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Tyshawn Taylor: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

Jun 242012

Tyshawn Taylor is a tweener that must prove to NBA teams he can run the point guard. Taylor helped lead the Kansas Jayhawks to the national championship game as a lead guard, but right now he’s more of a shooter.

At 6’3″ Taylor is a bit small for a traditional two-guard, but he would have good size for a point guard.

Taylor improved in almost every category through his four years at Kansas, and he showed a commitment to improving as a playmaker. The fundamental base should be there for Taylor. In addition to his four years at Kansas, he also attended St. Anthony High School in New Jersey where he played for historic coach Bob Hurley.

Taylor had rough beginnings. He was forced to become the man of his household at a very young age. Jesse Newell of KU Sports writes:

Tyshawn Taylor knows his father’s name — Tyrone Garner — but when asked how to spell it, he says he’s not sure.

Taylor was born in Hoboken, N.J., in 1990, and his father was a part of his life until his mother, Jeanell, and her children moved to Florida to be closer to Jeanell’s sister.

“I guess it was an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ kind of thing,” Taylor says.

After that, Taylor talked sparingly with his father. The brief times they spoke set him up for disappointment.

This has forced Taylor to grow up quickly off the court; NBA GMs are hoping he grows up quickly on the court.

ESPN’s Chad Ford has him listed as the No. 5 point guard in the draft. I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that, as I still see Taylor struggling with his decision making.

Here is a scouting report on Taylor highlighting his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 6′ 3″

Weight: 175 pounds

School: Kansas

Date of Birth: April 12, 1990

Best NBA Position: Point Guard

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 16.6 PPG, 33.4 MPG, 47.7 FG%, 38.2 3FG%, 68.8 FT%, 4.8 APG, 2.3 RPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.3 SPG

Skill Grades:

Athleticism - A

Size – A

Intangibles - B

Rebounding - B-

Ball Handling - B-

Defense - B+

Shooting - B

Passing – B-

Post Game - C+

Basketball IQ – B-

Upside - A

Strengths:

Taylor is quick and explosive. He has great leaping ability and a killer first-step. He has good change of direction and long arms. These traits make him a solid penetrater and effective off-the-dribble.

At 6’3″ he has good height for the position, and he also has long arms. When he’s locked in defensively he can be a very good defender. Taylor is at his best in transition as many of these highlights will show:

He is a four-year college player so that experience should benefit him on the next level.

Weaknesses:

Taylor’s decision-making is a bit shaky. He still forces things and makes the wrong play with the ball too often. This tendency has to be the biggest concern for scouts.

He has improved his jump shot, but it still isn’t as pure as it needs to be. Taylor will never be a pure point guard, so he needs to hone his scoring weapons to maximize his potential as a scoring lead guard.

He has the physical ability to be an excellent defender, but he must increase his effort on that end.

NBA Player Comparison:

Less Heady Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley has made an impact with the Celtics this year, and it’s primarily about his defense. He has great quickness and length and that has been his ticket. Bradley knows his game and he plays within himself, this is something Taylor doesn’t always do.

He took advantage of playing time created by Ray Allen’s injury and he had a solid year. He averaged 7.6 points per game and 1.8 assists for Boston. Bradley is 6’2″ 180 pounds, he and Taylor are of similar stature.

Taylor has similar athleticism and length. If he plugs in on defense he could have a similar impact in the NBA. It’s about finding his niche. At 6’3 he could be a great defender.

From there he can develop his scoring and decision-making.

Draft Projection:

Early to Mid-Second Round

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Moe Harkless: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

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Jun 202012

Moe Harkless is a long, physically strong forward with a future as a lockdown defender. The 6’8″ forward had a very good freshman season for St. John’s.

He averaged 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. He was clearly the best player on a very young Red Storm team. Harkless made himself available for the draft on March 19.

He has a great frame and ideal size for the SF position in the NBA, though he still needs to develop in a few areas. ESPN’s Chad Ford has Harkless listed as the third-best SF, and I agree with that assessment, although he has good upside.

Here is a scouting report on Harkless highlighting his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 6’8″

Weight: 208 pounds

School: St. John’s

Date of Birth: May 11, 1993

Best NBA Position: Small Forward

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 15.5 PPG, 36.1 MPG, 45.2 FG%, 21.5 3FG%, 67.6 FT%, 1.5 APG, 8.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.6 SPG

Skill Grades:

Athleticism - A-

Size – A-

Intangibles – C+

Rebounding - A

Ball Handling - B-

Defense - A

Shooting – C+

Passing – B-

Post Game - C+

Basketball IQ – B-

Upside - A

Strengths:

Harkless has a great combination of length and athleticism. He is tough in the open floor, and he finishes well on the break. On defense, he plays the passing lanes well, and he is great at providing weak-side help with blocked shots.

Harkless is a quick leaper, couple that with his length and he is a very good rebounder for a SF. From Day 1, he can help a team defensively. He has the frame and dexterity to be a lockdown defender.

This athleticism gives Harkless nice upside.

This is Harkless in action in his lone year at St. John’s:

Weaknesses:

Harkless can look disinterested at times, as though he isn’t taking coaching. This is something he hopefully will grow out of. (He just turned 19 years old.)

As a wing player he could handle the ball a little better. At this point, he is simply a slasher with no real off-the-dribble moves.

Harkless needs to work to become a better shooter; the form is decent, he just needs the repetition. He has some physical attributes and a nice feel for team defense, but he needs to add some weapons offensively.

NBA Player Comparison:

Trevor Ariza

Ariza is a long-armed and athletic swingman. He has added the three-pointer to his game, but his biggest value is his ability as a defender. He averages over a steal per game as he uses his long arms and quickness to bother opponent’s dribble and to get in the passing lanes.

This is also the type of player Harkless is. As a young player, Ariza had not developed the jump shot either, but it came later for him. Once he became a viable spot-up shooter, he became more valuable on offense.

The same will happen for Harkless (though he is better around the basket than Ariza). Harkless won’t be a star, but he has the ability to blossom into a nice role player in the NBA.

Draft Projection:

Late First Round

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Phil Jackson’s Accurate Criticism of Knicks Shows His Cherry-Picking Philosophy

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Jun 162012

Phil Jackson has never been more accurate with his bold criticisms of man or team, but it proves he still isn’t looking for a challenge. The Zen Master told HBO correspondent Andrea Kramer that he wouldn’t have answered the call to coach the Knicks—even if they had offered it to him.

Jackson is quoted by Michael O’Keefe of the NY Daily News: “I wasn’t gonna take that job, that’s for sure.”

In the interview for “HBO Real Sports” that airs on Tuesday, Jackson describes the Knicks as “clumsy” and he says that Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire don’t fit together well. Amare needs a different system and Melo is a ball hog.

You’re preaching to the choir on those issues, Phil.

All of those assessments are spot-on, but isn’t a coach that’s looking for a challenge supposed to embrace that sort of dynamic?

Kramer asks him the same question, to which he answered:

“Yeah,” Jackson agreed. “Well, it never happened.”

Some may argue that he is offended by not being contacted by Knicks’ head man Jim Dolan, but I think there is a different issue.

While Jackson is accurate with his criticism, it exposes his cherry-picking mentality as a coach. Jackson has never had to build a team from the ground up. He has always inherited others’ work, and arguably the best players in the NBA.

I know Phil is 66 years old, and it’s a little late for long-term plans, but this has always been his M.O. In reality, the Knicks aren’t that far away, but it’s far from the near sure thing Jackson is most comfortable with.

While you can’t sneeze at 11 championship rings, his success must be put into perspective. This mentality and approach is the reason I give coaches like Gregg Popovich and the late Chuck Daly an edge over Jackson.

These coaches were with their teams when the groundwork was being laid. To use a basketball analogy, Daly and Pop were there for all four quarters with the Pistons and Spurs, respectively. Jackson comes in late in the third quarter, after the starters have already put the team in great position to win.

Jackson took over a Bulls team that had been knocking on the door against Daly’s Pistons in 1989, and they had some guy named Michael Jordan that was pretty good. Jackson was hungry for his first opportunity then, but he couldn’t have been handed a better situation.

When he left the Bulls, Phil took over a Lakers team that had been contending with a young Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. This was yet another ready-made situation.

It’s not to say that these accomplishments were easy, but this relief-pitcher approach to coaching has branded him in my opinion.

Taking the Knicks’ job and guiding them to a championship would have been the ultimate accomplishment for Jackson. The team is talented, but nowhere near contending. It would have been the most impressive of his championships.

So while the Knicks may be clumsy, Jackson is calculated—to a fault.

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NBA Finals 2012 TV Schedule: What to Watch for in Game 2

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Jun 142012

The three key stats for Game 2 and the rest of the NBA Finals will be the Oklahoma City Thunder’s field-goal percentage, the free-throw battle and the rebounding totals.

As Game 2 commences tonight in Oklahoma City at 8 PM ET on ABC, these mini-games will dictate the winner and the team that seizes control of this series.

Here is the remaining TV schedule for the series, all games will be televised by ABC:

Game 3 – Sunday, June 17, 7 PM ET

Game 4 – Tuesday, June 19, 9 PM ET

Game 5 – Thursday, June 21, 9 PM ET (if necessary)

Game 6 – Sunday, June 24, 8 PM ET (if necessary)

Game 7 – Tuesday, June 26, 9 PM ET (if necessary)

Here is how the key categories may play out:

OKC’s Field-Goal Percentage

In Game 1, the Thunder shot just under 52 percent from the field. Even though Russell Westbrook was only 10-24 from the field, his and Kevin Durant’s penetration created opportunities for others.

The Heat, especially Chris Bosh, demonstrated some poor discipline defensively and that can’t continue to happen. The Heat don’t have the luxury of having a stout inside presence on defense. It’s very important that they help the helper to give their defense the right amount of layers.

In Game 1 that didn’t happen, and if things don’t change, the Heat will lose Game 2.

Free Throw Battle

The Heat shot 18 free throws in Game 1. That’s not a bad number for them, but it’s dwarfed by the Thunder’s 27 attempts. That shows the Thunder were more aggressive as a team and Miami settled for too many jump shots.

Both of these teams need to get to the free throw line to be effective. The team with the most free-throw attempts has a huge advantage in this series.

Rebounding

The Thunder bested the Heat on the glass 43-35, and they had 10 offensive rebounds to only seven for the Heat. The Heat are at a clear disadvantage on the inside. That’s especially the case when Erik Spoelstra won’t play Ronny Turiaf. He is one of the Heat’s only big bodies, and he can at least take up space.

As of now the Heat need wing players to go to the glass strong. They will need solid rebounding from Dwyane Wade, Bosh and of course LeBron James just to stay close to the Thunder in this category.

That said, they must stay be aware, because they can’t allow the Thunder to get in transition regularly. If they do, the game could get ugly.

Prediction

It’s going to be an interesting series, and I think Game 2 will be a classic. I expect the Heat to play better defensively in the second half and they will steal Game 2.

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Heat vs. Thunder Game 1 Highlights: Chris Bosh Must Step Up for Miami to Win

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Jun 132012

As solidly as Chris Bosh played in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he was the weakest link in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Heat need him to be super in this series to defeat the high-powered Thunder.

Last night, Bosh was just 4-11 from the field for 10 points and five rebounds. It wasn’t just the mediocre offense that hurt the team; it was more so his lackadaisical defense. Bosh was routinely late on rotations, and he was caught playing the ball too aggressively.

In the second half, he made it easy for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to break down the Heat’s defense. Interior defense is Miami biggest deficiency, but Bosh must step up on this end to hide this weakness. He did a poor job of that in Game 1.

Check out the highlights here, specifically at 3:18 and 4:12 of this highlight video:

I don’t place the entire blame on Bosh, some of this also falls on Erik Spoelstra. Bosh needs more touches on the offensive end. He’s a big man, and to keep a big man engaged on both ends of the floor he has to get touches. That is especially the case for a big man that can score like Bosh.

Relegating him to a spot-up three-point shooter’s role isn’t enough for him.

Bosh has a post-up game, as well as the ability to thrive in the pick-and-pop scenario. Jeff Van Gundy said this last night, and I agree, the Heat need to consider running the offense through Bosh on some trips.

It would give the Thunder a different look, and it would get Bosh into the game. The Heat had this game, and they let it slip away. They must rebound with a strong effort in Game 2 to seize control of the series. Bosh’s energy and skill will be needed to get this down.

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Terrence Ross: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

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Jun 132012

Terrence Ross is a very athletic swingman who is one of the draft’s best run-and-jump athletes. He helped lead the Washington Huskies to a NIT Final Four this past season.

He had a very good sophomore campaign, doubling his production in almost every category from his freshman season. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Ross is a solid shooting guard prospect who could even play the SF position in spots.

He declared for the draft on April 1, and is one to watch. Because of his versatility and athleticism, he could jump on many draft boards, especially after this workout.

Here is a scouting report on Ross highlighting his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 195 pounds

School: Washington

Date of Birth: February 5, 1991

Best NBA Position: Shooting Guard

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 16.4 PPG, 31.1 MPG, 45.7 FG%, 37.1 3FG%, 76.6 FT%, 1.4 APG, 6.4 RPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.3 SPG

Skill Grades:

Athleticism - A+

Size – A

Intangibles – B+

Rebounding - A

Ball Handling - B

Defense - A

Shooting - A

Passing – B+

Post Game - B-

Basketball IQ – B+

Upside - A+

Strengths:

Ross has All-Star Weekend hops, a lightning-quick first step and amazing body control. He may be the premier athlete in the draft this year. He has good height and length, though he could stand to add about 10 pounds of muscle.

He rebounds very well for a guard, and he really gets after it as a defender. He moves his feet well, and he keeps his arms and hands in the passing lanes.

Ross is also a capable shooter from distance, and he makes his free throws at over 76 percent. This is big for a player that can attack the rim they way he can. Because of Ross’ athleticism and versatility he has tremendous upside.

Take a gander at the freakish athlete Ross is:

Weaknesses:

Ross is a little old for his class—he just turned 21 and this was his sophomore season. It isn’t a big deal, but most players are about 20 years old in his class.

Ross’ ball-handling needs to improve; though he does handle it well, he can get a little wild at times. This is something that can easily be remedied with experience.

He has good vision, but at times he is a little late with his passes.

Ross doesn’t really possess a post-game at this point, and he probably never will. He is a perimeter player that gets to the rim, and his lack of bulk doesn’t lend itself to a post-up style.

Ross has the physical tools, but his development is going to be determined by how hard he works on his craft.

He is a solid player now, but if he adds a little strength and refines a few areas, he could be special.

NBA Player Comparison:

Latrell Sprewell

I know this is high praise, but the similarities are there. Sprewell was an ultra-explosive scorer-defender for 13 years in the NBA. During that time, he averaged 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal per game.

Spree was 6’5, 190 pounds, and that is right in the same area Ross is physically. Sprewell played in four All Star games, made All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Team in 1993-94. Though he is remembered more for choking P.J. Carlesimo, Sprewell was one of the top SGs of his era.

I believe Ross has the same ability. He can be a terror on defense just like Spree, and both explode to the basket with great leaping ability and speed.

If Ross’ stock doesn’t rise, he will be one of the biggest steals in this draft, much like Sprewell was in 1992 when he was drafted 24th overall by the Golden State Warriors.

Draft Projection:

Late Lottery-Mid First Round

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NBA Draft Rumors: Trading No. 2 Pick Would Be Smartest Move for Bobcats

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Jun 122012

The Charlotte Bobcats need multiple players and financial flexibility, so the best thing they can do is trade their pick. Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com says:

The Charlotte Bobcats are shopping the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, according to multiple sources. The Bobcats don’t seem to be in love with anyone at this point, which means a different team could be selecting second on draft night.

I like Andre Drummond of UConn a lot, and I believe he has superstar potential, but he also has bust potential.

The Bobcats simply can’t afford to take that risk. Every move they make for the next three seasons must be calculated and low-risk. It’s the only way to change their culture. If they can get a young player and stay in the lottery, that would be big.

It would speed up the rebuilding process and ultimately make the team more attractive to free agents.

They aren’t Oklahoma City; Charlotte wouldn’t be as tough a sell as OKC if they were closer to becoming a winning team. If they win and bring in a solid coach like Jerry Sloan, whom they’ve talked to (h/t Oregon Live), they would be on the road to improvement. They have talked to others, but Sloan is the man they need.

This franchise needs a stabilizing force, and one that can get results. Sloan can do that for Charlotte.

The roster is almost barren, but there are two decent young bigs on board. As of now, I like Byron Mullens and Bismack Biyombo in the frontcourt. Both of them need more experience, but if you add talented wing players this team improves. The Cats could move back in the first-round and still have their pick of Austin Rivers, Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Ross or Terrence Jones.

If you put one of those players with Kemba Walker, and add another wing in the trade for the No. 2 pick, the Bobcats starting lineup is exponentially better.

They won’t make the playoffs just yet, but they could be contending for the postseason in two years. You can’t underestimate the effect that a coach like Sloan could have on a young team. If you luck out with a player like Rivers—who I believe will be better than people think—you accelerate the rebuilding process.

To get this ball rolling, Charlotte needs to trade their pick. It makes the most sense for a team in need of tons of help fast.

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Is LeBron James or Kevin Durant More Important to Their Team’s Title Hopes?

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Jun 122012

There is no question that LeBron James is the most important player to his team’s success. Obviously Kevin Durant is second on that list, but when taking a close look, James has the clear edge.

There are certainly x-factors that will need to step up for both teams, but their engines are powered by what the two MVP-candidates do. Going beyond what is evident with the naked eye, the numbers support this claim.

LeBron James led the NBA in PER (Performance Efficiency Rating) for the fifth year in a row with a 30.7. Durant was an awesome, but inferior 26.7 in this category. For those that are unaware, this is a formula that determines production per minutes played.

It has become very popular, and in many ways the most referenced stat for judging basketball excellence.

That said, James dominated this year as he has the past five seasons. James does more with his time on the floor than any player in the NBA, Durant included. What’s more important than that?

Another relevant stat is win-shares. This stat is based on a formula that calculates how many wins one player brought his team. It takes into account defense and offense, and James led the NBA in that category as well with 14.5.

It’s the fourth year in a row he has been tops there. Durant was again stellar, but secondary accounting for 12.2 wins for the Thunder.

All season long James proved his worth to his team was greater than Durant’s. The win-share formula is a complicated one, but it has proven to be reasonably accurate over the years. Having the PER and win-shares give us the same conclusion provides support for both claims.

That’s why he won this thing for the third time:

Then again, this is just the regular season. We’re not only in the playoffs, this is the NBA Finals baby. This is a new season, new rules—or is it?

Things have held true to regular season form in the postseason as well. James’ PER has been even better at 31.2 since the truncated season came to an end. Durant has also stepped up his game with a 27.9, but it still isn’t on the King’s level.

The same thing goes for win-shares. James has accounted for 4.8 wins for the Heat in the postseason alone—Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals should have counted for two. This performance was one for the ages:

Durant has accounted for 3.2 of the Thunder’s postseason victories. That proves things from a statistical standpoint, but what about just watching the flow of the game?

It’s still LeBron.

He takes the most difficult defensive assignment in the fourth quarter, no matter the position. He also stays aware of the ball and must be accounted for as a shot-blocker and a terror in the passing lanes.

Watch him read the play and snuff Tyson Chandler at the rim in the first round of the playoffs:

He has played more positions overall and generally has far more duties on the floor than Durant. His worth here was magnified by Chris Bosh‘s absence in part of the last two series.

It’s obvious neither of these teams could accomplish anything close to this success without their best players, but no one means more to his team’s success than James.

Feature image from dayandadream.com and streetball.com

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Tyler Zeller: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

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Jun 112012

Tyler Zeller is a true center with a great motor, but he’s limited by mediocre athleticism. He is the rare four-year NBA draft prospect, and he helped guide the North Carolina Tar Heels to a Final Four appearance in the 2011-2012 season.

The true seven-footer is one of only a handful of seniors I have projected to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Zeller improved in every major statistical category, in every year at Chapel Hill.

Zeller comes from a basketball family; he is the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard, and the brother of Indiana University star Cody Zeller and former Notre Dame player Luke Zeller.

His effort and durability give him very low bust potential, but teams and fans must understand what type of player they’re getting in Zeller. Jorrye Nixon of NBADraft.net said:

“He will be a good fit in a fast-paced offense.”

I would agree as this gives him a chance to out-hustle less mobile bigs down the floor.

Here is a scouting report on the Carolina big man highlighting his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 7′

Weight: 250 pounds

School: North Carolina

Date of Birth: January 17, 1990

Best NBA Position: Center

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 16.3 PPG, 28.2 MPG, 55.3 FG%, 0 3FG%, 80.8 FT%, 0.9 APG, 9.6 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 0.9 SPG

Skill Grades

Athleticism: B-

Size: A

Intangibles: A+

Rebounding: A

Ball Handling: B

Defense: A

Shooting: A-

Passing: B+

Post Game: A-

Basketball IQ: A-

Upside: B-

Strengths

Zeller is a hard-hat, lunch box player, and at seven feet tall that is a solid prospect. He plays hard all the time, runs the floor well and gives great effort on both ends of the floor.

He’s a solid rebounder who gets good position on the offensive and defensive glass. His biggest asset in the NBA, as far as skills are concerned, will be his shooting ability. Zeller is accurate and consistent on his jump shot out to 17 feet. I could easily see him extending that range to three-point distance.

He also has a solid post game. He can finish with nice jump hooks, or face up and take the mid-range jump shot. Zeller displays a good understanding of the game. His defensive positioning and rotation are solid. On offense, he understands positioning and angles well.

He is also an 80 percent free-throw shooter, and that is always a great quality in a big man.

Zeller’s versatility is on display in this video:

Weaknesses

He has a credit card vertical, and he tends to keep the ball too low in traffic. This tendency will lead to strips, and him getting his shot blocked a lot more than it should.

Because of Zeller’s athletic deficiencies, he has little upside. He is what you see, but that is a very capable and solid big man.

With size at a premium in the NBA, a legit seven-footer who plays hard is worth a late lottery pick.

NBA Player Comparison

Slightly More Athletic Mike Gminski

Mike Gminski was a solid center in the NBA during the 1980s and early 1990s for several NBA teams. In his 13-year-career, Gminski averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He was a very good jump shooter, passer and free throw shooter.

He did have some limitations as an athlete, but he was skilled and he played hard. This profile is very similar to Zeller, though I think he’s a little better athlete than Gminski was.

Seven-footers with a solid motor can play as long as they want. If you throw in some decent offensive abilities, Zeller will have a solid NBA career.

Draft Projection

From No. 10 to No. 18

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Perry Jones III: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

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Jun 112012

Perry Jones III is one of the most talented players in the NBA draft, but some feel he has underachieved.

The 6’11″ forward helped lead the Baylor Bears to a 30-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance this past season, but his critics were looking for more.

PJ3 decided to bypass his final two years at Baylor and made himself eligible for the NBA draft on April 10. He averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season.

He has the ability to play three positions, but in the NBA his best position is small forward. I believe playing out of position is the biggest reason we didn’t see a more dominant PJ3 in college.

Here is a scouting report on Jones III that highlights his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile:

Height: 6’11″

Weight: 235 pounds

School: Baylor

Date of Birth: September 24, 1991

Best NBA Position: Small Forward

College Stats: (Key Stats Underlined) 13.5 PPG, 30.7 MPG, 50 FG%, 30.3 3FG%, 69.6 FT%, 1.3 APG, 7.6 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG

Skill Grades:

Athleticism - A

Size – A+

Intangibles – B-

Rebounding - B

Ball Handling – A

Defense - B

Shooting - A-

Passing – B+

Post Game - B

Basketball IQ – B+

Upside - A+

Strengths:

PJ3 handles the ball like a guard, but at 6’11″ he has the size to play power forward. Therein lies the problem, he is a perimeter player that was thrown into a post position at Baylor. If he is allowed to be a perimeter player, he’ll be at his best in the NBA.

He has a nice first step, good leaping ability and good vision. He has range out to the three-point line, but he needs to be more consistent there.

His combination of size, skills and athleticism is rare, and he could be a nightly matchup problem for opponents if used properly. As far as his physical ceiling goes, he is as skilled as any player in the draft, but he needs the right situation.

Take a look at the versatile PJ3 in action in this highlight reel:

Weaknesses:

This kid is not a No. 1 option, he is much more comfortable in a supportive role. Because of his size and immense talent, critics expect him to be the take-over-a-game type.

That simply doesn’t appear to be in his mental makeup.

With that said, it doesn’t mean he has no value. Every team needs a player that has tremendous versatility and plays off a superstar, that is who Jones III is.

As a SF, his rebounding would be fine, but as a PF he doesn’t crash the boards like an ideal 4-man. He has solid footwork in the post, but he needs to get a little stronger to establish and maintain position.

At times, he can be neutralised by stronger defenders. But again, as a perimeter player, some of these issues won’t be exposed.

NBA Player Comparison:

Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom is one of the most talented players in the NBA, but he isn’t a true No. 1 option. He always put up nice numbers before joining the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, but in LA he found his comfort zone.

In his 12-year-career, Odom has averaged 14 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and has demonstrated amazing versatility for a man that stands 6’10″. He has also been called an underachiever, and had his desire questioned.

The similarities between Jones III and Odom are there both in the physical and intangibly. But if Jones III can find a spot that allows him to play the type of role Odom played in LA, you’ll see the best of PJ3.

Draft Projection:

From No. 8 to No. 15

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