We continue the KF.com Draft Big Board project with our second installment full of players that should be available in the Kings' range. We expect that at least one of these players won't be available at #6, but we don't know which one. You will note that one player in our range here (Trey Lyles) is currently slotted well outside of the top ten on at least one of the more respected draft boards, but the consensus amongst us is that this is the range where Lyles belongs. Without further ado, here is the remainder of the top ten - players we should be strongly thinking about at our expected pick range.
Kings' Range (approximate draft position 5-10):
Willie Cauley-Stein (C/PF, Junior, 21 y.o., Kentucky)
25.9 mpg - 8.9 ppg - 57.3% fgp - 6.4 rpg - 1.2 spg - 1.7 bpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 7'0.5"
Weight: 242 pounds
Wingspan: 7'3"
Standing Reach: 9'3"
Maximum Vertical Jump: 37" (From Kentucky Pro Day)
Analysis: I'll preface this by saying that WCS is my favorite player in the draft. Not the most talented, but my favorite. The moment Willie Cauley-Stein sets foot on an NBA court, he'll be one of, if not the, most athletic big man (over 6'11") in the NBA. He should be an immediate impact player defensively for whomever drafts him. Think of a more athletic Tyson Chandler, who should over time be a much better offensive player. More on his offense later. WCS is a shotblocker supreme with terrific timing. He's an explosive leaper who also owns a terrific second leap. He averaged 3.6 blocks and 1.8 steals per 40 minutes per his career. I know some are worried about at his downtick to 1.7 blocks this past season, but this was an abberation. As a sophomore, when he was the primary basket defender, he blocked a more impressive 2.9 shots a game. With the addition of Towns to the team WCS was asked to step away from the basket and guard the pick and roll and as a result, he spent a lot of time guarding on the perimeter. His elite lateral quickness allows him to guard even the smaller perimeter players on a switch. At times, he was even asked to be the primary defender on a guard for important stretches of game time. I watched PGs and SGs alike struggle to get past Cauley-Stein. His pick and roll defense is nothing short of outstanding. Time after time, when the other team's PG would come off the pick, he would be staring at Cauley-Stein, who had slid from his man to stop the ball, and would then get back to his man in time to contest the shot or cut off the lane to the basket. Offensively, it's a different story. He's not inept, but it's not his strength. While his freethrow shooting still leaves something to be desired, he has improved from 37.2% his freshman year to 61.7% this past season. He has gone from not having a mid-range jumpshot his freshman year to a very consistent but seldom used jumpshot this past season. So there's hope for more improvement in the future. He runs the floor like a deer, and often beats the opposition down the floor, which should make him a perfect target for Cousins outlet passes. He's smart, and he'll cut backdoor if you fall asleep on him. The bulk of his scoring came off of transition baskets (completed 77%), and alley oops. His post game needs a lot of work, and he needs to get a lot stronger, particularly his base strength. His ballhandling ability is very basic at this point, however he only needs one dribble to get to the basket from the freethrow line due to his athleticism. He's a limited passer who makes the easy pass but not the spectacular one, but he doesn't turn the ball over much. Lastly, at times his mind appears to be somewhere else as he loses focus. He's improved in that area, but once in the NBA, he needs to retain focus 100% of the time. His personality will remind some of Scott Pollard. -- Bajaden
Justise Winslow (SG/SF, Freshman, 19 y.o., Duke)
29.1 mpg - 12.6 ppg - .486% fgp - .418% 3pp - 6.5 rpg - 2.1 apg - 1.3 spg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 6'6.5"
Weight: 222 pounds
Wingspan: 6'10.25"
Standing Reach: 8'8.5"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Winslow really helped himself by playing great down the stretch and arguably being Duke's most important player. He has great size for the SG position and should be able to play SF effectively as well. It remains to be seen which will be his primary position, but at the moment I like him best as a big physical SG. He's a two-way player who, although not a brilliant ball handler, can definitely do a solid job handling the ball and get to the rim. When he gets there, he's a good finisher due to his strength and athleticism. He's a lean 230, which is pretty huge for a player of his size. He's a very good athlete, perhaps a level below "freak" but certainly above average, even for his position. His shot is often cited as a weakness, but he shot 41% from beyond the arc on the year. At the very least, it shows that he takes good shots and the foundation is there for him to become a real threat from distance. Defensively he has a lot of potential and is already a good defender. He's very strong and physical and has excellent lateral quickness. He plays the passing lanes well but more importantly, he understands team defense and it wasn't uncommon to see him come over to make a weakside block. He's a smart player and there's no reason why he can't be one of the best wing defenders in the NBA down the road. His strength means it's difficult to back him down regardless of who the offensive player is. He even did a good job defending PFs at the collegiate level, though you'd suspect the size difference will be too much to do that often at the next level. He's a good rebounder for his position and should be a + at his position in rebounding terms. Personality-wise, I really like Justise. He's charismatic and very intelligent, oozes confidence, and has the personality of a star, an aspect of players that is constantly overlooked. He's a hard worker and very competitive, so I don't really see a way he busts at the next level. At the very least, you should have a solid starter level player, and possibly much more. I really like Winslow, and even though he's not top of my list, I can't say I would be disappointed to end up with him. Of course, that would mean we'd have to make a big trade given that we just drafted two SGs and have Gay at SF. Winslow's ceiling is as an all-star type player with all-defensive honours. Not too shabby if he ever reaches those lofty heights. -- Dime Dropper
Stanley Johnson (SF, Freshman, 18 y.o., Arizona)
28.4 mpg - 13.8 ppg - 44.6% fgp - 37.1% 3pp - 6.5 rpg - 1.7 spg - 2.2 TOpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 6'6.5"
Weight: 242 pounds
Wingspan: 6'11.5"
Standing Reach: 8'6"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: One of the youngest players in the draft, but at the same time one of the most impressive in terms of body development. Polished offensively and is an effective triple threat player, though not a dominant presence on offense. Lacks quick first step, so his driving game is about putting the defender on his hip and powering towards the rim. Doesn't have to go all the way to the rim as he already can pull up for a short jumper or a push shot. Despite settling for a jumper gets his share of FTs. Outside shooting needs work as his shot is rather flat, so Johnson might struggle adjusting to longer distances at first. Wasn't in a good situation, being surrounded by older rather ball-dominant players with a lack of shooting. This was the primary reason for his high TO numbers, though handles could use improvement as well. Middle of the season Johnson had quite a few impressive scoring bursts suggesting that there might be more to his game. Not a quick leaper despite impressive physical profile, which leads to some struggles with finishing around the hoop. Strong upper body allows him to go after rebounds aggressively, though converting rebounds into points is a problem - a pathetic 33% of his putback attempts get in. Excellent in transition as he has enough speed to lead the break himself or run the lane next to ballhandler. Defensively he should be strong and quick enough to deal with most SFs, but will likely struggle with SGs. Unless he grows a bit, putting him at PF probably shouldn't happen, since he lacks length. His strong hands are always a threat to rip the ball away from the ballhandler - steals usually result in one man fast breaks. Helps on defensive boards. Smart, unselfish and a good teammate. In terms of upside could probably peak as 3rd/weak 2nd option for a contender, while getting occasional votes for defensive honors. -- Gilles
Trey Lyles (PF/SF, Freshman, 19 y.o., Kentucky)
23 mpg - 8.7 ppg - 48.8% fgp - 53.6% 2pp - 5.2 rpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA draft combine)
Height in shoes: 6'10.25"
Weight: 241 pounds
Wingspan: 7'1.5"
Standing Reach: 9'0"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Lyles may be the best kept secret on the Kentucky team. Unselfish, nose for the ball, great competitor, glue guy, great basketball IQ, are all things that spring to mind when I think of Lyles. If he had been on just about any other team, he likely would have been the star of that team. He's an excellent passer, whether on the perimeter, in the post in traffic, or as an outlet passer. He handles the ball very well, and is capable of putting it on the floor and taking his man off the dribble. He's a good rebounder and not afraid to bang under the basket. He has a very consistent 15 to 18 foot jumpshot, and he can score with either hand in the post. He only shot 13.8% from the three, but took very few shots from there, many with the shot clock running down. His form is good, so I can see him extending his range out to the three. He's not a great athlete, slightly above average, and doesn't appear explosive around the basket, but uses his length well. Shotblocking isn't one of his strengths, but he's a decent to good man defender in the post, though he had to play out of position almost all year at the SF where his perimeter defense needs work. In short, Lyles is a very skilled big man who isn't elite at any one thing, but is good at almost everything. He's the kind of player that every team needs, and wants on their team. If he can extend the range on his jumpshot, and get a little stronger, he can be a valuable player in the league. -- Bajaden
Kristaps Porzingis (PF, 19 y.o., Latvia)
21.4 mpg - 11.1 ppg - 49.9% fgp - 36.9% 3pp - 4.5 rpg - 1.1 bpg - 0.9 spg
Stats (Not available, media estimates)
Height in shoes: 6'11"
Weight: 230 pounds
Wingspan: N/A
Standing Reach: N/A
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Porzingis is probably the biggest wildcard near the top of the lottery. He's somewhat of a mystery, and unfortunately I'm not the guy whose going to figure him out. I've seen him a few times, but nowhere near enough to know that I want the Kings to be the team to take that risk. Here's what I do know: Athletically, he's impressive. He's got very good size and length for the PF position, and also the mobility to defend true PFs (stretch 4s maybe not, but I'm not worried about those). Needs to get stronger, but he moves extremely well for a guy his size and can finish plays with authority. He has very, very long arms but a somewhat narrow body, so expect his standing reach to be more impressive than his wingspan. Better jumper off one foot than two, which will hurt his max vertical, but it's not uncommon to see Porzingis be on the receiving end of a pretty alley-oop, or to finish a putback in impressive fashion. Offensively is where people are hoping he can shine. He's skilled, with a very capable longball. He has good form and is virtually impossible to block due to his sheer size. He has a solid foundation of skill to build upon as he has a good IQ and tends to know what he can and can't do. He doesn't have much of a low post game at the minute, but there has to be hope there given his size, fluidity and shooting ability. He's shown signs of a turnaround jumper on the block, which can be a weapon for him if he works on it. He's not an amazing passer, but he's solid. He's also quite a good ball-handler for someone his size. He has very soft hands and doesn't have any problems catching passes. Rebounding wise - he's not awful but he's not great. He should be solid at the next level if he gets stronger. Defensively, he doesn't have great lateral quickness but does a decent job using his long arms to get in the passing lanes. He's shown solid potential as a shot-blocker, using his size, length and jumping ability to help on the weakside. His instincts here are pretty decent, though he's probably never going to be a big-time goalie type player. He has solid intangibles, seems to have some confidence/swagger which is always good to see, and off the court seems like a very smart and nice kid. I'm very curious to see how Kristaps does at the next level. He's, in my eyes, one of those make or break type players. The potential is clear for all to see, but you can also see that he's a big risk. He won't be top of my list, regardless of where we're picking, but that's something that could make me look silly in five years. I simply haven't seen enough of him to say I would want him at 6 (or wherever we pick), given who else will be available. But definitely one to watch. He could get a GM fired or make a GM look like a genius. -- Dime Dropper
Mario Hezonja (SG, 20 y.o., Croatia)
15 mpg - 6.3 ppg - 46.7% fgp - 40% 3pp - 2 rpg - 1 apg
Stats (Not available, media estimates)
Height in shoes: 6'7"
Weight: 200 pounds
Wingspan: N/A
Standing Reach: N/A
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Hezonja has great size for the SG position, and can probably play spot minutes at the positions either side of him. But his natural position is SG. He's tall but he needs to get stronger, as many young players do. He's a smart player with a high IQ, who like most European prospects, can do a little bit of everything offensively. Has good handles (though I think he palms the ball sometimes, something he may need to cut out, but it's not going to be an issue long term), good court vision and passing ability, and a good vision of the game. He is a very capable shooter with solid form and a good release. What's going to surprise people is that the guy is an excellent athlete. I'm not talking about being an excellent athlete for a euro, I'm talking about being an excellent athlete by NBA standards. A level below elite, but he is very fluid, quick and has major hops. If he gets a chance, he's putting you on a poster. Something I like about him is that he has an attitude (in fact this has been a knock on him according to some sources), he doesn't back down from anyone and he's highly competitive. Some people have said that he's troublesome to deal with. I'm not sure how true this is or isn't. I do know he hasn't had any major issues (or minor for that matter). It's probably nitpicking to cite this as a weakness as by all accounts he's a good guy. I'd personally prefer someone who has that fire. Weakness wise, he needs to get stronger, his defense isn't bad and he has solid potential there due to his size and athleticism, but as with most young players, he has work to do. He's going to have to change his mindset when he gets to the NBA. I think he has great potential and will watch him with great interest, but given where we'll be drafting, he's not at the top of my list, especially given that we've just drafted two SGs. I think he's going to take a few years to really hit the ground, but he can be a very good player for a team in the future. -- Dime Dropper
Kings' Range (approximate draft position 5-10):
Willie Cauley-Stein (C/PF, Junior, 21 y.o., Kentucky)
25.9 mpg - 8.9 ppg - 57.3% fgp - 6.4 rpg - 1.2 spg - 1.7 bpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 7'0.5"
Weight: 242 pounds
Wingspan: 7'3"
Standing Reach: 9'3"
Maximum Vertical Jump: 37" (From Kentucky Pro Day)
Analysis: I'll preface this by saying that WCS is my favorite player in the draft. Not the most talented, but my favorite. The moment Willie Cauley-Stein sets foot on an NBA court, he'll be one of, if not the, most athletic big man (over 6'11") in the NBA. He should be an immediate impact player defensively for whomever drafts him. Think of a more athletic Tyson Chandler, who should over time be a much better offensive player. More on his offense later. WCS is a shotblocker supreme with terrific timing. He's an explosive leaper who also owns a terrific second leap. He averaged 3.6 blocks and 1.8 steals per 40 minutes per his career. I know some are worried about at his downtick to 1.7 blocks this past season, but this was an abberation. As a sophomore, when he was the primary basket defender, he blocked a more impressive 2.9 shots a game. With the addition of Towns to the team WCS was asked to step away from the basket and guard the pick and roll and as a result, he spent a lot of time guarding on the perimeter. His elite lateral quickness allows him to guard even the smaller perimeter players on a switch. At times, he was even asked to be the primary defender on a guard for important stretches of game time. I watched PGs and SGs alike struggle to get past Cauley-Stein. His pick and roll defense is nothing short of outstanding. Time after time, when the other team's PG would come off the pick, he would be staring at Cauley-Stein, who had slid from his man to stop the ball, and would then get back to his man in time to contest the shot or cut off the lane to the basket. Offensively, it's a different story. He's not inept, but it's not his strength. While his freethrow shooting still leaves something to be desired, he has improved from 37.2% his freshman year to 61.7% this past season. He has gone from not having a mid-range jumpshot his freshman year to a very consistent but seldom used jumpshot this past season. So there's hope for more improvement in the future. He runs the floor like a deer, and often beats the opposition down the floor, which should make him a perfect target for Cousins outlet passes. He's smart, and he'll cut backdoor if you fall asleep on him. The bulk of his scoring came off of transition baskets (completed 77%), and alley oops. His post game needs a lot of work, and he needs to get a lot stronger, particularly his base strength. His ballhandling ability is very basic at this point, however he only needs one dribble to get to the basket from the freethrow line due to his athleticism. He's a limited passer who makes the easy pass but not the spectacular one, but he doesn't turn the ball over much. Lastly, at times his mind appears to be somewhere else as he loses focus. He's improved in that area, but once in the NBA, he needs to retain focus 100% of the time. His personality will remind some of Scott Pollard. -- Bajaden
Justise Winslow (SG/SF, Freshman, 19 y.o., Duke)
29.1 mpg - 12.6 ppg - .486% fgp - .418% 3pp - 6.5 rpg - 2.1 apg - 1.3 spg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 6'6.5"
Weight: 222 pounds
Wingspan: 6'10.25"
Standing Reach: 8'8.5"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Winslow really helped himself by playing great down the stretch and arguably being Duke's most important player. He has great size for the SG position and should be able to play SF effectively as well. It remains to be seen which will be his primary position, but at the moment I like him best as a big physical SG. He's a two-way player who, although not a brilliant ball handler, can definitely do a solid job handling the ball and get to the rim. When he gets there, he's a good finisher due to his strength and athleticism. He's a lean 230, which is pretty huge for a player of his size. He's a very good athlete, perhaps a level below "freak" but certainly above average, even for his position. His shot is often cited as a weakness, but he shot 41% from beyond the arc on the year. At the very least, it shows that he takes good shots and the foundation is there for him to become a real threat from distance. Defensively he has a lot of potential and is already a good defender. He's very strong and physical and has excellent lateral quickness. He plays the passing lanes well but more importantly, he understands team defense and it wasn't uncommon to see him come over to make a weakside block. He's a smart player and there's no reason why he can't be one of the best wing defenders in the NBA down the road. His strength means it's difficult to back him down regardless of who the offensive player is. He even did a good job defending PFs at the collegiate level, though you'd suspect the size difference will be too much to do that often at the next level. He's a good rebounder for his position and should be a + at his position in rebounding terms. Personality-wise, I really like Justise. He's charismatic and very intelligent, oozes confidence, and has the personality of a star, an aspect of players that is constantly overlooked. He's a hard worker and very competitive, so I don't really see a way he busts at the next level. At the very least, you should have a solid starter level player, and possibly much more. I really like Winslow, and even though he's not top of my list, I can't say I would be disappointed to end up with him. Of course, that would mean we'd have to make a big trade given that we just drafted two SGs and have Gay at SF. Winslow's ceiling is as an all-star type player with all-defensive honours. Not too shabby if he ever reaches those lofty heights. -- Dime Dropper
Stanley Johnson (SF, Freshman, 18 y.o., Arizona)
28.4 mpg - 13.8 ppg - 44.6% fgp - 37.1% 3pp - 6.5 rpg - 1.7 spg - 2.2 TOpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA Draft Combine)
Height in shoes: 6'6.5"
Weight: 242 pounds
Wingspan: 6'11.5"
Standing Reach: 8'6"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: One of the youngest players in the draft, but at the same time one of the most impressive in terms of body development. Polished offensively and is an effective triple threat player, though not a dominant presence on offense. Lacks quick first step, so his driving game is about putting the defender on his hip and powering towards the rim. Doesn't have to go all the way to the rim as he already can pull up for a short jumper or a push shot. Despite settling for a jumper gets his share of FTs. Outside shooting needs work as his shot is rather flat, so Johnson might struggle adjusting to longer distances at first. Wasn't in a good situation, being surrounded by older rather ball-dominant players with a lack of shooting. This was the primary reason for his high TO numbers, though handles could use improvement as well. Middle of the season Johnson had quite a few impressive scoring bursts suggesting that there might be more to his game. Not a quick leaper despite impressive physical profile, which leads to some struggles with finishing around the hoop. Strong upper body allows him to go after rebounds aggressively, though converting rebounds into points is a problem - a pathetic 33% of his putback attempts get in. Excellent in transition as he has enough speed to lead the break himself or run the lane next to ballhandler. Defensively he should be strong and quick enough to deal with most SFs, but will likely struggle with SGs. Unless he grows a bit, putting him at PF probably shouldn't happen, since he lacks length. His strong hands are always a threat to rip the ball away from the ballhandler - steals usually result in one man fast breaks. Helps on defensive boards. Smart, unselfish and a good teammate. In terms of upside could probably peak as 3rd/weak 2nd option for a contender, while getting occasional votes for defensive honors. -- Gilles
Trey Lyles (PF/SF, Freshman, 19 y.o., Kentucky)
23 mpg - 8.7 ppg - 48.8% fgp - 53.6% 2pp - 5.2 rpg
Stats (from 2015 NBA draft combine)
Height in shoes: 6'10.25"
Weight: 241 pounds
Wingspan: 7'1.5"
Standing Reach: 9'0"
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Lyles may be the best kept secret on the Kentucky team. Unselfish, nose for the ball, great competitor, glue guy, great basketball IQ, are all things that spring to mind when I think of Lyles. If he had been on just about any other team, he likely would have been the star of that team. He's an excellent passer, whether on the perimeter, in the post in traffic, or as an outlet passer. He handles the ball very well, and is capable of putting it on the floor and taking his man off the dribble. He's a good rebounder and not afraid to bang under the basket. He has a very consistent 15 to 18 foot jumpshot, and he can score with either hand in the post. He only shot 13.8% from the three, but took very few shots from there, many with the shot clock running down. His form is good, so I can see him extending his range out to the three. He's not a great athlete, slightly above average, and doesn't appear explosive around the basket, but uses his length well. Shotblocking isn't one of his strengths, but he's a decent to good man defender in the post, though he had to play out of position almost all year at the SF where his perimeter defense needs work. In short, Lyles is a very skilled big man who isn't elite at any one thing, but is good at almost everything. He's the kind of player that every team needs, and wants on their team. If he can extend the range on his jumpshot, and get a little stronger, he can be a valuable player in the league. -- Bajaden
Kristaps Porzingis (PF, 19 y.o., Latvia)
21.4 mpg - 11.1 ppg - 49.9% fgp - 36.9% 3pp - 4.5 rpg - 1.1 bpg - 0.9 spg
Stats (Not available, media estimates)
Height in shoes: 6'11"
Weight: 230 pounds
Wingspan: N/A
Standing Reach: N/A
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Porzingis is probably the biggest wildcard near the top of the lottery. He's somewhat of a mystery, and unfortunately I'm not the guy whose going to figure him out. I've seen him a few times, but nowhere near enough to know that I want the Kings to be the team to take that risk. Here's what I do know: Athletically, he's impressive. He's got very good size and length for the PF position, and also the mobility to defend true PFs (stretch 4s maybe not, but I'm not worried about those). Needs to get stronger, but he moves extremely well for a guy his size and can finish plays with authority. He has very, very long arms but a somewhat narrow body, so expect his standing reach to be more impressive than his wingspan. Better jumper off one foot than two, which will hurt his max vertical, but it's not uncommon to see Porzingis be on the receiving end of a pretty alley-oop, or to finish a putback in impressive fashion. Offensively is where people are hoping he can shine. He's skilled, with a very capable longball. He has good form and is virtually impossible to block due to his sheer size. He has a solid foundation of skill to build upon as he has a good IQ and tends to know what he can and can't do. He doesn't have much of a low post game at the minute, but there has to be hope there given his size, fluidity and shooting ability. He's shown signs of a turnaround jumper on the block, which can be a weapon for him if he works on it. He's not an amazing passer, but he's solid. He's also quite a good ball-handler for someone his size. He has very soft hands and doesn't have any problems catching passes. Rebounding wise - he's not awful but he's not great. He should be solid at the next level if he gets stronger. Defensively, he doesn't have great lateral quickness but does a decent job using his long arms to get in the passing lanes. He's shown solid potential as a shot-blocker, using his size, length and jumping ability to help on the weakside. His instincts here are pretty decent, though he's probably never going to be a big-time goalie type player. He has solid intangibles, seems to have some confidence/swagger which is always good to see, and off the court seems like a very smart and nice kid. I'm very curious to see how Kristaps does at the next level. He's, in my eyes, one of those make or break type players. The potential is clear for all to see, but you can also see that he's a big risk. He won't be top of my list, regardless of where we're picking, but that's something that could make me look silly in five years. I simply haven't seen enough of him to say I would want him at 6 (or wherever we pick), given who else will be available. But definitely one to watch. He could get a GM fired or make a GM look like a genius. -- Dime Dropper
Mario Hezonja (SG, 20 y.o., Croatia)
15 mpg - 6.3 ppg - 46.7% fgp - 40% 3pp - 2 rpg - 1 apg
Stats (Not available, media estimates)
Height in shoes: 6'7"
Weight: 200 pounds
Wingspan: N/A
Standing Reach: N/A
Maximum Vertical Jump: N/A
Analysis: Hezonja has great size for the SG position, and can probably play spot minutes at the positions either side of him. But his natural position is SG. He's tall but he needs to get stronger, as many young players do. He's a smart player with a high IQ, who like most European prospects, can do a little bit of everything offensively. Has good handles (though I think he palms the ball sometimes, something he may need to cut out, but it's not going to be an issue long term), good court vision and passing ability, and a good vision of the game. He is a very capable shooter with solid form and a good release. What's going to surprise people is that the guy is an excellent athlete. I'm not talking about being an excellent athlete for a euro, I'm talking about being an excellent athlete by NBA standards. A level below elite, but he is very fluid, quick and has major hops. If he gets a chance, he's putting you on a poster. Something I like about him is that he has an attitude (in fact this has been a knock on him according to some sources), he doesn't back down from anyone and he's highly competitive. Some people have said that he's troublesome to deal with. I'm not sure how true this is or isn't. I do know he hasn't had any major issues (or minor for that matter). It's probably nitpicking to cite this as a weakness as by all accounts he's a good guy. I'd personally prefer someone who has that fire. Weakness wise, he needs to get stronger, his defense isn't bad and he has solid potential there due to his size and athleticism, but as with most young players, he has work to do. He's going to have to change his mindset when he gets to the NBA. I think he has great potential and will watch him with great interest, but given where we'll be drafting, he's not at the top of my list, especially given that we've just drafted two SGs. I think he's going to take a few years to really hit the ground, but he can be a very good player for a team in the future. -- Dime Dropper
