Player Profile:
“Essentially all of Adebayo’s production at the next level will come underneath the rim — a very specific niche, but one he should fill extremely well. He’s a high energy rebounder, impressive shot blocker, and strong finisher underneath. He has attempted a handful of short mid-range jumpers this year, but that’s far from being any semblance of a reliable facet in his game.
In the mold of Tristan Thompson is some ways, Adebayo’s strengths will be derived from cleaning up the leftovers. He’s an easy target to lob it to at the rim, and his presence on the boards is among the most impressive in college basketball. The former 5-star recruit is strong on boxouts and possesses the length and instincts needed to track down rebounds on both sides of the ball in impressive fashion.” — 2017 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0.
Outside Opinion:
“Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo — at his best — can be an athletic, physically imposing center. He outclasses nearly all of his collegiate competition with size and speed, often muscling his way to the rim for a crowd-pleasing dunk. This season, Adebayo is averaging 18.6 points per 40 minutes and shooting better than 60 percent from the field. He has a good understanding of positioning and can play well in the pick-and-roll.
…Because he’s young and already a good player, Adebayo warrants first round consideration, but I have serious concerns about how well his skill set will play against bigger and better competition.” — Chris Stone in FanSided’s NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14.
Team Fit:
Marcin Gortat isn’t the Wizards’ long term solution at center — that’s fairly obvious. On a Wizards team that is impressing quite a bit this season, their largest hole thus far has been interior depth, something Adebayo could help with immediately.
There are concerns about Adebayo’s size given his lack of versatility offensively, but his strength and athletic ability alone should allow him to play hefty minutes at the center spot without problem. He’s a capable rim protector and an easy lob target offensively, using his strength to power through defenders and finish above the rim.
Adebayo’s ceiling is relatively low, but his floor is a worthwhile investment. He’s extremely good at what he does, and should fill his specific role in the rotation at a very high level from day one. Not to mention, you get to back up the ‘Polish Hammer’ with a Bam.