The Grizzlies had a golden opportunity to find a nice wing role player with their first round pick, I don't think they made the safest pick, or that they drafted the best athlete, but they made the most interesting pick and took the best basketball player at a position of need. Adams scored out terribly athletically and awesome analytically, which will make this an interesting test case for old school vs. new school scouting. I fall on the side of the latter; though Adams is far from a top athlete, he isn't as bad as the combine showed, just look at Kevin Durant's testing if you want a lesson in combine outliers. Adams is really good in games, where he has a balanced efficient scoring attack led by good shooting, strength to muscle around the basket, and an innate scoring instinct off the ball to get open looks. He also rebounds well, can create plays, and has good instincts creating turnovers. The lack of athleticism does show on the defensive end and Adams does have a penchant for getting a little shot happy.
35. Jarnell Stokes, PF Tennessee Jr. (6-9, 263)
Like Adams, Stokes performed great on the court and was one of the top prospects by analytics. He actually tested better athletically as well, though he is still a below the rim player. An effective one though, Stokes is a classic low post player who can score around the rim and is one of the best rebounders in the draft, particularly on the offensive end. He isn't a top shot blocker, but with some work, he should be able to use his size to protect the rim and clog lanes. The real concern is his ability to guard in space, he really is more of an undersized center. However, as a backup, rotational big, Stokes should be excellent because of his ability to both score and rebound at a high rate while also being able to have his match-ups limited. Also, landing with an excellent defensive team like the Memphis is great for both Stokes and Adams.
Projected Lineup
PG: Mike Conley/Nick Calathes
SG: Courtney Lee/Tony Allen/Jordan Adams
SF: Tayshaun Prince/James Johnson/Quincy Pondexter
PF: Zach Randolph/Jarnell Stokes
No comments:
Post a Comment