Pasecniks, at 7-2, has the type of athleticism and budding skill set that gets international players drafted in the first round. While he’s still in the process of filling out physically, Pasecniks has a rare combination of both size and mobility, as his movement is far more fluid than the vast majority of players who peak above 7 feet. He uses that quickness to make decisive moves to the rim, allowing him to excel in pick-and-roll sets while also setting him up to be a strong slasher from the elbow. He also has the semblances of a consistent 3-point shot, a trend that — if continued — makes his stock all the more intriguing.
Where the lanky Latvian is going to establish himself as a potential first rounder, though, is the defensive side of the ball. His lack of bulk will hurt him against NBA competition early on, but his size and ease of movement around the rim should allow him to develop into a quality rim protector down the road. In today’s pace-and-space league, rim protectors still remain as important as ever. Adding one who can shoot the basketball and boasts considerable upside elsewhere is worth a gamble.
Motley is — yet again — an upperclassmen rising up the ranks this season. As more of a 6-9 energizer than anything else last season, Motley’s game has evolved into one of Baylor’s most heavily relied on crutches this season. He has added a legitimate mid-range jumper to his arsenal, while attacking the rim off the bounce at a high level and showing massive improvement with his array of moves on the low block. He has the touch needed to hurt the defense from several spots on the floor now, and has even coupled that with some far-too-underrated passing out of the interior.
That improved offensive utility is combined with promising defensive versatility for Motley as well. He’s mobile for his size, allowing him to stretch out to the perimeter while still retaining the ability to stay with his man off the bounce and make solid weak side rotations. That, combined with the raw, competitive fire that Motley plays with on the defensive side,makes him a more than solid mid-to-late first rounder.
After forgoing the college experience in favor of playing professionally for a season in Australia, Ferguson — a former 5-star recruit — has almost assuredly found himself in the middle of the first round conversation. Despite a limited all-around game, Ferguson does a handful of valuable things at an incredibly high level, while also boasting the type of athleticism that in and of itself gives an extra layer to his upside. He has gone through the ebbs and flows of a physical National Basketball League this season, but all in all, is showing the tools needed to make an impact at the next level.
Where the majority of Ferguson’s stock is derived from in regards to those tools is his shooting. He moves well off the ball, and is among the best spot-up shooters in this year’s class. He has a short, fluid stroke, and gets good separation when pushing around screens and finding room off the catch. Ferguson couples that with strong instincts as a cutter, as well as more adept passing than many expected coming in. He won’t initiate the offense by any stretch, but he makes good reads from the perimeter and keeps the ball flowing when shot opportunities aren’t present. He’s also an high promising wing defender, covering both the two and three spots with effectiveness.
People shy away from bigs who don’t stretch the floor nor protect the rim at a high level, and rightfully so — but that shouldn’t be the end all be all when analyzing Rabb as an NBA prospect. When it comes to Rabb, he executes in a more cerebral, well-calculated manner than most bigs. He doesn’t beat you with raw athletic tools, but rather via excellent instincts and soft touch. That comes to fruition most clearly on the offensive end. He doesn’t push too hard at any one moment — at times, even to his detriment — and plays within the flow of the offense, rather than looking to overdo it in isolation. He’s a solid catch-and-score guy down on the low block, and has began to stretch his game out to mid-range areas with varied success.
Defensively, though, is where I’m most impressed with Rabb. He doesn’t block shots at a high clip, and playing vertically isn’t his strong suit by any measure. But what Rabb does do defensively, though, is position himself incredibly well. Whether that’s on the boards or sneaking into passing lanes, Rabb is able to put himself in the right place at the right time with impressive consistency. He forces turnovers, breaks up entry passes, and uses his length to bother shots, even when he’s not getting a hand on them. He’s an excellent glue guy and the type of prospect that can help a team win — even if he ceiling isn’t overly high.