Looking Ahead At Laker Prospects
A short list of players to watch - Starting with Vrenz Bleijenburgh
After doing a rough mock of the first 20 picks in the NBA draft, the following guys remain:
Josh Christopher
Miles McBride
Kessler Edwards
Vrenz Bleijenburgh
Chris Duarte
Trey Murphy III
Bones Hyland
Rokas Jokubaitis
This is a great group of guys, all with at least one NBA level skill and high level ancillary skills to develop on as well.
Certain favorites of the list:
Vrenz Bleijenburgh
Chris Duarte
Kessler Edwards
Miles McBride
Bones Hyland
Trey Murphy III
A couple notes:
Josh Christopher
I’m not as clear about Josh Christopher on the Lakers given his shot selection. The Lakers are in a championship window and need all of the shot discipline they can get, especially since taking good shots, allows for a more balanced defense to prevent transition opportunities. Sometimes, it’s tough for a young player to know where to get his shots in a structured offense.
Christopher is the type of player that’ll at least succeed early on in a more free-wheeling offense where his creativity will be given less of a leash.
Rokas Jokubaitis
Rokas Jokubaitis is another player that I like a ton. I watch him and can’t shake the Goran Dragic vibes, and not just because he’s a left-handed European player. Both guys show the kind of body control and craft that has allowed Goran to had a successful NBA career. Both guys are 3-level scorers, but rely on a certain amount of activity and pace out of pick and roll situations, as well as a proper headfake, hesitation dribble, and change of speeds to help evade defenders.
Now this game isn’t perfect by him, but it shows a ton of his craft on both ends of the floor. Watch for the off-ball play, the way he’s able to get into lanes, his positioning on defense, and the way he helps out defensively to force turnovers.
I’m unclear if he wants to stay overseas to play basketball, but if there’s a chance he would like to come to the NBA next season, he’s definitely worth a look.
I also, wouldn’t consider him a draft and stash player for the Lakers necessarily. I do think there is limited playing time for the next Laker draft pick. If he prefers to be stashed overseas, there are other players for the Lakers to look at that may be able to contribute in spot playing time.
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Vrenz Bleijenburgh
Every year, there’s a player that sticks out to me. Sometimes, that player is just a fun watch. Sometimes, they show the skills that I like, and think will advance to the next level. Sometimes, it’s both.
This brings me to Vrenz.
While the international statistics may not be crazy impressive, I try not to look at them too much. What I want to see is skillset on the court, and that’s what I see in him.
Some things I’ve noted while watching Vrenz:
Size: Listed at roughly 6’10” with a 7’2” wingspan and (rounding up) to 210lbs.
Athleticism: A fluid player. Looks effortless in transition and within the halfcourt.
Play types: Gets a lot of pick and roll reps, and flashes decision-making to different aspects on the floor with in that specific play type. Other playtypes have him in catch-and-shoot situations. Prefers to be an initiator of an offense.
Skill set: Decision-making in transition says a lot about trying to speed up the game and being comfortable within that context. Some improvisational ability with the dribble even in transition. Uses a bit of a protective dribble with the left hand, but has a big advantage with hesitation moves out of pick and roll with the height to see over the defense and long strides to freeze defenders. In transition, needs 3 steps from the 3-point line prior to extending to the cup going right. Going left, it’s 5-7 steps from 20’ out from PnR, hence the protective dribble. Solid job keeping defenders at his hip when going left, dribbling left, and finishing left. Opts to hit the roll-men, primarily a right-handed ball-handler/passer. Capable of throwing strikes to the corner shooters out of PnR, and drawing out defenders on pick and pops. He’s patient within the pick and roll/pick and pop series and doesn’t look rushed. Unique feel with interior passing, whether it’s to the roll-man or backdoor cutters. Effortless looking shot from 3-point range, with a possibility that the hip-twist is an advantage to evade closeout defenders. Flashes ability to shoot off of motion, hop shooter. That links to some step back ability as well.
Great left hand drive here:
Would love to see with NBA development: Strength is a given, but hopefully tied to that strength, is the aggression to seek defenders out and draw fouls by putting pressure on the rim. Strength will help with defensive versatility as well, where I think he can initiate offenses as a primary or secondary creator out of the 3 or 4 slot without being a defensive liability. Would also love to see equal dexterity with the left hand, less of a protective dribble, more of a speed dribble to lead to acceleration to the hoop going left to copy his right hand drives. Absolute bonus if left-handed passing off the dribble. Floater game can work out of PnR, but may want to opt for a pull up midrange jumper off the dribble off of a hesitation move as another offensive option.
Video link here:
Video interview here:
Other notes: He sees himself as a guard, a playmaker with the ball in his hands. NBA teams may be open to having him initiate offenses down the line, but would like to line up the defense matchup as well. There shouldn’t be an issue initiating an offense out of the 3 or 4 slot like Lamar Odom used to, and like Joe Ingles today.
Also, the videos provided are great YouTube channels that cover basketball.
Adam Spinella from The Box and One
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Can you do Quentin Grimes scout?
Can you do Quentin Grimes scout?