rapsuperstar31 wrote:Whats the appeal on Daniels, I haven't seen him play is he a good defender? Solid stls, rebounds and 2pt percentage but that 25.5% 3pt shooter on 3.6 attempts isn't very enticing. Mock drafts have anywhere from a lottery to pick 21 on nbadraftnet.
He's been my favorite prospect dating back several weeks. At that time his mock draft range was pretty wide - 8 to 21. But his draft stock has risen since then as more teams have had a closer look at him, including at the combine. He's now reported to be as high as #6 on some draft boards.
The only way to truly appreciate his value is to watch video of him. There's a fluidity and intelligence to his game that you rarely see in players, especially 19 year olds. He's a gifted ball-handler who has the game of a PG and the frame of a long SF. He's a terrific defender, both on-ball and off-ball with very quick hands. He shows a high basketball IQ, getting good position, playing angles well, making smart passes and not biting on pump fakes. And you can see all of that as he's playing against a lot of older players, many with some NBA experience. Watching him interviewed adds to the positive vibe he exudes on the court. He is really smart, comfortable in his own skin and quietly intense and competitive.
Behind the video of his play and interviews, he has some eye-popping metrics, especially if you see him as a PG, which is how I view him. He is 6'6 without shoes and has an 8'9 standing reach along with a 6'10.5 wingspan. That's extraordinary length for a PG. Although his 34" vertical isn't spectacular, it's more than adequate for a player with an 8'9 standing reach. More importantly, he scores very high on other measures of athleticism - ones that count more, especially for a PG. He had the best time in the combine's shuttle run and one of the best lane agility times (8th best). All of that means he has great small-area and lateral quickness, which Kevin McHale has referred to as the most important measure of athleticism for NBA players.
It's true that he struggled with his 3-point shoot, hitting only 25.5% of them, but his shooting form looks solid. Moreover, he shot 45% from the field overall and nearly 74% form the line. Importantly, he really excels in the do-shit categories, averaging 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 31 minutes per game. Those are great stats that tend to translate from lower levels to the NBA. He also averaged just short of a block per game. Again, he did all of that playing against G-League competition before he turned 19 years old. Would I take Banchero, Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Jaden Ivey before Daniels? Yes. But Daniels would probably be my guy after those four.
I would just encourage you to want a lot of video of this guy. The more you see, the more impressed I think you'll be. Unfortunately, I don't see the Wolves having a realistic shot at drafting him because the secret is out. :)
