports Illustrated and The Ringer both have him ranked in the 40’s, valuing him as nothing more than a 3-and-D forward at the next level. I tend to be on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to Schofield’s outlook as a pro prospect, seeing him as much more than a wing who can defend and make the occasional three-point shot.

Schofield is ultimately a big bodied, undersized forward who doesn’t have the most glamorous game, but does provide versatility and intangibles that can’t be measured by stats. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green once said “There are 16-game players and then there are 82-game players”, pretty much saying he wanted the franchise to draft players that could help win a championship rather than just contribute in the regular season. Admiral Schofield in my mind is one of those 16-game players Green is referring to and he’s someone you’re going to want to have in your locker room, he’s a culture changer.

You wouldn’t guess it from some of the other reports out there and by his 11.9 points per game career average, but Schofield is a very well-rounded, versatile scorer. He’s effective creating his own shot off the dribble, showing acrobatic finishes at the rim and a very polished mid-range game. From twenty feet and in, Schofield is a nightmare to defend for opposing guards and even thinner framed forwards. He can utilize his 240 pound frame to score on the post or bull doze over defenders at the rim. Schofield’s mid-range jumper only adds to his arsenal, being able to get it off on defenders due to his high release point.

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Schofield’s also a massively undervalued shooter in my opinion, his mid-range game is refined as shown above, but his three-point shooting is pretty deadly as well, evident by his 38.7% career three-point shooting percentage during his four seasons at Tennessee. Most of his damage comes from catch and shoot situations, but Schofield has also shown that he can shoot the three effectively off one or two dribbles as well. He’s also shown the ability to shoot three’s as the screener in pick and roll’s, adding to his value offensively.

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Defensively Schofield’s versatility also stands out, given his strength, IQ, toughness and length. Given his thick build and nearly 6’10” wingspan, he sports the measurables to potentially defend four positions on the floor. He might not stuff the stat sheet with blocks or steals and his 99.6 defensive rating from last season might not wow you, but Schofield gets shit done on defense to be blunt. I’m not sure he’ll ever be an elite defender, but he’s proficient everywhere on that end of the hardwood. Schofield’s got the mindset to defend, he’s tough on the ball, can switch onto smaller guards or bigger forwards and has no problem sacrificing his body drawing charges.

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Schofield’s physicality, fieriness and toughness carries over from his defense to his rebounding. He’s one of the better rebounding guards in this draft, he averaged at least six rebounds per game the last two seasons for the Volunteers. Schofield has a great motor that stands out primarily on the offensive glass, he’ll miss a shot and regularly follow it up to secure another second possession or basket. He usually outworks opposing defenders and is fundamentally sound, rebounding with two hands when he rips the rebounds off the rim.

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The main appeal with Schofield though is the things again that can’t be measured in the stat sheet, his intangibles and attitude are the aspects of Schofield’s skill set I admire the most. He’s the kind of guy you want in the trenches with you, Schofield has that dog in him, he wants the ball in crunch time and his competitiveness bleeds out to his teammates. Even though he likes to trash talk and is not one to shy away from confrontation on the floor, Schofield keeps his composure normally and is a natural leader. You’ll see this below, after he hits a clutch three pointer to give Tennessee a three-point lead late over Gonzaga, Schofield initiates to his team to calm down and not get too excited. He keeps his team dialed in for the next possession, which ultimately led to a stop and Volunteers win over the then number one ranked Bulldogs.

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I don’t expect Admiral Schofield to ever become a superstar and he probably shouldn’t be a lottery pick, I understand the flaws he showcases currently won’t warrant that. He’s a streaky shooter with an average handle and the ball tends to stop when its get to him offensively. But I do think the aspects he brings to your locker room is invaluable and with his overall versatility on both ends of the floor, I’d have no problem taking Schofield in the mid to latter portion of the first round. He may not become some franchises Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson, but he could become their Draymond Green and the glue to build a foundation of a championship team behind.

Schofield will become a dynamic role player in the NBA I believe, who can provide scoring, rebounding, toughness, defensive versatility and most importantly leadership to a team’s second unit. He’s a more offensively talented-thicker version of Tony Allen to me, who was a valued member of the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies playoffs teams of the last decades. I’d personally love to see Schofield go to a young team who could use his leadership like the Dallas Mavericks. He’d be a great fit with them, I could only imagine his personality would mesh well with Luka Doncic, forming almost a Mark Jackson-Reggie Miller dynamic for the Mavericks. Rick Carlisle seems to be the kind of coach who’d love his style of play and having Schofield team with guard Jalen Brunson off the bench would be phenomenal for this young Dallas team’s bench. Schofield is one of the diamonds in the rough of the 2019 NBA Draft and I think he’ll prove to be one of the steals of this class.

Figuring Out Jarrett Culver

Jarrett Culver has been the prospect in the 2019 draft, that has been the most puzzling for me to figure out. He’s ranked in the top six by ESPN and The Ringer respectively on their big boards, with most other draft analysts seeing him as one of the more sure things in this class as well. After leading the Red Raiders to within a victory from a national championship and being named the Big 12 Player of the Year this season, Culver’s draft stock seems to be as high as anyone not named Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. But I’m rather unconvinced of the Texas Tech star’s status as a sure thing or being worthy of a top five selection.

I do believe Culver could become a really good second or third option at the next level still, his game just doesn’t really excite me in any way. He does a lot of things well, but doesn’t really have any one elite skill to his arsenal. Culver does three things specifically that give me hope that he can at least become a starter in the NBA and that’s his ability to create his own shot, his playmaking and his defensive versatility.

He’s got a good enough first step to get by most defenders and even though his handle is something that really concerns me, Culver can beat defenders with his craftiness utilizing shot fakes, jab steps and hesitation dribbles to score. His shot is definitely streaky, but Culver has flashed the ability to shoot it off the dribble too and really shines most when finishing at the rim. His touch is good and he’s unfazed by contact, brushing it aside like he were Jay-Z(only some of you will probably get that reference).

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Culver’s play making is the other major aspect of his offensive game that stands out, leading the Big 12 in points produced (711) this season and potentially showing the skills to become a combo guard at the next level. He’s comfortable as a ball handler operating the pick and roll, while also possessing adequate vision. This would be one of the main reasons I could validate selecting Culver in the top five, given the chance he develops into a secondary playmaker for a franchise. If his handle catches up with his creation ability, Culver could be one of the standouts of this class.

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Where most pundits seem to be buying in most on Culver, is his two-way potential given his phenomenal defensive play last season for the Red Raiders. There’s no denying it either really, Culver is about as good of a defender as there is in this draft and his versatility is something teams should love. His stellar 86.7 defensive rating was good enough for sixth in the nation, backing up the praise he’s getting as an elite defensive talent. Culver’s athleticism isn’t other worldly, but his length, sporting a 6’9.5″ wingspan usually makes up for it and allows him the possibility of being able to guard three positions.

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The primary concerns and doubts I have with Culver’s game though mainly reside with his shooting ability, ball handling and lack of elite quickness at the guard position. Culver has shown he can shoot it off the dribble as shown previously, but he’s as streaky as they come as a shooter, none the more evident then when he went 5-22 (22.7%) in Tech’s National Title Game loss to Virginia back in April. He only shot 34.1% from beyond the arc and a very underwhelming 68.7% from the free throw line in his two years in Lubbock, stoking the fire even more so to say with the worries about his shooting skills. Mechanically Culver’s shot open’s up another set of issues, he sports a relatively high release on his shot, but it is fairly slow and his elbow seems to flare out more often than you’d like on his guide hand. This is not to say Culver can’t develop his shot with the right coach, franchise and mindset (enter Kawhi Leonard), but I don’t ever see him developing into a super huge threat shooting the ball.

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The handles or lack thereof for Culver is the biggest red flag in projecting him as a top five pick. He just doesn’t have a really fluid dribble or any creativity to his handling skills, its where many of his 103 turnovers came this season, losing control of the orange off the bounce. This also cuts into his value as a playmaker and potential to be a combo guard at the next level. I’m not sure Culver could ever be trusted to be a primary ball handler or decision maker for an NBA offense, given the lack of ball security he consistently has shown.

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Lastly Culver’s quickness is something that isn’t all that impressive and it shows mainly on the defensive end of the floor. Ultimately I think Culver will be a pretty stout defender at the next level given his length and versatility, but there is times where he just gets blown by off the dribble usually by smaller guards. It’s just something to watch for in terms of his development going forward and could limit his ability to defend point guards in the NBA.

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I’m not sure I could validate selecting Culver in the top five, as I don’t see him as more than a solid starter. But given the climate of the 2019 draft, maybe that will be enough to warrant Culver’s value as a top five prospect. Culver showcases similarities to both Khris Middleton and Gary Harris, two players he’ll fall somewhere between in terms of his outlook in the NBA in my opinion. He probably won’t ever be the shooters that Middleton and Harris are, but Culver can come in right away and make an impact from day one. He’s one of the safer picks in the class I believe and will provide whatever franchise selects him on June 20th, a serviceable starter who can play make offensively and bring in versatility defensively. Jarrett Culver may never wow anyone as a pro, but he might be a pivotal piece of a winning team for the next decade or so.

NBA Draft 2019 Preseason Scouting Report: Cam Reddish

The incoming freshman trio at Duke will garner much of the attention in this year’s draft talk and even though he might get overshadowed by Zion Williamson’s electric dunks and R.J. Barrett’s dazzling offensive game, Cam Reddish might be the most talented, long-term prospect of the three. Reddish has always kind of been put on the back burner behind his two new teammates at Duke, being ranked number three overall by ESPN, behind Barrett and Williamson in the Class of 2018 rankings. But going into this college season, Cam Reddish will be number one on my big board and I view him as the best prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Name: Cam Reddish

Position: Forward

Height: 6’8″

Weight: 218 pounds

School: Duke

Class: Freshman

Strengths:

There might not be a more talented scorer than Cam Reddish in the 2019 draft class, showcasing a lethal ability to shoot and create his own shot off the dribble. He possessess a smooth, polished handle and thrives in ISO scoring situations, Reddish is the best shot maker in this class consistently making off balanced or contested shots look routine. His stepback three is dangerous to go along with good range as a shooter and the ability to shoot over just about any defender at 6’8 with a 7’1″ wingspan, making his shot extremely difficult to contest.

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Reddish doesn’t just relegate to shooting off the dribble though, he can get to the rim with grace as he has very fluid footwork and the ability to finish with both hands. His handle again is so polished, he’s got a crossover between the legs, behind the back dribble, shot and ball fakes and a spin move. The Westtown School star can truly score at every level and could immediately step in as one of the primary scoring options for a franchise. Reddish has the length, fluditiy and handle that reminds me of George Gervin or even Kevin Durant to some extent.

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The most exciting thing to me with Reddish offensively though is his playmaking potential, making him a true triple threat off the dribble. He’s unselfish even given his great scoring ability and sees the floor extremely well. Reddish can make plays out of the pick and roll or he can make defenders pay when they key in on him in transition, finding open shooters consistently in the open floor. That sort of offensive potential from the ability to score at every level, shoot with range, handle the ball and playmake is what gives me such high hopes for Reddish at the NBA level.

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Reddish has phenomenal length again possessing a 7’1″ wingspan and utlizes it well, especially on the defensive end. He’s by no means an elite defender, but he knows how to be active with his length on closeouts and can get into passing lanes forcing steals, while also blocking shots. Reddish has good enough awareness defensively, he’s a solid help and team defender as well. Although, Reddish has to find that next gear as a defender to be more consistent over the course of games, rather than making one or two splashy plays.

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Weaknesses:

As mentioned in the paragraph above, Reddish isn’t a bad defender at all, but his effort seems to come in waves. This could be a issue for a player being chosen as a potential number one pick and if Reddish is to become the two-way dynamo that he can be, something has to change in that regard for him. Whether it’s mindset, film study or even conditioning, Reddish needs to limit the plays like the ones below this season in Durham where he just checks out at times defensively.

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Reddish must improve his ball security and decision making as well this season at Duke. He gets a little too careless sometimes with the ball in the lane when attacking, which can lead to defenders swiping it away with ease. His handle is polished but he sometimes just loses the ball or gets high with his dribble and it gets stolen. Valuing the orange will be crucial for Reddish going forward.

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Conclusion:

Ultimately I view Reddish as a potential franchise player and as of today, he would be the player I would take to build my team around in the 2019 NBA Draft if I had the first overall pick. A lot may disagree with that and call me crazy, which I understand, R.J. Barrett’s completeness as a prospect at only 18 years old and the allure of Zion Williamson’s transcendent athleticism could outweigh the potential of Reddish. But I’m more so in on Reddish’s long-term future over both, Williamson will probably never be the scorer or playmaker Reddish is and Barrett may never match him as a shooter.

Reddish reminds me of a combination of former Duke star Grant Hill, Hall of Famer George Gervin and former MVP Kevin Durant. I’ve seen many people compare him to Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George which I see as well, but Reddish is a smoother scorer and athlete in my eyes. With his triple threat potential offensively, length and scoring ability, Reddish oozes the ability of a future star.

He might once again continue to be overshadowed by Barrett and Williamson this season, but Reddish’s outlook could be brighter than boths. Like Williamson, being molded by a coach like Mike Krzyzewski for a year can only help an immense talent like Reddish grow. I’m all in on Cam Reddish and think he will become one of the best talents of this league, over the next decade.

NBA Draft 2019 Preseason Scouting Report: Zion Williamson

We’re two weeks away from the college basketball season officially kicking off, which means it’s also time for previews, prognostacations and prospect breakdowns. Being the draft nerd that I am, this is one of my favorite times of the year with the NBA season getting going as well. I thought it would only be fitting to start my preseason scouting reports off, with argubly the most hyped prospect in years, who’s gone from a unknown kid from small town Salisbury, North Carolina to an internet sensation w/ nearly two million followers on Instagram. Zion Williamson is without a doubt the most polarizing player in the 2019 NBA Draft class and will only be under an even bigger microscope at Duke this season, alongside fellow top propsects R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish.

Name: Zion Williamson

Position: Forward

Height: 6’7″

Weight: 285 pounds

School: Duke

Class: Freshman

Strengths:

Obviously you can’t talk about Zion Williamson without mentioning his athleticism, he’s a transcendent athlete who shines in transition. His bounce at 285 pounds is something I’ve never seen, Williamson jumps like Vince Carter or Dominique Wilking but is 50+ pounds heavier. He’s a freight train in the open floor who can explode off two feet as quick as anyone, erasing shots with rundown blocks and obliterating rims with his well known dunks.

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Williamson isn’t just an athlete though as some people like to define him as, I think too often people can get caught up in the hype of his highlight dunks, but there’s much more to him as a basketball player than that. He’s a monster on the offensive glass, Williamson knows how to utilize his size well and will throw opposing players out of the way to get a rebound like they’re made out of paper. Putback dunks are a routine play for him, he’s got a good motor on the glass and rebounds outside of his zone frequently.

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He’s got great hands and catches everything around the rim from rebounds to alley-oops, Williamson can pluck the ball out of the air at it’s highest point like an NFL tight end. Williamson is a bully on the low block and I get that he’s playing against kids, but he consistently finishes through contact and double teams like it’s nothing. His low post scoring isn’t polished from a footwork standpoint and he doesn’t have any real go-to moves, but he makes up for it with his strength and touch.

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Zion isn’t an incredible scoring or playmaking talent, but he’s much more proficient in those areas than he’s given credit for. He’s got the first step quickness to get around most guards, the strength to bulldoze defenders at the rim and enough of a handle to create his own shot at times. Williamson is limited with his handling, he seems to always go to the behind the back dribble and spin moves, but it’s enough currently to create shot opportunities for himself. His passing ability out of the post is also good, he isn’t Nikola Jokic or Tim Duncan by any means, but he will make you pay for doubling him too often.

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Weaknesses:

Williamson’s explosiveness and get off, in terms of his ability to quickly leap off of two feet is as good as anybodies and helps him be productive defensively. He’s a competent shot blocker especially at only 6’7″ with a 6’10” wingspan. But the problem with Williamson is his disengagement at times on the defensive end of the floor and overall laziness, which really can show up when he’s closing out on shooters. As you’ll see in some of the clips below, often Zion looks like he’s merely going through the motions defensively and that concerns me for a player, who doesn’t really have a defined position at the next level it seems.

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There is also some real concern with Williamson’s shot at this point, it’s extremely flat and straight on lacking much arc whatsoever. His mechanics could use work from his feet up and if he can’t fix it, becoming at least a capable shooter to some degree, I’m not sure what his offensive upside looks like going into the NBA. He’s got an ok follow through on most shots, but he’s constantly off balance and again his release is so flat it often forces his shot to laser towards the rim, clanking perimeter shots frequently.

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Some scouts and analysts are also worried with Williamson’s conditoning and body at the next level, wondering if his size is almost a detriment in the long run. It could become a legitimate thing for teams to pay attention to, but isn’t something that holds any real merit in my eyes.

Conclusion:

As I said earlier, I think far too often people get lost in Zion Williamson’s social media videos and define him just as an athlete. I believe he’s far more skilled as a basketball player and does much more than just make spectacular dunks on the floor for his team. It seems people either love or hate Williamson’s upside, there is no in between as some view him as the next LeBron James and other’s think he’s an overweight one dimensional bust waiting to happen.

I tend to view Zion as neither, I don’t think he’s someone who should be viewed as a franchise changing player or as a potential number one pick, but he’s also very far from a bust. He’s somewhere between a young Charles Barkley and Blake Griffin to me, even though Williamson isn’t the rebounder or scorer Barkley was or the passer Griffin has evolved into. His potential is in the middle of those two ultimately, Williamson will electrify a team immediately with his plays in transition and help rebounding from the get go, but he is by no means going to become a savior of the franchise for anyone.

Williamson seems to fit in nicely with the ever evolving positonless NBA and could be best suited to be a dynamic, athletic small ball center in today’s game. I can’t wait to see what Coach K can mold him into, especially defensively this season at Durham and seeing Zion play in front of the Cameron Crazies is going to be a sight to see all year. I’m rooting whole heartedly for Williamson as a player and think he ultimately goes in the top five selections of next June’s draft.

Mobley continues to shine for USA in FIBA U17 World Cup

The Americans continued their breeze through the competition at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Santa Fe, Argentina on Wednesday night, defeating the Dominican Republic 103-60 to advance to the Quarterfinals. Evan Mobley continues to be the standout for me, I just find my eyes always gravitating towards him when watching these games. He’s already enjoyed an incredible rise this summer up recruiting boards and has solidified his #1 overall ranking in the class of 2020 at least by ESPN as far as I’m concerned.

Mobley finished with ten points, six rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals in the victory on Wednesday. He showcased every possible skill you’d want to see from an elite prospect, effecting the game on both ends of the floor, displaying the potential to be a seven-foot Swiss army knife. I was beyond impressed with the California native’s playmaking ability at every level, Mobley showed he’s an efficient passer not only out of the high post but also can create off the dribble some.

Below you’ll see Mobley on a baseline drive draw in the second defender to come over to help and then deliver a beautiful bounce pass to the cutting Wendell Moore Jr. His handle is obviously a bit raw and needs some polish but the ability to create for others is crucial nowadays at any position really in the modern age of basketball. His efficiency as mentioned earlier as a passer out of the high post mainly, makes Mobley a dual threat as a playmaker. Mobley throw’s dart’s for entry passes and can even make some things happen in the open floor at times as well, finding teammates on the break frequently.

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Mobley showed off some off his low post scoring ability in this one as well, even given his rather thin frame currently. Even though he’s barely 200 pounds, Mobley doesn’t seem to fear contact and has the elite length to finish over or through most defenders. He does a good job of utilizing his body to shield off his man and just staying low enough to gain position and even when he can’t gain ground, Mobley still has the touch in the paint to be effective from 15+ feet as you can see on the touch he displays his right hook shot. I’m not sure about his shooting range currently, but Mobley clearly shows the touch to be a dominate scorer in the paint and as he gains strength, it should only extenuate his dominance there.

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It’s Mobley’s ability and potential on the other end of the floor though that has me the most intrigued, defensively he already impacts the game so much and has been dominate in that regard during the FIBA U17 World Cup so far. Mobley’s already an elite shot blocker and one of the best I’ve seen coming out of high school in recent memory, probably since the likes of Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel. He’s obviously got elite length sporting a seven-foot-four wingspan, but it’s his foot quickness and movement skills that make him such a tremendous weapon on the defensive end.

In the win against the Dominican Republic, Mobley showcased it all defensively from defending smaller guards or wings in ISO situations to blocking down shots in transition. He’s flashed the potential to be a stalwart on the defensive end, Mobley’s anticipation and timing is second to none as a shot blocker, he rarely mis-times his jump on a shot attempt. Mobley’s also an ambidextrous shot blocker, showing effectiveness with either hand to knock down shots only adding to his rarity as a defensive weapon.

But as I mentioned earlier, even more impressive than Mobley’s length and shot blocking ability is his movement skills as a seven-footer. He can switch onto guards or wings seamlessly and usually has quick enough feet to stay in front. But even if he gets beat off the dribble by elite speed, Mobley has his elite length in his back pocket to help him recover and still alter the shot attempt. The quick feet that Mobley shows on the closeout below and then the recovery to beat his man to the spot on the drive, is just something you don’t see from most big men even in the current day of “Unicorns” in the NBA.

On a roster filled with an abundance of talent and future NBA pros, again Evan Mobley has been the star who’s shined brightest for me. The offensive potential combined with the physical profile and defensive versatility make me giddy about Mobley’s future as to me, he looks every bit of a future number one overall pick. The Americans move on to the Quarterfinals tomorrow to take on Croatia, looking to move one step closer to their fifth straight gold medal at the event.

Mobley and Suggs lead USA past Mali for 2-0 FIBA U17 World Cup Start

While the basketball world is buzzing over LeBron James’ decision to become a Los Angeles Laker, much of the recruiting and scouting community has taken over Argentina to watch the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. In no surprise the American team is off to a dominant start in dismantling both China and Mali by a combined score of 212-77. The game against Mali wasn’t much of one, with the US winning 97-40 but not playing the most aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball in the victory.

The execution from both teams was pretty poor, they combined for 54 turnovers and the game even got a bit chippy at times, to the point where both Jalen Suggs and Isaac Okoro had to exit to the locker room towards the end of third quarter with some sort of injuries. I liked the physicality both teams played with, it just got a bit out of hand at times with the recklessness.

Jalen Suggs and Evan Mobley were the standouts for the Americans in this one for me. As mentioned before, Suggs had to leave the game late in the third quarter after a skirmish but before was really playing well especially on the defensive end of the floor. Suggs is currently the #1 ranked player out of Minnesota by ESPN for the class of 2020 and is locked in #8 overall. He didn’t shoot or score it all that well against Mali finishing with only seven points and was careless with the rock, committing four turnovers.

But Suggs motor really shined through though, he was a pest on the defensive end and consistently was diving all over the floor for 50-50 balls. He’s got great hands and was active with them in this one, compiling four steals. Suggs deflected in bounds passes turning them into easy offense in transition and swiped the ball away while smothering his man on ball. His effort and willingness to force his man to work for position off the dribble, combined with his lateral quickness should have Suggs primed to become an elite defender.

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As minimal as his offensive contributions were from a statistical standpoint, I still felt Suggs made an impact on that end of the floor. Possibly the best play of the game was when Suggs came up with a 50-50 ball on a mad scramble and while still sitting down, threw a great behind his head pass to Jalen Green to finish of an easy dunk.

He also had a beautiful euro step in transition to finish of an and one opportunity, Suggs just did a phenomenal job of utilizing his defense and turning into offense. It was unfortunate to see him go down in third quarter, but I was impressed by Suggs and he’s got a motor you can’t teach.

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Evan Mobley on the other hand continued to try to solidify why he’s viewed as the best player in the class of 2020. The big man from Temecula is currently the #1 ranked player by ESPN for that class, enjoying an insane rise this summer after breaking his left foot as a freshman. Mobley’s thought to be the next of the “unicorn generation” mirroring similar traits of NBA All-Star’s such as Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis and newly minted number one pick Deandre Ayton.

Already a near seven-footer at only 17-years old, Mobley demonstrates a tremendous combination of elite length, movement skills and offensive potential. I think he’s definitely still raw and am still unsure about his #1 overall ranking currently, he got beat up on the glass at times against Mali and clearly needs to add strength to his frame. But in only a few plays, Mobley clearly flashed the two-way potential and skill set that has scouts and recruiters gushing over him currently.

Mobley has the movement skills of a guard and can cover a lot of space defensively. You’ll see this in one of the plays below where he comes from the three-point line to help on the baseline and then blocks the shot, pinning it against the glass. He finished with three blocks in this one and flashes the potential to be an elite rim protector, combined with his seven-foot-four wingspan and lateral quickness.

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Offensively though Mobley is only scratching the surface, his versatility on that end of the floor is already very apparent, but he’s got a ton left to fill out in his offensive weaponry which should be terrifying for everybody else. He’s shown some ability to score on the move and has the length to finish over just about anyone.

The pick and roll with Green though is a prime example of what Mobley could be offensively, he shows the movement skills to roll to the rim, then beats his man with a quick spin move and then smoothly drops the fadeaway jumper in over two defenders. I’m still not sure I’m quite ready to anoint Mobley the #1 player in the 2020 class over the likes of fellow Team USA teammates Jalen Green, Scottie Barnes and R.J. Hampton, but I’m starting to understand the hype and it’s hard to not see why he’s been such a huge riser this summer. The US team moves on to play Serbia today in the battle of undefeated Group B teams, a team who should provide the Americans with a tougher test than Mali or China.

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USA wins Gold, blasts Canada in FIBA U18 Americas Final

The Americans took home their fifth consecutive gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship, defeating Canada 113-74 in the finals of the tournament last Saturday. Canada got out to an early 12-7 lead, but the US rallied off a 22-8 run to finish the first quarter and really never looked back. It was a balanced effort from the Americans having seven players finish with double digit scoring outings, led by the stand out performances from Cole Anthony, Quentin Grimes and Matthew Hurt.

I highlighted Cole Anthony in the team’s opening win over the Dominican Republic, but I thought this was arguably his best game of the tournament. He led the team in scoring with 18 points and even though he didn’t shoot it particularly, I thought he was relentless with attacking the lane and finishing consistently at the rim.

Anthony displayed it all from smooth footwork in the lane, strength to finish through contact, his ambidexterity, body control and quick crossover in this one. He’s got good size at 6’3″, 180 pounds and knows how to utilize it at the rim to finish, even if he has subpar length. Anthony’s first step quickness is good and he has utilized it greatly to create off the bounce during this tournament for the US, with his crossover being his primary weapon of choice. He also does a phenomenal job creating great spin on the ball, if he gets it to the glass rarely does he not finish, regardless of the difficulty of the lay-up.

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I’m not sure he’ll ever be the shooter or as stout as Deron Williams was, but Anthony reminds me of the 3 time all-star. Both bigger guards who are powerful athletes with sudden quickness and strength to bull through defenders at the rim. I was so impressed throughout the tournament with Anthony and his leadership of this group, he was hands down the best shot creator on the team. I’m excited to see how his recruiting plays out over the next year, he already has offers from Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Georgetown, Oregon, St. Johns and Wake Forest.

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Quentin Grimes had a slow start to the Americas Championship, but really turned it on in medal play and showed out here in the win over Canada. The Kansas commit finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists to not only help the US clinch the gold medal, but also earn MVP honors for the tournament. Honestly, I wasn’t overly impressed with Grimes throughout the tournament and felt Matthew Hurt was probably the best player of the tournament for me. Still I really admired Grimes consistently making plays on both ends of the floor, even when his shot wasn’t falling early on and showing other facets of his game.

I really like Grimes’ versatility offensively, he’s already got a NBA body and can score or play-make off the dribble. He makes his fair share of defensive mistakes, but usually gives consistent effort on that end and should continue to improve under Bill Self at Kansas in that regard. Grimes’ ability as a ball-handler in high pick and rolls, who can shoot or get to the rim is already sound and he really can shoot it off the dribble.

I’m not sure I’d want Grimes to be my primary ball handler or playmaker, but it’s something he can do at times and something I expect Self to take advantage of at Kansas next season. Especially with the losses of guards Malik Newman, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Devonte’ Graham, Self’s gonna need someone to take some of that work load off of fellow freshman guard Devon Dotson.

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I really buy-in on Grimes’ potential already and would expect him to be a riser on boards for the 2019 draft. Kansas is many prognosticators favorite to win the national championship next season, not only because they’re returning players like Udoka Azubuike, Lagerald Vick and Silvio De Sousa to go along with transfers Dedric and K.J. Lawson but also because of this stellar recruiting class coming in headlined by Grimes. I’d expect him to really flourish in Lawrence next season, given the small glimpse of improvement we got to see from him under Self during this tournament. Plus he had one of the best dunks of the entire 2018 U18 Americas Championship below, how can you not appreciate that tomahawk?

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