ESPN school basketball analyst Jay Bilas takes at shot at some NBA draft Q&A with Steve Serby.
Q: The Knicks are selecting at Nos. 24 and 25. Who may make sense for them?
A: At that time, who is aware of? Perhaps you’ll have massive guys out there — whether or not it’s Yves Missi from Baylor or Kel’el Ware of Indiana — that’s a risk. You might even have guys like Baylor Scheierman from Creighton or [Tyler] Kolek from Marquette. There are a bunch of fellows that might very effectively be there. An fascinating prospect that isn’t an offensive participant, however Ryan Dunn of Virginia, he could also be the very best total defender within the draft, however he’s not there offensively. He’s simply lengthy and athletic and actually impactful on the defensive finish and might actually run.
Q: What did you consider Jalen Brunson popping out of Villanova in 2018?
A: You chronicled all of the positives that he’s proven within the NBA, however I don’t suppose anyone, together with the NBA, projected him to be an All-NBA participant at this level in his profession. I feel I even heard Jay Wright lately say that he didn’t see this coming. You thought, “Smaller guard, is he gonna be capable of do the identical issues within the NBA that he was in a position to do in school?” You already know, the backdowns, and taking part in off two toes, all that stuff. And the reply is: Not solely can he do it, he’s been a dominant performer within the league doing that. And similar factor with Tyrese Haliburton. Like, I had Haliburton extremely ranked the yr he got here out, I had him ranked No. 4. Look what he’s change into. So there could also be a few gamers that wind up doing the identical factor from comparable draft-pick positions on this draft. We wish to suppose we all know, however the fact is, we don’t. You’re simply projecting, and you’ve got sure beliefs based mostly upon what they’ve achieved and what their measurables are and issues like that. However no person actually is aware of.
Q: Is there any person who may or must be a shock lottery decide?
A: I don’t find out about shock. There are a few gamers like Ron Holland, who performed within the G League final yr, has the expertise to be taken within the prime 5. Whether or not he’ll or not, we’ll see. He can actually drop down into the late lottery, too. However guys like Devin Carter from Windfall, although he’s an older participant, on this yr’s draft, he’s a man you’re saying, “Hey man, he can impression profitable.” He’s long-armed, he rebounds at a excessive edge for a guard, and he’s actually, actually good defensively, and he’s only a high-energy, high-impact participant. You’re not essentially taking him to be an All-NBA choice, however he will help a staff instantly. … Stephon Citadel of UConn. … [He has] every little thing you need aside from he hasn’t found out the perimeter capturing piece but. I feel he can change a couple of issues in his mechanics and change into extra constant together with his mechanics, and I feel he can enhance tremendously there. You’re not saying he’s gonna win the NBA 3-point contest anytime quickly, however he turns into a constant perimeter shooter, he’s gonna be a extremely, actually good participant within the NBA.
Q: The opposite UConn guys: Donovan Clingan.
A: Clingan is an excellent defender, so he can block pictures, he rebounds at a excessive fee, powerful and aggressive, bodily, and I feel he’s gonna enhance in all these areas. His mobility laterally is a query mark, however he can stand up and down by ground, he can run, and he does a extremely good job on the offensive finish so far as he’s a very good passer, he units good screens and might roll out of it. He’s simply not proper now a capturing massive man. He shoots underneath 60 % from the foul line, and he’s not the sort that’s gonna knock down 3s proper now. However he shoots a reasonably good ball, and so I feel he can get quite a bit higher there. When he was wholesome, he was a dominant presence, particularly on the defensive finish, so he will help anchor a protection as an enormous man for a very long time.
Q: Tristen Newton?
A: I might suppose he’ll be a second-round decide, however he might very effectively be higher off going undrafted the place he can choose the place he goes. He’s only a actually good all-around participant. Huge guard, can deal with it, superb passer, could be bodily so he can take up a bump, and he can shoot a little bit bit. However simply kind of a winner. I like him. Going undrafted will not be a enjoyable night time on that Thursday, however his cellphone’s gonna be ringing instantly, and he’ll be capable of select the place he goes.
Q: Cam Spencer?
A: He can actually shoot it. Powerful child, can transfer with out the ball. I don’t know that he’ll be drafted, however just like Newton, he’ll be capable of decide the place he goes. However the capturing order is what makes him essentially the most helpful.
Q: How about Bronny James?
A: I feel he’ll most likely be a second-round decide. He’s an uncommon prospect in that not many guys that common 4, 5 factors a recreation as a freshman have 2 million social media followers. He’s any person we talked about that, if his title had been Bronny Smith or Bronny Jones, we most likely wouldn’t have talked about him that a lot, fairly frankly. However superb athlete, and has a extremely good really feel for the sport. Somewhat bit laborious to judge as a result of he didn’t have a compete season, he had that coronary heart episode that basically set him again. With out that, may he have carried out at a better degree? I’m positive he may have. He’s not an enormous guard, he’s solely about 6-1 or 6-2. However he does have lengthy arms, and he defends effectively. I feel he can play within the NBA.
Q: The fellows projected on the prime of the draft: Alex Sarr.
A: Sarr is 7-foot, lengthy wingspan, extra of a defensive presence, a shotblocker, shot-changer, rebounder. He’s performed in several leagues all through his time. He’s not a loopy bodily participant, however he’s bought mobility and athletic instruments. He’s a very good transition finisher. He can step away and shoot the ball. He’s not a constant 3-point shooter, however he could make one, and I feel he can enhance in that space. There’s quite a bit to love there, and he’s simply 19 years outdated.
Q: Zaccharie Risacher?
A: He’s a 6-8 child that may shoot it. He’s bought good ball abilities. He’s a assured shooter that does a extremely good job with the ball, he doesn’t flip it over a lot. Final yr, he gained that Eurocup Rising Star award. [Kristaps] Porzingis gained that, the child Jonas Valanciunas gained it, in order that’s an indicator. [Risacher is] not a superior athlete within the NBA, however he’s athletic. He’s proficient and versatile, and I feel he could be a good defender. He’s bought that kind of capacity degree. So I can see why folks actually like him.
Q: Reed Sheppard?
A: Greatest shooter within the draft. Shot 50-50-almost 90 [ percent, from the field, 3-point range and free-throw line, respectively] with a reasonably excessive utilization fee. Actually good really feel for the sport, good passer, good in pick-and-roll conditions. And he’s an impactful defender. He gambles, however will get quite a lot of steals, and for a guard blocked fairly a couple of pictures. He’s not bought quite a lot of measurement or size, however the capturing piece that he brings is actually helpful, and he’s an underrated athlete. He did very well within the standing vertical and the max vertical on the mix. He’s a sneaky good athlete. However the truth that he shoots it so effectively and so persistently effectively is actually engaging.
Q: Zach Edey will not be a lottery decide. Why is that?
A: I don’t know that he’ll or gained’t be. I feel it’s primarily as a result of the NBA recreation is totally different now than it was 10 years in the past. You don’t see as many low-post massive guys, it’s extra of a stretch recreation, so massive guys are anticipated to function on the perimeter a little bit bit extra. So the extra helpful massive guys are those that may not solely block pictures and rebound and run the ground, however can play pick-and-pop and might knock down a 3 and be a risk the place they draw the opposing massive man away from the basket. One factor about Edey, at 7-4, he’s gonna impression the sport when he’s in there. Doesn’t essentially imply he’s gonna be a starter, however you may put him within the recreation and he can impression the sport instantly. He’s a dominant low-post presence, and has improved each single yr that he has performed. He averaged 25 factors a recreation this final yr, and he noticed each protection designed to cease him and nonetheless was in a position to function at a excessive degree and take his staff to the NCAA championship recreation. I like him quite a bit. Perhaps 15 years in the past, he might need been the No. 1-overall decide.
Q: Dalton Knecht?
A: He can actually shoot it. He’s massive and robust. He’s not an excellent defender, though I feel he’s able to being a greater defender than he’s. However he’s 23 years outdated. I feel you look again over the historical past of the draft, how do 23-year-old prospects do? He’s form of the Roy Hobbs of school basketball. He form of got here out of nowhere this final yr, transferred from Northern Colorado to Tennessee, and instantly he was an impression participant, you couldn’t take your eyes off him. And all through the course of the yr, each protection he performed in opposition to within the SEC was geared to cease him. Groups had Knecht Guidelines, virtually just like the Jordan Guidelines, and nonetheless he was placing numbers up. You might see him going within the prime 10, however I feel he’ll be a lottery choice.
Q: Cody Williams?
A: Williams is fascinating. He’s very lengthy and he’s a very good athlete. He has actually good ball abilities, so his potential’s actually attractive. He doesn’t rebound at a excessive degree, which at his measurement and size is a little bit bit curious. However very proficient, and quite a lot of what they wish to name upside potential.
Q: Harrison Ingram?
A: In all probability a second-round decide. He began at Stanford and I believed actually improved this final yr. He’s a high-level defensive rebounder. Actually will get to the glass. He can again you down, and he can shoot it from 3. A great complementary piece for an NBA staff due to his capacity to shoot the ball, his capacity to rebound, bought a extremely sturdy body. I like him quite a bit.
Q: Do you want Kyle Filipowski?
A: I do. He’ll be taken I feel within the prime 20 someplace due to his measurement, his capacity to stretch the ground, he can knock a 3 down, he can shot-fake and drive a detailed out, and he’s very aggressive. Strong rebounder and strong defensively. He’s not like a loopy nice athlete, however he’s bought athleticism. He’s actually a aggressive massive man.
Q: Whenever you scan these mock drafts, is there a participant you actually like that you just’re shocked just isn’t going larger?
A: I had Kyshawn George of Miami rated fairly excessive. As you get nearer to the draft, this at all times occurs, folks say transferring up draft boards and all that. I don’t understand how true all this stuff are, however he’s actually an fascinating prospect. Once I first noticed him at Miami in observe, I believed he seemed precisely like Anthony Black from Arkansas. Good shooter, good really feel. Most of what he does is from the 3-point line and was in a position to actually assist Miami area the ground. Went from principally nowhere to now a lottery decide, most likely. I feel his future’s actually attractive, what he could be.
Q: Has the portal modified the readiness of those school gamers?
A: I don’t comprehend it’s modified their readiness. If Dalton Knecht had stayed at Northern Colorado, no person would have heard of him. It’s to not say that the NBA wouldn’t have discovered him, however my guess is he wouldn’t have been as extremely considered taking part in at Northern Colorado than he wound up being taking part in and doing what he did at Tennessee. I feel the portal’s helped some gamers that performed perhaps on the mid-major degree or so switch up and actually be evaluated for what they’re with out guesswork. I are inclined to suppose that’s a very good factor, that’s a very good a part of the portal — which you could get evaluated a sure method out of highschool, it’s not such as you really feel such as you’re caught there, and also you don’t have to take a seat out a yr in an effort to present what you’re able to. There are actually issues with the portal. They’ll regulate it higher.
Q: What’s the total expertise degree of this yr’s draft class?
A: I feel it’s a very good depth of expertise all through the draft, it’s simply totally different on the prime. I feel it’s truthful to say that there’s not a participant on this yr’s draft that I see that might have been taken within the prime three, perhaps 4 final yr, or perhaps even subsequent yr. However that’s simply a problem of power on the prime. All through the remainder of the draft, there’s some actually good gamers the place if a participant went fifth final yr you’d be speaking about how good the man is. This yr you’re going, “Doesn’t appear to be a No. 1 decide,” or “doesn’t appear to be a No. 2 decide,” or one thing like that, and I get that. I feel it’s truthful for folks to check drafts and say, “Properly, this draft is not so good as final yr’s,” or no matter, and perhaps it’s not as highly effective on the prime as what we’re gonna have subsequent yr — that’s all true, I feel. I’ve mentioned earlier than that if Jalen Brunson have been popping out of Villanova, and Tyrese Haliburton have been popping out of Iowa State this yr and on this draft, we’d most likely nonetheless say the identical issues concerning the draft.
Q: What’s the greatest draft you recall?
A: It is perhaps the primary one I did, which was 2003 that had LeBron [James], Carmelo, Dwyane Wade. That was ridiculous. And we’ve had some actually proficient ones since then, however perhaps it’s as a result of it was my first, however I can’t think about a extra fascinating first one. I don’t keep in mind there being far more pleasure than there was round that first one which we did in 2003. It was actually unimaginable.
Q: Ideas on J.J. Redick as Lakers coach?
A: I’m actually excited for him. I grew up in Los Angeles and grew up an enormous Laker fan. It’s incredible for him, and I feel he’ll do an excellent job. It’s at all times form of made me smile a little bit bit that folks on our job that don’t have any expertise within the NBA will criticize J.J. for taking a head teaching job when he’s bought no head teaching expertise. Nevertheless it’s labored out previously for guys like Steve Kerr, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson. [Redick] spent 15 years within the league as a participant, and he’s bought an excellent thoughts for basketball, and he’s an excellent communicator. And he is aware of what it’s wish to be in a locker room and is aware of all of the gamers. He performed in opposition to the overwhelming majority of ’em, they’re nonetheless within the league, or no less than most of ’em. So I don’t have any doubt he’ll do effectively.
Q: How would Danny Hurley had accomplished if he had determined to go away UConn?
A: I feel he would have accomplished nice. Nice teaching doesn’t know a degree. Most coaches which have coached within the NBA previously began out in school. There grew to become this narrative in some unspecified time in the future that school coaches couldn’t make it within the NBA. That was as a result of they at all times bought the worst jobs. You may have a look at the NBA and see coaches which have been depressing failures after which failures that don’t have anything however NBA expertise. I don’t suppose it really works that method, and I feel we’ve seen during the last decade or so coaches that spent quite a lot of time in school who’ve gone into the NBA and accomplished very well. Brad Stevens did very well as a coach with the Celtics after which has been extraordinary as a front-office particular person. And Billy Donovan, there’s been a bunch of school guys. However years in the past they by no means bought a very good job. They have been at all times taking up a franchise that’s down on the backside, and it takes a little bit little bit of time to show these issues round. It’s not simply the coach, it’s a complete franchise effort.
Q: So you haven’t any doubt that your Duke coach, Mike Krzyzewski, may have mastered the NBA?
A: I don’t doubt that, however he selected to not do it. However yeah, he found out the Olympics, that doesn’t appear to be an enormous deal for him, and I don’t have any doubt that he would have figured it out and accomplished very well. Just like if an NBA coach goes to the faculty ranks. It’s not a recreation you may’t determine, it’s simply totally different. Mike Woodson has accomplished it at Indiana. It’s not that massive of a deal.
Q: Do good NBA places of work decide your mind?
A: I don’t find out about that. I discuss to folks on a regular basis about gamers. The NBA groups are continuously in search of info. They do an unbelievable job evaluating. They discuss to every kind of individuals. They discuss to the custodian on the health club to see what time guys are getting in there and stuff like that, how they deal with folks, and their academics and all that stuff. Their intelligence gathering is actually excessive degree ’trigger these are multi-million greenback selections made by multi-billion greenback companies … like in any resolution, no person’s going off what one particular person says.
Q: Would a GM job enchantment to you?
A: Positive, yeah. You at all times take into consideration stuff like that. However I’m actually completely happy within the job I’ve had, and I don’t see a greater job on the market. No one’s been in a position to pull me out of it but.
