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David Levine -> RE: 2020 NBA Draft (4/15/2020 2:14:40 PM)
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ONYEKA OKONGWU
Do-it-all big with rare versatility as a defender. Always competes and has a knack for making big plays.
SHADES OF: Bam Adebayo, young Antonio McDyess, Taj Gibson
PLUSES
-Excellent finisher with soft hands that catch tough passes, a pillowy touch around the rim, and the quick-leaping ability to score with power.
-Good post scorer. He does a nice job of getting into position by sealing off defenders. Once he gets the ball, he displays flashes of advanced ability with spins, drop steps, and fakes.
-Handles the ball like a wing. He has a quick first step with an arsenal of moves, including crossovers and rip-throughs, that he uses to get to the rim. But he doesn’t overdo it; he makes good decisions and plays within himself.
-He makes slick passes, loves to throw outlets, and passes well out of the post. He needs to make quicker reads off rolls to the rim and from the perimeter, but he’s in a good place at his age.
-Does the little things: He hustles, screens well, rebounds all over the floor, and makes clutch plays.
-Excellent pick-and-roll defender. He’s mobile and versatile, able to drop, switch, or hedge. When he’s protecting the rim in either pick-and-roll or help situations, his positioning, timing, and instincts lead to effective shot alterations. He’s usually in the right spot, which is rare for a player his age.
MINUSES
-Inconsistent shooting mechanics from the field and the line. He’ll have some bad misses, though his inside touch offers optimism for improvement.
-He’s quiet and doesn’t communicate much on defense either. As a rim protector, he needs to be more talkative to help the defense stay connected.
-Chases blocks. Bites on too many fakes inside.
-He’s slightly undersized for a center at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He also needs to get significantly stronger to contain elite post-up bigs like Joel Embiid.
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