I didn't realize the stats from this season were after a major injury such as Tibial-Plateau fx. [Bassey] Makes me more impressed actually. If he was projected top 5, I would worry Sam Bowie.....not so much in the 20's. Thank you for the video
Crazy huh? Bassey would compliment Wood in the front court nicely IMO and allow him to go back to the stretch 4 while Bassey bangs with the bigs and you dont feel married to Olynyk if his demands are too high moving forward.
Exactly my thinking as well. I believe Bassey will need to play 15 to 20 games in the G-league but will be a major contributor by season's end. I don't expect him to operate the Olynyk role of running the sets through him near the 3-pt line Above the Break. But he fits in well with the Capela role of setting screens in the paint, roll-man, hook shots with either hand (eventually proficient), P n Pop with 12 foot jump shots straight ahead, blocking shots (good timing), rebounds, tip-in's, put backs, deflections, high motor, love how he sprints the court end to end. Most of his best skills translate well into the Silas offense. NBA is getting away from the big size Centers; but Bassey is a good alternative as a cross between big center/lose forward types. Anthony Davis hybrid types......minus the polished good offensive skills. Bassey would complement Porzingis or Doncic well when paired with one or the other. Would do well if / when paired with Wood or Olynyk on the court as well. Bassey pushes off just good enough to create room/space to receive passes as the roll-man.
I like Bassey but not as much as I like Kai Jones, Sengun, Garuba and Isaiah Jackson. 6'11 Bassey is a long (7'4 wingspan) energy player who shines on the boards and blocking shots. He is not an uber athlete but defense is definitely more advanced than his offense. That said I'd rather use pick on a high upside player that slides or take a flyer on fast rising 6'10 point forward Vrenz Bleijenbergh. Then sign 7'1 Ibou Badji as undrafted FA. Badji has a 7'8 wingspan, has more natural ball skills and is longer and bouncier than Bassey.
Vernz should be a 2nd rounder in my opinion. Kai Jones is skinny as a stick. Badji might go in the 50's or 45 at best. I do like him. Bassey is far more mature than him. Isaiah Jackson might be gone by the 18th pick. I like him, and I wouldn't mind if the Rockets choose him. That guy is tough and he can block shots better than anyone else. Garuba is nice, but he is raw. I like his energy and size. He has no offense apart from P/R. Sengun is the most skilled, but I feel his slight frame and average athletic ability will hurt him at the NBA level.
Kai Jones could be the most dynamic and successful big in this draft class when it is all said and done. He is physical but his athleticism is elite for a 6'11 player. And he will be better defender than Mobley IMO, his switch ability is freakish. Garuba and especially Sengun are also more advanced players than Bassey. Even Sharpe is better skilled than Bassey. I like Bassey, just not as a FRP.
Day’Ron Sharpe is our answer as the 3rd big but skilled to play on the floor with another big. He checks most of the boxes. He should also be around in the early twenties, too.
I hope someone falls in love with this kid in lottery or somewhere before we pick. ZW has all the tools but had a bad season, still was considered top 10 talent at one time. But if he falls to Rockets with 2nd or 3rd first rounder, need to take him. Have to take risks when picking so low and with multiple picks.
Here is my back up plan for a big if we don’t draft one. Olivier Sarr. Danny Manning got good use out of him when they were at Wake Forest. The size & skill is there, plus he can move laterally & space the floor. Best sleeper big in the draft. He is such a sleeper he more than likely won’t get the honor.
Yes, if he is fit, and has built up some lean hard muscles plus with very solid workouts, especially with his jumper.
I watched a lot of Texas games this year (UT grad), and I agree Jones has off the charts potential defensively. I just find it hard to see him developing his offensive game to the point where he's a huge scoring threat. I think I see his ceiling more as Clint Capela with a jumper, but I would take that in a heatbeat.
I admit I just saw his highlights for the first time right now. He looks quite impressive to me. Perhaps, a 2 way contract might be valuable in his development. Thanks.
I think Kai's floor is Capela. His ceiling could be Giannis. It's up to him to put in the work, but his freakish natural talent is obvious.
That are your thoughts on Jericho Sims & Greg Brown. Your prospect is much better having seen them play over time.
He doesn't have Giannis' playmaking skillset. He does have great handles for a 6'11" guy, though. But he's a superior shooter, so maybe he's got the ceiling of a Giannis/Durant hybrid. I think that's still pretty unlikely, though. For a player with his skills, Kai shrunk way too often and disappeared on the floor. Maybe with some maturity and playing with superior NBA offenses and spacing, he'd gain the confidence that would allow him to be a superstar, but if I had to guess, I think he ends up as more of a third option offensively. Someone who prefers to rim run or take set shots than create for himself and dominate games. The skills are there, but I'm not sure if he's got the superstar mentality.
Brown has freakish athleticism, but low bball IQ and needs to work on his shooting a LOT. He's a bit of a hothead who got himself pulled from games a few times by Shaka Smart. A tweener, but I think his length and athleticism make him ideal for a modern NBA 3. He can switch defensively really well. Like Kai, there were just a lot of times where it felt like he disappeared on the floor. He doesn't create for himself all that well, but he'd be a monster in transition. I'd take a flyer with him with that 24th pick if they haven't taken any forwards at that point, but know he's a project. Sims is intriguing. One of my favorite players from those underperforming Texas teams the last two years. He's built like a brick wall. Think Dwight Howard's body. Defensively a tad undersized as a 5, but i think he'd be fine in today's NBA. Insanely strong; solid rebounder and shotblocker; plays good team defense. Offensively he's never going to be a shooter, but he's insanely efficient around the rim and plays to that strength. He's a vacuum around the rim and always had a knack for getting buckets even though he's limited offensively. Always felt like he stepped up big when it mattered most for Texas. I think his ceiling could be a smaller Tyson Chandler, but I'm not sure he's quite got Chandler's pick and roll skills. He probably goes undrafted, but it would be worth signing him and letting him play with the Vipers. The lack of quality defensive big men today means Sims could make it in the league.
I'm surprised that you think Kai Jones could reach Giannis's ceiling. He isn't as skilled as he as the rookie freak apart from his jumper. Kai is long and athletic, but I don't see him being anywhere as explosive as GA. He isn't strong by any means either. Some lean guys like Isaiah Jackson can handle contact. I have my doubts if Kai can do that. Giannis was a fringe lottery player because he was an unknown, otherwise he might have gone top 5 in his draft class.
What were his off court issues? I'm sorry I haven't seen the video as yet. Will do so later. A little busy right now.
No off court that I recall, just did not perform to expectations on court in his first college season.
