The Duke star made his presence felt in the first weekend of the tournament. This could certainly be something of an outlier, of course. Shooting Despite the Detroit Pistons cramped floor-spacing and dearth of effective ball-handling around him (sans Cade Cunningham), Ivey is an excellent finisher as a rookie. There were three plays in particular that stuck out to me as high-level, NBA-caliber moves and reads that led to buckets. 1 pick: Banchero has pretty clearly been the best rookie this . The projected top-three draft prospect is 610 with a 70.5 wingspan, displaying good size and length for a team that needs depth in the front court. Note that this time, he spun over hisothershoulder compared to the post-spin fadeaway in the first half, which is impressive in its own right. Strengths: Has good size and length for his position, standing 610, 250 lbs Has a good blend of strength and athleticism / fluidity Moves well with and without the ball Solid all-around player that can do a bit of everything Stand out at creating shots for a player his size Has a rare mix of moves for a big man is comfortable crossing his defender up, making spin moves, and is able to remain on balance when attacking off the bounce Excellent body control, and uses the body well to shield the ball from defenders on his shot attempts Shot 33.8% from three during his year at Duke and projects to be able to make the NBA three with consistency due to solid mechanics and fluidity in his jumpshot. Weaknesses: As mentioned above, the biggest drawback for Banchero is three-point shooting. 2022 Sports Phenoms, Inc., All Rights Reserved | Biggest area of improvement: Midrange game. Hes a good rebounder and, when he analyzes rotations properly, an impactful secondary rim protector. He relies more on finesse rather than speed and explosiveness. Far too commonly, hes stashed in the corner and/or relied upon as a floor-spacer for Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Alperen Sengun. 1 overall pick in last June's . Important is that Banchero has gotten better in each of Orlandos first three preseason games. He finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal and three blocks, making 6-of-18 shots from. Throughout the season we have seen how proficient Banchero is at scoring the ball and how good he is at attacking the basket and getting to the line. The finishing is stellar, but defenses will take it away at times. How efficient will he be shooting the ball from different ranges? Paolo Banchero scouting report: Strengths What makes Banchero so special is his dual ability to threaten defenses as a shot creator and playmaker. Shot 25% (5-20) 3PT% over the Nike EYBL in 2019. While erratic from 3-point range overall, he was money from the corners. He had moments where he would fall asleep on that side of the ball and miss a rotation or fail to help, but there were also times when he was engaged with active hands on steals and help-side blocks. Improved 3PT consistency over his high school career. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Great mobility and very well coordinated Good athlete, elevates well at the rim with good timing and body control that translates well in games Can score from anywhere on the floor, inside and out with a sound jump shot and midrange scoring ability Good footwork and uses eurosteps when appropriate. What does look like more than merely an inauspicious start is his 32.8 percent clip inside the arc. When was Paolo Banchero born? The Kings are 26th in defensive rating. Could Banchero become one of the NBAs next great point power forwards? Instead, when Michigan State's defense collapsed, he delivered a slick no-look dime (in traffic!) Getting quicker with the ball in his hands will only make him more dynamic as a scorer and playmaker at the next level. When he puts the ball on the floor to drive, he easily could have forced up a midrange jumper or tried to bulldoze his way to the rim. Paolo Banchero scouting report: 2022 NBA Draft prospect's strengths, weaknesses and player comparison, Top 60 prospects with NBA player comparisons. And nobody caught him. Against better defenders at the pro level, his shot selection will have to improve. But it's also worth mentioning that even though Duke's best player was attacking the basket, not one Michigan State player helped off of their man, knowing Banchero can now beat you as a passer too. Advanced Game Log Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports. Paolo Banchero is on Twitter at Pp_doesit. 2022 NBA Draft Profile: Paolo Banchero | Def Pen Banchero, the No. Di italiano, per, rischia di avere una sola cosa: il passaporto. Thats concerning for any player, let alone a 610 forward. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Splits Last week former Duke basketball freshman forward Paolo Banchero claimed he was the best player entering the 2022 NBA Draft. Plays well within himself and has a well-rounded game, contributing in multiple categories Plays poised, balanced, and always under control Doesnt have glaring weaknesses and has a high floor , Weaknesses: As mentioned earlier, he doesnt have glaring weaknesses and is very well rounded as prospect Definitely improved as a 3PT shooter throughout high school but still has room to develop into a knockdown threat Can cut down on turnovers. His ability to score at all three levels with consistency, handle the ball, and even lead the break make him a perfect fit in todays NBA and he projects to be an All-Star sooner rather than later. Its no secret that Paolo Banchero plays a classic midrange style of basketball rarely seen in todays trigger happy NBA. He leads all rookies in Estimated Plus-Minus at plus-2.1 (39th overall), stationed right above All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Dejounte Murray. Paolo Banchero finished a successful freshman year at Duke, averaging a stat line of roughly 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while also ranking . 2 pick in favor of Holmgren for the first time this season. Paolo Banchero had a rough shooting February that highlighted one of his biggest weaknesses. On paper, Orlando has the talent, size, and versatility needed to be a successful team in the coming seasons. Heres a look at Duke F Paolo Banchero. 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