https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-anthro?SeasonYear=2023-24&dir=A&sort=HAND_WIDTH He's on the smaller side I guess, but not the smallest (in width or length), and I'm not sure it is substantially smaller than other guys. But yeah, good catch. I hadn't really paid much attention to that. (not sure it really matters) I haven't watched much of his his college tape, so ideally I'd watch more of that. But I got the impression he actually had a pretty good first step, and he's also decent at creating space with his stepback and other moves. He's pretty raw with his handles and needs to work on speeding up some parts of his game, but I think there are some things there that indicate he can get separation. With how strong he is, he might be able to play as a big 3 or small ball 4, and he'd probably be able to get by those guys (and still be strong enough to still bully them). I have some concerns about his game, but I actually am pretty high on him being able to self-create against most defenders with his raw tools. My concerns are more about what happens when he has to read defenses and decide what's the best action to take. He might be too slow to make the right decision, or he'll make the wrong decision (possibly also slow). Ideally, his teammates will put him in positions where he can make a quick decision, as from that point onwards...he's *really* good IMO. That would be the challenge with building around him I guess. Interesting counters. I think these could indicate "feel" in terms of instincts/quick reactions, though I'm not sure it necessarily indicates a player is a quick/smart processor on the offensive side (in terms of making reads, knowing when/where to shoot/pass, etc.). There are some guys (e.g., Kelly Oubre IMO) that seem to be good at things like STL%, but I'd still put them in the "bad offensive feel" category. Maybe it is more accurate to clarify this specific type of feel (as feel means a lot of things).
I was high on Whitmore as an Ant clone but the small wingspan and hands kinda tempered my enthusiasm. Although not talked about hand size does a lot towards over all impact for a player imo.
One thing I've seen people say on draft forums is "Why would the Rockets take another guy who tunnelvisions on scoring, they already have too many players like that" and that's something I kind of agree on. I have Whitmore, Ausar, and Walker all in the same tier as guys with great physical tools but real holes in their game. All three of them are inconsistent shooters who require some projection to see becoming above average in that area. Each of them has different other holes in his game. For Whitmore that's court vision/IQ/decisionmaking, for Ausar it's not having the kind of three-level offensive bag to be a leading scorer at the moment, for Walker it's toughness/physicality. At the moment I think I'm leaning toward ranking those guys Ausar > Walker > Whitmore, because I really value feel for the game and I think those guys are just way better right now in that area. I also think that's the order in which they fit the best with our current team. However, I will acknowledge that age relative to league really does favor Whitmore, being one of the youngest guys in this draft class. Maybe some of his feel/IQ/decisionmaking is due to his youth. (I don't think all of it though.)
Good post, but the fact Walker plays in Houston and nobody seems to want him says a lot. The Thompson twins are old and suck when playing people their own age. That leaves an 18 year old who was a top ranked high school player and oozes with actual talent when considering he’s just a freshman. Watch the Xavier game highlights. This kid can play and in 3 years when he’s Amen’s age he’ll be much better and filled out with an NBA type body. If we keep this pick we’d be crazy not to take Whitmore. Reality is that he may go 3rd and we won’t have a choice.
I’d feel absolutely fine about Whitmore being the pick at 4. I think he’s the youngest player in the draft. The lack of assists thing can be addressed through player development and experience. The talent he’s got you can’t teach. This guy is going to be a big-time 2-way nba player.
Someone like Whitmore should go to a team that has vets and a coach like Pop, not a team that has Jalen Green/KPJ as the veteran.
Miller is a much superior offensive player than Whitmore. Whitmore is a BLACH HOLE on offense and he undersized
He is short and slow…the guy is 6’6 and what position does he play….is he going to play BULLY BALL as a SF? He is too slow for guards in the NBA….Thompson TWINS or Brandon Miller
I get the size criticism but he isn’t slow. No idea where you are pulling that from. Plus he’s a small forward not a guard. I don’t think he will have trouble keeping up with shooting guards though. The Thompson twins are quick but have bad defensive fundamentals which negates their natural talents. Additionally they are too slender and get bodied by thicker players and they don’t box out. These aren’t issues for Whitmore.
I've gone on record about how much I like Whitmore, but Jarace Walker should also be in the conversation. I'm not sure why we aren't talking about him more. We probably should be.
Problem is that there is zero chance that Miller is there at 4. Whitmore is not as good as Miller, but he next best at 4.
Whitmore is also very quick in athletic testing. At 230 lbs with a 40+ inch verticle, he runs a 3.2 three-quarters sprint, and posted a 10.82 agility. For some context, that quickness matches PG Cason Wallace or from last year's draft Dyson Daniels. But Whitmore is doing all that in a much bigger package. With more experience, he would be able to stay in front of most guys on the wing. The assists are a problem...the slow reaction to size things up are a problem. But a rotation of Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore shows promise. They do need someone to run the point and a system to draw out their talents. The Thompson twins might turn out to be players, but I know you can give Whitmore assignments, and he can physically match up.
I think everyone just wants Wemby or Scoot out of this draft. Anything less than that and everyone is disappointed. The biggest hole we have is PG. Scoot fills that hole best, I'm not sold on Amen. All other positions are pretty well covered and none of the other draft picks this year appear to be better than what we have already drafted so I think everyone is kinda just ho hum about what remains.
Put me down for Team Whitmore. That dude is ferocious. I think his court vision could improve under Udoka’s no-nonsense tutelage. If he gets better at finding open teammates, his ceiling is remarkably high
