ESPN NBA Draft - Best Available

[scrooner]

Apologies if this has been posted. It just came up on my feed a few minutes ago.

http://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable/_/position/ovr/page/2

#14 Rui Hachimura
Pre-Draft Analysis
Strengths
- Intriguing physical profile for a modern power forward. Light on his feet. Can play above the rim in space. Plays with exceptional strength. Finishes through contact.
- Potential as a versatile defender given his feet, strength and length..
- Excellent touch 15 feet and in. Comfortable pulling up off the bounce in midrange spots. Shows promise as a standstill 3-point shooter. Can straight-line drive. Still only 20 years old.

Improvement areas
- Feel for the game still a work in progress on both ends of the floor. (Didn't start playing basketball until he was 14.) Not a natural facilitator. Career 62 assists to 121 turnovers. A step slow reacting on defense at times.
- Much more comfortable in midrange spots than 3. Ball comes off the side of his hand on occasion. Career 28.7 percent from 3 on 122 attempts.
- Confidence and assertiveness fluctuate.

#23 Brandon Clarke
Pre-Draft Analysis
The 22-year-old transfer is outstanding as a pogo-stick shot-blocker and finisher who also shows enough as a passer and perimeter shooter to pique the interest of NBA teams. His energy really sets the tone, and his switch ability and shot-blocking make him a perfect fit in the modern NBA. Clarke could very well earn NBA sleeper status, with teams dubbing him a potential Jordan Bell-like modern big.

#62 Killian Tillie

#68 Zach Norvell

[webspinnre]

That's pretty solid. I think I'd say that Clarke is going to be more plug and play as far as NBA readiness, while Rui probably has the higher ceiling.

[caldwellzag]

Thanks for posting, makes me think that Norvell will be back, as he is fringe 2nd round right now. You don't test the NBA waters with fringe 2nd round status. Tillie is the wild card, as I definitely see him going, but if he is sitting at fringe 2nd round so why not come back and show you are healthy.

[DZ]

I know near nothing about the NBA game, but the analysis seems more than fair, and fairly accurate on the number compared to past players.

Gotta feel like Tillie would be 30 points higher if not susceptible to chronic injury. His up and down nature game to game might well have been due to that chronic injury, something we rarely think about. I just want the best for them.

Norvelle it seems will be with us another year, and probably will rise.

[bartruff1]

The NBA or College Basketball are not the only options available to highly skilled players….obviously..... there are dozens of former Gonzaga players …….that probably wanted to play in the NBA...…. but are making a good deal of money and playing all over the world.

I read somewhere on the internet that 2/3 of the players drafted at 30 or later never make the NBA....it was on the internet so it is true..

[Ezag]

Unless Tillie really breaks out in the Tourney he will probably have to return or play overseas

[MDABE80]

Is it a weak draft this year? This article doesn’t seem to be very enthusiastic over our top 2 guys. Love it if they both stick around to clean up their games.

[zag67]

I would say if Tillie has a super solid league and WCC tournament he will set himself up for middle second round and the if a solid NCAA then he would go even higher. Remember the NBA drafts on potential and they have seen a lot last year. The key is no injury.

[raise the zag]

#A step slow reacting on defense at times.#

This must improve for Rui or he will get eaten alive in NBA.

His defensive woes were exposed this Summer at All American camp with best players in NCAA. He looked terrific in individual drills, yet was destroyed in 5 on 5 given his lack of awareness/feel on defense. His mins and impact were limited as a result.

If Rui was a Clarke level defender, I'd consider us a near lock for Final 4.

However his help defense, switching, and zone reads along perimeter are a major work in progress.

Rui are Kispert gave up around 80% of our points vs Tennessee and UNC

[DZ]

However his help defense, switching, and zone reads along perimeter are a major work in progress.

The good thing for him and us is he sure seems to be a quick study, and I think he will make progress.

[amaronizag]

Tillie is still an unknown quantity due to injury. If his recovery is complete, and he returns to 100% of where he was in March and April last year, his draft stock will rise significantly in the tournament. Snacks will improve too.

[Zagger]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if both Killian and Zach move up 20+ spots by the end of the season.

[Hoopaholic]

This must improve for Rui or he will get eaten alive in NBA.

His defensive woes were exposed this Summer at All American camp with best players in NCAA. He looked terrific in individual drills, yet was destroyed in 5 on 5 given his lack of awareness/feel on defense. His mins and impact were limited as a result.

If Rui was a Clarke level defender, I'd consider us a near lock for Final 4.

However his help defense, switching, and zone reads along perimeter are a major work in progress.

Rui are Kispert gave up around 80% of our points vs Tennessee and UNC

if memory serves me he has only been playing organized basketball since 2012......still alot of nuiances to learn and he only became english proficient 2 years ago.....

[RenoZag]

Why don't more hoops players wear mouthguards ? Interferes with breathing ??

[CDC84]

The NCAA tournament plays a big factor in this. If Gonzaga had lost to NW in the 2nd round by 17, I am almost certain Zach Collins would've returned to Gonzaga. But by the time he got to the final 4 and he was in the title game, he was the best player on the floor on the biggest stage possible. A lot more people watched that Gonzaga/UNC title game than a whole a lot of NBA finals games in recent times. It elevated his stock big time. In fact, it elevated with each round that Gonzaga advanced.