Guys,
My former college roommate was an NBA Scout and now does consultant work with NBA Scouts. A few times per year, I'm able to have a good conversation with him about Duke players. I have a 3 part write up that I'll post for you all. Here's part 1.
Scout's Point Of View
Part 1: Duke- Draft outlook 2018
Grayson Allen
Buying or selling: 1st Round pick- Buying
Where: late 20's- end of 1st round
Stock: even
What's the intangible: athleticism & shooter
Right decision to come out: Sr has to
Outlook- In his own words
"Grayson has shown over his 4 years at Duke that he is capable of playing many different roles, but I don't think his stock got any higher after his sophomore year when he proved he was "that guy". I think that's why you saw Kennard (Luke) come out after his sophomore year. Grayson will add to an NBA team because he can shoot and score. He has plenty of work to still do but he is a warrior and proven winner that will have an NBA career."
Marvin Bagley III
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: 1-5
Stock: up
What's the intangible: offensive rebounding
Right decision to come out: definitely
Outlook- In his own words
"So much has been said about Marvin by just about everyone. Here's some things that people (scouts) are talking about, what's his true value to an NBA franchise? As a scorer? As a rebounder? As an athlete? If you look closely to his game (and I am knit-picking here) his true offensive skills are still a work in progress. He could continue to develop his footwork, his post moves and his strength in the paint. His shot out of the paint was inconsistent and he sometime settled for jump shots. The flip side is once he gets into a Pro system, with a Pro staff, this kid is a game changer (yes, a game changer after I just said he has areas to improve on). I've been around the Pro game since 1992 and a player, like Marvin doesn't come around that often. I think he will have an immediate impact similar to Anthony Davis."
Wendell Carter Jr
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- yes
Where: 5-10
Stock: up
What's the intangible: overall feel for the game
Right decision to come out: absolutely
Outlook- In his own words
"Carter, I feel could end up being the best Pro of the Duke class. Now it might take him time to get there and I mean by the end of his Pro career, but he's got it all. This kid, in my opinion (and the opinion of other scouts) is the total package. Size, strength, ability to step out and hit shots, and passing ability. I think we would all like to see him getting more of an assertiveness to him and be more of an in your face guy. He's a player that could easily jump way up the draft in his performance in workouts. High character guy. This will be the biggest loss for Duke I feel."
Tre Duval
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: late 20's
Stock: up
What's the intangible: taking players off the dribble, explosive
Right decision to come out: yes
Outlook- In his own words
"Duval, to me, is a player who picked Duke based on the opportunity to be showcased. Do I feel Duke was the right fit to suit his game or the best system for him to be his best? I'm not so sure of that. Put him in a program that would just allow him to do his thing and he might be in the teens as far as draft stock. What hurt him (at Duke) was he was asked to hit jump shots and make decisions in running a set offensive both of which weren't a strength. He did show development which was a huge plus and against Kansas he was easily Duke's best player. As a Pro, he will thrive and look for him to turn heads at the workouts. So athletic and powerful explosiveness."
Gary Trent Jr
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: around 30
Stock: even
What's the intangible: shooter
Right decision to come out: yes, has to
Outlook- In his own words
"What a tough spot for a kid to be in. Your dad was a Pro so you have that in you family and you go to Duke and become the 3rd to 4th option. He had an ok year with games where he was brilliant and others where he was solid but average. There's a lot of pressure on kids of former Pro's. If you don't have immediate success the talk will be of the hype you had because of your parent. Could Gary benefit by returning to Duke? Yes and no. Yes, because he could have more opportunity to show all the ways he can score. But no, because kids like that, with a dad bring a former Pro, were raised in a Pro environment and that's where they are most comfortable. He just needs to go and whatever happens from there is on him. He will need to show in workouts all the areas of his game; not that he's just a shooter and answer all those questions that are out there about his average athletic ability and ball handling."
Marques Bolden
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- selling for now, but might buy after workout reports
Where: to be determined but at least high 2nd
Stock: up
What's the intangible: size
Right decision to come out: yes, should at least declare
Outlook- In his own words
"Man, I know you're a Duke guy, and I'm sure this will sting, but I think Bolden should declare. I know, I know... he's been hurt and didn't show all of his potential... blah, blah, blah. But that's just my point. He hasn't shown his full potential. Coming out of high school he had work to do and he has done a lot of it. Physically, he has worked on his body and his skills. The biggest area of development for him is on the mental side of things. Not saying he wouldn't stand out at Duke if he returned but why not at least get info to go back with. That all I'm saying. I'd like to see him in those workouts. It's not like he isn't on the NBA radar or out of the minds of scouts because he is. I just think that with the way things are set up now with kids being able to declare and return to school, that players who want to be in the League should utilize this resource. Bolden could impress."
I asked him to categorize the players using these criteria:
Biggest immediate impact- Bagley
Best Pro prospect- Carter
Best athlete-Duval
Biggest surprise-Duval
Most versatile- Carter
My former college roommate was an NBA Scout and now does consultant work with NBA Scouts. A few times per year, I'm able to have a good conversation with him about Duke players. I have a 3 part write up that I'll post for you all. Here's part 1.
Scout's Point Of View
Part 1: Duke- Draft outlook 2018
Grayson Allen
Buying or selling: 1st Round pick- Buying
Where: late 20's- end of 1st round
Stock: even
What's the intangible: athleticism & shooter
Right decision to come out: Sr has to
Outlook- In his own words
"Grayson has shown over his 4 years at Duke that he is capable of playing many different roles, but I don't think his stock got any higher after his sophomore year when he proved he was "that guy". I think that's why you saw Kennard (Luke) come out after his sophomore year. Grayson will add to an NBA team because he can shoot and score. He has plenty of work to still do but he is a warrior and proven winner that will have an NBA career."
Marvin Bagley III
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: 1-5
Stock: up
What's the intangible: offensive rebounding
Right decision to come out: definitely
Outlook- In his own words
"So much has been said about Marvin by just about everyone. Here's some things that people (scouts) are talking about, what's his true value to an NBA franchise? As a scorer? As a rebounder? As an athlete? If you look closely to his game (and I am knit-picking here) his true offensive skills are still a work in progress. He could continue to develop his footwork, his post moves and his strength in the paint. His shot out of the paint was inconsistent and he sometime settled for jump shots. The flip side is once he gets into a Pro system, with a Pro staff, this kid is a game changer (yes, a game changer after I just said he has areas to improve on). I've been around the Pro game since 1992 and a player, like Marvin doesn't come around that often. I think he will have an immediate impact similar to Anthony Davis."
Wendell Carter Jr
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- yes
Where: 5-10
Stock: up
What's the intangible: overall feel for the game
Right decision to come out: absolutely
Outlook- In his own words
"Carter, I feel could end up being the best Pro of the Duke class. Now it might take him time to get there and I mean by the end of his Pro career, but he's got it all. This kid, in my opinion (and the opinion of other scouts) is the total package. Size, strength, ability to step out and hit shots, and passing ability. I think we would all like to see him getting more of an assertiveness to him and be more of an in your face guy. He's a player that could easily jump way up the draft in his performance in workouts. High character guy. This will be the biggest loss for Duke I feel."
Tre Duval
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: late 20's
Stock: up
What's the intangible: taking players off the dribble, explosive
Right decision to come out: yes
Outlook- In his own words
"Duval, to me, is a player who picked Duke based on the opportunity to be showcased. Do I feel Duke was the right fit to suit his game or the best system for him to be his best? I'm not so sure of that. Put him in a program that would just allow him to do his thing and he might be in the teens as far as draft stock. What hurt him (at Duke) was he was asked to hit jump shots and make decisions in running a set offensive both of which weren't a strength. He did show development which was a huge plus and against Kansas he was easily Duke's best player. As a Pro, he will thrive and look for him to turn heads at the workouts. So athletic and powerful explosiveness."
Gary Trent Jr
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- buying
Where: around 30
Stock: even
What's the intangible: shooter
Right decision to come out: yes, has to
Outlook- In his own words
"What a tough spot for a kid to be in. Your dad was a Pro so you have that in you family and you go to Duke and become the 3rd to 4th option. He had an ok year with games where he was brilliant and others where he was solid but average. There's a lot of pressure on kids of former Pro's. If you don't have immediate success the talk will be of the hype you had because of your parent. Could Gary benefit by returning to Duke? Yes and no. Yes, because he could have more opportunity to show all the ways he can score. But no, because kids like that, with a dad bring a former Pro, were raised in a Pro environment and that's where they are most comfortable. He just needs to go and whatever happens from there is on him. He will need to show in workouts all the areas of his game; not that he's just a shooter and answer all those questions that are out there about his average athletic ability and ball handling."
Marques Bolden
Buying or selling, 1st Round pick- selling for now, but might buy after workout reports
Where: to be determined but at least high 2nd
Stock: up
What's the intangible: size
Right decision to come out: yes, should at least declare
Outlook- In his own words
"Man, I know you're a Duke guy, and I'm sure this will sting, but I think Bolden should declare. I know, I know... he's been hurt and didn't show all of his potential... blah, blah, blah. But that's just my point. He hasn't shown his full potential. Coming out of high school he had work to do and he has done a lot of it. Physically, he has worked on his body and his skills. The biggest area of development for him is on the mental side of things. Not saying he wouldn't stand out at Duke if he returned but why not at least get info to go back with. That all I'm saying. I'd like to see him in those workouts. It's not like he isn't on the NBA radar or out of the minds of scouts because he is. I just think that with the way things are set up now with kids being able to declare and return to school, that players who want to be in the League should utilize this resource. Bolden could impress."
I asked him to categorize the players using these criteria:
Biggest immediate impact- Bagley
Best Pro prospect- Carter
Best athlete-Duval
Biggest surprise-Duval
Most versatile- Carter
