Detroit Pistons #DraftDreams: Nerlens Noel
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Info
- Measurables: 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, freshman center from the University of Kentucky.
- Key Stats: 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game; shot 59 percent from the field.
- Projected: Top-5 pick.
Random Fact
Nerlen’s Noel is probably most known for his shot-blocking acumen and tearing his ACL in a national TV loss to Florida mid-way through the season.
What he’s also known for is eraser-top haircut. The dude’s hair rivals Kid from Kid ‘n Play, and when he announced his decision to attend the University of Kentucky last season, he of course did it in the most “look at me” way ever done with hair. Via Deadspin:
Yes, he shaved the UK logo into his head. There’s no joke to make because that is too perfect.
Fits with the Pistons because …
He’s a really good basketball player. The Pistons may have a developing core group of young frontcourt players, but they still aren’t good enough to pick for need and not value. They should not forgo drafting the best prospect in this draft just because he doesn’t fill an immediate need.
Noel doesn’t have a polished offensive game, but at 19, he already has an NBA-ready skill in shot blocking. He’s one of the best pure shot blockers to come out in recent years, perhaps even better than Anthony Davis last year.
The difference between Noel and Davis is on the offensive end. Both are mighty thin (Noel is 215 pounds), but Davis has some semblance of a face-up game. Noel’s got very little. He improved as the season went on, and had he not been forced out of action early, he was only going to get better.
Perhaps he even can serve as a trade-igniter for the anti-Greg Monroe crowd. But I digress.
Doesn’t fit with the Pistons because …
He’s still recovering from the torn ACL, and Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois recently reported that Noel hopes to be back ready to go by Christmas. The knee injury shouldn’t scare teams away because he’s a 19-year-old who is ahead of schedule on his rehab.
The Pistons need a wing or point guard much more than another big man, even if Noel is just too good to pass up. There are major questions how Noel would play with Andre Drummond, considering both are so similar and, at this point, limited. Offensively, neither has range or the ability to handle the ball, and they might just clog the paint and prevent each other from the lobs they’re so great at finishing. Defensively, both could be elite rim protectors, but if they’re just duplicating that skill, it could leave a void in defending outside the paint.
From the Experts
Noel’s season ended on Feb. 12 when he tore his left ACL. However, the injury has done little to hurt his draft stock. Noel has been atop our Big Board all year with the exception of a brief slip to No. 2 after the injury. He has great size and athletic ability, and he proved to be one of the hardest-working players at Kentucky this season. Although his offensive game is a work in progress, he has as much upside as anyone in the draft. We currently project him as the No. 1 player on our board and he goes No. 1 in most mock draft scenarios.
Any discussion about Noel’s potential as a NBA prospect should start with his phenomenal physical attributes. Measured at 6-10 without shoes, with a 7-4 wingspan and exceptional athletic ability, Noel is a rare specimen. He runs the floor like a guard, is extremely nimble and quick, and has pogo stick leaping ability. This allows him to cover ground unbelievably well both vertically and horizontally, which helps him impact the game in numerous ways. It’s safe to say that, should he make a full recovery from his injury as expected, he’ll be one of the most athletic big men in the NBA.
What is the best thing Noel does for his team?
Glenn Logan (follow his blog on Twitter @ASeaOfBlue) covers the University of Kentucky for A Sea of Blue, SB Nation’s Kentucky blog:
When Kentucky fans think of Nerlens Noel, one image will forever be galvanized in our brains — the image of Noel running 94 feet to block a shot in a game that was almost surely lost while most of his teammates barely made it past half court, only to be injured when he landed awkwardly. What most of us forget is that he actually did block the shot. That’s the kind of competitive determination that defines Noel, and the lucky NBA team that gets him will never regret the pick.
Yes, Noel is extremely raw. He isn’t very good at the game of basketball yet, but he is an athletic marvel, perhaps the quickest 6’10" player to ever enter the NBA draft. Defensively, he needs very little work to have an immediate impact. Almost everyone knows about his prodigious shot-blocking, but what most people don’t know is that Noel blocks shots equally well with either hand, an extremely rare skill that is almost absent from any level of basketball. It matters — a lot. He also averaged over two steals per game, something almost never seen in combination with great shot-blocking. Offensively, he’ll take some time to develop, so a team needing immediate low block scoring or a face-up game might want to look elsewhere.
Finally, Noel is a genuinely good person who deeply involved in the community. He loves the game of basketball and is completely coachable at any level. He has a few potential negatives with his body type from a sports business standpoint, but from a personal standpoint, any team will be lucky to have him in their locker room. I cannot recommend Noel highly enough, and the value of his intangibles, though overshadowed by his astonishing athletic gifts, are almost reason enough to draft him by themselves.
On film
Detroit Pistons #DraftDreams: Jeff Withey
Discuss Draft Dreams on Twitter using the #DraftDreams hashtag.
Info
• Measurables: 6-foot-11, 240 pounds, senior center from the University of Kansas
• Key Stats: 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.9 blocks per game; shot 58 percent from the field.
• Projected: Mid-first round.
Random Fact
There are a lot of scatter-brained, potentially inebriated ideas that college students concoct — some great and some bad. But you’ve got to give it up, the cult following that Withey had during his four year’s at Kansas are pretty hilarious.
Not only did he have a parody Twitter account called @FakeJeffWithey, which is how I really hope he acts, if just for hilarity’s sake, but he’s also got two websites dedicated to his presence.
First you’ve got WitheyBlockParty.com which is literally a blog featuring a boatload of Withey’s blocks at KU. He had 286 in his final two seasons, and by listening to the calls of each block, you’d think the Kansas announcers had never seen him block a shot. There was actually a Twitter hashtag, #witheyblockparty, that was really a thing during the season and tournament, too.
The other goes by the name WitheyFace.com. If you’ve ever heard of ManningFace.com, you’ll know what this is. You’ll notice right off the bat that a snarling Jeff Withey closely resembles the Jayhawks logo. I’ll just leave you all with these 500 or so staring Withey faces…
Fits with the Pistons because …
There are a number of holes on the Pistons’ roster, but one of the more underrated ones is in the front court. The team already has it’s cornerstones in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, but with Jason Maxiell entering free agency and Charlie Villanueva being Charlie Villanueva, the Pistons need a third big man.
Withey’s biggest strength — shot blocking — is one of the Pistons’ biggest weaknesses. There’s the niche of fans under the assumption that the Pistons already have a Withey-like player in Slava Kravtsov, but Withey has an plus-NBA skill. Kravtsov lacks that.
There’s no reason a team wouldn’t want a guy like Withey on their team. Even if all he ends up being in the NBA is an above-average shot blocker from the weak side, he’s still got value. The question is where does that value start. The Pistons are drafting in the top-10, but not again until the early second round.
Withey would be a horrible reach in the early-to-mid lottery, but in the early second round, he’d be perfect. The chances of that aren’t great now, especially considering the kind of great-at-one-skill players like Withey are usually a value to contenders who can pick and choose when and how they use them later in a draft.
Doesn’t fit with the Pistons because …
He’s not going to help a sometimes-stagnant offense. For all the good that Withey brings on defense, he’s still somewhat easy to push around on the block and doesn’t have any semblance of a post game. That’s something that can be cultivated and developed, but he’s going to be a non-factor on offense early.
I’ve gushed about the shot blocking, but he’s not a great defender individually. There’s confusion sometimes between really good defenders and really good shot blockers — there’s a difference. Serge Ibaka is a GREAT shot blocker, but just an above-average defender. Right now, Withey’s a really good shot blocker, NBA caliber, but in college hoops, specifically the Big 12, you’re not facing any sort of real post threat.
The best example of that might be his struggles with Michigan freshman Mitch McGary in the Sweet 16. Withey was muscled around and tossed aside by McGary, whose post game is hardly refined, even by college standards. That’s scary if you’re a GM looking at Withey to be a key defender for you.
Fair or unfair, he’s also kind of been stereotyped as the big, goofy stiff who is bound to be a bust. The fact that his predecessor, Cole Aldrich, has really done nothing in three seasons with a very similar skill set doesn’t help, either.
From the Experts
If there was a shot-blocking drill where the goal was to block as many shots as possible without fouling the shooter, Withey would walk away with the prize handily. Alas, the focus on offense probably won’t speak to Withey’s strengths at the combine. Big men rarely have their stock helped or hurt at the combine — his real tests will come in workouts against Gorgui Dieng, Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert and Mason Plumlee.
Athletic 7-footers with great defensive instincts and excellent finishing ability don’t grow on trees, though, so there will surely be a market for his services this upcoming June. A playoff team drafting in the second half of the first round could be very happy picking a player who is well-coached, experienced and ready to compete from day one, as if he pans out, he could present excellent value to a NBA team playing on a rookie scale contract.
On film
Pistons contact Brian Shaw for interview
Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw has been contacted by the Detroit Pistons to interview for the team’s head coaching job, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The Phil Jackson influence appears to be showing. Shaw was Jackson’s heir apparent with the Lakers before Los Angeles hired Mike Brown instead.
Without the Lakers’ head job, Shaw become Indiana’s associate head coach, and he’s remained an in-demand candidate around the league. I don’t know how responsible Shaw is for the Pacers’ defense, but their schemes are excellent, and I’d love for the Pistons to hire someone heavily involved in designing and implementing those.
To be clear, Leyden is reporting only that the Pistons asked Shaw about interviewing. Despite how this report has been portrayed elsewhere, Leyden did not report Shaw agreed to interview. The Pacers are still alive in the playoffs, likely through the conference finals. Indiana wouldn’t let Shaw interview with the Nets until its playoff run ended, and the same will likely be true with the Pistons.
The case for Darrell Walker as the Pistons’ next coach
When analyzing Darrell Walker as a Pistons’ coaching candidate, I’ve mostly lacked positives. Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News fill that void:
He garnered respect from the locker room, mostly due to his low-key demeanor and playing experience. He once vociferously protested Kuester taking guard Will Bynum out of a game at home against Portland during the fourth quarter, when Bynum was on a scoring binge, yelling, "What are you doing? You can’t take Will out of the game now!"
Disagreeing with John Kuester is a plus, but I’m not sure that qualifies Walker any more than anyone who saw Kuester coach the Pistons.
Bucks to interview Lakers’ Steve Clifford, which might hold meaning for Pistons
What do Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff have in common?
All three have been linked to the Pistons’ head-coaching vacancy, and all three have interviewed with the Bucks.
Perhaps, this is just coincidence. After all, teams like the Pistons and Bucks have only so many viable coaching candidates to pursue (plus Darrell Walker).
But maybe it’s not just dumb luck. Joe Dumars and John Hammond, the onetime No. 2 in Detroit’s front office who now serves as Milwaukee’s general manager, might just share similar preferences after years of working together and learning from each other.
That’s why Pistons fans should pay at least a little attention to a report the Bucks will interview Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:
When Bucks general manager John Hammond reached out to gauge Stan Van Gundy’s interest in the job, Van Gundy declined but delivered a strong recommendation for Clifford, league sources said. Clifford spent five years on Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic staff before joining the Lakers in the summer of 2012.
Clifford fits the profile of the kind of hands-on, defensive-minded candidate that Hammond has been seeking
Will Clifford soon pop up on the Pistons’ radar? Not necessarily. But, at minimum, if Detroit’s and Milwaukee’s searches diverge, that would increase the Pistons’ chances of landing their top target.
Pistons to interview Darrell Walker
It doesn’t matter whom the Pistons interview. It matters only whom they hire.
It doesn’t matter whom the Pistons interview. It matters only whom they hire.
It doesn’t matter whom the Pistons interview. It matters only whom they hire.
It doesn’t matter whom the Pistons interview. It matters only whom they hire.
It doesn’t matter whom the Pistons interview. It matters only whom they hire.
Whew. I think repeating that five times is enough for this news. Marc Stein of ESPN:
Sources say that Knicks assistant coach Darrell Walker will soon get an interview for the position vacated by Lawrence Frank.
When news broke of the Pistons’ interest in Walker, I didn’t assume he’d get an interview, but I guess his candidacy is on that level. I still don’t consider him anywhere near likely to get the job, but he should probably be taken more seriously as a potential replacement for Lawrence Frank.
Walker is a Knicks assistant, so the Pistons might have to wait to interview him until New York is eliminated for the playoffs, though different teams have different policies about that. I hope they wouldn’t delay their search solely to interview Walker, but the Pistons don’t sound close to making a hire anyway.
Detroit has been planning its offseason for months, and this is a dead period for pre-draft evaluations. So, I’m pleased with what appears to be an in-depth coaching search – as long as high-profile candidates like Nate McMillan and Mike Budenholzer remain a central part of it.
Using tier system to rank top of NBA Draft board for Pistons
In my column today in the Detroit Free Press, I outline the tier system I use for ranking draft prospects. Here’s how the top of the draft looks from a Pistons perspective:
Tier 1
1. Nerlens Noel
Medical examinations of Noel, who tore his ACL in February, will be essential. Has he lost some of his athleticism? Will he be more likely to get injured? Will future injuries affect him more adversely than they would others? If the answers to those three questions is “no,” Noel is No. 1. He has proved himself the top prospect in the draft, and I wouldn’t mind waiting until midseason for his return. If there are injury concerns, he could slide, but it’s difficult to envision him falling past past the players currently in Tier 2.
Tier 2
2. Otto Porter
3. Trey Burke
4. Victor Oladipo
5. Ben McLemore
These players were very productive in college and have the youth/athleticism/raw talent to continue improving — a great combination in the draft.
As for the order, the Pistons could really use a do-it-all small forward like Porter, who’s the youngest of the group. (That boosts his value to the Pistons because that increases his upside, and they can afford to wait for him to reach it.)
Point guards generally impact the game more than shooting guards, so when teams need both — as the Pistons do — point guards like Burke get the edge over shooting guards like Oladipo and McLemore.
Oladipo’s defense gives him the edge over McLemore. The Pistons might need a score-first, score-only player such as McLemore right now, but in the long run, it’s difficult to win big with a player who can’t contribute more.
Tier 3
6. Anthony Bennett
Most have Bennett mixed with my Tier 2 players, but I had him a step below even before news of his rotator cuff surgery. His defensive indifference just gives me too much pause. For the Pistons, this distinction matters little because Bennett’s fit would rank him fifth among the second-tier players anyway.
Tier 4
7. Shabazz Muhammad
8. C.J. McCollum
9. Alex Len
Muhammad fits the Pistons’ current needs very well, but as is the concern with McLemore, a score-first, score-only player can help only so much in the long term. Can Muhammad do more? Ben Howland’s system at UCLA notoriously makes it difficult to assess guards.
A scoring point guard such as McCollum won’t exactly fit with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, who need entry passes and lobs, but McCollum might be too talented to pass up.
Len is polished and athletic, but he’d be stuck behind Monroe and Drummond. Also, is he tough enough?
This fourth tier is equally likely to add players as have a player emerge above the rest before the draft. The are many players (including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cody Zeller) who are a small step below but could move up.
Pistons’ coaching vacancy ranked seventh-most desirable
Chris Broussard of ESPN ranked the NBA’s current and potential coaching openings based on desirability from a coach’s perspective, and the Pistons ranked seventh. Here’s what an anonymous person within the league said about Detroit:
"I keep saying it, but being in the East always helps. They’ve had a winning tradition, so there are still going to be expectations. But they’re already in their process. And they’re not totally stripped down. They do have some good young talent that kind of makes sense. Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe,Brandon Knight — all those pieces make sense together. They just need to get some good veterans around them. And I think the owner is serious.
"Just the fact that he brought Phil [Jackson] in to help him find a coach. That speaks volumes about him and his ego because that means on some level he’s surrendered his ego and said, ‘We need help.’ I like that in an owner. If they make one or two right decisions with the money they have this summer, they could be right back in the mix."
The Pistons should be similar to the Raptors (No. 5), 76ers (No. 6) and Bucks (No. 9) – I have no idea why the Suns are as high as No. 8 – but this is good dose of reality from the propaganda that Drummond and Monroe alone will attract a quality coach. Right now, the Pistons’ job is middle of the road, and Joe Dumars (and/or Phil Jackson) will have his (their?) work cut out to land better than a middle-of-the-road coach.
Pistons advisor Phil Jackson doesn’t want to coach the Nets
Although Jackson passed on the Nets’ job, a source with knowledge of the Hall of Fame coach’s thinking told ESPN.com that he remains open to the possibility of coaching again if he had "influence" over personnel, similar to the arrangement Miami gave to Pat Riley.
So Phil Jackson wants a front-office job. That won’t make his arrangement in Detroit awkward at all. Nope, not one bit.
If I were running team looking for a general manager and a coach – not saying the Pistons particularly – I would be thrilled to hire Jackson as a GM/coach on one condition: He must coach for a couple years and choose a protégé to serve as an assist coach and his eventual replacement. I wouldn’t completely trust giving a general manager job to Jackson, who has no front-office experience. But I would be willing to give it a try if it meant a couple years on the bench from one of the best coaches of all time. He could hire Brian Shaw, or anyone else he chooses, as his coach-in-waiting and slowly transition to the front office.
Aw, heck, maybe I am talking about the Pistons. Who wouldn’t take that arrangement at this point?
