Skal Labissiere is indicative of everything wrong with the draft. Some have compared him to LaMarcus Aldridge, I say he's more Nerlens Noel without the defensive instincts.
NBA Comparison (NBADraft.net): LaMarcus Aldridge
NBA Comparison (Ballitics): Nerlens Noel
Strengths: Tall, 7'2".
Weaknesses: Where do we begin? Should we start with the 10 game stretch this season in which he had 38 points and 34 FOULS? Or perhaps we should begin with his epic 13.2 minutes per game in conference play this year? Would his scoreless first half vs. Kentucky State this year set the tone for this analysis? The kid doesn't know how to hoop, plain and simple. Skal has a less than desirable post up game; he’s off balance and sloppy in the post. Let's refer back to one of his best games of the year: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks versus LSU in which he scored 10 of his 18 off of jump shots. His inconsistent jumper is essentially the bread and butter of his game at this point, and I want no parts of that if I’m a GM with a top 20 pick– yet he is project to go top 20 *insert thinking face emoji*.
The draft has been historically biased against guards, such as in the case of Skal Labissiere versus Malik Newman (guard, Miss. St.), Newman had struggles with his shot this season and he's “undraftable” (project undrafted in NBADraft.net 2016 Mock Draft as of 4.6.2016), Skal on the other hand can play less than 20 mpg and still be drafted top 20 based on the fact that he his over 7’0”. STOP DRAFTING GUYS BECAUSE THEY’RE TALL. BEING 7’0” IS NOT A TALENT. You frequently hear scouts say something like “he’s big, great feet, great hands, runs like a gazelle, etc…”
These cliché descriptions of a coordinated big man are how you get Bowie drafted ahead of Jordan, Oden drafted ahead of Durant, Kwame Brown drafted ahead of anyone – literally anyone would have been better. The days of height being a skill in and of itself are over, too many tall players have developed little man skill sets. It’s 2016 and Karl Anthony-Towns is winning the Skills Challenge with his ball handling and shooting ability at 6’11”. Giannis A. (let’s not butcher his last name) is playing point guard as he has grown to 6’11” while in the NBA. Kevin Durant is basically a shooting guard at 6’11” – he’s listed at 6’9” but that’s like listing Kobe at 6’4” haha. My point is, Skal is no where near the skill level of these guys yet he gets a free pass because he happened to grow an extra inch taller than the 6’11” triplets mention previously. It’s time to evolve, Skal Labissiere is going to need a lot of work on his game. Go back to school kid.
NBA Comparison (NBADraft.net): LaMarcus Aldridge
NBA Comparison (Ballitics): Nerlens Noel
Strengths: Tall, 7'2".
Weaknesses: Where do we begin? Should we start with the 10 game stretch this season in which he had 38 points and 34 FOULS? Or perhaps we should begin with his epic 13.2 minutes per game in conference play this year? Would his scoreless first half vs. Kentucky State this year set the tone for this analysis? The kid doesn't know how to hoop, plain and simple. Skal has a less than desirable post up game; he’s off balance and sloppy in the post. Let's refer back to one of his best games of the year: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks versus LSU in which he scored 10 of his 18 off of jump shots. His inconsistent jumper is essentially the bread and butter of his game at this point, and I want no parts of that if I’m a GM with a top 20 pick– yet he is project to go top 20 *insert thinking face emoji*.
The draft has been historically biased against guards, such as in the case of Skal Labissiere versus Malik Newman (guard, Miss. St.), Newman had struggles with his shot this season and he's “undraftable” (project undrafted in NBADraft.net 2016 Mock Draft as of 4.6.2016), Skal on the other hand can play less than 20 mpg and still be drafted top 20 based on the fact that he his over 7’0”. STOP DRAFTING GUYS BECAUSE THEY’RE TALL. BEING 7’0” IS NOT A TALENT. You frequently hear scouts say something like “he’s big, great feet, great hands, runs like a gazelle, etc…”
These cliché descriptions of a coordinated big man are how you get Bowie drafted ahead of Jordan, Oden drafted ahead of Durant, Kwame Brown drafted ahead of anyone – literally anyone would have been better. The days of height being a skill in and of itself are over, too many tall players have developed little man skill sets. It’s 2016 and Karl Anthony-Towns is winning the Skills Challenge with his ball handling and shooting ability at 6’11”. Giannis A. (let’s not butcher his last name) is playing point guard as he has grown to 6’11” while in the NBA. Kevin Durant is basically a shooting guard at 6’11” – he’s listed at 6’9” but that’s like listing Kobe at 6’4” haha. My point is, Skal is no where near the skill level of these guys yet he gets a free pass because he happened to grow an extra inch taller than the 6’11” triplets mention previously. It’s time to evolve, Skal Labissiere is going to need a lot of work on his game. Go back to school kid.