NBA Draft Chat - Featuring Ricky O'Donnell

Mort has Ricky O'Donnell from SB Nation join the show to discuss next month's NBA Draft.

Ricky goes through an avalanche of prospects, and detail what he thinks of their upside.

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

https://www.fanduel.com/research/nba

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hi, my name is Morton Jensen, and you're listening to
the NBA Podcast. Hi, and welcome to the NBA Podcast.
My name is Morton Jensen, and today we'll be digging
in deep. When it comes to the twenty twenty five
NBA Draft, and I know it's a month away, I

(00:28):
don't care. We have to get to it. There are
so many names. There are only four teams left in
the NBA. We have to fill out time and the
draft is such and that's a Christmas Eve to me.
I always love when you have like sixty players come
into the league and kind of make their own mark.
And to go through a lot of these prospects, I
had to bring on the one the only Ricky o'donald

(00:49):
from sp Nation, Senior NBA writer editor.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
How are you, sir, I'm good more. Thanks for having
me man. It's a fun draft class. I would say
my overall view of this draft has changed quite a
bit from the preseason. At times we thought, oh, maybe
this is gonna be like a really really good draft.
Then there was a period where maybe, like around Christmas,

(01:13):
it's like wow, like most of these guys aren't living
up to it. Even Cooper Flagg hasn't been that great
yet fast forward to the end of the season, Flag
absolutely phenomenal after he turns eighteen years old, looks like
the obvious slam dunk generational prospect we always believed he
would be below him. I think a lot of other
players started popping up that looked like really intriguing bets

(01:35):
and the lottery and beyond. So I like this draft
big picture view. I'm saying it's slightly better than the
average NBA draft class. That might even be a conservative
outlook on it, but that's kind of how I'm approaching it,
and I think that there's a lot of good players
here worth taking and worth talking about.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
I mean, look, then that's a perfect segue to get
into kasparashakas shown is because I think he sort of
just drives a little bit what you were talking about.
Like for the first half of the season, you know,
I think he looked great, and in the second half
of the season less great is probably the termination I
want to say, or the description I want to use.
And then you had, like you said, Flack start up

(02:15):
a little bit slow, then got to it. So like
it seems like it's been a little bit of a
rollercoaster for some of these guys.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
For sure. I think yakachonas looked phenomenal at the start
of the season. We could go more into him specifically
if you want to, but basically I would say that
he had exposed a little bit as the year went on,
facing a lot of blitzes where Big ten teams were
just sending two to the ball every time, thinking that,
you know, Illinois, other playmakers couldn't beat them, and so

(02:44):
I think that that's where like a lot of the
turnover problems started for Yakachonas. Another player I would put
in this would be Igor Demon, who looked amazing for
BIU at the start of the year. I think my
first in season mock draft I had him as a
maybe even the number three pick, but when he played
tougher competition, it was a lot more difficult for him.

(03:05):
He was great against you know, low major in mid
major competition, mostly low major, but going through that big
twelve schedule, that's no easy assignment, even for a really
talented nineteen year old like Demon. So yeah, I think, uh,
of course, peaks and valleys, that's always gonna happen with
young players. But I think this draft has settled into
a nice spot, is how I would describe it.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
So let's get into Yakashoons because he's a guy who
I think is interesting because you can sort of see
an abitious GM talk himself into him at like seven,
or you could even see him slide down into the
late lottery. Like it's so hard for me to like
peck him in one spot and say, okay, this is
the spot for him, Like what is the overall CeNSE

(03:51):
you're getting of how NBA seems to looking at him.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
He's someone with really well defined strengths and weaknesses to me,
and I think there are some pretty serious questions about
his pro translation. But also he gives you potentially the
one thing that is the most valuable thing perhaps in
the NBA, which is advantage creation. And advantage creation doesn't
just come with like a lightning quick first step. It

(04:16):
comes with the ability to map the floor and get
the ball out to your teammates to give them an
efficient scoring opportunity. And that's what Yakachonas is really good at.
I love him in the pick and roll. I think
that you know, he's someone who just has like panoramic vision,
is a passer He's really good at being able to
like map where his teammates are. He delivers very creative

(04:36):
feeds to his teammates as well. You know, you'll see
him throw crosscourt passes, You'll see him hit the role
man pretty well. So his playmaking vision I think is great.
He's awesome at sort of igniting transition opportunities. And I
think he's just like sort of a natural in the
pick and roll, which is what the NBA game is
still mostly built around. So I think that that is

(04:59):
a big benefit for his translation. To me, I think
that his his own scoring is sort of pretty dependent
on his step back three. You'll just see it all
over his tape where when he gets a big switched
on to him, he is like setting him up to
go to the left step back three, and he started

(05:20):
doing it to his right a little bit more too
as the season went on. Uh, it's hard to find, like,
you know, the exact number of like what did he
hit on step backs. I've read people who have hand
tracked it at about thirty six percent for the year.
His three point stroke was only thirty one point eight percent.
And he is one of these players that I think

(05:41):
is like a better shooter off the bounce than off
the catch. Uh, you know James Harden the same way,
Like most players are better off the catch, but there's
some guys who need to be in rhythm, and I
think Yakachonas is a guy who needs to be in rhythm.
Where I worry about Yakachonas is how can he score
if he doesn't become like an excellent side step in,

(06:02):
step back pull up three point shooter because attacking the
basket it almost seemed like the only way he could
score was to get to the fallout. Now, I do
think that like he is pretty intriguing strength creation potential. Obviously,
first year freshman in Illinois coming from Lithuania, he already
seemed pretty crafty as a guy who had a pro

(06:24):
background of how to like pick up files against big
ten defenses. He's also just pretty strong, like he can
keep his momentum and like play through contact more than
a lot of the guards in this class. I would say,
but you know, how much does the foul drawing stuff
in foul baiting stuff in college translate up to the

(06:46):
NBA when everyone else is bigger and faster, Right? That
is the main knock on Yaka Chonas, he's a bad athlete.
He's just not a good run and jump athlete. And
as a guard, don't you need to be a pretty
great run and jump at athlete to succeed in the NBA.
He's not someone who to me, is going to like
consistently pressure the rim and significantly threaten you with his

(07:08):
finishing over length. That's sort of where I worry about him,
is like his inside the arc scoring. He had a
couple flashes of a mid range game, but to me,
he's kind of a Mori ball guy where he's gonna
take a lot of threes, he's gonna get to the
rim potentially and try to get to the fall line.
You just wonder, like we'll still be able to get
to the fall line against bigger, faster, stronger NBA defenses.

(07:33):
So the turnover issue was the big thing with him,
and he was turning over the ball like crazy, and
I would say, like the possession game just become like
the new sort of market inefficiency and NBA basketball like
turnovers are so under the microscope in the playoffs, same
with offensive rebounding, and Yakachonas just gives possessions away constantly.

(07:55):
That's what he was doing this year mostly he had
trouble facing blitzes. So can you overcome that? Is that
something that like where you know, you see the blitz
more and more, all right, now I know how to
execute against it, right or is it like, well, you know,
maybe he's just like still a little bit shorter than

(08:16):
you'd like a primary ball handler to be, and maybe
you know, he just can't turn the corner to like
beat some of these hard traps the way faster guards
might be able to, you know, the one signifier of
his athletical limitations, I would say only one dunk on
the year for Yakachonas. So in general, I like Yakachonas.

(08:36):
I view him probably as more of like a late
lotto pick or a mid first round pick than a
guy I would be thinking about taking in the top five.
But I think it's worth asking yourself, you know, is
there something of the idea that like, it's tough to
go from the European game to the American college game

(09:00):
where the floor is just a little bit more condensed,
and you know, some of the rules and the officiating
are different. Sometimes it takes guys a couple of years
and I'll point to like Franz Wagner, who really wasn't
that good his freshman year in Michigan. As a sophomore,
he was an absolute killer. And I would have no
doubt that if Yakachonas did return to Illinois for his
sophomore year that he would basically be the best guard

(09:21):
in the country. So maybe there's some potential for NBA
teams to kind of buy low on him because he
ended the year poorly, you know, all these turnover issues,
kind of a bad NCAA tournament performance in the A
round to thirty two loss to Kentucky. So I don't know.
I find myself to be mostly in the middle on Yakachonas,
but I see the vision for sure. I just you know,

(09:44):
I think he's gonna be really reliant on the step
back three in the league, And you know, if he's
good at that shot, he's gonna be a good player.
If he's not good at that shot, I think he's
gonna have some trouble.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
Do you think it's reasonable to say that he's not
going to drop past twelve for obvious reasons?

Speaker 2 (10:01):
So I wouldn't say that he's kind of the type
of player that arturist Karnaschovis normally goes for right. I
usually think Karnachovis goes for guys who are like long,
athletic and less polished, So I mean that's just been
the track record with most of his picks. I would
say Yakachonas is more like he has a very defined

(10:23):
role of like what he's good at and where he struggles.
So I actually don't know, like you would think that
arturists would like him because he's a Lithuanian and Bizellis
was Lithuanian, so maybe the bulls would take him at twelve.
I also just don't think he'd be a very good
fit with Josh Giddy, so you know it's tough, but yeah,
I think he could. He could slip further than twelve.

Speaker 1 (10:46):
Interesting.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
I would be surprised but not totally shocked if the
Bulls passed on him and he was on the board.
And if they did pass on him, I would expect
them to take a long, lanky, toolsy forward because that's
what urturist usually likes.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
This is a draft where there are a lot of
long point guards to tall point guards, which I know
we've talked about this before in years past, that's always
been one of your big priorities. You love big guards. Like,
if we go up top, we have Dylan Harper six
to six point guard. Well, Combo can play both the
one and the two. I'd argue there, we just covered

(11:21):
yakushonas also, like if he's going to play a lead
guard role, he's taller than the average point guard. Jeremiah
Fears also a pretty tall point guard. I would say, like,
is that just something that we've seen. It feels to
me like this is something we've seen in recent years
where the small point guard is basically being phased out
because like you just can't defensively survive with players who

(11:45):
are five to eleven six feet and that sort of thing.
Like it seems to me that nowadays, moving forward the draft,
when it comes to guards, you have to be six
four six' five even as a lead.

Speaker 2 (11:56):
Guard, well it's funny you bring that, up because we
have a very short guy in this draft who is,
very very, good and that Is Jace richardson out Of Michigan,
state WHO i believe measured barefoot.

Speaker 1 (12:05):
At six o'clock. Good, yeah and he.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
Follows in the footsteps of two more very small guards
who entered the league last year both top ten picks
Former kentucky Teammates Read shepherd And Rob. Dillingham neither of
those guys really did anything this. Year, obviously they were
on very good. Teams With shepherd going to The, rockets
they were the two seed in The. West Dillingham's Minnesota
timberwolves are still, playing but like The timberwolves, now it's

(12:31):
just watching them play like they're so, big they're so.
Physical it almost feels weird, that, Like, wow you trade
it up to Get Rob, dillingham who's just like such
a munchkin out. There you, know he's gonna be the
smallest player on the court in any game he plays.
In of, Course Mike connelly not exactly the biggest guard,
either AND i think he's done pretty well for. Himself but,
YEAH i, think like what you want is more outs

(12:52):
for a prospect to be. Successful and if you're really, small,
well the room's ten feet. Tall so it's just going
to be harder to, uh harder to impact the game
on both, ends and harder to guard more skilled players
as those players get bigger and.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Bigger, yeah so let's get Into Dylan, harper who is
outside Of Flag obviously he's viewed as the one of
the top guys. There he seems like a lock for number.
Two like The spurs won the second. Pick here are
we looking at a situation where they should just go
ahead and take him and not worry about like the

(13:33):
plethora of guards that you have. Already is he just
too good to pass up at that?

Speaker 2 (13:37):
SPOT i think The spurs have to worry about, It
like if they're really going to go With Darren, Fox
Stefan castle And Dylan, harper that's a lot of, talent
but like the shooting IMMEDIATELY i think is a just gigantic.
Question mark those three on the, perimeter and then you
have him Around wemby and like really like you don't
want to Use wemby as a. Space that's Something wemby can.

(14:00):
Do but if The spurs are, smart they Want wemby
near the rim as much as, possible and they want
him kicking out to. Shooters SO i think they absolutely
have to worry about the lack of shooting of that.
Trio that doesn't necessarily mean that you trade the pick
or you take someone besides For Dylan harper at number,
two because The spurs still just don't have enough good.

(14:20):
PLAYERS i would SAY i saw them live last year
play against The, bucks and it was like, jarring how
thin their. Rotation it's, like you, KNOW cp three goes
to the bench and like they can't do, anything and
then When wemby goes to the, bench it's, like oh my,
god this is the worst team in the. League so
they just need more good. PLAYERS i would, say H,
HARPER i think is really, good big talented. GUARD i

(14:45):
love his driving ability and his ability to get to the,
rim SO i would say that's his. Signature trait seventy
percent at the rim this, year according To. Barbatorvik and
what's interesting about that is like he's not like a
mega athletic. Guard he's not like A John Wall Russell,
westbrook a Prime Derrek, rose where those guys can just
like you, know create a paint touch out of thin

(15:06):
air and just get get to the, rim finish at the.
Rim R harper had eleven dunks on the. Year that's
better Than yakachonas' is. Won BUT i don't think that
he's like some monster freak athlete who's going to be
like kramin on guys off one foot. Takeoffs so how
is his finishing going to? Hold BECAUSE i would say

(15:27):
that it is the most important part of you, know
the fact that he is the number two overall. Selection
if his finishing was at like sixty three percent instead
of seventy, PERCENT i think it's more of an open
conversation about who goes number two because of his shooting,
troubles and like the big swing skill For harper is
going to be the jump. Shot this, year he made

(15:48):
fifty of one hundred and fifty. Threes that's thirty three.
Percent that's not particularly. Good he shot seventy five percent
at the line for free. Throws, decent you, know not.
GREAT i don't like it's a super encouraging number for
his shooting. PROJECTION i don't feel like his volume in
terms of his three point attempts is a super encouraging

(16:08):
sign for his long term shooting. Projection and then if
you like dig up the high school, stats like he
wasn't a very good free throw shooter or a three
point shooter in high. School So Ken Dilon harper shoot the.
Ball that's gonna be the big. QUESTION i don't think
he's really good enough to be a GREAT nba. Player
unless he can be a good. Shooter this might just

(16:28):
kind of be like more like eye test analysis than
looking at like concrete. Numbers BUT i like the way
he flows into a. Shot there's just not a lot
of wasted. Movements AND i think that he's equally comfortable
off the dribble and off the. CATCH i THINK i
saw thirty seven percent off the catch this, year pretty.

(16:50):
Good like if he could get to that, overall it
is like his all in, NUMBER i think you would
be pretty happy with that if it's not good. Volume
SO i think he's gonna. Shoot i'm kind of just
going off vibes on that more so than like any
like you, know numerical. Projection BUT i think his stroke

(17:12):
looks pretty. Good so what's nice about. Him he can
play on or off the. Ball he's got great positional.
SIZE i think he can pressure the Ball. Defensively i'd
say he's more of a scorer than a, playmaker is
my read on. Him But, god his teammates were so
bad this, Year, like you, know how does a team
with two top five picks miss THE Ncaa tournament go
under five? Hundred, well that's just The rutgers basketball experience for.

(17:35):
YOU i, mean they were just in way over their
head from the very start of the, season and so,
YEAH i Think. HARPER i would take him number. Two
but The, spurs LIKE i would not be sitting on
your prospects. FOREVER i think, that like they probably do
need to make a consolidation trade in whether you're Trading
harper Or castle Or, fox whatever it. Is, LIKE i

(17:56):
think they should keep their options.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
Open that's, INTERESTING i mean because you, know it helps
form an overarching opinion Of harbor, too BECAUSE i see
some people who are basically, saying don't trade, him keep.
Him he's like the Next James, harden which That James
harden COMPARISON i think is a little you, know just
because he's a lefty and he's you know built, That,

(18:17):
LIKE i get that there are some elements of, that you,
know his slash into the, Basket But james was always,
sneaky ATHLETIC i think to a point Where Dylan harper
might not compare it that. Favorably but it's interesting to
hear that The spurs should keep their options open on this.
One that he's not a by all means, necessary keep

(18:39):
keep him around type of.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Guy, YEAH i would take, HIM i think OR i
would trade For giannest if they could pull off the honest,
trade but OTHERWISE i would take, him and THEN i
would maybe think about trading him or Trading fox or Trading,
casp you, know because they just need more shooting on that,
team AND i just don't know of those three guys
together are really going to be complimentary.

Speaker 1 (19:02):
Fits what about trading down and targeting one very specific
player here in Trade, johnson who looks like he is
really coming into his, Own LIKE i followed him a
little bit this, year like, always the scoring touch was
there almost from day, one high volume three point. Shooting

(19:22):
he tested out well at the, combine hit a lot
of shots at the combine as, Well like he's becoming
another draft darling. Here would he be worth trading down
for if you're The, spurs for, Example, NO.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
I would rather just Take harper because to, me Like
johnson is LIKE i don't want to call him a,
specialist but he's like almost verging on specialist territory where
he's a six. Shooter but like how complete is this?
Game like is he going to impact the game? Defensively
is he going to impact the game as a? Passer
is he going to impact the game as a. Rebounder

(19:56):
is he going to turn the possession game in your?
Favor these are the kind of Questions i'm asking myself
after watching the playoffs and just seeing how thin the
margins are in the, postseason how physical the game. Is
like a good outcome For Trey johnson would Be Tyler,
hero And Tyler hero would be awesome With, wemby you,
know like that would be the type of player who you,
know maybe you want With wemby playing off. Him but

(20:21):
WHILE i Like Trey, JOHNSON i just don't know if
he like really isn't truly all around. Player, honestly The
spurs would be a great fit for him though because Of.
Wemby but, like are him And fox like if they
go up against a good, Backcourt like who are they? Defending?
REALLY i think? So, YEAH i. WOULD i would Take harper.
THERE i Like. HARPER i Like harper in every area

(20:43):
of the game more Than johnson besides for.

Speaker 1 (20:45):
Shooting, okay that's a good that's a good wrap up
there on that. One that makes. Sense Bj, Edgcombe SO
i have a question for you on this because it
seems like he's split the waters on two. Things, so,
like some people look at him and see a future leak,
guard someone who can be the primary. Ballhanter some see
him worse secondary. Creator where do you land on?

Speaker 2 (21:07):
That, Yeah so the first Thing i'm gonna say About
edgecomb is that he measured a little bigger THAN i
thought he. WOULD i think he was six' four barefoot
and six seven and a, Half wingspan so he's probably
about six or five and. A half could you list
him at six six and get away, with it, you
know maybe with. Decent length so he's interesting because he's

(21:29):
someone who is just such a freak, at least and
when you're really a freak, like that, you know the
mind runs wild about the type of player you could.
Turn Into Like michael Jordan And dwayne wade were guys
who like really leverage their athleticism to be like the
basis of. Their greatness and you know they weren't great

(21:49):
because they were, athletic, Though, right like they were just like,
so skilled and there's everything about their offensive approach was so.
Fine tuned and, To me edgecomb is just like so
rough around. The, edges still he's kind of a ball.
Of clay but ONE reason I like edgecomb IS because
i think he has out to being a, good player

(22:10):
whether or not he turns into you Know This Donovan
Mitchell Prime victor oladipo hybrid of sort of like, a
shorter super strong athletic guard who you can trust with
the ball in. His hands, like sure maybe One day
edgecomb could turn, into that because he has a lightning quick,
first step because he can just like hang in the

(22:31):
air forever with. His hangtime because he's just like a
really good, rim attacker but he needs so much refinement
in his. Offensive process, for one he was not a
very good rim finisher despite being a. Total freak like
you would think that if you're, that athletic you should
be able to finish at the rim. Really well but his,

(22:51):
finishing was, you Know below his peers for a lot
of these top prospects based off how he finished around.
The Rim and i'll pull pull this up actually as
we talk. About it but so that's just like, one
thing like he's just gonna need to get his OFFENSIVE approach,
i think to. Be better the other thing is at,

(23:12):
the moment he's not really a threat to pull up
off the dribble from three. AT all i was really
impressed with his catch, and shooting but is a pull,
Up shooter like he doesn't really threaten the. Defense much
so a lot of that's just, like footwork it's like,
body mechanics it's like everything coming. Into line but like
the best VERSION. Of vj edgecombe is a guy who

(23:35):
you're playing him on. The ball he can hit a pull,
up three he can beat you going to. The rim
he learned some finishing craft he's getting to, the line
and that's just, the offense and then defensively he should
hopefully be. A monster but what's Nice about edgecomb too
is that like because he's not he measured a little
bigger than we thought, He would like he'd probably be a,

(23:56):
wing too where he can just space the floor on
offense and you don't have to trust him with like
high level, decision making which is another AREA where i,
would say like he's, you know he's just like not
polished yet at, like uh, you know beating traps and
dribbling against ball pressure and all. These things so as

(24:17):
an off, ball player like then he can hit the
offensive glass where he's pretty good for a guard because
he's so strong and, so athletic pretty good spot up
shooter he's shown, so far and then you know he
can focus more of his energy and defense where he
can really be a wrecking ball and get you out and.
Transition OPPORTUNITIES so i would say THAT'S what i Like

(24:38):
about edgecomb is there's this picture of him as like
a high level on ball guy as. A guard but
even if that, doesn't happen he could still be PRETTY
good i think as an off ball smaller wing who
focuses more energy, and defense who can hit the, offensive
glass and who's a terror.

Speaker 1 (24:58):
In, transition oh like one of those really high influential
role players that will eventually make it to, the finals,
for example like one of those. Underrated guys that. MAKES
sense i can. Buy That, JEREMIAH fears i have a question. About,
HIM yeah I mean i'm just jumping all over. THE
map i hope that's. That's good so he's so young
and he was, so Productive like, i've seen there were

(25:21):
there are a couple questions about his, skill set. HIS
tools i think the jump shot is one of things
that's being brought up as ON although i think if,
memory first he did pretty well with the free throw
line on. High, volume so like, two questions this is a.
Two parter one should be worried about the three point
shot at that young of, an age considering that he
hit like eighty five percent from the free. Throw line,

(25:42):
and secondarily, you know when you produce at this level
at eighteen, years old at the, collegiate level like, seventeen points,
four rebounds, four assists does that not in some way
transfer over historically that you're, just gonna, you know produce
at the secondary level or At The. Pro, bowls yeah.

Speaker 2 (26:00):
IT'S tough i want To. Like fears i'm Biased towards
fears because he's from my part of. The world he
grew up, In, juliet illinois which is like two towns
over FROM where i, Grew UP so i want to Root.
For fears i've been Hearing about fears as a high
school player for a. Long time He Wasn't Juliette Public
high school and ended up transferring out of the area

(26:21):
for his last year of. High school only played three
years of high school before going Off, to oklahoma playing
the toughest conference in. The country this guy didn't turn
eighteen until the Middle, of october and they built the
entire team. Around it from the time he walked. On campus, it's,
like dude this is. Your team everyone else is a,
Role player like you're. The engine let's see what you.
Can do and it went about as well as you could.

(26:46):
HAVE hoped i, would, say like there were definitely still
some rough moments, for him and some parts, where like, you,
see man this guy would be so much better when
his jumper, is better when he, gets strong when he
learns how to like control the pace a little bit
better instead of just always stepping on. The gas, but

(27:06):
uh just the overall talent and like his high end
plays were just like. FUCKING awesome I hope i can.
Say that, oh, yeah absolutely they were. Really good but
you sort of just look at his statistical profile and you, might,
think like is this? Guy good he hit a twenty?
Percent turnover do you trust him to make decisions and
not be pissing the ball? All over and? Important, possessions

(27:29):
okay what was this three? Point percentage just three point
percentage was twenty eight? Point, four, yeah yeah so he
went thirty eight for one p thirty four. From deep
he was particularly bad on the, pull up SIMILARITY with.
Vj edgecom, you know sometimes it's just it's harder to
like figure out how to hit a pull, up three
get a spot. Up three, you know you got to

(27:51):
set up your man around the screen a lot. Of
times you got to know when to, take it when
not to. Take it, Rim finishing So like fears pretty
nasty creating unassisted attempts at. The rim he can take
you off, the dribble get a look at. The rim
problem is he can't make. A layup fifty three Percent
One jeremiah fears. This year that's not. Any good we

(28:11):
were Just Saying dylan harper was at seventy percent, for
comparison and, You know jeremiah fifty, Three percent so that
is sort of the case. AGAINST him I like fears
because again kind of for the, eye test he's so
damn fast and his handle is, so GOOD so i
would say he is the best handle in, the class

(28:32):
just to throw that. Out there he gets wherever he
wants on, the floor and that is just something that
like he's going to enter the league with like an
elite combination of speed. And handle typically those can combine
to form. STAR upside i believe he's gonna. Shoot better

(28:53):
so a friend of mine covers high school Basketball, in
chicago and he was telling Me About jeremiah fears a
couple of years ago and talking about him as the
First Post steph curry player we've had in, the area
meaning that he would just take a lot of wild
pull up threes and that he could. MAKE them, I
thought but he didn't make them this year against, YOU
know sec defenses and maybe playing and, you Know The

(29:16):
Illinois suburban league is quite a bit easier than going
up against, You know florida, and uh, You know kentucky
and all these. Other PROGRAMS so i do like his shooting,
potential though because first, of all mid range shot forty
six percent on mid range, this year only six percent
of those. Were assisted so like to have pull up

(29:39):
touch from. Mid range that's a good, Foundational, stuff like, all,
right now let's build that. Range out but if you
can hit it from mid range and then your body
gets physically a, LITTLE stronger i think. That's good and
then like, you said the free throws eighty, five percent.
THAT'S encouraging i also saw a stat and someone with
synergy can, fact check do you have synergy more fact on?

(30:02):
THIS one i USED to i don't, know, anymore UNFORTUNATELY
but i saw someone say he hit like fifteen or
eighteen threes or something beyond twenty. Five feet so like
you just, Noticed this like go Watch the michigan game
when He Played danny Woolf in michigan in a non,
con matchup he like hit a game winning three at
the buzzer that was like so. So deep and he

(30:23):
was just hitting deep threes, all year so, you know
he made a bunch of super. Deep threes he was
a more effective shooter off. THE catch i wonder what
his role looks like. Scaled down and THAT'S something i
like worry about him because, all RIGHT like i think
it's a good sign that he put up such a high.
Usage rate it was still. Pretty efficient thirty two percent,

(30:44):
usage rate that's crazy IN. The sec, that's like, you
KNOW basically i don't know if That's quite, luca level but,
it's like, you know a half step. Below that, you
know like thirty two percent usage rate is a huge.
Usage trade what does he look like with a twenty
five percent? Usage right or did he have to be

(31:04):
the guy really driving the offense because you know who's he.
Gonna defend he's. So SKINNY what i don't know what
he measured at if. The combine let's. All right so
he measured at one hundred and seventy, Nine, pounds like
he's just very very thin and, very young and he's
gonna like grow into. His body maybe five years from

(31:25):
now he'll be jacked and, you know he'll just look
like this. Big guard but like, Right now i'd say he's,
like small right pretty much based off his height and.
His wingspan his wingspan was six' five, and a quarter
so like, not horribly small MAYBE like average i would say,
for a guard but.

Speaker 1 (31:43):
Not even, plus two though that's like. That's, the thing.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
Yeah so he's. Not, super long yeah so he measured
six' five, and a quarter wingspan, and he's plus three,
well almost plus three six. Two and a. Half he
measured barefoot.

Speaker 1 (31:58):
OH he was barefoot I was looking at tangathon where
he's listed at. Six three seventy five, But that's, with shoes?

Speaker 2 (32:04):
My bad, got it so yeah six two and, a
half no, shoes like you know sixty three and a.
HALF almost six four, i like him though he's so.
Much fun to watch his best. Players are absolutely spectacular
can you become? A better layup maker can you become
a better? Pull up three, shooter and you know he's
another guy like yakachonas where he's just he draws so
many files like? CAN that keep happening i have more

(32:26):
faith for him doing it, because he's. More athletic he's
quicker the guys were following him because they couldn't, Guard in,
my opinion, but yeah he's uh he's a lot of
fun to watch and he could go any number of ways,
man like to me he he has a higher gap
between flor and ceiling than most. Prospects, in this.

Speaker 1 (32:45):
Class interesting all right so. Let's go from guards so
some of the bigger ones out there come On my.
Watch from duke this THIS was the guy i in
might go on to talk about because HE is someone
and i. LIKE quite a bit i. Know he's very
grounded he's not necessarily an above the, rim type of

(33:07):
guy but it feels to me. He's got legitimate touch
he's not even nineteen yet he seems to understand what,
a GOOD shot is which i think, is even as important,
especially at this age in this situation he find himself
so in with, the draft coming up like he's he
just to me appears to be FAR more polished than i.

(33:28):
Thought he would be is? That, AN accurate statement well
i would say.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
Part Of that is because duke put him in a very,
small role this year and you just didn't really get
to see him have a ton of trust with the. Ball.

Speaker 1 (33:42):
In his hands right.

Speaker 2 (33:44):
There, was an idea that like and we'll get more into,
this in a second but like that he was gonna
be like, a stretch big man and instead he was
basically just a roller in. A dunker spot guy they
didn't really trust him to make, plays as a passer as.
A short role playmaker they didn't really let him space.
The floor very much like he kind of just ran
to the rim and. Was big and finished but here's

(34:04):
The Thing. About com on malawatch this guy is absolutely
gigantic seven foot one barefoot basically quarter inch below that
seven foot and three fourths of an inch barefoot seven almost,
seven to seven wingspan a quarter inch shy of a,
seven to seven wingspan two hundred and fifty two pounds standing.
Reach nine foot six so he just puts his arms

(34:27):
up and he's. Basically touching the rim that seems like
a good, sign for, a center you know you like
the center that's that big and then very. Efficient on
those Rolls Now he had cooper Flag And he had
conk nipple, feeding Him the ball and canipple in particular
really developed an awesome two Man. Game connection with malawatch

(34:47):
it Just felt like ca nipple knew. How to hit
him is the role man anytime he was going Off.
The bounce, and malawatch you know he made seventy seven
percent of his attempts at the rim now eighty percent. Of, those,
were ASSISTED so, like like i Said. Small role on
duke he's, set in a. SCREEN he's rolling hard i

(35:07):
do think there could potentially be more to, his game
than that but you just look like seventy three and
a half percent. True SHOOTING pretty good what i want
to See out of malow watch is, in to be
clear just to, BE upfront about this i have, A
Number three overall so i'm.

Speaker 1 (35:24):
Super, High, on HIM wow okay.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
Because i think, He's gonna SHOOT yeah and then i
think you have a giant floor spacer who takes up a,
lot of space defensively is an amazing roleman and finisher
and can step out. And Hit a three so duke
didn't really let him, shoot threes this year but he did,
go four of sixteen and his free throw percentage was.

(35:50):
Seventy SIX point six so i think he's got. Like
pretty good touch he's definitely not someone who you're gonna
do like, hacko whatever, on him, Like, hacka come on
no he's gonna. MAKE his free throws i think that
you gotta. Let him shoot, Threes whoever drafts him i'm
gonna be banging. The drum for. It let him shoot
let him try to be this super SIZE stretch big

(36:10):
because i think he can. Do it long term he
always he. Takes threes in warmones he, did, every game
before dude but then when the game started they wouldn't
let him take a three and he would just have
to roll to the rem a couple other just like
lightning rot. Lightning round style points i'm out watch does?
He have bad hands that is, A concern for me

(36:32):
like if he's gonna be, like a play finisher the
first part of finishing the play, is catching the ball
and you need him to be able to catch the ball.
Before He can finish? H is it overblown like it's sort,
Of hard to tell like there were times when you
could notice that he doesn't, have great hands certainly but
like is it a death? BLOW to, his stock i mean,

(36:54):
maybe it, COULD be But uh i guess i'm a little.
More optimistic on, that uh just passing he did. Nothing
as a passer it basically took this guy three or
four games. To get one assist he never got multiple,
assists in a. Game like hardly ever i'm going. Through,
his box score okay there's a, couple, of, games, two, Three,

(37:15):
four five six okay he had six games where, he
had multiple assists but he had a lot of, Games
with zero assists like a lot of. Games with zero
assists his assists percentage On the season for duke was.
Four point three percent that's about as low as you're
ever gonna see a Four. Percent assist s, draate so
you know everyone wants their big to be have, short,

(37:36):
Role playmaking ability right like he's, gonna be a roller
right if the ball comes to him, in the short
role does he just have to start jumping and try
to dunk it with his? Go, go gadget arms like
does he have any ability To read the flot you
would almost think he'd be, better defensively as well. Because
he's so big My read on malaw watch is that

(37:59):
he's a quick lateral mover, on the perimeter defensively, but
a slow jumper like he's two hundred. And fifty two
pounds he his. Arms go on forever it takes a
lot for him to. Get, off, the floor okay uh
that's why he doesn't like block a. Shit ton of
shots he's not like a super duper high level rebounder

(38:20):
like you would think someone, that size would be just
because he, Doesn't have that bounce like Do You remember
watching marvin bagley when, He was a duke like that
guy could get off the, floor like three times just. So,
So So quickly obviously marvin bagley was a HUGE, bust
in the nba so it's not a be all, End
all at all but like some guys just have that ability.
And SOME guys, don't and I think, like for malawatch's
role if he's primarily gonna be a roll man and,

(38:44):
a dunker spot guy like ideally you would like him
to get off the. Ground a, little quicker but again
he's got a nine, to six standing reach so like
he's pretty close to the rim just by lifting the,
ball over his head and he already showcased. Very good
FINISHING touch final point i. MENTIONED his lateral quickness i
think he can, switch on the perimeter which is gonna be.

(39:05):
Like really really interesting like you look at him, And,
you immediately think okay he's got to be. A drop
big man he's. Got this, long wingspan you know HE'S
sort of like i don't want, to call him lumbering
but he's not, Exactly agile out right, but you know
what he's really. Quick on the perimeter and what did
we Just See in, This Nick Celtics series Like Carl
towns is carl town's a better defender on the perimeter

(39:25):
than he. Is at the rim towns is so soft
at the rim and like you would just never trust
him to be. Your Main rim protector but tibbs made The.
Adjustment started switching towns he was holding Up pretty Well,
against tatum and brown like you kind of. Gotta TAP your,
cap so I wonder like will malowach be able, to
do that too because he can really close the space
in front of. You WITH his Length. So i, love

(39:47):
Malowatch You know lou, all dang discovered him mentored him
from the time he was like picked up the sport
when he was. Like fourteen or something he's Already. Played
in the olympics dang KICKED him is The gm in
the South suit and he's Pig team to Help duke.
Make THE final four and i think That there's more
to malo Watch This. Game than john. Shire let him
show My grand vision of kaman malowatch is as, a

(40:11):
three point shooter rim finisher and just like really, good
Rim Deterrent, guy not rudy gobert, but like he's huge
so that should give him a high, floor and uh
yeah you just you want to see him play with.
A little more energy you want, to see you know
him do something as a passer and catch. The ball more,
frequently but to me he actually has star upside, if

(40:36):
EVERYTHING comes together and i would be willing to take
that bad as highest number three. Overall in this class.

Speaker 1 (40:43):
There was something that dawned on me THE other day
when i, went THROUGH his profile, and i think you
of all. People will appreciate this he was born After
The Drafting. Of tyrus. Thomas, ricky.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
That's hilarious yeah TWO thousand and six nba drafter? Was
that seven six that was?

Speaker 1 (41:03):
Two, thousand, and.

Speaker 2 (41:04):
SIX yeah yeah, SIX i remember WELL i remember WHERE
i was when I heard That The bulls drafted LaMarcus
aldridge And Traded. HIM for tires thomas i was all.
IN on that. MOVE i Loved It. I love tyres Thomas.

Speaker 1 (41:15):
I still Do Tyris since the, day's league come on
that would, actually have been fun like just like. A
decade too early but that's actually going into one of,
my larger points, because like you said with the, with the,
rim protection you know he might be slow, getting off
the floor but the, nine six standing reach the fact,
that he's, only eighteen you know it does seem like

(41:38):
there is an avenue for him, to develop further defensively
especially near the rim, in terms of okay like the,
vertical rule Of Verticality like, the roy hipper defense him just,
being able, to, Say all right look i'm gonna train
my BODY even harder when i MAKE, IT to the
nba i might slim. DOWN a little bit i might
put more emphasis on on the vertical spacing offensively and
then defensively. Challenging shots the rim it feels like to me,

(42:01):
there's more to him both. OFFENSIVELY and defensively coming.

Speaker 2 (42:06):
I think so because of The, switching and, with duke
you know they were primarily, playing him and drop but
like he could play to the. Level of the screen
he can really muck up the passing. Lanes with, THAT
length so yeah i think there's. MORE to, his game
i mean that's. My take on it he's barely been playing, The,
sport very long like what is this guy? Going, to,
look like two three? Four Years from now and duke
was the, best team, all year and like this guy

(42:27):
was playing a huge role on the team with a,
bunch of other freshmen while all these other college basketball
teams were like twenty full of twenty four year olds and,
Twenty Five year olds like duke was. Relying on the
freshmen the freshmen. Were powering team success so that has me.
Optimistic for his projection You're.

Speaker 1 (42:42):
Also, optimistic ABOUT derek queen and i. Need, to understand
why so he didn't test out Particularly. Well at the
combine he doesn't really defend, at a high level. He
doesn't shoot threes he's been of an. Old prospect as
well why, Do? You like her queen is it just
the raw level of Productivity? He displayed at maryland? What?

Speaker 2 (43:03):
Is IT interesting yeah So i wouldn't Say i'm one.
OF queen's Biggest Fans i like derek queen for certain teams,
More so than others LIKE he just had, i Guess
you Know. Like queen, or fears you know they're both to. Me,
Like upside gambles okay and if you're a Team That

(43:26):
is picking layton lottery and maybe you don't think you
have a lot of bites at the apple for a,
GUY with star upside i like those guys's bats of
like maybe they don't, have role player skills but, if
it comes together they. Do have star trades so that's
the The sales Pitch, on queen and fears who otherwise.

(43:46):
Have Nothing in common derek queen is like kind of.

Speaker 1 (43:49):
LIKE a uh.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
Can i, Say portly big man like he just never
really seems like he's. Been in great shape he doesn't
necessarily play with a lot of. Energy, ON the floor
Yeah i don't think queen is really any role, player
skills at all because he's gonna be a. Bad defensive
big man he's, undersized for a center so, he's got
you know a. Lack, of positional size well now we're
seeing all, these two big lineups so now like is

(44:14):
his like you imagined Him. STARTING next to wemby i
don't think he's gonna make, it to pick fourteen but
he could Be awesome next to, wemby with, like him
you know covering him defensively in spacing for. Him a little,
Bit but you know queen just has some, special ability
at times and that ability shows up when the ball.

(44:34):
Is in his hands and he hit probably the most
memorable shot of, the college basketball season his buzzer beater
in the round of Thirty two to Beat, Color out of,
state and to me that one play really showcases the type.
Of ability he has how many times do you see
a buzzer beater situation where they throw the ball. Into
the big man he just ask him to, create Off
the bounce and queen did that and he hit like.

(44:54):
A crazy little runner i don't remember if it went off,
the glass or not but you know he was showcasing
soft touch on. The ATTEMPT either way so i think
he could have a, really High scoring ceiling like queen can. Score,
the damn ball okay the first part of that is
some team's got to put the ball in his hands.

(45:15):
For that to happen what team, is, GONNA do that
Like I think the brooklyn nets. Could potentially Do it
maybe the, wizards could do it And You could have
alex sar, some theoretical spacing ability some theoretical rim protection,
ability next To. HIM maybe the bulls i could see,
him being a. DECENT decent fit there i don't actually

(45:36):
like His fit next, to giddy at, all but you
know they're a team that just like needs bites at
the apple in terms of. Like high, UPSIDE guys So
yeah i think fears is just he's sort of a
bull in a china shop in terms of his, ability
to use power speed and quickness in tight spaces and
like he'll get the ball in a shoe box, and

(45:56):
he'll eurostep you hit, you with this, chest run you
over and still finish with touching with, grace AT the
rim which i think is. Just really really impressive the
way he's able to bust out just like quick moves
to get unassisted field goal attempts in the. Paint super
duper impressive he'll also throw passes, with each either hand which,

(46:20):
Is kind of awesome like he'll get it in the
paint and he'll be able to like look out to his.
SHOOTER'S sling a pass i don't think that, he's like.
A GREAT great passer but i think he's. A pretty
good passer he's mostly a scorer who's gonna be good at.
Like one on one. You can't stop, Me i'm too,
Quick i'm too strong my touch is too good if

(46:40):
you try. To WRAP me up so I think that's
where queen. Gets is pretty good and if, the double
does come. He can kick, out it's just like who's
really gonna trust him with, like a high usage high
on ball responsibility role and if he can't sort of
immediately prove, HE'S worthy of that i don't really think

(47:03):
he's got role, player skills at all because, he doesn't
really shoot and he stinks defensively and he like. Doesn't
even try, so but you know what's what is interesting,
about his defense though is, he has great hands so,
like it's you know. It's never, a thing, it's like
you know you Watch the discourse around yokic's defense, For the, last,
DECADE it's, Like yeah i mean. Jokic has holes defensively

(47:24):
he has parts of his game where you can take,
advantage of him defensively but like he does some things.
Really well defensively too I'm not gonna put queen at
that level Even, defensively compared To jokic just because jokich Is.
SO much bigger queen i think he measured six' nine barefoot.
With a seven foot wingspan he was, Terrible in the
athletic drills like there's sort of a viral picture of
him from the McDonald's game with a little belly which

(47:46):
you just don't see, normally on like you know a
TOP ten. One and done nba pick you think of these,
guys As long and lean whereas queen is more, built
like a left tackle where he's just like agile and strong.
And POWERFUL in tight spaces So. I kind of like queen.
I think he's just cool. He's really fun to watch,
he's GOT a fun personality. And i hope he's good

(48:10):
It Would be cool if darrek queen ended UP being,
like a, big nba, star and like you know he,
might be someone where like if you draft, him and
he becomes good your team's already compromised because you already
have a bad interior defender right and someone who. Can't
really space the floor but does that mean you shouldn't
take him. Like you'd always, take me he gets, good you,

(48:31):
can flip them you know there's there's an asset play,
too INVOLVED to the draft and, i think that you
know he could be a really talented. SCORER and, scores
That Value.

Speaker 1 (48:45):
I mean look alprin shankun right now. IS going through
that right i mean despite, the playmaking and the rebounding the,
lack of shooting for example it's kind of Opened the
door for the rockets to be. Open minded, about trading
him but like that doesn't mean he doesn't. HAVE value
because he's productive i think it's an interesting, way to
look at it just seeing through the lens. Of his,
shot creation ability you know if he's a guy who

(49:07):
can just, go get you a bucket then that's the number.
One skill that you needed like everyone's, looking for that primary.
Skill it's just shot creation so if you actually can
deliver on the tier one skill everyone's looking at but
fails to do like the next fifty on the next,
fifty skills on the list that might still be enough For,

(49:28):
some team to justify. Hey. LET'S go for it.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
Yeah i had Him number six to the, Wizards IN
my MOCK draft so i guess. I am a. QUEEN
believer i don't know i it's funny like, when we
talk about this like, A lot OF these guys i
think i find. Myself more in the middle malowatch Is the,
One guy where i'm like i'll Be. The, high man
on malowatch yeah and, then a lot of them Like
you could see JUST i've covered The draft i think

(49:54):
Two sandce twenty fourteen where i've been like going to
the combine and, going to the McDonald's game like getting,
a look at these, guys hopefully over, multiple years and
you know with that experience just comes like, you, can
really see like well team fit really makes a big
deal and just like how they're, going to develop his
players and you just become like maybe a little less

(50:15):
confident than you were as. A younger, person, doing it
so yeah.

Speaker 1 (50:21):
Yeah, Well So to that Point, Thomas sorber out, of
georgetown oh my. God he's intriguing. To me the long
wingspan what did he? Have like a, plus nine oh.
My god that is preposterous like, he's a, big human
being you know six. Eleven AND shoes two sixty but.

(50:41):
I think he's fairly nimple he hit his free throws
like he wasn't, a great mid rain shooter but like
there's still, an element of touch there, He can pass a.
Bit he's a rim protector he even swiped up a
fair amount of, steels despite being. You know not overworldly
athletic What Do? You, think of thomas sorber like what is?
Why is he so low? Is, actually my question here.

Speaker 2 (51:06):
Well, he ALSO doesn't shoot, yeah and i would. SAY
like he's really heavy i did A thing On my
uh WINNERS And losers From the nba draft that i'm,
gonna pull up RIGHT now and in this i said
he would be the TWELFTH longest player in the nba with.
A seven to six wingspan he would also be the

(51:26):
eighth heaviest player and at two, hundred and sixty two
pounds so he's gonna be the eighth heaviest player in
the league right when. He COMES into the league and
i think that he plays heavy. A lot of the,
time HE'S kind of mobile but i wouldn't like mobility
to me is, a question, mark, with HIM and like

(51:47):
uh like. I, DON'T think he's switchable basically i think that.
He has to play drop but, he's also, a, little
short which like yeah he, makes up for a length
but like maybe you want that extra height if. You're
GONNA be Big. Man so i like sober you know
who he reminds me of in A Lot of, ways

(52:07):
is wendell carter junior where he's like tad, short for a.
BIG man but he's strong i Was Like sky high
on wendell carter when he, came OUT of the, draft,
and i would say like he hasn't lived. Up to
it at all, He like constantly disappoints me like he,
disappointed me on the balls he's. Disappointed me on the magic.
He's Just, NOT that good but sorber i think plays

(52:29):
with a Lot more physical. Edge than carter ever did
carter was a. BIT more mobile, and, nimble i Would.
Say yeah BUT yeah sorber One thing i like about
sorber is that. He does big man? Stuff what does that,
mean he sets hard, screens he hits the, glass he
protects the paint like there's it's like a meat and

(52:50):
potatoes style big man where you know, it's not gonna
be flashy but it's got it's. Got more substance, In
style so to me sorber is, like NOT really that
exciting but i. Think he's potentially pretty good and he
was the one guy this year who like. REALLY outplayed
his recruiting ranking i think he was ranked, fortieth among,

(53:12):
the freshman, class and like you know he has a
chance to be a. One and done lottery pick now
he's gonna be a one and done top. Twenty, Pick no,
matter what probably so yeah He. Really great year for
sorber and want to see HOW. He scores in, the
nba someone malowak like he's not gonna he doesn't have,
great balance off, the floor he, doesn't shoot so it's?

(53:34):
Like how's HE gonna score that's, What I want to
see and i think it's just gonna be, like he
sets hard screens, he rolls to the rim and, he's
a really good passer and that's something where like if
you have that big man who can grease the wheels of,
your offense as a passer it just makes everything. Run
SO much more smoothly and i Think that that's really
where serber can. Add, A, Lot of value.

Speaker 1 (53:54):
Interesting yeah i'm really high, on, him because you know
guys who's to? LOAD up the box score i know
that's that's not always. What Scouts are looking for but
i'm also one of those people who. Think productivity is
also important like it's so hard for me to, sit
back and you know evaluate a guy who's playing like fifteen,

(54:14):
minutes at the gleatcha level, scoring four points per game
that at least there's. A LOT of data here and
i think, whenever he's on the floor he just does
something which which brings ME to the last guy i,
want to ask you about and we're actually. Going down
to a wing We Didn't even TALK about cooper fly
because i Just Assume people listening In. Carter bryant out
of arizona he's a Guy who a lot of danish

(54:37):
people have asked me about because he, seems like, this switchable,
wing you, know three four good size looks like he's
going to. Be a pretty, good, shooter obviously low volume
statistically didn't really Score. A whole lot at arizona what
can we? Take away from his season like how how
should we gauge. Him going into the draft.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
So he's probably one of the best bets in this
class OF being. A three and d guy what are
the attributes you need to BE A good three AND?
D fourd in the nba i would say you need
to be able, to make an open shot, you need
to be athletic and you need to, play WITH a
high motor and i think he checks. All three of
those boxes it's possible that this guy's a complete. Freak

(55:22):
athlete and defensive prospect his Defensive. Playmaking was outstanding at
arizona five, point eight percent block rate two, point eight percent.
Steel rate just wrecking Having Could he Be A tomani
kamara or tarry gesen type defensively where he has an
ideal frame for a wing six eight two, twenty five seven.

(55:42):
Foot wingspan super duper athletic he, just GETS the ball
defensively so i think like his defense is going to
have to get him on the floor and. Keep him
on the floor He should have the perfect he has
the perfect wing measurement of like what You Want for
Someone guarding jason tatum. Or LUCA or anyone else so

(56:07):
i just, like his combination of. Frame athleticism, And defensive
playmaking all right the offense. Is, where, it, gets interesting
so yeah shooting you gotta, be Able To shoot it
and carter bryant shot it pretty well thirty seven point
one on one hundred. And, five attempts per game uh
sub seventy percent, From the file, line though so to me,

(56:28):
like THAT'S a troubling like because i don't know if
he could do. Anything on, Offense but shoot oh okay,
so he's to, me like at the moment he's kind
of just. A floor spacer an offense maybe he could
be a guy who could impact. The game as a
cutter maybe he can start setting. Some screens, and start
rolling you know. He's gonna be a wing he's. Gonna

(56:50):
be a floor spacer you got. To move without the
ball you gotta. BE a good off ballplayer i don't
really see a lot of like offensive skill for him.
Outside of spot up shooting so then that puts a
lot of pressure On your spot up j you gotta
be able to knock. THAT down thirty seven percent i
would say that's good enough, If his defense, is awesome

(57:11):
but you know you gotta be able to. Shoot it
at higher volume you gotta be able to shoot it with.
Some versatility, off the move so Yeah That's. My question
about carter bryant what can he do offensively? That's not
spot up shooting and how much do we trust a
shot because he shot sub seventy percent on free throws
and he didn't. Take A very High Value. But i

(57:32):
like carter, bryant it, just seems like you know every
team needs, a versatile wing like, that and like you
know is? Tari E'sn A great shooter is? Tamani kamara a?
Great shooter like not really and this guy could be
better than both those guys in terms. Of just spot up,
shooting and if that happens he should probably be a
pretty good player. If the defense holds now kamara made

(57:55):
thirty seven and. A half percent this year I'm. Pretty, good,
VALUME for portland so like i think. That's what You're Going.
For you want tomani Kamara If, if you take carter
brant where would you take a player? Like that in,
THIS draft, if he's good, i mean if he's good you.
Probably TAKE him really HIGH.

Speaker 1 (58:13):
To moni come to moni like in, the current duration of,
HIM probably in, The, LOTTERY i.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
WOULD Argue yeah i agree i.

Speaker 1 (58:24):
MEAN he was up there i WOULD argue He was the.
Mvp of portland this year he was at well at,
The end of the, year denny really came on but
like he was probably the most consistent player they had
all year in terms. Of their two way plays. So
that's that's up there. That's up there for sure but
that's also, a high ceiling right now considering he played less.
Than twenty Minutes, a game part Of, briant of course

(58:45):
in arizona was that part of just his relentless fouling. That,
that limited his.

Speaker 2 (58:51):
Minutes yeah files a lot. They just. Didn't trust Him
you know it's like arizona like they're gonna have like,
a veteran team every year like they're Gonna They're not,
focusing on carter brian's development like. They want, TO win
games so yeah i always wanted, him to get more
minutes and. He never really did it and what's funny
is it just seems like, he fits, in any lineup
you know like you always want a guy like, that

(59:13):
play with the three. Play with the four wherever like
he has a really good positional versatility. And high high,
defensive upside but you know if you're talking, about winning
a college game like is he gonna execute? The game
plan every time it' he's gonna know guys, tendencies on
the scouting report like these are the things that matter
as much or more in like a small. Sample OF

(59:34):
a college season so i think that's mostly why he
didn't Get along the leash, FROM arizona AS the freshman.

Speaker 1 (59:41):
I said i would ask you about the, Final guy
On the list and now i'm going BACK on my
promise because I Remember you brought up jase richardson at.
The top of the show you said you liked him
a ton break him down for us as The final and.
This time i'm not lying the final guy to go through.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
If he was six six or six, HE was six
y five i. Take him number two. Overall he's not sixty. Five,
he's six feet tall. Yeah so he's very, small he's
a small man and he can shoot the absolute. SHIT
out of the ball I Guess the thing about jace
richardson that it gets me going is that he was
just obviously really good right. Away From his freshman season.

(01:00:19):
Tom izzough wouldn't play him he was playing these like
old Bad Guards, over our boy jace richardson who is
Of Course. The son Of, jason richardson, perhaps tom izzo's
you know one of his. Defining players of. His career
it's his son he was mothballing him for. The majority
of the, year he did not start and he did
not play more than twenty five Minutes in. A game
until february eighth as, soon as he started playing it

(01:00:41):
was just obvious he was by far the, best player on,
the team and in fact the Team Had no chance
unless jace. Richardson WAS creating everything Offensively what i like
about jase is he brings so much to the table
and he doesn't really take anything off. Of it other
than size and. It starts with his shooting just he's
so good at like five the, soft pocket in, the,

(01:01:01):
defense beyond the, arc relocating shooting with ray and shooting with.
Quickness AND hitting the shot and i think that that's
just like. Sort of a special skill you wonder like
what can he do off the bounce because he's. Not
really a point guard he had a. Sub twenty percent
Usage Rate we're talking about jeremiah fear having a thirty

(01:01:22):
two percent usage rate and. He was, sub twenty, Percent,
so yeah it's like jace what do you look like
in a scaled up role and do you have the
physicality to be able to handle it. Because you are
so small My Actual biggest concern with, jace richardson isn't the.
Size it's his injury history and it's hard, to find

(01:01:43):
information on this so maybe you can. Dig a little
bit more but like he ha'ts some gnarly knee surgery
in high, school, AND it was like oh i don't
know if anyone could come. Back from this knee surgery
and obviously. He was phenomenal this year now he Played
in High School with Cameron And Caden, boozer at columbus
high school so, like And Then you know in michigan
state they wouldn't really like let him run the show

(01:02:05):
because isoh. Uh is prejudiced against freshmen so basically like
what could he do with? A bigger on ball burden
what could? You, do with bigger usage yeah he's like he's, not,
really a great playmaker yeah but he's very good at
avoiding turnovers and kind of like that's sort of like where.
The rubber meets the road it's like the same thing

(01:02:27):
as like offensive, Rebounding versus defensive, transition stops like you
know one is a. TRADE off with the other i
kind of feel that way oftentimes. About playmaking and turnover
avoidance and, if you're good at Both You're a freak
like tyrese halibert who can just dive up anyone and never,
Turns THE ball over Somehow so i would. Say richardson

(01:02:47):
is more careful he'd rather not turn it over. Than
make a great pass he adds value. By being a.
SIX shooter he's Very Similar i think. To Read shepherd
last year read shepherd probably would Have been awesome if the. Rockets,
would Have played him like if i'm Making, A trade
with The rockets i want read shepherd. Coming back in
THE trade and in fact i wrote, THIS in an

(01:03:07):
espiination article i would Rather Have read shepperd than. Stefan
Castle in a Trade if i'm like, doing anyanis trade
or something which one of? THOSE guys DO you want
i Think. I Would still take read maybe i'll end
up being wrong and, stupid AND bad about this but
i Had a higher grade on reid COMING into the Draft.
Than i Did on castle and, like castle was good
obviously but like he, played a ton of minutes he.

(01:03:29):
Got a lot of, usage he soaked up points assistant
rebounds on a bad. Team that was getting crushed, He
can't Shoot, at all so like castle there's a pathway
for him to be. A good player For Sure Like
In the, marcus smart drew holliday mold he knows, an upside,
comp but uh you know like the. SMALL guard who's
super skilled i think does still have a place, if,

(01:03:50):
everyone else gets. Bigger, Longer and better defensively right so
that's Kind, Of My thing On richardson like richardson versus yakachons.
IS a really interesting argument i love asking people who
they prefer more of those two, prospects because they're both,
like one's a, terrible athlete one's terribly small, and they,
both have like you know sort of like different strengths

(01:04:11):
and weaknesses but are flawed but. Are good, In some ways.
SO yeah richardson's really interesting I. Would Love him for
orlando if orlando can, GET him at number sixteen i
think that's the biggest. Slam dunk, Of the draft of course,
orlando usually only drafts wingspan so. They Only draft long
guys but richardson could really fill their needs as a
shot making point guard who can create some, shots, for

(01:04:34):
his teammates.

Speaker 1 (01:04:34):
Too right because his lack of playmaking won't be that
but big of an Issue, There, because you, have Fronzin
paolo and hell even. Jalen, sucks, TO some extent yeah.
Yeah i. Don't hate that that's interesting like If you're
Asking me, About jase versus yakushona's like i'm always a
sucker for players who are willing and have the guts.

(01:04:55):
TO make odd passes occasionally i love players who take
chances with the, Ball and then you know, i'll pay.
The PRICE occasionally of course but, i do think playing PASSIVELY,
especially in the day's nba can't be a little. Bit
of a Death sentence not saying that jase plays, passively
because as, a scorer he's you know he's. Launching THOSE

(01:05:16):
bat boys up so i don't really have any. Questions
about his offensive output it's more along the lines like
if he's going to be put in a role as a,
primary or even secondary playmaker is that? Going to be
good enough or he's He Going, to be like MONTE morris,
you know what, i mean like low, volume really ball
handles secure but really makes the simple passes. Instead, of

(01:05:38):
trying Anything Advanced.

Speaker 2 (01:05:41):
Yeah what if monta? Morris, was an, elite shooter yeah
you know.

Speaker 1 (01:05:46):
He used to be, almost he.

Speaker 2 (01:05:48):
Was right there good shooter, he was a good shooter but. He,
wasn't a flame throwers upside he has the potential. To be, A, flame, Thrower.

Speaker 1 (01:05:57):
Oh, nice okay interesting so ricky thank you so much for,
Going through all these guys like, here in the final
SEGMENT is there someone? Who i didn't, ask About who
you're like mort how the fuck did we not?

Speaker 2 (01:06:10):
Just?

Speaker 1 (01:06:11):
Talk, about this guy.

Speaker 2 (01:06:13):
Uh yeah we didn't talk, About my two Favorite prospects
Noah Out Of france and Colin Murray. BOYLES out of
South Carolina I spoke with colin. Murray boyles with the
draft combine could not be. MORE impressed, by his interview
i mean this guy was so polished and he said, Everything,
You want to hear colin what do you WANT to
show to These? Nba teams, you're. At combine collin's response

(01:06:36):
shooting shooting. Is the most important thing shooting will always
be the, biggest thing in my career will. ALWAYS be
the biggest priority i need to be. Able to shoot
the basketball that's, what you want to hear because. Right.
Now we can't shoot yep he's a six FOOT six
big man who i think is the best. Defensive prospect
in this class. He's a total terror defensively but if
you're a six foot six big, man, and you can't
shoot like what can YOU? Really do in today's nba

(01:06:59):
so just the, fact that he recognizes that and, he's
not defensive about it and he's like he knows what.
HE needs to work on. I think is really promising
he just was, Exuding leadership qualities, to me so you
know you Could Talk yourself out of murray boyle is
pretty easy because he doesn't have positional, Size, because he
can't shoot like how is he going to? Score in,

(01:07:21):
THE half court you know i. Think IS an open
Question But. I really, like murray boyles you know. His
like his offensive game you don't Want To compare it
To julius randall just because randall's balling out so hard.
Right now in the, playoffs it's sort of similar where
like he can just run you over and like he
has some handle empower combo which, is effective as a

(01:07:43):
scorer and then really good short, Role passer and, decision
maker like you know you can use him as. The
hub of the offense he's ALWAYS gonna. Make a high
iq play he talked about how he likes to hold
teammates accountable and how he wants teammates and, coaches to
hold him accountable and, Then defensively is just brilliant like
this guy on a blitz just gets the, ball in
no matter what like. He rips it from you, his

(01:08:04):
mobility is so good his. Help defense is so good
his instincts where he needs to. Be IS all Top Notche.
So i love mary boyles he's a short. Pig man
who can't? Shoot what's not to love but this, GUY is,
Next LEVEL good i think and i like him for.
A lot Of Different Organizations and then noah SENGE french prospect,
playing for ohm right now when has? That? EVER burned

(01:08:26):
me before well i used to Really Like this guy
named killian hayes coming out of, the draft in twenty
twenty who Followed a similar path a, senge though just,
special physicality nine. FOOT three supposedly standing reach i want
TO get that Measured because i also thought malowatch. Was
at nine to nine came. In at, nine to, six
still dope you. Know not, quite as good so like
let's see, really what they you know, the tape measure

(01:08:48):
doesn't lie so let's just see. What the tape measure
Says but what's crazy about, sea, Is he's big sized,
right like he's, you know like six' ten but he's
like insanely athletic for someone that size can switch one
through five almost is better on guards than bigs right
now because he's still scrawny and he's gonna need to.
Like BEEF up a little bit but, i just love. His,

(01:09:10):
DEFENSIVE versatility his defensive switchability uh i, don't know if.
He could dribble pass or. Shoot sounds like. A red
flag but what's crazy This Dude Is playing in the german.
Pro league and he's really good he's Putting In Great.
Numbers in the german pro league he said twenty, one
points in his playoff debut got, to the foul line thirteen.

(01:09:32):
Times made all. Thirteen free throws that's exciting too so
he's truly a bundle of tools and, he could grow
into something, awesome or you could be like how is
this guy ever gonna score in the half court because
he's just not like strong. Enough to like. Run over
guys he's so Young, he's three days older than flag

(01:09:55):
so he's the, second youngest player in the class Not,
going to turn nineteen. Until december so literally a baby
he's one OF the youngest players in the nba. For
TWO or three years. Basically but i love his production
you have, production in, a good, pro League great size
great athleticism so. I'M willing to take that chance i don't.

(01:10:17):
Know really what it turns into he can handle, the
ball in the open floor. He can't handle it against
pressure he can, sometimes hit a wide open half a,
wide open catch and shoot three but he's a sub
thirty three point shooter and then passing like he. HAS
a single digit assist straight i believe off the top of.
My head, without looking it up so yeah everyone. Wants

(01:10:40):
A dribble pass shoot guy noah see is not a.
Dribble pass shoot guy at all but he's one of
my favorite prospects in this. CLASS because he has freaky
ability i think he has an amazing physical foundation to
grow into and get, him with a good shooting coach,
get him with some strength, development and he. Could be
really really Talented player.

Speaker 1 (01:10:58):
He PLAYS, with TWO danish, Props At ulm who i
know so i'll ask them about some of the practice
stories that, may not have gone the rounds just to hear.
A little bit more about.

Speaker 2 (01:11:12):
Him, We'd love to. Find out yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:11:14):
I'll reach out i'll Reach Out Just. To wrap up
COLIN murray boyles one thing that i think has flown,
under the, radar with him was you know everyone is
so busy talking about, the lack OF three point shot,
BUT whenever i, watched, him play i was like well.
He's making all. Of his two's god damn it like
he's so effective inside the arc and, that's got to
count for. Something, even it's a day's league.

Speaker 2 (01:11:36):
YEAH pretty good two point score i don't have it
off the top of my head. In terms, Of where
he finished let's see. I'm Pulling It, up right Now Colin.
Murray boyle sophomore in south carolina they WERE, a two
win team in sec, so he had really bad teammates,
he had no spacing around him. Didn't have a great
team contact still made seventy percent, of his attempts at

(01:11:56):
the rim sixty, nine point seven at the rim. Just
a very rusing physical game also made forty, percent of
his mid, range shots so. NON rim, Twos, that's pretty,
exciting i think uh and dude like you talked about
like you like. Guys Who Pack the box score colin
murray boyles packs the box score. More, than, anyone. In
this class steals assists rebounds he is a true like

(01:12:21):
hub on both ends, of the floor for, HIS team
and speaking with him i believe he has serious leadership
qualities and is self aware and is going TO turn.
Himself into a good nba player?

Speaker 1 (01:12:34):
WHERE'S your favorite spot for.

Speaker 2 (01:12:35):
Him i love him for the bulls, off THE top
of my head so i think That, could be a
GOOD spotform also? WHERE else would i like Him I,
WOULD like, him in san antonio i, think but they need. More,
SHOOTING so that'd be Tough actually i love him in washington, next, to,
alexar like, more physical Smarter Better MORE skilled big than alex.

(01:13:00):
Sar I. Think would be good like charlotte charlotte. NEEDS
an Adult In The room i think alan mary boyles
can be like a. Solid ass, adult in the room
so YEAH those are a few spots. I like for
HIM as.

Speaker 1 (01:13:11):
Well ricky O'Donnell's Senior, nba writer over at esp nation
thank you so much, for once again just a thorough thorough.
Breakdown of a bunch of prospects you come on every
single year and need to say every. Single year you
do not disappoint thank. You so much for being here

(01:13:31):
let the good people know where they can find your. Work,
and what you're working on.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
Yeah you can find. My work, At espionation dot com
both PODCASTS cash considerations. And what am i working on,
just a lot of playoff. Stuff some draft Stuff Coming up,
might do a murray boyle's profile might do a. Second gay,
Profile at some point so, Yeah I'M moving this week
though so i got to get THROUGH this move and
then hopefully i can. Get back to covering the.

Speaker 1 (01:13:57):
Draft then you have a. Good movement for everyone out
there if you want to listen to a Podcast And hear,
a Lot Of jerry reinstor, Slander rightful jerry reinstorf slander
cast consideration is. DEFINITELY the best bet out, there i
AM a frequent listener even Though I actually got off
the bullswacken. Ricky, that pod, every single week. Man, still

(01:14:19):
going still going strong yep have a good. One weekend,
till we talk again thanks man