He looked pretty athletic when he dribbled coast to coast through 3 Oklahoma guys for a crazy reverse layup the other night.
Niang NBA chances
- Thread starter CarlHungus
- Start date
Fred Hoiberg couldn't defend anyone in the league yet played 10 years. Matt Thomas is a better defender right now than Fred ever was.
Niang has a decent shot at NBA because he's damn smart and can shoot the three but also can score on anyone in the post and that includes 6'10 PFs.
I think Niang's offensive skills would have a place in the league if he was an average defender, I don't think he'll ever approach being an average defender in the NBA.
more and more teams are drafting on analytics. Read the ESPN article on Kawai Leonard and how the Spurs used his arm length, hand size, and a multitude of athletic measurements to draft him and then physically train him into the two time defensive player of the year. You don't think they play defense in the NBA? Watch that kid play D on Lebron in the finals later in the year (if they can beat the Warriors) and see the defense.
The way Niang has played this past month, I just have a feeling someone is going to take a chance on him in the 2nd round
Yea you might be right..he won't go first rd but I can see several teams taking him in 2nd. Might be better for him if he doesn't get drafted.
Agree in general but he won't have to worry about fouls (for many reasons) which will instantly make him a better defender.
At this point I think it's almost a given that he's going in the second round. Not saying that he'll stick in the NBA, but I don't see how one team or another isn't going to give him a shot.
Especially with the praise coming form NBA people, despite what some of our resident cyclone fanatic NBA scouts say.
Especially with the praise coming form NBA people, despite what some of our resident cyclone fanatic NBA scouts say.
Wrong. If a team already has their roster of guaranteed contracts you have basically no chance of hanging on unless someone gets cut. Now if you're an UDFA you can angle for one of the teams with a spot or two open yet.
Being drafted in the first round is a big deal because it's a guaranteed contract. Being drafted in the second round doesn't necessarily help the player at all.
And the Spurs would be a terrible fit for him. They're arguably the best defensive team in the league and it's because they have 5 guys on the floor at all times who are above average defenders. Georges would kill that.
