Could Duke’s NBA Prospects Improve Their Draft Stock?
Contents
- Why Duke’s NBA prospects could improve their draft stock
- How Duke’s NBA prospects could improve their draft stock
- What are some things Duke’s NBA prospects need to work on
- What NBA scouts are saying about Duke’s prospects
- What are Duke’s NBA prospects’ strengths and weaknesses
- How does Duke’s Coaching Staff help or hurt its prospects
- What is the recent history of Duke’s NBA prospects
- How does Duke’s style of play help or hurt its prospects
- What are some other factors that could affect Duke’s prospects
- What are the long-term implications of Duke’s NBA prospects
Many Duke basketball players are projected to be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft Could their stock improve with another year in college?
Why Duke’s NBA prospects could improve their draft stock
There are a few reasons why Duke’s NBA prospects could improve their draft stock. First, Duke is one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country. Many NBA scouts and GMs respect the pedigree of Duke players Second, Duke has a history of producing high-level NBA talent. In recent years Duke has produced guys like Kyrie Irving Jabari Parker, and Brandon Ingram – all of whom have become key contributors on their respective NBA teams Finally, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is widely respected by NBA decision-makers. His word carries a lot of weight in the league, and he has a track record of getting his players ready for the rigors of the NBA game So, if Coach K says that a player is ready for the next level, scouts and GMs are more likely to believe him.
How Duke’s NBA prospects could improve their draft stock
Duke’s trio of NBA prospects – RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish and Zion Williamson – are projected to be top-five picks in this year’s draft. However, there are a few things they could do to improve their stock even further.
Barrett and Reddish could both stand to improve their outside shooting. Barrett shot just 30.8 percent from three-point range last season, while Reddish shot 33.3 percent. If they can show that they can be more consistent from long range, it will go a long way towards increasing their value in the eyes of NBA scouts
Williamson, meanwhile, is already considered one of the best athletes in the class, but he could still improve his draft stock by continuing to work on his conditioning. At 6’7″ and 285 pounds, Williamson has the size to play Power Forward at the next level, but he’ll need to get down to around 250 pounds if he wants to play small forward That’s a lot easier said than done, but if Williamson can show that he’s committed to getting in better shape, it will only help his chances of being a high lottery pick.
What are some things Duke’s NBA prospects need to work on
There are a few things that Duke’s NBA prospects need to work on if they want to improve their draft stock.
First, they need to show that they can be consistent from game to game. Many NBA scouts have said that one of the biggest concerns with Duke’s prospects is that they often look great in one game and then disappear in the next. If they can show more consistency, it will go a long way in convincing teams that they are worth drafting.
Second, they need to work on their outside shooting. Though Duke has some very talented players, most of them are not known for their outside shooting. In today’s NBA, teams are looking for players who can space the floor and knock down threes, so Duke’s prospects will need to show that they can do that if they want to improve their stock.
Finally, they need to prove that they can defend at a high level. Duke has always been known for producing strong Defensive Players but this year’s crop will need to show that they can defend at the same level as some of the other top prospects in the class if they want to be first-round picks
What NBA scouts are saying about Duke’s prospects
Duke has several players who are projected to be drafted in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft Some mock drafts have as many as four Blue Devils going in the first round. Here is a sampling of what NBA scouts are saying about these prospects:
“RJ Barrett is a tough, confident wing who can score from all three levels. He’s at his best attacking off the dribble and finishing around the basket. Barrett needs to improve his outside shot and become a better playmaker for others, but he has the potential to be a very good scorer at the next level.”
” Zion Williamson is an elite athlete with tremendous strength and explosiveness. He’s a gifted scorer around the basket with great touch and footwork. Williamson needs to improve his outside shot and free throw shooting but he has all the physical tools to be an elite player in the league.”
“Cam Reddish is a long, athletic wing with unlimited shooting range. He’s a good shooter off the dribble and has the ability to put points up in bunches. Reddish needs to become more consistent with his jump shot and add some muscle to his frame, but he has all the tools to be a very good player at the next level.”
What are Duke’s NBA prospects’ strengths and weaknesses
There is no doubting that Duke has some of the best young talent in the country. But will that be enough to translate to success at the NBA level?
Duke’s Top NBA Prospects include Zion Williamson RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish All three are considered potential top-five picks in the 2019 NBA Draft
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Zion Williamson is an athletic freak who can do it all on the court. He’s an explosive dunker, a versatile defender, and a good rebounder. His biggest weakness is his lack of experience against top-level competition He played High School basketball in South Carolina and did not face stiff competition until he got to Duke.
RJ Barrett is a smooth scorer who can get buckets from anywhere on the court. He’s also a good rebounder and passer. His biggest weakness is his inconsistent outside shooting. Barrett is a better shooter than he showed during his freshman year at Duke, but he will need to prove it at the next level.
Cam Reddish is a prototypical NBA wing with size, athleticism, and shooting ability. He’s also a good defender. His biggest weakness is his lack of assertiveness on offense. Reddish is content to let Williamson and Barrett do most of the work on that end of the court.
How does Duke’s Coaching Staff help or hurt its prospects
Each year, top high school basketball recruits choose to attend Duke University in the hopes of being drafted by an NBA team However, some experts say that Duke’s coaching style could be hindering its players’ development and causing them to drop in the draft.
Duke has a reputation for being a very disciplined and structured program, which can stifle creativity and individual expression on the court. This could be why some of its Star Prospects have failed to live up to expectations in the NBA. Some experts believe that Duke players would be better served if they transferred to another school where they would be able to play with more freedom.
It’s worth noting that not all Duke prospects have underwhelmed in the NBA. Some have gone on to have very successful careers. But for every success story, there are also players who have struggled to adjust to the less restrictive style of play in the league.
So far, Duke’s coaching staff has shown no signs of changing its ways. It remains to be seen if this will ultimately help or hurt the team’s prospects in the future.
What is the recent history of Duke’s NBA prospects
Since the one-and-done rule was instated in 2006, Duke has had 25 players leave for the NBA draft early. Of those 25, only 10 were lottery picks
The most recent example of a Duke player leaving early and not being a lottery pick is Cam Reddish. The 6-8 small forward was considered one of the best prospects in the country entering his freshman year but was only drafted 10th overall by the Atlanta Hawks last June.
Duke has also had seven players drafted outside the lottery since 2006: Gerald Henderson (12th overall in 2009), Miles Plumlee (26th overall in 2012), Jabari Parker (2nd overall in 2014), Justise Winslow (10th overall in 2015), Brandon Ingram (2nd overall in 2016), Frank Jackson (31st overall in 2017) and Grayson Allen (21st overall in 2018).
Of those seven, only Plumlee and Parker have carve out long careers in the NBA. Henderson and Jackson are no longer with their original teams, while Ingram is currently sidelined with a blood clot issue that could impact his future.
How does Duke’s style of play help or hurt its prospects
In recent years Duke has become known for producing top NBA prospects. However, there is some debate about whether the team’s style of play hurts or helps these prospects’ draft stock.
Some believe that Duke’s system exposes players’ weaknesses, as they are often asked to do things that they will not be asked to do in the NBA. For example, big men are often asked to play outside of the paint on defense, and shooters are often asked to handle the ball more than they would in the NBA.
Others believe that Duke’s system actually helps players improve their draft stock. They argue that playing in such a competitive environment against top-level competition can only make players better. Additionally, they point out that many of Duke’s recent NBA prospects have been very successful, so the system must be working to some degree.
At the end of the day, it is up to each individual prospect to decide whether Duke’s system is right for them.
What are some other factors that could affect Duke’s prospects
In addition to the individual skills of the players, there are a few other factors that could affect Duke’s prospects in the NBA draft The most significant is probably the team’s overall performance this season. If Duke can maintain its position near the top of the rankings, that will certainly improve the stock of its individual players.
Other factors that could come into play include the degree to which each player is perceived to be a “team player” and how well they fit into various team systems. Some players are more versatile than others and can play a variety of positions, which makes them more attractive to teams. And of course, intangibles like maturity and character will also be taken into account by NBA scouts.
What are the long-term implications of Duke’s NBA prospects
What are the long-term implications of Duke’s NBA prospects? Could their stock improve with some more time in school, or are they destined for early exits?