Closer Look: Otto Porter

[Nathan S]

Wingspan Is the wrong stat, it is standing reach, which is a combination of height and wingspan and body build. Wingspan is a completely misused measurement by fans.

Sure, I would be shocked if he doesn't have an average or better standing reach for an SF.

 

[Lumthemad]

There are way too many people trying to knock Porter because he's not an elite athlete. Many of you don't realize you don't have to be a high flying pogostick to survive in this league. If you take notice, the trend around the league, is that a lot players who are smart with high basketball IQ tend to have LONGER careers than those who based a lot of their game off of athleticism.

I am absolutely of the opinion you do not need to be a pogostick with tremendous athleticism in order to succeed in this league. You've got to know how to play the game and i think Otto Porter has some of that to his game. (which is partially why he is considered a top 5 prospect) Personally though, his atleticism concerns me enough to wonder what his ceiling is as a player if we take him. Try going team by team though and find a guy AT that position who is lower level athlete. They keep on comparing him to Kawai Leanard who i KNOW is a better athlete than Porter. Again, if we took him, i wouldn't be oppossed. This kid will come in, fit and be a decent player for us. I just don't think we'll draft him.

 

[TyGuy]

I would like to see porter use his left hand. He will try to finish with his right hand no matter the situation. When you lack in athleticism you really need to have a bigger bag of tricks. Although I think everybody should be able to finish around the basket with both hands regardless of athletic ability. Its nice to be able to shield a defender off with your hip and go to the other hand. Larry bird made a career out of that; He had a tremendous off hand.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Really hope Mike Brown finds creative ways to use Porter and doesn't just pigeonhole him into a 3 and D player...

this is my biggest fear also if we take Porter. But he is a perfect fit for us at SF

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

this is my biggest fear also if we take Porter. But he is a perfect fit for us at SF

Agreed.

I look at Porter as a better version of Batum. He has a good all around game and works to improve. He worked last offseason to improve his accuracy shooting and FTs - he managed to do both during the season while seeing more minutes. He also is already used to playing big minutes, averaging 35 last season. Good rebounder, good defender, can play on the wing, can post up, has a good midrange J. And JTIII is a coach that stresses defense and team work. Porter knows how to work as a team member.

Frankly, I'd take him over Noel if both were on the board. If we get #1, I'd take him there unless one of the teams immediately behind us wants to pay to move up one or two slots. Porter can start immediately and have an immediate impact.

 

[Douglar]

http://www.cavstheblog.com/?p=19489

Here’s the thing about Otto Porter…what are the odds that he is available regardless of where the Cavs pick? Because I have talked myself into some Otto Porter. The two teams with worse records than Cleveland, Charlotte picked MKG last year, and Orlando traded for a 2011 (Tobias Harris) and 2012 (Moe Harkless) first-round small forward. So they are both out of the running, right? There is a 40% chance that a different team jumps all three of these squads. In that scenario, three of the maximum five picks ahead of the Cavs aren’t picking Porter. Draftexpress ranks the Otto-bahn at sixth, and David Thorpe argues for Trey Burke at #1. If Porter was a near-lock to Cleveland in the top-five, I would be stoked. I noted on Friday that Kevin Pelton’s projections consider Porter to be the second-most successful rookie. Turning twenty in June, he is younger than freshmen Ben McLemore and Anthony Bennett. A box-score stuffer, he posted a nightly line of 16 points, almost 3 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 1 block, and nearly 2 steals on 48 / 42 / 78 shooting. Questions abound regarding his ability to be the go-to guy, but Cleveland doesn’t need that anyways. A big, no-nonsense wing that rebounds, moves the ball well (of 94 small forwards in draftexpress’s database, his Pure Point Rating ranks fifth), plays defense, and knocks down jumpers? Yes, please. That is almost the prototype of the small forward to place amongst Irving, Waiters and Thompson.

 

[Sir John]

I've tended to be on the Noel/Len side of things however I just found this interesting article on grantland that has me reconsidering my position:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id...tier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests

(hope it links on my phone)

The premise is that Battier-style SFs that can defend and shoot the three ( as opposed to the more conventional offensive SF in let's say the Shabazz mold) are rare and hard to acquire in the current NBA. They also play an invaluable role. Porter can certainly be this guy and maybe more.

My working assumption has been that positional value of C counts for a lot and that between Noel's premium talent and Lens stylistic fit that would be optimum direction. But this approach does somewhat neutralize that thinking. Moreover because Porter is one of the safer picks, it's enough at least to make me comfortable, even happy, should he be the guy.

 

[TyGuy]

I've tended to be on the Noel/Len side of things however I just found this interesting article on grantland that has me reconsidering my position:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id...tier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests

(hope it links on my phone)

The premise is that Battier-style SFs that can defend and shoot the three ( as opposed to the more conventional offensive SF in let's say the Shabazz mold) are rare and hard to acquire in the current NBA. They also play an invaluable role. Porter can certainly be this guy and maybe more.

My working assumption has been that positional value of C counts for a lot and that between Noel's premium talent and Lens stylistic fit that would be optimum direction. But this approach does somewhat neutralize that thinking. Moreover because Porter is one of the safer picks, it's enough at least to make me comfortable, even happy, should he be the guy.

I think that what you described and what this article discusses is most likely the floor of both dipo and porter. Dipo the better and more versatile defender and porter possibly the better shooter from three.



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[oasis05]

Do you think Porter's shooting is going to translate to the nba three point line? I don't think it will. At least not right away. Oladipo has much better form on his shot. Porter has some work to do.

 

[TyGuy]

Do you think Porter's shooting is going to translate to the nba three point line? I don't think it will. At least not right away. Oladipo has much better form on his shot. Porter has some work to do.

reggie miller shot the basketball the same way Porter does. If Porter wasn't such a horrid shooter in year one, and maybe shot above 80% from the line, it would be more of a sure thing.

I have noticed that porter releases the ball higher up rather than further out compared to his frosh season.

Honestly, I expect both guys to be able to shoot the corner three at a great clip in spot up situations at the nba level.



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[oasis05]

This is what draft express said on porters shooting last year.

Part of this has to do with his perimeter shooting woes, an area in which he desperately needs to improve. While fairly effective making shots in the mid-range area (primarily from 12-15 feet), Porter shoots just 18.5% from beyond the arc on two attempts per game. His mechanics are very deliberate and his release is inconsistent at best, ranging from a compressed shooting motion to a lack of follow through. Getting stronger may help him develop greater range on his shot, but considering how awkward his mechanics are, there's a possibility that he may have to completely overhaul his stroke at some stage to become an acceptable long-range shooter.

Where Porter excels at the moment is doing the little things inside the arc. He converts an astounding 69% of his 2-point attempts (3rd best in our database), moving off the ball extremely well in Georgetown's half-court offense, and finding spaces to catch the ball and finish around the basket or with a mid-range jumper. He's a prolific offensive rebounder, utilizing his excellent length, savvy and aggressiveness to come up with plenty of loose balls. He is also an extremely unselfish player who facilitates ball movement with his passing all over the floor.

 

[Nathan S]

reggie miller shot the basketball the same way Porter does. If Porter wasn't such a horrid shooter in year one, and maybe shot above 80% from the line, it would be more of a sure thing.

I have noticed that porter releases the ball higher up rather than further out compared to his frosh season.

Honestly, I expect both guys to be able to shoot the corner three at a great clip in spot up situations at the nba level.



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This. While both Oladipo and Porter had fluky-looking 3 point percentages last season, I fully expect both of them to be knock-down shooters from the corner if nothing else. Guys have developed accurate jumpers from much humbler beginnings, and these two are nothing if not hard workers. They'll be fine.

 

[CleveRocks]

This. While both Oladipo and Porter had fluky-looking 3 point percentages last season, I fully expect both of them to be knock-down shooters from the corner if nothing else. Guys have developed accurate jumpers from much humbler beginnings, and these two are nothing if not hard workers. They'll be fine.

The thing that stands out about porter is that he can pass the ball effectively. He started out the season with 4 and 5 assists against pretty good teams Indiana and UCLA, and still had efficient scoring nights. It appears he got more aggressive with his own shot later in the season, but I like the fact that he can facilitate as well as many point guards at the college level. He is also pretty efficient, and had good games even against quality opposition. Bennet has better scoring performances and blocks more shots against lesser opposition, but Porter is solid all around.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

The thing that stands out about porter is that he can pass the ball effectively. He started out the season with 4 and 5 assists against pretty good teams Indiana and UCLA, and still had efficient scoring nights. It appears he got more aggressive with his own shot later in the season, but I like the fact that he can facilitate as well as many point guards at the college level. He is also pretty efficient, and had good games even against quality opposition. Bennet has better scoring performances and blocks more shots against lesser opposition, but Porter is solid all around.

He got more aggressive as he had to take the team on his shoulders. After they started out 0-2 in the Big East, he really kicked into high gear and his assists generally went down. Watched several Georgetown games. He's a big passer when his teammates are knocking down shots, but he seems to develop a sense of urgency if his team is struggling and will put it on his shoulders. He pretty much willed that first win against Syracuse and just kept hammering the Orange.

I think Porter got burnt out at the end of the season from having to pick up the Hoyas so much. He didn't have a lot of teammates that showed up consistently to help him - not really any. He'd have a lot more help on the Cavs, though he's the kind of player who will rise up if the other cogs on the team are struggling and attempt to carry the team. It doesn't seem like he wants to be that guy at all times, but he can step up in big ways.

 

[Douglar]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ns-noel-remains-no-1-ranking-top-30-prospects

While we currently don't project Porter to go No. 1 to any team, a number of teams -- such as the Pistons, Suns and Wizards -- would consider Porter there and would likely take him at the No. 2 spot if they landed it. While Porter doesn't have the sizzling upside of others on the board, he might be the most complete player of the draft