Prospect Profile

Prospect Profile Series

April 27th, 2016 at 11:03am CST by Chuck Myron

The June 23rd draft is less than two months away, and the fate of NBA teams hangs in the balance. Only a few players at the top of the draft rankings have superstar potential, but the remainder of this year’s crop offers some intriguing possibilities. Hoops Rumors will be tracking all of the breaking developments, and one of the ways we’ll cover the potentially franchise-altering event will be to take a closer look at many of the prospects in line to hear their names called on draft night.

Our list of Prospect Profiles will be updated in the weeks ahead as we build our inventory of reports for your perusal. This post can be found anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right sidebar. The players we’ve profiled so far can be found below, sorted by their rankings on the DraftExpress list of the top 100 prospects for 2016.

Brandon Ingram, Duke (F)
Ben Simmons, LSU (F)
Dragan Bender, Croatia (PF)
Kris Dunn, Providence (PG)
Jamal Murray, Kentucky (G)
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (SG)
Jakob Poeltl, Utah (C)
Skal Labissiere, Kentucky (F/C)
Deyonta Davis, Michigan State (F/C)
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (SG)
Henry Ellenson, Marquette (PF)
Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame (PG)

Prospect Profile: Ben Simmons (Part Two)

April 25th, 2016 at 10:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Chad Ford of ESPN.com has Simmons ranked as the best prospect, while Jonathan Givony of Draft Express has him behind only Brandon Ingram. Givony has concerns about Simmons playing up to his full potential and believes the 19-year-old has the instincts and anticipation skills to be a terrific defender, but questions his effort on that end of the floor. Overall, Simmons’ approach to the game appears to be the reason he isn’t the DraftExpress choice for the No. 1 overall pick.

RISE/FALL: Simmons isn’t falling below No. 2 barring a serious injury between now and the June 23rd draft. It wasn’t until the end of the season, during a horrendous SEC tournament appearance, that chatter started to pick up about him not being the top selection. Ingram is the only challenger for the top spot and it may come down to who wins the lottery to determine the top overall selection. Make no mistake, the Rich Paul client is still likely to go No. 1.

FIT: The Sixers have the highest chance at landing the No.1 overall pick, as our Reverse Standings indicate. Philly has a 26.7% chance at the top spot, with a quarter of the pingpong balls for being the worst team, plus an additional 1.7% chance at the selection, since the team can swap picks with the Kings and would do so should Sacramento win the lottery. Picking Ingram instead of Simmons makes sense for the Sixers based on the team’s glut of big men. Having Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric all on the roster crowds the paint, but the Sixers could very well trade multiple members of the big man boy band they have assembled sometime this summer.

The Lakers have the second-best odds of landing the top pick, and they have no such roadblocks to playing time. Los Angeles would give Simmons a great situation to grow as a player. He and D’Angelo Russell attended the same high school, where they led their team to a national championship. The duo reportedly have spoken about playing together for the Lakers, according to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report.

The Pelicans would be a fascinating fit for Simmons. They only have a 13.3% chance at a top-two selection, but they likely have the best frontcourt partner to offer Simmons in Anthony Davis.

The Kings would likely be the worst fit due to their ever-changing front office and recent history of inadequate player development. Sacramento won’t take home the No. 1 selection, as a result of its trade with Philadelphia, but it could get the No. 2 pick in one of two ways: the Sixers winning the lottery and the Kings landing No. 2 (0.5% chance of this occurring) or the Kings winning the lottery with the Sixers landing No. 2 and subsequently swapping picks (0.37%). In either of theses unlikely scenarios, it would take Philly selecting Ingram for Sacramento to land Simmons.

Every team could use a talent like Simmons and he would change the fortunes of any franchise. Ultimately, it will come down to the May 19th draft lottery to determine where he ends up.

FINAL TAKE: Pessimists may say the glass is half full and those people may look at Simmons as a nonshooting big man who doesn’t try hard enough. In reality, Simmons has enough in his glass to warrant being the top selection, and with the right coaching and tutelage, he could make any franchise’s cup runneth over.

(For Part One of Ben Simmons’ Prospect Profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Ben Simmons (Part One)

April 25th, 2016 at 9:15pm CST by ChrisCrouse

OVERVIEW: Ben Simmons was the No. 1 player in his high school class and he had his choice among any of the top collegiate programs in the nation. He chose to attend LSU, in part because David Patrick, Simmons’ godfather, was an associate coach for the school. As an Australian native, he had an opportunity to present an argument to the league claiming he should be eligible for the 2015 draft, akin to Thon Maker’s situation. Simmons was quick to shoot down talk about any sort of request, reiterating his dedication to the university. Even chatter about Adam Silver changing the one-and-done rule and altering it to a required two years for college players didn’t faze Simmons. “Then I’d stay two years [at LSU],” Simmons said prior to his senior high school season.

Christopher Hanewinckel / USA TODAY Sports Images

One disastrous regular season at the university proved to be enough. LSU finished the 2015/16 campaign with a record of 19-14, and the team was poised to miss the NCAA tournament. They were a lock to make the NIT, and Simmons had a chance to be one of the highest-profile players to ever play in it, but before the NCAA committee announced its selections, the school declined to participate in postseason play. Individually, Simmons dazzled as a Tiger, averaging 19.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals per game. He is just one of five players over 6’9″ to average more than five assists per 40 minutes, according Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. Still, he was not able to elevate the team to the level of a national title contender like he and many LSU fans had hoped.

STRENGTHS: Simmons is a special prospect. The awe in watching this sensational athlete comes from his natural ability on the hardwood. He runs the break masterfully, and his court vision and passing ability have drawn comparisons to LeBron James and Magic Johnson. He handles the ball extremely well for his size. You can envision him running a half-court offense, driving meticulously to the basket while drawing an additional defender near him just as he makes the crosscourt pass to an open teammate in the corner. This could be a regularity for the team that drafts him. He makes the right passes and plays a very Spursian-style game. He has excellent footwork and owns a few nice post moves. He creates contact and gets to the line often, as his 9.0 free-throw attempts per game authenticate. He’ll need to bulk up at the NBA level, but a 6’10”, nearly 240-pound frame puts him in a great position to contribute immediately. His 6’11” wingspan, coupled with his quickness and agility, will allow him to become a lock-down defender, one who can easily switch positions on pick-and-rolls, a task more and more teams are expecting their players to execute. Simmons gives you versatility on both end of the floor; he’s a true point forward. This isn’t DeMarcus Cousins bringing the ball up the court and stumbling into a set. That’s cute, but Simmons could be a big man who consistently makes plays at lighting speed on his way up the floor while evoking real fear in the transition defenders. Add in that he would be drawing an opposing big away from the basket and his value approaches tangibility.

WEAKNESSES: Outside shooting is an issue with Simmons. This was a concern heading into his freshman year, and he didn’t do much to prove the naysayers wrong in this area. Partway through the year, he essentially just stopped shooting from the outside. He attempted a total of three shots from behind the arc and it got to the point where defenders would play several feet off him and he still wouldn’t fire away. Another concern is his motor. At times, his demeanor appeared laissez-faire, lacking the passion that team leaders typically exhibit. He also played a very passive style for stretches. He wasn’t Rajon Rondo-esque selfishly unselfish, but it would have been beneficial for the way he’s perceived if he would have taken over games with his scoring more frequently.

(For Part Two of our Ben Simmons Prospect Profile, click here).

Prospect Profile: Henry Ellenson (Part Two)

April 24th, 2016 at 7:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Henry Ellenson is projected as an early to mid-lottery pick based on his potential as an NBA scorer and rebounder. He is ranked ninth on Jonathan Givony’s latest Top 100 Prospects list for DraftExpress, and he’s second among pure power forwards behind international prospect Dragan Bender. ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Ellenson sixth overall, citing his ability to score in the low post, his impressive shooting range and an “excellent motor.” Ellenson’s ability to match up with centers in smaller lineups could enhance his NBA prospects.

RISE/FALL: Ellenson is attractive because he has a natural position in the NBA and the skills to quickly become an effective scorer and rebounder. Givony says it’s easy to project him being picked fifth through 10th based on his abilities and the other talent available. The first two picks seem almost certain to be LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram, but the draft gets more unpredictable from there. If a team believes Ellenson can develop into a dependable 3-point shooter and become a more polished passer, he may go earlier than expected. But if concerns about his defense persist through the predraft workouts, teams may be worried that he’ll be too much of a liability as the league moves to smaller lineups and a faster-paced game.

FIT: The Pelicans, who were trying to deal center Omer Asik earlier this year, may be interested in another big man. There has also been speculation that the Nuggets may want to unload Kenneth Faried, who still has three years and more than $38.76MM left on his current deal, and find a younger, cheaper alternative. The Raptors, who have the Knicks’ pick that is currently slotted ninth and who started 35-year-old Luis Scola at power forward, could be interested, along with the Bucks, who may well try to find a taker for Greg Monroe.

FINAL TAKE: Ellenson has proven himself at the college level and is ready to take on the NBA challenge. The team that drafts him has a fairly good idea of what it’s getting — an offensively skilled power forward who can rebound and has the size to play center when necessary. He has the potential to expand his offensive game, but that comes with defensive issues that threaten to limit his playing time until he can overcome them. Ellenson may not be a star in his first season, but he should be ready to step into someone’s rotation right away.

(For Part One of Henry Ellenson’s prospect profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Henry Ellenson (Part One)

April 24th, 2016 at 6:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jeff Hanisch / USA TODAY Sports Images

OVERVIEW: Marquette’s Henry Ellenson has been dreaming of this opportunity since he began playing organized basketball at age 2. The NBA draft is the next step for the Golden Eagles’ star power forward, who got an early introduction to the game when he joined his older brothers’ team in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“I was pretty much born in a gym and that’s how I’ve been my whole life,” Ellenson told Tom Pipines of Fox 6 News in Milwaukee, “and so I just love the game of basketball, and maybe it’s because of that.”

Seventeen years later, Ellenson can expect to hear his name called early on draft night. He posted 17 double-doubles at Marquette, ranked third in the Big East in scoring at 16.8 points per game and led the conference in rebounding with 9.8 boards per night. He was a first-team all-Big East selection and a finalist for the Wayman Tisdale national freshman of the year award.

STRENGTHS: Ellenson, 19, already has the makings of an NBA body. At 6’10″and 240 pounds, he has a 7’2″ wingspan and 9’1″ standing reach, giving him the size to handle playing center in the pros, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. Ellenson’s mobility and dexterity are impressive for his size, Givony notes, although he lacks quickness and explosiveness and has to be careful of a weight problem that he developed when he was younger. Ellenson handles the ball extremely well for a big man, with the ability to grab a rebound and lead the break, and he possesses a variety of shot fakes, moves off the dribble and body control that help him create his own shots. ESPN’s Chad Ford praised Ellenson’s athleticism and notes that he complements his inside game with “shooting range out to the 3-point line.” Ellenson averaged nearly one made 3-pointer per game in college, but shot just 29% from long distance. However, his proficiency from the foul line (75%) suggests he can improve as a 3-point shooter.

WEAKNESSES: NBA scouts are concerned about Ellenson’s development on defense, Givony writes, noting that he has trouble guarding quicker opponents on the perimeter and doesn’t have the timing or explosiveness to be an effective rim protector. Givony also cites problems with Ellenson’s “instincts, awareness and intensity level,” adding that he isn’t quick enough to be effective in pick-and-roll defense and often gets caught between the shooter and the roll man. Ford says Ellenson needs to develop his defensive skills and get in better shape to make an impact in the NBA on that side of the floor. Offensively, Ellenson’s abilities don’t always transfer into positive results, as his true shooting percentage of 54% this season reflects. He often has problems with “efficiency and rhythm,” notes Trevor Magnotti of Upside and Motor, who says Ellenson touched the ball on a lot of possessions at Marquette but didn’t make the most of his opportunities. Some scouts believe Ellenson often tries to force things on offense and is prone to making poor decisions with the dribble and pass. There were also concerns about his passing ability and willingness to give up the ball at Marquette.

(For Part Two of our Henry Ellenson Prospect Profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Skal Labissiere (Part Two)

April 24th, 2016 at 3:34pm CST by Will Joseph

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Labissiere is projected to be drafted somewhere in the middle of the first round, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranking him No. 10 overall while Chad Ford of ESPN.com has him No. 16. Ford also ranks Labissiere as the second-best center, sandwiched between Jakob Poeltl and Diamond Stone. Ante Zizic is another center who should be picked in the middle of the first round and thus is another name Labissiere will compete with.

RISE/FALL: Labissiere was once thought of as a top-5 pick, but that was before the season and those days are long gone. It is not a lock that teams would even pick Labissiere in the first round, Ford recently said, per Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader. Labissiere is likely viewed by many teams as too raw to select early on in the draft because of his lackluster season. There is a decent chance he would have benefited from another year at Kentucky, but there was a seemingly equal chance of his stock falling further, too. That’s why, from an economic standpoint, Labissiere made the right call. His draft position may depend more on how he does in workouts for teams and how he comes across in interviews, especially when asked about his struggles at Kentucky.

FIT: The team that will draft Labissiere won’t expect him to contribute right away. They can’t. He failed to be a steady contributor during his lone college season, so he is definitely a work in progress. At the same time, he has the potential to be one of the league’s top big men down the road because his of his offensive skills and shot-blocking prowess. The Blazers would benefit from Labissiere’s presence, but he would be a better fit on a team that would be more inclined to allow him time to develop in the D-League. As Ford suggests, the Celtics would seem like the best fit for Labissiere because Boston can afford to take a gamble with multiple picks in the draft. The franchise has also strategically used the D-League as a development tool, often moving young players down to the affiliate multiple times throughout the week for more playing time.

FINAL TAKE: Centers who have sound midrange scoring ability have a place in the NBA. At the same time, big men who don’t rebound well do not. It’s hard to tell where Labissiere will end up, but his intriguing size and raw talent should help him get selected in the first round. From there, Labissiere must continue to add strength and become tougher on the glass. Labissiere lived in Haiti, was declared ineligible by two high schools before attending a prep school and experienced a rocky college season, so he has battled adversity. I see Labissiere drafted toward the end of the first round and then spending most of next season in the D-League.

(For Part One of Skal Labissiere’s prospect profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Skal Labissiere (Part One)

April 24th, 2016 at 2:09pm CST by Will Joseph

Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports Images

OVERVIEW: Things didn’t go so well this season for Skal Labissiere. The 7-foot, 225-pound Haitian struggled for much of his lone season at Kentucky after being a highly recruited and raw five-star prospect out of Lausanne Collegiate School, a prep school in Tennessee. Without much 5-on-5 experience, Labissiere looked physically overmatched until late in the season. Labissiere, 20, lost his starting spot by midseason but improved enough to reclaim it down the stretch. Labissiere was a preseason top-five selection, but his stock dropped because of the uneven campaign. It didn’t quite plummet, however. Labissiere is still viewed as a first-round pick.

STATS: In 36 appearances for Kentucky this season, Labissiere averaged 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.6 blocks in 15.8 minutes per outing. His slash line on the year was .521/.000/.661.

STRENGTHS: Labissiere has great size and shown an ability to run the floor with a skill level that will likely improve on both ends of the court. He showed flashes of rare offensive moves for a 7-footer with jump hooks and turnaround jumpers. He became much more of an efficient scorer, especially from midrange, as the season progressed. One of his best games came against LSU on March 5th, when he had 18 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Overall, Labissiere displayed nice touch inside with a fluid shot from the line and elbow. Labissiere was mostly an interior defender and provided some rim protection. His leaping ability is what set him apart before college and was an essential part of his transition with Kentucky. Labissiere registered at least four blocks in a single game on four occasions. As a long, athletic big man with solid shooting skills, Labissiere is an intriguing prospect.

WEAKNESSES: Labissiere had almost as many personal fouls (108) as he did rebounds (113) last season. His foul woes can be partially attributed to a lack of awareness at times. Labissiere also lacked strength and toughness inside, which was why he averaged only a few rebounds per game. While his shooting is a strength, Labissiere tended to rely too heavily on it and needs to develop more of a low-post game. He is likely one of the most raw prospects in the draft and is not polished by any means.

(For Part Two of Skal Labissiere’s prospect profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Jakob Poeltl (Part Two)

April 23rd, 2016 at 3:50pm CST by Eddie Scarito

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Poeltl is projected to come off the board within the top 10 picks, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranking him No. 8 overall while Chad Ford of ESPN.com slots him tenth and has the big man penciled in as the top available center in this year’s draft. His biggest draft competition is likely to be Marquette freshman big man Henry Ellenson, whose offensive skills and higher upside could trump Poeltl’s abilities in the eyes of scouts.

RISE/FALL: The premium that the league places on athletic big men who can protect the rim makes it difficult to envision Poeltl dropping out of the top 10 on draft night. Poeltl had a legitimate shot at being a lottery pick in 2015, so it would certainly be a shock to see him tumble out of the top 14 picks this season. The significant increase in Poeltl’s productivity from his freshman campaign at Utah to this season’s numbers certainly bode well for his future and illustrate that the best is still to come from the 20-year-old. Poeltl’s predraft workouts will be vital in determining where he lands come June. If the Austrian shows scouts that he can regularly connect on his midrange shots and demonstrate solid footwork in the post while on offense, he could creep into the top seven selections, though it may take a team reaching for fit for him to come off the board that high.

I don’t see Poeltl landing outside the lottery unless he appears to be severely overmatched physically during his workouts, assuming he even agrees to compete against other players instead of limiting himself strictly to individual showcases. His medical assessments will also play a part, given that teams are especially wary of big men who have lower body issues. Poeltl has no reported medical or physical problems, but NBA medical exams have been known to turn up previously undiagnosed maladies, so some level of uncertainty always exists in this area.

FIT: There aren’t many teams that couldn’t benefit from adding a player with Poeltl’s skills and potential. The Bucks immediately come to mind as a prime destination, since he’d be a solid fit alongside Greg Monroe, provided Milwaukee doesn’t trade Monroe this summer. Orlando could also use some interior help, though the Magic are looking to add veteran depth and may well end up trading their first-rounder. The Bulls are also a strong possibility with the futures of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah unresolved, and Poeltl’s athleticism would blend well with coach Fred Hoiberg‘s system.

FINAL TAKE: There will always be work in the NBA for skilled big men, so Poeltl shouldn’t have to wait too long on draft night to hear his name called. His intriguing size, rebounding ability, shot-blocking acumen and coordination in the pick-and-roll should make him a serviceable player for seasons to come. Still, Poeltl will need to add strength and improve his post arsenal if he hopes to become more than simply a rotation player in the NBA.

(For Part One of Jakob Poeltl’s prospect profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Jakob Poeltl (Part One)

April 23rd, 2016 at 1:05pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images

OVERVIEW: Austrian big man Jakob Poeltl was projected as a borderline lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but the center decided to return to Utah for his sophomore campaign, a move that should pay off handsomely for him this June. Not only is the 20-year-old now virtually assured of being a top-10 pick, but his game is now better suited to succeed at the NBA level thanks to the extra year in school. Poeltl made some significant strides during his sophomore campaign. His confidence level and efficiency were noticeably improved. He’s still far more valuable as a defender than as an offensive weapon at his current stage of development, but Poeltl has shown flashes of the potential to evolve into the two-way threat that NBA scouts crave when analyzing big men.

STATS: In 35 appearances for Utah this season, Poeltl averaged 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 blocks in 30.4 minutes per outing. His slash line on the year was .646/.000/.692.

STRENGTHS: The first thing that stands out about the 7’1″ Poeltl’s game is how fluid and deceptively athletic he is. While he’s not an athletic freak in the vein of a Karl-Anthony Towns or Kristaps Porzingis, two distinguished members of the draft class of 2015, Poeltl is certainly mobile and quick enough to effectively guard players on the perimeter, which is an uncommon skill for big men. Poeltl is quite effective when running in transition, and his soft hands allow him to make some difficult catches in traffic. It’s extremely tough to prevent him from scoring when he gets close to the rim, though he’ll need to develop a stronger and more diverse post game if he hopes to be a consistent offensive threat in the NBA. Poeltl has shown the potential to be an elite defender at the NBA level, though I don’t necessarily believe he’ll be a dominating rim protector in the league during his career. His true defensive value will come from his ability to play effective team defense, his high motor and basketball IQ, as well as his ability to be extremely effective against the pick-and-roll.

WEAKNESSES: Poeltl has demonstrated the ability to score close to the basket, but he still has a ways to go in his offensive development. The big man hasn’t shown the ability to create his own offense, and he’ll need to continue to work at improving his midrange jump shot, which has the potential to become an effective weapon for him down the line. Poeltl’s offensive output during his rookie campaign is likely to consist primarily of putbacks and transition buckets and he shouldn’t be counted on to produce much initially. He’s not rail-thin at 240 pounds, but he’ll need to add strength and bulk if he hopes to survive prolonged exposure to the NBA’s elite big men on a nightly basis. Poeltl also needs to improve his decision-making when facing multiple defenders, as his 2.1 turnovers per game are a touch high for a player not generally tasked with handling the ball or facilitating an offense.

(For Part Two of our Jakob Poeltl Prospect Profile, click here.)

Prospect Profile: Deyonta Davis (Part Two)

April 18th, 2016 at 8:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Draft experts peg Deyonta Davis as a late lottery selection due to his athleticism and upside. He ranks No. 11 overall and fifth among power forwards on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board. He’s currently No. 13 on Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects list. Ben Simmons, Dragan Bender, Henry Ellenson and Skal Labissiere are the other players listed as power forwards for either their primary or secondary positions that Givony rates ahead of Davis. In a league where smaller lineups have become fashionable, Davis could also find himself playing center quite a bit.

RISE/FALL: Davis could slide down some draft boards if the concerns over his lack of offensive polish grow. He’s got to show in predraft camps and workouts that he has the tools to become a reliable low-post scorer. He’s also got to prove that he can make defenses pay if they give him some space in midrange areas and at the elbow. It’s tough for most lottery teams to sell their fans on a player with a limited offensive repertoire. If Davis makes a good impression on the offensive end, he could convince a team in the top 10 that he’s worth the gamble. His length and athleticism aren’t going anywhere, and it will be easy for scouts and coaches to fall in love with his ability to impact a game defensively while he develops his raw offensive moves.

FIT: The Raptors, who will receive a first-rounder from either the Knicks or Nuggets, could solidify their interior defense with a shotblocker like Davis. It’s unlikely that the Kings, who drafted a similar player last year in Willie Cauley-Stein, would be interested in Davis, but he could be a nice fit for the Bucks as an alternative to the defensively challenged Greg Monroe. Magic coach Scott Skiles would welcome any defensive help he could get, while the Bulls could snare Davis to replace free agent Joakim Noah. The Suns and Celtics could also find a role suited to Davis’ gifts, and Davis might even wind up with the Nuggets if they decide to restructure their frontcourt. Should Davis tumble out of the lottery, he would make sense for an aging team like the Grizzlies, who need a jolt of youth and athleticism at power forward.

FINAL TAKE: The team that drafts Davis must exercise patience. He could carve out a rotation role as a defensive specialist in the right situation. More likely, he’ll spend a good portion of his rookie year refining his skills on a D-League roster. The payoff could be substantial if Davis eventually turns into a low-post monster.

(For Part One of our Deyonta Davis Prospect Profile, click here.)

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