DD Combine

[Nuttersworth]

Just caught a glimpse of the 3v3 they run on the combine for SFs. DD hit one 3, two midrange, one assist, and one chasedown, all in the span of the 3 minutes the pundits were discussing him. He literally did everything. Very good to see.

 

[Huskybass]

Sounds good. DeAndre is very talented. I think he will have a nice career.

 

[Tenspro2002]

He might be one of those guys who really benefits from getting to work on his game all the time. He has a lot of the physical tools, but needs to spend the time improving his glaring weaknesses at the SF position:

- Handle (anything more than 2 dribbles to the rim is a question mark)
- Passing/court-vision (had basically zero assists and would turtle up at the first sign of a double-team)
- Strength (though this is less of a concern at the 3 than the 4, will need to put on some muscle to avoid being bullied on defense)

He could be an outstanding player if he works on those things.

 

[Nuttersworth]

The drill emphasized putting the ball in their hands in the backcourt and initiating a play, and he looked on par with the others (Wilcox, Fair, others.) He has that nice stutter step crossover that gave him some space, and if he continues to use that it won't be a glaring weakness.

 

[caw]

He might be one of those guys who really benefits from getting to work on his game all the time. He has a lot of the physical tools, but needs to spend the time improving his glaring weaknesses at the SF position:

- Handle (anything more than 2 dribbles to the rim is a question mark)
- Passing/court-vision (had basically zero assists and would turtle up at the first sign of a double-team)
- Strength (though this is less of a concern at the 3 than the 4, will need to put on some muscle to avoid being bullied on defense)

He could be an outstanding player if he works on those things.

Yeah but even at the worst he should have a decently long career bc he can play defense and can shoot at 6-9.

 

[Kitaman]

Just maybe DD will be a much better pro than college player. You know the type that thrive at the next level but were just good college players with potential. I want to see that.

 

[Bonehead]

Wish him best - many mocks have him mid 2nd round - worth leaving early for that??

 

[RayRay19]

He stayed one year extra in high school so he is the same age as every senior coming out this year. His stock"could" have gone up but most likely would have taken a hit with his age and every defense focusing on him...Good for him to have declared! Would love for him to go 1st round

 

[Kembacity]

Yeah I wish him the best but I dont see him having any better of a pro career than college. I just worry about him, mostly because of other solid guys who were lanky tall swingmen around our league and really didnt turn into anything in the NBA. I know its a couple of Cuse guys, but I used to fear Hakim Warrick like the plague, and he didn't do anything with his career, then there was Dimitris Nichols (sp?) after Warrick, who granted was a much less heralded recruit and player, but still, he put up dominating games as a cuse player and really I didn't hear a thing about him in the NBA. De'Andre may have a much better outside shot than them, so hopefully that is the difference maker

 

[UconnU]

Yeah I wish him the best but I dont see him having any better of a pro career than college. I just worry about him, mostly because of other solid guys who were lanky tall swingmen around our league and really didnt turn into anything in the NBA. I know its a couple of Cuse guys, but I used to fear Hakim Warrick like the plague, and he didn't do anything with his career, then there was Dimitris Nichols (sp?) after Warrick, who granted was a much less heralded recruit and player, but still, he put up dominating games as a cuse player and really I didn't hear a thing about him in the NBA. De'Andre may have a much better outside shot than them, so hopefully that is the difference maker

I think he could have a solid career as a back up 3... like a Corey Brewer.

 

[Gringo]

Yeah I wish him the best but I dont see him having any better of a pro career than college. I just worry about him, mostly because of other solid guys who were lanky tall swingmen around our league and really didnt turn into anything in the NBA. I know its a couple of Cuse guys, but I used to fear Hakim Warrick like the plague, and he didn't do anything with his career, then there was Dimitris Nichols (sp?) after Warrick, who granted was a much less heralded recruit and player, but still, he put up dominating games as a cuse player and really I didn't hear a thing about him in the NBA. De'Andre may have a much better outside shot than them, so hopefully that is the difference maker

Hakim Warrick only made 10 3 pointers in his four years at Syracuse, with 9 of them coming his senior year when he shot 29% from 3. He's a very different player than DD.

 

[caw]

Hakim Warrick only made 10 3 pointers in his four years at Syracuse, with 9 of them coming his senior year when he shot 29% from 3. He's a very different player than DD.

Yeah. Warrick was a pogo stick, he also had zero SF game in college. They do have similar frames. DDs ability to stick and thrive in the NBA will come down to his ability to defend (IMO). He is a good enough shooter and athlete to be fine on offense just with his ability to stretch the floor. Unfortunately he plays the position that has probably the two best players alive playing there and a bevy of other solid players. Still He will obviously struggle against some I the SFs out there but I think he will be fine long term, maybe not a star but a solid starter.

 

[gtcam]

Yeah. Warrick was a pogo stick, he also had zero SF game in college. They do have similar frames. DDs ability to stick and thrive in the NBA will come down to his ability to defend (IMO). He is a good enough shooter and athlete to be fine on offense just with his ability to stretch the floor. Unfortunately he plays the position that has probably the two best players alive playing there and a bevy of other solid players. Still He will obviously struggle against some I the SFs out there but I think he will be fine long term, maybe not a star but a solid starter.

The difference:
DD went to UCONN
Warrick went to Cuse
Enuf said

 

[Dogdeacon]

Wish him best - many mocks have him mid 2nd round - worth leaving early for that??

Most of the time as a large draft watching faction here chafes about, I am in favor of players staying in school. But in Deandre's case you have to strike while the iron is hot and its never hotter than for winning a national championship. His age is definitely a negative now that obviously gets worse had he returned. So that would have placed a governor on his upside as arguably there is less room for growth in his game the older he is and any improvement in Deandre's senior year arguably could be discounted by 'man amongst boys' arguments. And Deandre made some pretty big steps in his game junior year so all he could add would be consistency and possibly targeting some flaws wherein improvement would be difficult at college level (handle/driving - he'd simply do that less in college games vs pro, doing it more would hurt team goals) and strength/quickness (he needs a little more of both for NBA and it' could be one at expense of other if staying in college). So I think right decision to go, but if he's not picked in the first round there will be justifiable 2nd guessing.

Parallel case is I thought Khalid was right to come back because his game wasn't quite NBA ready. But I was admittedly wrong there and his junior year was a step sideways and he was a 2nd round pick. I say Khalid likely would have been a 2nd round pick if he came out after the championship (best indicator of where you'd be drafted is where you ARE drafted) but it is certainly possible that a year earlier Khalid sneaks into first round. Khalid was good when given the chance to play in the NBA but somehow parts of his game weren't well regarded and he ended up out of the league quickly which was a surprise to most UConn fans (although not other BE fans who never liked Khalid due to myriad of personality, body type that mostly boiled down to how the heck is this fat guy kicking our ). So DD can hopefully correct for what happened to Khalid.

 

[Kembacity]

Hakim Warrick only made 10 3 pointers in his four years at Syracuse, with 9 of them coming his senior year when he shot 29% from 3. He's a very different player than DD.

Oh, thanks for doing research and "telling me" something that I said in my post... Doing gods work buddy

 

[Gringo]

Oh, thanks for doing research and "telling me" something that I said in my post... Doing gods work buddy

Then why compare them at all? They aren't the same type of player.

 

[Danzz]

He might be one of those guys who really benefits from getting to work on his game all the time. He has a lot of the physical tools, but needs to spend the time improving his glaring weaknesses at the SF position:

- Handle (anything more than 2 dribbles to the rim is a question mark)
- Passing/court-vision (had basically zero assists and would turtle up at the first sign of a double-team)
- Strength (though this is less of a concern at the 3 than the 4, will need to put on some muscle to avoid being bullied on defense)

He could be an outstanding player if he works on those things.

DD has the talent to have a good career. He really has to figure out how to become more consistent.

 

[huskyharry]

I think he could have a solid career as a back up 3... like a Corey Brewer.

I've always thought that is a good comparison...and Brewer dropped 50 in one game this season!

 

[Kurt]

I've always thought that is a good comparison...and Brewer dropped 50 in one game this season!

To be fair James Harden was guarding him.