Anyone care to guess who this pre draft profile is from? Defensively, ________ is gifted with superb tools, but he's inconsistent using them. He's rather nimble on his feet for a power forward, showing nice lateral quickness to contain his match-ups and deliver good flashing moves defending pick-and-roll plays. He's potentially a notable shot blocker, with length, mobility and leaping ability to get the job done on defensive rotations, but also the reactivity to easily contest his own match-up's shot attempts. However, he doesn't always deliver the same effort and degree of activity. Sometimes his defensive rotations are poor or he doesn't look too focused. Besides, as often happens with players of his profile, he sometimes tends to go for the block instead of focusing on stopping the opponent. Although strong for his age, he's still a bit skinny and might eventually get outmuscled in the low post, where he doesn't show particularly physical defense. Also a potentially excellent rebounder, he enjoys very nice hands to come away with the ball, although he doesn't always properly box out his rival.
That's fair. Whiteside is definitely a dingwing. However there is a difference between Whiteside and Badiane. And that is Whiteside has elite length and athleticism. Whiteside has 40 lbs of muscle mass and 3 to 4 inches of reach on Capella. Whiteside has rare elite length combined with elite athleticism. I think Whiteside has somewhere between a 9'6" and 9"7" standing reach. He dwarfs this kid. I'd much rather have Whiteside with his age, his experience, and his bulk and length playing on minimum contact running up and down the middle of the floor than half the lunkhead backup centers in the league. Capella has basic length for an nba center and he's way underdeveloped in strength and skills. He can't help this team except as a trade asset.
I bet someone on this thread has already said it, but this does not have the "feel" of a Daryl Morey pick. Morey does not pick for upside traditionally. Look at the past. Nick Johnson, Isaiah Canaan, Chandler Parsons, Chase Budinger, Terrence Jones, Marcus Morris, Patrick Patterson, Joey Dorsey, Carl Landry. What do those guys have in common? Superior performance, typically for prolonged periods on the college stage. We simply do not draft based on potential, based on highlight films or skill sets that are merely theoretical. It doesn't happen with the Rockets. No, Capela has more of the feel of a Rockets Category 2 pick, guys like Jeremy Lamb, Nic Batum, Donte Green. What do those players have in common? They got traded. (And then there's always the third category of Aaron Brooks and Royce White: guys that the coach told us to draft. I guess that one depends on the skill level of the coach .) I really feel like Capela is in this second category. He is the throw-in player that will be attached to Jeremy Lin's hip on his way out the door. I think, leading up to the draft, the picks usually have more value than the player because they represent not just one guy, but all the potential guys that you could take at that spot. Psychologically it almost represents the best guy available at that spot. Conversely, whoever turns out to be a stud, you will get crucified by the fans for passing him up. But, when you're talking about picks in the late-20's of the first round, it's almost better to have certain guys than the picks themselves. Like, our pick #25 would have a certain theoretical value in trades if we were insisting on moving Jeremy one month ago. By picking Capela with it, however, we have now replaced the pick with the player who has the most potential. Now, psychologically, GMs look at Capella and envision the best of what he could be and ignore completely the downside in the guy's stock, aka the risk of him not panning out. So cunningly, Morey will select high measurable, high-ceiling type guys when he wants to trade them for something else, knowing their value in a trade will be much higher than a steady, proven college player's would be.
Skinny or skinnier guys have more upside than prospects with NBA ready bodies simply because of their potential to add that muscle and bulk. It does feel like the hype machine is in effect for Capela to boost his value as was done with Jeremy Lamb.
Sirj Ebacca I don't get what you're saying though, because many (including Capela himself) have already made this comparison. Hopefully he can develop into something similar.
It doesn't feel like a Morey pick because we're usually drafting in the lottery or in the second round. In the second round, Morey is usually looking for an outstanding shooter or defender, typically a 4-year college guy that has improved every year and has at least one outstanding skill. Or....he drafts a stash player. And of course, in the late lottery, Morey is simply drafting the best available talent. This feels like a Morey pick in terms of being smart and predatory. That is...he knows other teams want this kid and he can turn the pick into a future asset by drafting him and trading him or stashing him. I seriously doubt this kid ever puts on a Rockets uni.
The point being that most players drafted have warts on their pre draft profile. It doesn't mean they are destined for failure like some seem to think. Zach Randalph was too fat, too short and lazy. Now look at him, one of the better power forwards in the game. There are no guarantees with Copela but he has a lot of tools to work with. I just don't think there is any reason to lump him in with Malik Badiane from day one like some have.
Good points, but one factor that superseded all others here is that the Rockets do not want to commit salary to a first round pick if at all possible. That narrows the field. I think Morey tried to cover all bases on this one. He got a player he could stash away without impacting the cap; one that might preserve the initial value of the pick by having the best potential (as you pointed out), and therefore representing the most tradable asset possible; and one that would be worth keeping and developing somewhere down the road if not traded away. I agree with your observations for the most part, but I think the pick was more about straddling the fence than landing on either side. Flexibility.
LOL..the ESPN highlight package of this guy was as follows 1) a steal in the lane , a ball that was thrown at him 2) a player (theo pinson) at the nike hoop summit getting a 3 pt play on him 3) making a basic pass to a guy who gets fouled and misses a dunk
I must have been mistaken on that number. I thought I remembered it being a bit over $900,000. If that's the case (400k), then not a disaster if they did add him; all the same, I still assume they wanted the flexibility that an overseas pick offered.
