The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a top-six pick and the 19

Tale of the Tape

Name: Dennis Schroeder
Position: Guard
German Pro Team: NY Phantoms Braunschweig
Age: 19
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Wingspan: 6’7”
2012-2013 Per Game Stats: 11.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 42.4 FG%, 40.2 3PT%, 83.8 FT%

Dennis Schroeder is a point guard from Germany who is quickly soaring up the draft charts. With his impressive physique and outside shooting tools, Schroeder should be a mid-round first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Since the Cavs need a backup point guard, and we haven’t really discussed the Cavs’ options here, let’s look at Schroeder’s skills and how he translates from Germany to the NBA.

(Via NBADraft.net)

Physical Tools

Schroeder is an interesting physical specimen at point guard. He’s not of an imposing stature, standing at just 6’1” and weighing in at 164 lbs. at the draft combine, which is down from a playing weight of 180 in Germany. He’s a solid athlete for that weight, however, and definitely will be able to handle the rigors of playing in the NBA thanks to his athleticism. He’s explosive, but it isn’t in the conventional context that we usually describe explosion. Schroeder’s not going to get up and dunk on anyone. However, he’s one of the most explosive open-court players in the draft. Schroeder has a really nice first step and quick burst to the rim, routinely blowing by defenders on the perimeter to score at the rim. In fact, at the Nike Hoops Summit, which you can see video of above, he routinely torched opponents in the open court with his speed. He’s also one of the quickest draft prospects in general, and will be a great fit for any team who wants to play at a high pace. Finally there’s Schroeder’s length, which lends to him being an excellent defender. Schroeder measured a little over 6’7” for his wingspan, which gives him some excellent reach to be able to defend on or off the ball at the perimeter. Schroeder’s definitely a good athlete, with the physical tools to be able to overcome his small stature.

Offense

Looking at Schroeder’s offensive game, it’s important first to discuss his point guard skills because that’s certainly where he’ll be playing in the NBA. This is where some red flags are present. Schroeder is right-handed and somewhat lacks the ability to go left when driving. This is a bit of an issue because it makes him easier to defend. The larger issue I have with Schroeder is that he is not, by any means, a good shooter off the dribble. You want your point guards to be able to score off the bounce because it creates another dimension that Schroeder lacks. Schroeder is a good spot-up shooter with excellent form on set shots and step-backs. However, he lacks the ability to pull up off a drive or in transition, and that could be an issue at the next level. However, Schroeder did shoot really well from three last season and did take a ton of them (102 threes to 188 twos). He shouldn’t have a problem adjusting to the NBA three-point line. And, given his finishing abilities, that should mask the deficiencies in the mid-range game. Schroeder’s also great at running an offense, delivering crisp passes and has a good handle. He had a fairly bad assist-to-turnover ratio in Germany (3.3-2.9), but his 3.7 turnovers per 36 minutes were on par with Rajon Rondo, Ricky Rubio and Will Bynum this season. Also, playing at the lower level of the Bundesliga, my theory is that Schroeder suffered from what Tom Ziller calls “Tyreke Evans Assists,” which is when a point guard delivers a perfect pass to a wide-open teammate who misses the shot, ruining the assist. I think Schroeder’s paltry assist numbers (4.7 per 36) are partly due to that, and partly because Schroeder was able to take over games by getting to the rim. Schroeder also is a fantastic free throw shooter, posting a mark of 83.8 percent from the line, which will help him be reliable as an offensive player when he does get to the rack. The bottom line is that while you might not want Schroeder running a pick-n-roll or taking mid-range jumpers, he can get to any spot on the floor at any time, can get past any player to the rim and will be a great catch-and-shoot guy as well.

Defense

Schroeder is a solid defender thanks to his length and quickness. He can stay in front of guys with no problem thanks to his good lateral speed and long arms, and he’ll easily be able to disrupt passing lanes due to his long arms and freakishly gigantic hands. Schroeder’s hands are 10.5 inches long, which is bigger than the hands of Gorgui Dieng or Rudy Gobert. That’s insane. Schroeder is also good at understanding spacing and rotations and will be excellent at pestering point guards on the ball and disrupting open shooters. He’s not strong enough to handle getting pushed around, so if he gets posted up by a bigger guard, he’s finished. However, Schroeder will be able to cover so much ground up top, and be so disruptive on the perimeter, that he’ll be a positive on the defensive end right away.

Intangibles

Schroeder’s vast improvement over the course of the season in the Bundesliga, and his outstanding performance at the Nike Hoop Summit, are very good indicators of his intangibles. Schroeder wants to get better, and at age 19 with so much room to improve, that’s a very, very positive sign for his future. Schroeder also has shown that he can take over a game, overpowering weaker guards in the German league late to make baskets when it counts. We also know that Schroeder can be relied on to carry a team because he was definitively his team’s best player; his best NY Phantoms teammate was former Arizona State Sun Devil Eric Boateng, and he took over the Nike Hoops Summit game. Schroeder is also only 19, which will mean that he has plenty of time to improve his point guard skills, strength and shooting ability. Schroeder seems to have the makings to be a great NBA point guard, and should be able to be one someday.

Player Comparison

Mike Conley is a great comparison for what Schroeder should eventually become. Coming out of school, Conley was much of the same mold of Schroeder; a small, quick guard with long arms who was solid defensively and could get to the rim at will. Conley had the same struggles with his mid-range shot that Schroeder has shown but has gotten much better at hitting shots in the mid-range. Conley took 73 deep twos his rookie season and hit 37 percent of them. That number has improved to 41 percent on 150 shots this year. Conley also got a lot better at managing an NBA offense from his time at Ohio State, and his assist numbers have continued to increase, something that should be promising for Schroeder because of his low assist numbers in Germany. I think Conley’s trajectory is going to be what we see from Schroeder. He’s going to be the Mike Conley/Eric Bledsoe/Jrue Holiday point guard of this draft, meaning it might take him a couple years to get it together and learn how to play the point in the NBA, but when he does, he’s going to be insanely good.

How Does He Fit on the Cavaliers?

Ideally, if the Cavs grab Schroeder, he’s going to be doing what Eric Bledsoe has done the past few years behind Chris Paul. Schroeder complements Kyrie Irving quite well, and would be an excellent backup for him. Schroeder would be the defensive point guard the Cavs need to go along with Kyrie, who is a defensive minus. Schroeder should also be able to get better in PNR situations while learning from a master at that offensive set. The nice thing is that, while you’d be giving up height, the Cavs could certainly play Irving and Schroeder together. Thanks to Schroeder’s catch-and-shoot abilities, I’d be comfortable with Schroeder playing off the ball in the Cavs offense as well. Height concerns would be present, but both guys are quick enough, and Schroeder’s long enough that I think it wouldn’t be a huge issue defensively to play them together. My one issue I would have is that I think Schroeder is better suited for a fast-paced team like Milwaukee or Dallas than what should be a slower Mike Brown-coached Cleveland team. I also believe that that is the range where Schroeder will be going, as Dallas, Utah and Milwaukee all have point guard needs and pick right before the Cavaliers. If Schroeder somehow slips past those three teams, however, I think Schroeder is definitely a player the Cavs need to consider because he’s the last of the point guards I’d feel comfortable taking in the first round of this draft.

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Mar 5, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin

The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a top-six pick and the 19^th pick in this upcoming draft. In the next few weeks here at Right Down Euclid, we will be profiling players the Cavaliers might draft in the first round on June 27. Today, we profile Anthony Bennett.

Tale of the Tape

Name: Anthony Bennett
Position: Forward
School: UNLV
Age: 20
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 240 lbs.
Wingspan: 7’1″
Honors: Mountain West Freshman of the Year, All-Mountain West 1^st Team
2012-2013 Per Game Stats: 16.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 53.3 FG%, 37.5 3FG%, 70.1 FT%
NCAA Tournament Stats: 4-of-11, 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals in 2nd-round loss to California
*Had shoulder surgery on May 8^th

Anthony Bennett is perhaps one of the most perplexing prospects in this year’s NBA Draft. Sitting at 6’7”, Bennett could either be a small forward or power forward, has a very well defined, interesting offensive game and is an injury red flag. Bennett has high upside and is going to be a top 5 pick in this year’s draft. Let’s take a look at how Bennett shapes up as an NBA player.

(via Runrebs.com)

Physical Tools

Bennett’s size is both a useful tool and a bit of a curse for him. Measuring 6’7” and 240 pounds, Bennett has the body of a power forward with the height of a small forward or shooting guard. That makes his ultimate NBA position a bit of a question. The one thing that will definitely help Bennett, and what makes him a potential top 5 pick, is his length. Bennett and Otto Porter have the same wingspan, which is mind-boggling because Bennett looks so much stockier than Porter. Bennett is much heavier than Porter, and that is why he’s being considered a possible power forward. Bennett also has excellent athleticism, is surprisingly quick for his size and is a great leaper. That’s going to translate well at the next level.

Of course, we have to talk about Bennett’s shoulder injury. Bennett had surgery last week to repair a SLAP tear in his left shoulder, which is his non-shooting arm. He’s going to miss all of the pre-draft workouts, obviously, but hopes to be back for training camp. I think that’s a fair timeline, as this type of injury, when surgically repaired, takes about 3-4 months to heal correctly. The injury is one that shouldn’t give Bennett any more problems as well because it’s not his shooting arm, so his shooting motion shouldn’t be affected. Also, once this type of injury is fixed surgically, it is not something that becomes a recurrent problem, such as a deeper labral tear. A SLAP tear is a tear on the top of the labrum, which is the cartilage that forms the “socket” of the ball-and-socket joint that is the shoulder. In deeper tears, this can be a much more serious problem, but the SLAP tear is a much less serious tear. I’d more liken this injury to C.J. McCollum’s than Alex Len’s, in that this isn’t something that should be a long-term problem for him.

Offense

Bennett’s offensive game is interesting because he’s really good at everything. He’s an excellent outside shooter for his position, hitting on 38 percent of his threes while at UNLV and getting better as the season went along. He really has a great shooting motion for a big as well, looking very fluid in his jumper. He’s also really good attacking off the dribble and finishing on fast breaks. He’s the closest anyone in this draft comes to simulating a freight train on the break, someone who shows no hesitation to dunk on someone’s face or draw contact. That translates into the half court game as well, where Bennett’s way too fast for most power forwards to keep up with him when he attacks a crease. In the post, he’s not great with his back to the basket, but that will come. He’s very impressive attacking in the post while facing up his defender, and he’s definitely willing to bang down low, an adept offensive rebounder who has great instincts and can clean up and affect the game even when his shots aren’t falling. When the biggest problem Bennett has is back-to-the-basket positioning, which can easily be taught by the right coach, we’re basically just nitpicking. Bennett is a monster on offense, and he’s got a lot of room to improve as well. As far as position, offensively I feel like Bennett can play power forward in the NBA; he’s quick enough, strong enough and long enough to overcome his short frame. He could be a small forward as well, similar to how Thaddeus Young has played both positions as a pro, but ultimately I think playing in the post is where Bennett will be most effective.

Defense

The biggest problem for Bennett defensively is effort, or rather lack of effort. It just isn’t there for him. Part of this is how good UNLV was defensively this past season; they ranked 18^th in the nation in defensive efficiency. With several great defensive cogs, particularly fellow forwards Khem Birch and Mike Moser, Bennett didn’t need to be a good defensive player on every possession to succeed and instead could focus on developing his offensive game. In the NBA, where he has a great chance of being thrown to the wolves on a team without a good defensive presence behind him, this is something that will really hurt him right off the bat. However, with a competent set of teammates and/or a defense-minded coach, Bennett will be able to overcome this. When he does give maximal effort, Bennett can be a Reggie Evans-like frustration machine; someone who is willing to bang with opponents down low despite his lack of height. His length and instincts will also make him a good defensive rebounder. It’s not far-fetched to believe that Bennett could easily become a very talented defender in addition to his offensive prowess.

Intangibles

Since his defensive effort isn’t there, it’s easy to label Bennett as a possible effort red flag. However, having watched Bennett multiple times over the past year hHe somehow became the prospect I watched the most last season despite playing at UNLV; I caught about 5-6 Bennett games on TV), I can say that his effort is not a huge problem. Bennett is so active on the offensive end, relentless in an effort to affect the game even if he’s not getting quality touches. I think the defensive lapses are more an issue of lack of necessity to learn the defensive game thanks to his scoring ability and a great defensive unit at UNLV than an unwillingness to play on that side of the ball. Once in the NBA, I could see Bennett quickly adapting to giving much more effort on this side of the ball. That being said, Bennett is still a good choice this high because at 20 years old, his offensive game is perfect to suit his particular physique and will only continue to improve as he learns the nuances of an NBA offense. Bennett is certainly worth his rankings by the draft experts because of this upside.

Player Comparison

Zach Randolph is a great comparison for Bennett. Mainly, I think this applies because the same distinction must be made about Bennett that was made about Z-Bo: Bennett is not a shooter who can play the post; he’s a post that can shoot. He’s not Rashard Lewis, he’s not KG and he’s certainly not Ryan Anderson (Actually, I think the Hornets are a great situation for him, Anderson on the perimeter and Bennett inside would be really fun). He’s a guy like Chris Bosh or in his prime Z-Bo, in that he is best utilized in the post but can launch the occasional three. I think Bennett is a better shooter and certainly has better shot selection than Z-Bo. That’s a bit of a trade-off for Randolph’s size and back-to-the-basket ability, but I think Bennett is going to be a very similar player to Randolph and hopefully will have a more productive career and better attitude than mid-00s Z-Bo.

How Does He Fit on the Cavaliers?

If Otto Porter and Nerlens Noel are gone, the Cavs should draft Bennett. It would be interesting to see where he’d fit, given Tristan Thompson’s place as the team’s starting (and undersized) power forward, but the Cavs could make it work. Bennett could come off the bench at least immediately where he’d create some interesting lineups if matched with Tyler Zeller, a decent mid-range shooting big and Thompson, or Thompson and Varejao in a power rebounding lineup. Even if he was playing out of position at small forward, I think Bennett could grow into the role. Also, working with Mike Brown is an excellent fit for him to grow as a defensive player, which is a bonus. In my opinion, Noel should be Plan A for the Cavs’ first pick, Porter should be plan 1A and Bennett should be the third option behind those two.