Good player, but a weird player. I like him a lot, but he's going to have to land in the right spot for him to reach his ceiling. Super strong, quick feet, active and accurate hands, great weakside rim protection...he's the closest thing we've seen to Draymond defensively... Offensively is where I have my worries. Very limited as a scorer. Predicable face up game where he's always trying to get back to his left hand akin to Zion. Don't think he has the quickness, lift or length to make that much of a part of his game in the NBA though. Struggles to finish over real length in the post. But he's not a zero on that end. Good passer, really sees the whole floor. Accuracy and touch not always on point, but I'd say he's clearly a plus passer overall. If he has a physical advantage on his matchup, he's a good finisher with pretty nice touch. If you pair him with a dangerous shooter that draws two defenders, I think he can make hay as a screener / hand off guy playing in advantage situations. I don't love his fit with us for a lot of reasons (and for most teams which will keep him from going super high), but if he lands in the right spot I think he has a chance to be a impactful, winning player.
Prospects I've most enjoyed watching this year.... Cooper Flagg Jase Richardson Jeremiah Fears Kon Knueppel Derik Queen Labaron Philon Carter Bryant Noa Essengue Kanon Catchings Collin Murray-Boyles Nolan Traore Thomas Sorber
Yeah Liam is tough for me. I don't think he brings much offensively minus spot shooting. You could probably run some action for him off the ball but I don't think he's some fly off a pin down and shoot type guy. Don't have the numbers, but the times I've seen him in those movement shooting situations he's seemed to have to really slow down his process and the footwork doesn't look natural for him. UConn gave him the ball a lot the 2nd half of the year out of necessity, but I don't see an NBA team giving him those reps. Really lacks burst and deceptiveness on the ball and not a dynamic scorer. Looks best on left hand drives where he displays some ability to finish through contact with touch. Pretty vertically challenged though much like Knueppel is, but doesn't have that play off two feet / fake / pivot game to score in situations where the scoring opportunity or physical advantage isn't obvious so the finishing numbers don't look good overall. Defensively he's pretty limited to me too. Good size and he rebounds, but his feet look heavy to me and he didn't show much off the ball as a playmaker. UConn doesn't help much under Hurley so his steal and block numbers may be a little deflated, but even giving the benefit of the doubt he still feels like a hide guy on the least threatening, slower forward type with limited versatility. Size, pretty smart and shooting gives him an ok chance to stick, but I struggle to see the special with him.
I haven't watched much college ball this year but went through a highlight tape this morning and clearly he's a baller with very good court sense/feel. A strong off hand gives him a lot of ways to finish around the hoop which is part of why he shoots so well on his 2 point attempts. His jumper form would benefit from a little tweek though. He brings the ball up between his eyes not to the outside of the right eye (his shooting hand side) which flares out his elbow. Scoot had the same issue when he came into the league and has successfully made this subtle adjustment. He's obviously a bit light, but of course young guys fill out in time. The tale of the tape will be interesting to see if he projects to be able to switch off onto wings on D. STOMP
I'm always in favor of drafting the BPA but there is no question this Blazers roster could really use a knock down shooter especially from the frontcourt. STOMP
Here are some good highlights of their top 10 freshmen. (CBS) https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...dline-list-of-top-freshmen-in-the-tournament/
The Athletic chimes in 1. Flagg 2. Harper 3. Edgecombe 4. Bailey 5. Jacucionis 6. Nipple 7. Tre Johnson 8. Murray-Boyles 9. Queen 10. Jase Richardson 11. (BLAZERS) Liam McNeeley 12. Thomas Sorber 13. Fears 14. Maluach 15. Nique Clifford, Colorado State
POR needs a young guy that can actually shoot. Tre will be long gone by the time POR gets their pick. Hopefully Jase is still there.
I love a good 'this guy has a random name, he could be the next nikola jokic!' (remember when folks were convinced ulrich chomche was the next giannis? lol)
If he actually measures out as the rumors suggest (7'3" wing span) then he could move up in the mocks. I like the PFs who can handle the ball and attack.
Think I've settled on Kon Knueppel, Jase Richardson and Labaron Philon as my top 3 targets. All two-way contributors that can toggle on and off the ball and bring a feel on both ends at the guard positions we lack aside from Scoot.
Agree they need a shooter. Disagree that it's Jase because he's a PG, and we have that position filled. There are several really, really good wing shooters in this draft and if we don't go BPA or we somehow get an extra 1R pick, I imagine we'll go for one of them.
I see that and I think I'd go for Essengue who can be that kind of defender or close to it but has so much more upside on the offensive end.
