Closer Look: Otto Porter

[shoes22]

Where did you come up with that? People bring up Prince as a comp because stylistically and body-wise they are similar, but Porter is better in nearly every way. To me, it's more likely that his floor is a Tayshaun Prince level player than his ceiling. I honestly don't know what his ceiling is, but it's certainly higher than Tayshaun Prince. At the same stage in their college careers Porter is the significantly better player. Porter also has a slightly thicker frame that should be able to support more weight.

He is not better in every way. Tayshaun was a 4x All-Defensive 2nd Team Defensive Player. There's no way that's his floor.
Porter's shooting is inconsistent to say the least, and he doesn't have superior athleticism or strength that high lottery picks usually have. In fact, there isn't a single thing about Porter's game that suggests to me he can be an All-Star caliber player.

 

[Kouki]

I had a big long post typed out here that somehow got deleted before I posted it....but people are seriously underselling Prince AND Granger in this topic.

If Porter becomes either of them, then he's a hell of a player and a great fit on this team. Granger put up 26 ppg on 45% shooting and 40% from three one season. And he's a fantastic defender, heck I think he was one of the best defenders on LeBron. Prince is also of course a fantastic defender, all defensive teams and whatnot, and a pretty reliable three point shooter.

One of the most important positions is a versatile wing defender to take on all the elite 2/3's and even 1's in the league.

 

[Ohio]

Right? A prime Prince/Granger blend is a phenomenal player. I'd be ecstatic if we picked Porter and that's what he turned out to be.

 

[MRMsix6]

He is not better in every way. Tayshaun was a 4x All-Defensive 2nd Team Defensive Player. There's no way that's his floor.
Porter's shooting is inconsistent to say the least, and he doesn't have superior athleticism or strength that high lottery picks usually have. In fact, there isn't a single thing about Porter's game that suggests to me he can be an All-Star caliber player.

as a college sophomore? Porter is better in nearly every way. Far better shooting numbers across the board (48/42/78 vs 42/31/71), better rebounder, more assists, more steals, fewer turnovers, drew more fouls, less blocks in 35 mpg vs 34 mpg. Porter was a better player in nearly every way.

 

[Kouki]

That's fine and all, but Prince has proven himself at the NBA level, and to assume that Prince is his floor is kind of an insult to Prince's game.

 

[Derek]

as a college sophomore? Porter is better in nearly every way. Far better shooting numbers across the board (48/42/78 vs 42/31/71), better rebounder, more assists, more steals, fewer turnovers, drew more fouls, less blocks in 35 mpg vs 34 mpg. Porter was a better player in nearly every way.

Prince's sophomore year was also about 12 years ago. The college game was different, the talent was less spread out, the good teams were better, guys who went to school stayed. All in all, it's just tough to use college stats to project an NBA career, especially when you're comparing guys over a decade apart.

 

["Boobie" Gibson]

Because we should judge a player's entire college career on one game. I get that it was an important game and all, but this is the very definition of making too much of a tournament performance. Porter had some absolutely electric games during the regular season, and you judge a player on the whole picture, not an individual performance.

It's comical. People will rave about players who shine in the tournament and suddenly their draft stock skyrockets. But when a "good" player has a weak showing, their career isn't based on that particular showing.

 

[Derek]

It's comical. People will rave about players who shine in the tournament and suddenly their draft stock skyrockets. But when a "good" player has a weak showing, their career isn't based on that particular showing.

Personally, I don't put much stock in tournament performance one way or the other. Tbh, I wasn't particularly enamored with Porter before the draft, but the tournament didn't make me like him any less.

 

[MRMsix6]

People are misinterpreting what I said. I said it's more likely that Prince is Porter's floor than his ceiling, not that Prince is his floor. The guy said people believe Prince is his ceiling, which I don't think is accurate at all. I still maintain that Porter was a better player at the same age.

 

[Futuredome]

What is Porter's ceiling? I would love a reason we should draft him over a big.

 

[Revenged25]

The only players that had a huge tournament as a reason why they should be escalated are ones that were already rising prospects prior to the tournament and continued it during their run against top players and guys that prior to the tournament had just started getting increased playing time. So basically Trey Burke and Mitch McGary are two guys who had big tourney performances that should get a deserved boost.

The only players that should take a hit from a bad tournament performance are those that had questions about their game already and the tournament only gave further proof of it, Zeller being soft and not physical and McLemore being non assertive offensively and able to disappear at times are two good examples. Both players still provided examples of why they are thought highly of as well, but they also added more proof to their flaws.

Porter doesn't do anyone thing amazingly, but he also does nothing badly. Due to that you will see him have games where you come away unimpressed because he didn't do anything to wow you, but you will also have a hard time saying he had a bad game as well as you will see that he did a lot of other things that contributed to the teams success.

 

[Derek]

What is Porter's ceiling? I would love a reason we should draft him over a big.

I don't think he'll be this good, but I'd say a reasonable ceiling is Brandon Roy. Only way you draft him over a big is if you don't think the big will be any good.

 

[Kiddo]

Porter shoot 68% from inside 17 feet. He has a very good mid range jumper which seems to be a lost art in the pros. Love watching him flash to the high post and shoot a free throw line jumper. He doesnt have the flashy dunks but imo has unlimited potential.

 

[Revenged25]

Hmmm I wonder, how would his game be compared to Scottie Pippen, good midrange jumper, able to hit 3's, good rebounder, great on ball defender, willing and good passer, doesn't need to be THE guy and happy to take his shots when given to him...

 

[Derek]

Hmmm I wonder, how would his game be compared to Scottie Pippen, good midrange jumper, able to hit 3's, good rebounder, great on ball defender, willing and good passer, doesn't need to be THE guy and happy to take his shots when given to him...

Pippen had A LOT more athleticism and was a top 50 player all-time