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June 14, 2012
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One of the latest productions from the great folks over at Draft Express, we have a scouting video of North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, a player who has been consistently linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers with regard to the June 28 NBA Draft. Complete with player comps and testimonials, strengths and weaknesses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAuvZdi7coQ&feature=youtu.be
[Related: NBA Draft: Staying at #4 And Debating The Prospects]
15 Comments
That’s a great video and I think effectively highlights Barnes’ strengths and weaknesses. I like the Glen Rice comparison… I think that’s what his ceiling would be. I’m not sure about Aaron Afflalo as his floor… I’ve been saying that Dorell Wright is his most likely comparison, but that might be more like his floor. The only shot he can create is the step back jumper for a deep two-pointer, and that shot is going to be harder to get off in the NBA, especially if nobody fears him driving to the hole. I’m not going to tear my hair out if the Cavs pick him… with a lot of work he can improve his ball-handling and refine his finishing around the rim, but there are several players who I like better.
I keep thinking that there is a reason this guy was so highly touted out of high school. I like MKG better for sure but there is that chance that if we draft him he could be special. I dont know maybe im just being a crazy fanatic.
btw the best scouting video ive seen. I dont know how many fuzzy videos with terrible music I can watch anymore. This was well done.
He will be good but Moe Harkless scout tape looked just as impressive so why aren’t we going after someone else and making sure we get Harkless with our 2nd first round pick. If we get Barnes I’m a little nervous we’re passing on a all-star type player.
I think his strengths – the mid-range jumper and three ball – would complement Kyrie’s game beautifully and work well in Byron Scott’s offense. Very impressive in that video, very fluid with a great NBA body for the position. If people worry where the points will come from with Jamison gone, there’s a decent answer. Not my top choice but there’s no reason to trade the other #1 just to avoid Barnes as the next best option.
I swear people see what they want to see…the first part of the video is him on the block finishing through people and you say “the only shot he can create is the step back jumper.” looks like he can post too…
This kid is more athletic and skilled than MKG. It’s be thrilled with him at 4. Btw, UNC traditional has layers who I much better in the pros than college. This kid is an athletic Deng. What the hell’s not to like?
Oh and if anyone bitches about his rebounding numbers, he had Zeller and Henson swallowing very available board…
I think you’re seeing what you want to see 🙂 I watched a bunch of his games this year knowing he would be a possibility for the Cavs in this year’s draft, so I’m not only going by the video. The video shows him finishing through people a few times, but in reality he didn’t do that very often, which the video also showed as a weakness. More often he got into traffic, lost his handle, and either gave the ball away or put up a bad shot. His athleticism doesn’t transfer to the court as well as MKG. He might have a 40-inch vertical and he might be fast, but he’s not fast with the basketball because he doesn’t have a good handle and he doesn’t use his vertical to dominate around the rim. I’m not saying I don’t think he can be good… I’m saying he’s a riskier pick than some other guys with a lower floor.
Secondly, by better in the pros than in college, are you talking about Eric Montross, Sean May, Wayne Ellington, Rashad McCants, Brandan Wright, Marvin Williams, and Jawad Williams? I’m not sure which guys became better pro players than college players.
he’s talking about MJ …
your point about watching games v. highlight videos is well-taken. Because we see such athleticism and fluidity in these posted highlights I wonder whether Barnes turns the intensity on and off. I’ve read doubts about whether he’s a passionate baller generally. On the one hand, you want #4 overall to be the type who brings it every night just because. On the other hand, there is a potential worry with every draftee except Anthony Davis. To me this kid’s skill set dovetails with both the style of our point guard and our system, he certainly will not be physically overmatched and he might just be the surest thing at #4.
That’s definitely what concerns me the most… not his ceiling, which is excellent, but the way that he lacked consistent drive and from a skills standpoint, the dribbling skills are a huge concern. He can not be more than a jump shooter in the NBA if he doesn’t work hard on improving those skills. Sure, the Cavs need a jumpshooter to stretch the floor, but the #4 pick needs to be more than that. You can grab a guy like John Jenkins with the #24 pick if all you want is a jumpshooter, right?
like non-dribblers Steve Kerr, Del Curry, Paxson, Glen Rice, Ray Allen? Barnes is so superior athletically to those guys. I defer to your having watched him closely, but it looks like his ball handling is most iffy from a flat-footed iso on a wing, not on a moving feed and splitting defenders to the hole. Every one of these picks will have to improve aspects of their games. Can’t believe this particular player’s floor is just a traffic-avoiding spot-up guy, gumby-fied Boobie Gibson. But what do I know.
who is the all-star type player at #4 you think we are passing on?
Harkless will certainly be in the mix at #24 or in a move-up (along with T.Ross and Waiters who some also prefer — my preference of those 3 is Ross)
yeah, that’s been refuted pretty easily. haven’t seen anyone complain about it since that first report.
why is Deng a good comparison for Barnes?
I like Barnes and would be completely disappointed if he became Deng. he’s a much more fluid shooter and should be good coming around screens and from the outside. Deng is inconsistent in his shooting mechanics and is sloppy on offense overall.
now, if Barnes reached Deng’s value on defense, I would be wholly impressed because he has a bunch of bad habits on that end (could be the UNC system to some extent though).
i guess i just don’t get the Deng comparison at all (other than similar body-types)
I mean, all I know is how he plays now. He may very well develop the dribbling skills to play iso. I mean, I would ask… are those shooters (as great as they were) somebody you would take with the #4 pick? Ray Allen sure, but I can tell you with certainty that Allen is much more active in running without the ball than Barnes… Barnes isn’t really great at using screens like Allen is… that’d be something else he would need to work at.