Yahoo is full of shit, at least in terms of measurable athleticism. Babbitt had the highest vertical and best lane agility times of any forward or center at the combine. Why would Yahoo research Babbitt, though, when they can just compare him to another white dude named Luke and call it a day?
Difference is Babbitt is almost 2 inches taller, 3 inch longer wingspan, 3 inch higher no step vert, and a 10.98 lane agility compared to Jackson's 11.10.
Babbitt will struggle individually on D regardless of what his athletic testing might indicate. Last year at Nevada he was often the biggest guy on the floor, because of this his defensive fundamentals (mainly getting into a proper defensive stance) were poor. He just didn't look comfortable guarding on the perimeter. Nevada was also a horrible defensive team. They were a small team and had no real defensive anchor inside so it is hard to tell if he has the IQ to at least become a solid team defender in the NBA. I really hope the Blazer staff quickly realizes this summer that if he has any chance at making a serious impact in this league that it will have to come at the 3 position and not as a 3/4. Right now he only weighs 218lbs and he's already a bit of a plodder overall when you watch him actually play despite showing flashes of explosiveness when not in traffic or pulling up from mid-range. I just don't think it would benefit him at all to add much more weight to his frame in hopes of guarding 4's more effectively (he got pushed around easily down low when up against a decent sized big at Nevada). Plus his standing reach is only 8' 8 1/2" despite being nearly 6' 9". I mean Martell was measured at 6' 7 1/2" at 230lbs with a standing reach of 8' 10" as a senior out of high school. He's trimmed down considerably since, but did we ever think of Marty having the potential or ability to guard 4's back then? If Portland agrees with me and gives him plenty of reps on the perimeter, guarding high level athletes, he has a chance to be a solid player in this league, perhaps even a starter. But if they insist he is guy that is able to swing and be a face up/ stretch 4, I'm not nearly as optimistic about his future in the NBA. I hope that Babbitt's scoring is at least somewhat translatable which I'm still a bit weary about. It's just tough to really know because he was rarely playing against guys his size and strength. Nevada again was small so he was the 5 for them a lot of time on floor so he was almost in constant mismatches because even if the opponent chose to keep their big inside the paint, there weren't many 6' 9" athletes playing the perimeter in the WAC. He's mainly an Iso guy (at least with the Wolfpack) with a good pull-up game, but doesn't have the first step or the quickness or the ball handling in traffic to get all the way to the basket consistently in NBA. Showed a nice post-up game and potential as spot up shooter. He was not a stand-out in college here, probably due to the amount of Isos he was in, meaning maybe he is more so a rhythm shooter than a pure knockdown shooter at the next level. Luck Jackson had much the same skill set at Oregon and had troubles translating it to the NBA hence all the comparisons, although Babbitt is bigger and a slightly better athlete. I know we have Nic at the three but if Babbitt can translate unlike Luke, and Nic can become a better ball handler and back-up Brandon at the 2, that could be a nice wing rotation for the future.
[video=youtube;R0_PCqoB0aI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0_PCqoB0aI[/video] I hope to see that beautiful left-handed jumper a lot next season.
Doesn't seem like a spot up shooter. Looks like a pull up guy with the occasional dunk. Eh, Travis Outlaw?
With his skill-set and excellent jumpshot, what's his absolute best case scenario? Peja? Mullen? Mike Miller?
I have a friend who is a scout for the Mavericks, and I asked him about Babbitt. He said he reminded him a little bit of Chris Mullen. "If his motor is there, he could be a good one."
how anyone (not saying you) can compare another player to Luke Jackson to project their NBA future without mentioning Jackson blowing out his back his rookie year is beyond me. Dude was never the same athlete or player following the injury/surgery that caused him to miss most of his first two seasons in the league. Not having suffered such an injury is what I'd say is the biggest difference between these two STOMP
A bigger, more athletic Chris Mullin? I'm pretty sure Mullin wasn't 6'9" in shoes with a 37" no-step vertical. I'm not saying Babbitt will be Chris Mullin at all, but Babbitt seems like he's a much better rebounder/inside player than Mullin, at least comparing college statstics.
A plus for Babbitt is that he was a McDonald's All-American. That's an award that typically is decided during summer AAU tournaments, meaning Babbitt must have played well at national AAU tournaments against his peers.
I am not sure who to compare him to. Mullin was on the Dream Team, so I won't go there. Maybe a more athletic and slightly shorter Bargnani. (With also better handles) The kid does look like he can play. I admit the Morrison comparisons scare me, but the fact that he is so much more athletic than Adam give me confidence. Can't wait for summer league, not that that is always a fare assessment for complimentary players.
My hope is that he ends up similar to a Josh Childress type of player. An athletic, all-around wing. Obviously, he shoots from range better than Childress...but Childress was extremely efficient scorer, so Babbitt's excellent shooting may be the way he gets that kind of efficiency. I don't know, though, that Babbitt will ever be the defender that Childress is. The main comparison points to me are athleticism, all-around production and heady floor game.
Off the bench, I'll take Childress with a better shot, as long as Babbitt is at least average defensively. Then again, for a bench player, it really is about what role is needed, and next year, we need scoring off of the bench to replace what Outlaw and Rudy gave the team in the 54-win season, and neither of them will ever be called good defensive players.
I've said before that his game and skill set remind me a lot of Luke Jackson, and it appears they'll have a similar career path. I hope I'm wrong.
Well you were partially right. Only that he can't even get playing time even with a depleted roster and no legitimate backup SF.
Look Nate just doesn't think he can help out there or he would get some run. You might just see him sooner then you think if LA is really hurt!
