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2019 NBA Draft

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Main weak spot for Kabengele is his low assist rate. 11 assists on the season (0.8 per 100 possessions) is a shockingly low number, even for a center. Suggests that he'll probably always be a 4th or 5th option offensively at the NBA level, but he could be a pretty good one given his ability to hit 3's and crash the glass.

Should be able to defend most 4's and 5's, though realistically I think he'll be more solid than spectacular on that end. Again, more of an energy guy roleplayer type than a keystone leader like Draymond. Don't like him enough to pick him at #26, but definitely should and will get drafted somewhere.
 
Muffinalt said:
He has a nice outside shot to boost though, and that somewhat opens up the door for Draymond discussion doesn't it?
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What makes Draymond so dangerous isn't his 3 as much as his ability to pass the ball/run an offense. He's basically a point power forward. And because Kabengele's biggest weakness is passing...Draymond is not a good comparator.
 
Nathan S said:
Main weak spot for Kabengele is his low assist rate. 11 assists on the season (0.8 per 100 possessions) is a shockingly low number, even for a center. Suggests that he'll probably always be a 4th or 5th option offensively at the NBA level, but he could be a pretty good one given his ability to hit 3's and crash the glass.

Should be able to defend most 4's and 5's, though realistically I think he'll be more solid than spectacular on that end. Again, more of an energy guy roleplayer type than a keystone leader like Draymond. Don't like him enough to pick him at #26, but definitely should and will get drafted somewhere.
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So basically...Tristan Thompson with an outside shot, and better shot-blocking? Okay, I know, TT is better defending the perimeter. Still, when you describe what Kabengele can do, and still say he isn't worth No. 26...it makes TT a headscratcher.
 
The Human Q-Tip said:
So basically...Tristan Thompson with an outside shot, and better shot-blocking? Okay, I know, TT is better defending the perimeter. Still, when you describe what Kabengele can do, and still say he isn't worth No. 26...it makes TT a headscratcher.
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TT's a unique case because he basically stopped developing offensively at age 18, which is almost unheard of (unless you count changing his shooting hand as a "development" :chuckle:).

For comparison's sake though, TT got 45 assists his freshman season (2.4 per 100 possessions). So with Kabengele, you have to imagine a guy who's much more limited offensively in that way. If he touches the ball and you're hoping for him to do something other than shoot or attack the rim, you're going to be disappointed. I'm no expert on X's and O's, but I imagine that really handcuffs the coach in terms of what plays he can draw up.
 
CBBI said:
I'm not down on Hunter as much as you. I am pretty confident he can step into an NBA rotation tomorrow and give 20-25 competent two-way minutes and there's definitely value in that.

I personally just want more upside with a top 5 pick. Drafting a 3&D player, even a high end one, is something you do outside the lottery. Not at 5.
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Not sure about that, I think a guy like Hunter in top 5, while not a home run, is a really solid pick. Getting a good rotational, 12-15 ppg elite wing defender? That's satisfactory when drafting in the top 5. And I'm still not certain that Hunter cannot be more than that in the future.
 
Amherstcavsfan said:
Not sure about that, I think a guy like Hunter in top 5, while not a home run, is a really solid pick. Getting a good rotational, 12-15 ppg elite wing defender? That's satisfactory when drafting in the top 5. And I'm still not certain that Hunter cannot be more than that in the future.
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Yeah he is probably getting under rated now. He has upside, but he is pretty old.
 
Cavatt said:
Yeah he is probably getting under rated now. He has upside, but he is pretty old.
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Agreed, but people act like he has no dribble drive ability. I think as a small ball 4, he would absolutely wreck most 4's in the NBA on the dribble drive. He also uses his long arms and athletic ability to really finish well around defenders. I think he has untapped potential as a slasher and could become a legit 3rd option on a championship contender as a ceiling.
 
CBBI said:
I'm not down on Hunter as much as you. I am pretty confident he can step into an NBA rotation tomorrow and give 20-25 competent two-way minutes and there's definitely value in that.

I personally just want more upside with a top 5 pick. Drafting a 3&D player, even a high end one, is something you do outside the lottery. Not at 5.
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yeah that I agree with, taking a player like Hunter is kind of a waste at 5 especially considering Chuma Okeke with his early 2nd round projection after the acl tear, who is also a elite defensive player in the same mold and has better % to volume ratio on 3's and should be had pretty easily at 26.
Depends on how much they devalue Hunter for his lack of ability to create offense, create for himself and handle the ball but those 3 are big negatives for a team needing more creation skilled players if you ask me.
 
The Human Q-Tip said:
So basically...Tristan Thompson with an outside shot, and better shot-blocking? Okay, I know, TT is better defending the perimeter. Still, when you describe what Kabengele can do, and still say he isn't worth No. 26...it makes TT a headscratcher.
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The NBA has really evolved since TT was drafted. I remember when he was drafted they had him really only as a PF and for years they just wanted him to add a 15 footer for spacing. Even when Bennett was picked, I thought why did they another PF when they had TT. Not sure many seen him as a center even then.

Now guys with his skill set are seen as centers and he would be undersized. College prospects know they have to shot 3s to get a chance at the NBA. The bar is alot higher for PFs and Centers now. PFs today are closer to SFs than centers.

My guess is TT would be a second round pick if he came out in this draft. He might even go undrafted or been told to go back to school after the combine.
 
inliner311 said:
The NBA has really evolved since TT was drafted. I remember when he was drafted they had him really only as a PF and for years they just wanted him to add a 15 footer for spacing. Even when Bennett was picked, I thought why did they another PF when they had TT. Not sure many seen him as a center even then.

Now guys with his skill set are seen as centers and he would be undersized. College prospects know they have to shot 3s to get a chance at the NBA. The bar is alot higher for PFs and Centers now. PFs today are closer to SFs than centers.

My guess is TT would be a second round pick if he came out in this draft. He might even go undrafted or been told to go back to school after the combine.
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Second round to undrafted is an exaggeration...TT was a reach at 4, but he was a really solid prospect who'd land in the mid first round at worst in any draft. If he were a prospect now he'd probably be described as a more offensively skilled Capela.
 
Nathan S said:
Second round to undrafted is an exaggeration...TT was a reach at 4, but he was a really solid prospect who'd land in the mid first round at worst in any draft. If he were a prospect now he'd probably be described as a more offensively skilled Capela.
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Remember TT was basically 1 to 2 inches shorter when he was drafted that he is now. Capela measured in at 6'11 in shoes at the combine. TT was 6'8.75 in shoes and 6'7.5 without shoes at his combine. Those numbers would have put alot of question marks around him if he could play Center in the NBA. TT now is listed at 6'10 and he had stated a couple times that he grew.
 
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inliner311 said:
Remember TT was basically 1.5 to 2 inches shorter when he was drafted that he is now. Capela measured in at 6'11 in shoes at the combine. TT was 6'8.75 in shoes and 6'7.5 without shoes at his combine. Those numbers would have put alot of question marks around him if he could play Center in the NBA.
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In 2019? Nah...I mean, people are talking about Brandon Clarke playing center. If a guy blocks shots, gets rebounds, and can step out to guard the perimeter, he's the perfect modern center...even if he's 6'9" or even 6'8". Tristan did all of those things really well in college.
 
Nathan S said:
In 2019? Nah...I mean, people are talking about Brandon Clarke playing center. If a guy blocks shots, gets rebounds, and can step out to guard the perimeter, he's the perfect modern center...even if he's 6'9" or even 6'8". Tristan did all of those things really well in college.
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Brandon Clarke has put up alot better numbers than TT did in college. Especially Clarke's last two years. Is Clarke seen as exclusively a center or a small ball center? I thought he was seen as a forward alot like Hachimura.

I would think TT would been seen as exclusively a center with his skill set if he was drafted today. I actually think he would take a route like Brandon Clarke and played 3+ years in college to try to expand his game.
 
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