Re: Timberwolves Draft Prospect Analysis Thread
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 9:59 am
lipoli390 wrote:Kekgeek -
I was really intrigued by Windler too. His shooting and rebound stats are terrific. You have to discount those stats a bit considering the level of competition he faces, but I still find his shooting and rebounding stats impressive. So I do like him. But I've been watching a lot of videos of him - highlight videos that likely show him at his best. Those videos confirm his shooting prowess. But they also show him to be a limited offensive player who does two things - he shoots perimeter shots and cuts to the basket. He doesn't do much of anything with the ball in his hand except shoot. And his motions are a bit mechanical.
By way of contrast, watch Cam Johnson's videos. You'll see similarly impressive perimeter shooting, but you'll also see him take guys off the dribble, split defenders with the ball and force turnovers on the defensive end. It's night and day. Johnson's shooting stats are very similar to Windler's, but against tougher competition. Johnson is my first round sleeper. He's projected anywhere from the the last 5 picks in the first round to the early second round. His draft rating obviously reflects his age since upper classmen tend to get punished in draft ratings. But then I think about a junior like Buddy Hield or a Senior like Brandon Roy. The more I think about it, the more inclined I'd be to trade down and take Cam Johnson if I were Rosas.
Posting what The Ringer report is on Windler.
PLUSES
Knockdown spot-up shooter with smooth footwork and an effortless lefty release. He has a nice feel for moving off-ball, and uses screens well.
Potent shooter off the dribble with basic one-two dribble pull-ups. He has a tight handle with a good first step; he's even begun to successfully utilize a James Harden-style stepback.
Instinctual off-ball player who relocates well and uses savvy cutting to get open; he can finish athletic lob plays, or with touch using either hand while absorbing contact.
He's decisive attacking closeouts and finishes well; he's a perimeter-oriented player, but is capable of also running secondary pick-and-roll due to his tight, low handle.
Adept passer who makes quick reads within the flow of the offense and in transition. He rarely commits sloppy turnovers and tends to deliver accurate passes, even off the dribble.
Competitive rebounder with a nose for the ball. It looks like he knows where the ball is going before it's there, especially when crashing the offensive boards.
High-effort on-ball defender with solid fundamentals and nimble foot speed moving laterally against wings. He's a competitor who will take a charge or dive for a loose ball.
Reliable off-ball defender who makes proper rotations and doesn't ball-watch. His awareness is top-notch, which shows in his instincts jumping passing lanes for deflections and steals.
MINUSES
He's a fluid athlete who can wow the crowd with loud dunks, but he must add weight to his slight frame to maximize his overall abilities.
Doesn't have the strength to consistently drive to the rim in pick-and-rolls.
Shot only 71.2 percent from the line over his first three seasons.
He also occasionally has wild misses, and his 3-point percentage drops in a small sample of games against top-100 defenses.
He shoots more accurately when he doesn't need to rush his shot, though he'd benefit from adding the hop to his jumper instead of always one-two stepping.
Lacks the size to contain larger forwards and the lateral foot speed to keep in front of speedy point guards; he sometimes defends on his heels or sloppily closes out.
Takes some unnecessary risks defending man-to-man, like reaching around his man to poke at the ball instead of staying in front.
*this is me again. I just don't he will suck. He has arguably the most important skill set in today's NBA. He competes for rebounds and is competitive on the defensive end. They say he has a good handle. I don't think he will be a star but I have a hard time thinking he will suck