What's new

Following Potential 2020 draftees

He can shoot it but is older. I think he is an UDFA.
I hope so... and I hope we scoop him up. He's old but as @Saint Cy of JFC has pointed out... everyone will be looking for the next Duncan Robinson... I think Sam might be a better prospect.
 
Are the point guards in our range that much better than Mudiay ?
Currently? no... that isn't the question.

I like Mudiay but he only fits if we don't bring back JC... He was pretty bad in his small playoff role.
 
You guys (and Tony J.) have talked me into interest in Merrill. Can't say I've really watched him play, but it sounds like he's worth a look.

Just going by the highlights I've watched, the things I don't see with him in comparison to Duncan Robinson, however, are speed and length. Robinson isn't a plus at these necessarily, but he at least seems average positionally for the NBA at this point (not to mention that he gets great height on his jump shot). I worry about that with Merrill.

Can anyone persuade me that I should be less worried?
 
I also think I'm on the Sam Merrill bandwagon. Think he gets drafted... would love to give him a shot on our roster whether or not he is picked.

No reason not to draft him in the mid-2nd round. Great shooter who can get shots off in different situations. His ability to take a side-step helps him at his size. He'll spot up and be a good release-valve shooter.
 
Last edited:
You guys (and Tony J.) have talked me into interest in Merrill. Can't say I've really watched him play, but it sounds like he's worth a look.

Just going by the highlights I've watched, the things I don't see with him in comparison to Duncan Robinson, however, are speed and length. Robinson isn't a plus at these necessarily, but he at least seems average positionally for the NBA at this point (not to mention that he gets great height on his jump shot). I worry about that with Merrill.

Can anyone persuade me that I should be less worried?
He's not the same player... like it isn't a comp. Its more of a this older guy can shoot the **** out of the ball so we should draft him thing.

His defense seems solid and he has ball handling and passing... He's pretty interesting. Maybe Shamet is a better comp.
 
I like Robert Woodard's value much better. He's a guy who will definitely be available in the 20's, and maybe even the 30's/40's. Similiar size, but Woodard is a little bit longer (as far as current measurements go, PW could have grown given his age). Biggest thing is that Woodard appears to be a much better athlete to my eyes, especially when it comes to his lateral quickness. Woodard is a guy who I think could legitimately guard 1-4, not just a switch player.
You're our resident MSU guy, aren't you? A couple of questions if you don't mind:

- How do you see Woodard's defensive potential compared to Okoro? I take it that Okoro must have better defensive instincts if he can be that high without a reasonably certain high offensive outcome. Is there an NBA player you think Woodard compares in terms of likely defensive outcome?

- A few things that worry me from Woodward's offensive stats are low usage rate (for an NBA prospect), low assists, and pedestrian shooting percentages (aside from a possibly anomalous 3% as a soph.). Do you think there's much hope for improvement here in the NBA environment? Any chance at all of him developing into something of a playmaking 4 (or at least someone who won't bog down the Jazz's offense)?

- What do you make of Woodward's rebounding (including drop as a soph from a freshman)? Would Woodard with minutes at the 4 help our rebounding?
 
You're our resident MSU guy, aren't you? A couple of questions if you don't mind:

- How do you see Woodard's defensive potential compared to Okoro? I take it that Okoro must have better defensive instincts if he can be that high without a reasonably certain high offensive outcome. Is there an NBA player you think Woodard compares in terms of likely defensive outcome?

- A few things that worry me from Woodward's offensive stats are low usage rate (for an NBA prospect), low assists, and pedestrian shooting percentages (aside from a possibly anomalous 3% as a soph.). Do you think there's much hope for improvement here in the NBA environment? Any chance at all of him developing into something of a playmaking 4 (or at least someone who won't bog down the Jazz's offense)?

- What do you make of Woodward's rebounding (including drop as a soph from a freshman)? Would Woodard with minutes at the 4 help our rebounding?
I mean, he'd certainly be a better rebounder than Bogey or Niang, so I guess he would help? The Jazz are already a very good rebounding team, so it would probably be marginal.

He's a very non-skilled player at this point. You are getting a jacked athlete who has shown potential to shoot the ball, and he seems to be pretty high character/work ethic type. I can't really project him to develop into any kind of playmaker, but I guess it's possible. I would bet that his offensive feel never develops past that of a guy like Jae Crowder.

I think he could flourish in NBA spacing as a 4. MSST was a very poor shooting team without any spacing and he often played the 3 next to two true bigs (one of which could only kind of shoot). I think it's possible he can even play the 5 like a PJ Tucker.

I would say Woodard has a higher defensive versatility ceiling than Okoro, but Okoro is more likely to be a "lock-down" type defender on perimeter players. Woodard is a guy who could possibly guard 2-5 and switch onto PG's.
 
I'd be surprised if Woodard ever gets to Crowder's feel on offense, some positives as a cutting target above the rim. I think folks forget how much Crowder did at Marquette. Looks like a higher level athlete though.

Very very interesting looking defender though. I'd just need to send him through a bunch of shooting drills and see how real the shot is (catch and shoot promising, but sample pretty small in college).
 
I'd be surprised if Woodard ever gets to Crowder's feel on offense, some positives as a cutting target above the rim. I think folks forget how much Crowder did at Marquette. Looks like a higher level athlete though.

Very very interesting looking defender though. I'd just need to send him through a bunch of shooting drills and see how real the shot is (catch and shoot promising, but sample pretty small in college).
I'm thinking of Woodard as something of a poor man's OG Anunoby (not quite as long, not quite as skilled, not quite as efficient/productive). Anyone else buy the comp? Why or why not? Seems like an OG-like career would be the realistic best-case scenario (there's plenty of worse possible cases, of course), though that would require some good fortune/hard work, as Woodward's likely less skilled than OG was at this point.
 
Hope Sam Merrill doesn't get drafted because we don't have a second round pick and we'd have a clear advantage in securing his service as his hometown team if he becomes UDFA
 
Back
Top