NBA Draft: What Kinds of Players Should the Hornets Target With the 32nd Pick? Part 2
1. International players with major questions
Recent picks in this mold:
- Nemanja Bjelica (35th)
- Bojan Bogdonovic (31st)
- Tomas Satoransky (32nd)
- Cedi Osman (31st)
- Willy Hernangomez (35th)
The NBA has slowly become a more internationally-focused league. The 2018-19 season was the first to feature non-Americans as MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. NBA scouts and talent evaluators used to lack the kind of insight, information networks, or just plain open-mindedness that allowed players like (Hornets legend) Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Arvydas Sabonis, Marc Gasol, Toni Kukoc, etc. to fall into late first or second round spots in years past.
Truthfully, there are more confounding factors that cause international prospects to fall down draft boards. It’s difficult to compare the competition levels between various leagues to know what a player is matched up against and project their skills against NBA players. Some rules and tendencies even differ between these leagues.
One of the biggest reasons an international player may fall is because he’s either still on contract with his current team, or doesn’t intend to immediately sign an NBA contract if drafted. That was the case for all five of the players mentioned above, who spent several years each refining their games in their respective European leagues before joining the NBA as older, more polished contributors.
This delay can also come with a natural advantage: for teams that don’t have roster spots or are trying to preserve cap space, the rights to sign an international player can be “stashed” and used at a more opportune time down the road—not unlike the practice of allowing players to develop in the G-League, but without using a roster or two-way contract spot.
For a rebuilding team like the Hornets, saving cap space may not be necessary. On the flip side, that extra roster spot could be used to take a flyer on another developmental player. Without the expectation to dominate the competition, the Charlotte Hornets can also practice more patience with a player who may not be ready to join the NBA immediately.
Out of the five players listed from past drafts, one name in particular jumps out:
<h2>Pre-Draft Strengths</h2> <ul> <li>Versatile, all-around wing scoring skillset</li> <li>Good stroke pulling up and on catch and shoot opportunities</li> <li>Solid height, frame, and ability to drive to the basket and absorb contact in isolation and pick and roll.</li> </ul> <h2><span style=. Combo Forward. Utah Jazz. BOJAN BOGDANOVIć. 31st
After working his way up through European leagues and building quite a reputation for himself in international play, Bogdanovic threw his name in the 2011 draft at the ripe age of 22. His scoring acumen and shooting stroke—coupled with his size—convinced the Nets to trade for the 31st pick to keep him in their back pocket.
One major question followed Bogdanovic since before the draft: without excelling in any one area, could he find a role and compete against NBA talent?
He would spend three more years with Turkish juggernaut Fenerbahce in the TBL (Turkish Basketball League if you’re not so great with context clues), eventually leading them to a championship game. In 2014, he would finally get the call to join the Nets three seasons wiser, an inch taller, and nearly 25 pounds heavier, enabling him to line up at both forward positions. He had also developed into a premier three point shooting threat and learned to shore up his defense given his limitations on that end.
There are a few prime candidates for the ole draft ‘n stash this year. Leandro Bolmaro is a big guard playing in Spain with a body like Bojan’s coming into the draft and possessing a similar tendency to pound the ball. Bolmaro’s shooting isn’t as developed as Bogdanovic’s was, and most mock drafts don’t see him on the board past the late first round anyway. A team like Boston, with a pair of picks in that territory and who can’t afford to add contracts to the roster, is likely to snag his rights and let him figure his game out on his current contract with FC Barcelona B in Spain.
Aleksej Pokusevski is a seven foot wing/center/visual enigma out of Serbia’s lower leagues whose height and ball handling make him an interesting if not risky prospect. But his chances of falling to the second round appear even lower than Bolmaro’s given his exciting 2K create-a-player build and ability to move.
Of the international players in this draft that project to be available in the second round, one loosely fits Bogdanovic’s profile and has excelled in a competitive professional league:
Combo Guard/Wing. Cholet Basket—France. ABDOULAYE N’DOYE. 5 Year Pro. <h2>Pre-Draft Strengths</h2> <ul> <li>Can play 1-3 (and maybe even 4 if he can bulk up) thanks to his 6’7” height and 7’3” wingspan</li> <li>Versatile wing skill set—can handle the ball, run pick and roll, finish drives with an elite floater, and even has a projectable outside shot, hitting over 40% from 3 last season and 75% on FTs</li> <li>Has enough quickness on the first step to score in isolation on occasion</li> </ul> <h2>Pre-Draft Weaknesses</h2> <ul> <li>Plays flat-footed despite his great length—finishes below the rim, doesn’t elevate much on jumpers, jumps off of two feet.</li> <li>Not aggressive on drives and doesn’t absorb contact well</li> <li>May not excel enough in any one area to find a good NBA role</li> </ul> <p><em>Draft profile courtesy of Synergy and NBA.com</em></p>
A former teammate of lottery prospect Killian Hayes, Abdoulaye dipped his toes in the NBA waters last offseason before pulling himself from draft consideration and returning to Cholet in France. The following season, he improved both his raw numbers and efficiency across the board and earned a spot in the LNB All-Star Game.
Truthfully, Abdoulaye’s career trajectory follows Satoransky’s more closely than Bogdanovic’s. But in both cases, the potential versatility of each player, with their combinations of positional size and skill, allowed them to carve out viable roles in the NBA.
As it goes with most young prospects in today’s league, Abdoulaye’s success or failure may hinge on his ability to develop as an outside shooter (like Bogdanovic and Satoransky before him). He’s shot adequately on low volume, mostly catch-and-shoot opportunities in his professional career, connecting on 36.5% from 3. More encouraging is the fact that he’s improved to 39.8% over the past two seasons, albeit taking fewer shots.
However, free throw percentage is traditionally a better indicator of NBA three point shooting potential; Abdoulaye’s career 65.9% from the line is low for a guard/wing and may be reason for pause in the hope his shooting will translate (although he did improve to 75% last season on considerably more attempts than previous years).
With his monster 7’3” wingspan to go along with his 6’7” height and 205 pound listed weight at the guard position, N’Doye has the body to be a versatile defender and good positional rebounder. Offensively, he can at least be a player who keeps the ball moving. For a Hornets team that lacks playmaking, size, rebounding, and defense, that might be an enticing package on its own. He’s improved his all-around game at a steady pace throughout his career and shows positive signs as a developmental project.