Ready or not Wizards rookie Kevin Seraphin is coming to the NBA

by CJ Hempfield on Aug 29, 2010 4:20 PM EDT in Player Analysis

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jerome Knoepffler, a French journalist with Basket USA. Previously, Bullets Forever published a translated version of Jerome's interview with Kevin Seraphin. I was able to catch up with Jerome Knoepffler, following his trip to the Villeurbanne International Tournament in Lyon, France. The Villeurbanne tournament was a warm up for four teams competing in the FIBA World Championship and this year included France, Brazil, Australia and the Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

The original hope was to pick up a little more context to his interview with Kevin Seraphin. As it turned out Jerome during his travels, spoke briefly with Kevin Seraphin and his agent, Bouna N'Diaye's France-based associate Jeremy Medjana (Bouna N'Diaye is not related to Wizards second round pick Hamady N'Diaye). As a result, we are able to pick up a little more insight into Kevin and his former league.

Work Visa

Kevin Seraphin still doesn't have his visa yet. Neither Seraphin nor his agent provided any information as to what was causing the delay. Jerome did not give any indication that either were concerned.

UPDATE: According to Jerome Knoepffler, Kevin Seraphin has received his Visa and is now in Washington.

Additional Context to NBADL Comments

There was an agreement between Washington and Seraphin's agent, Bouna N'Diaye that Kevin would not be assigned to the NBADL. Kevin did not want to go to the NBADL in large part because he believes he will develop more quickly working directly with Flip Saunders. Seraphin is very impressed with Flip's track record working with players like Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace. Jerome Knoepffler believes that Kevin is working very hard this summer so that he is prepared for the Wizards season. In fact, according to Seraphin's agent, Kevin "received a very tough program from Washington." Jerome Knoepffler said, "It is one of the toughest that he [Jeremy Medjana] has ever seen for a rookie.

And as indicated in the previous interview, other teams did talk with Seraphin and his agent about playing in the NBADL, but not the Wizards. According to Jerome Knoepffler, the Wizards want to see Seraphin work hard and develop with the team. Unfortunately, Jeremy Medjana did not want to discuss who those other teams were. But Jerome Knoepffler believes that two of the teams were the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks. He quickly pointed out that there did not appear to be any significant discussions with Milwaukee since, when Seraphin visited, the sense was that Milwaukee had appeared to have made up its mind to select Larry Sanders. Assuming Sanders were still available when they made their selection.

Summer League

Kevin Seraphin was not able to participate in the Summer League as he was still recovering from a mild knee injury. He watched all of the Wizards games and thought that John Wall's play was exceptional. And while he was not able to play, "he doesn't think it's a problem for him because he saw the system and saw all of the games of the Wizards," said Jerome Knoepffler.

Knee Injury

Kevin Seraphin originally injured his knee during the French A League semi-finals. At the time, the knee injury was not considered serious. Jerome spoke with Jeremy Medjana at the Villeurbanne International Tournament, and according to Seraphin's agent, Kevin's knee is healthy and he is preparing for the season.

Summer in France

Mainly due to the delay in securing his work visa, Seraphin has not been able to spend much time in the States this off-season. Jerome points out that Seraphin is a consistently hard worker, and that he is spending his time in France working with a personal coach. And that he is focused on the program that the Wizards gave to him. In particular, he believes that Seraphin is working to improve his "shot and offensive moves." Jerome indicated that in the French A League, teams' generally do not have a strength/conditioning coach. Due to the Wizards strength & conditioning program, he would expect that Kevin Seraphin will add another 10 - 15 pounds of muscle in his first year with the Wizards.

NBA readiness

Since Jerome Knoepffler has watched Kevin Seraphin play last season, I thought that he would have a solid opinion as to how ready he is for the NBA. He responded by saying, "In fact in my opinion, Kevin isn't ready for the NBA right now." Jerome's main concern does not appear to be Kevin Seraphin's raw talent or ability, but his relative lack of experience. Jerome reminded that Seraphin "has played basketball for only 5 or 6 years."

Another concern that Jerome Knoepffler voiced was the change in position that Seraphin will likely need to make in order to succeed in the NBA. And a change in position often calls for an adjustment period. He said, Seraphin "played Center all the season with Cholet, but with the NBA he is undersized for this position." Seraphin, who is listed at 6-9, is not the prototypical size for a NBA Center and is expected to move to Power Forward with the Wizards. Jerome also questioned whether Seraphin has sophisticated enough offensive skills, presently, to warrant him earning playing time this season. He believes that Seraphin is "physical and can rebound" but that "he needs to improve his shot and his moves offensively, and I don't think that in a few months he can do that."

Ultimately, Jerome Knoepffler's personal preference would have been for Kevin Seraphin to have spent another season or two developing in Europe. He said, "Personally, I prefer that he stay in Cholet or in a big franchise in Europe and play in the Euroleague." He questioned whether the Wizards truly have the minutes to provide to him. "In my opinion, there are too many guys in Washington - Andray Blatche, Trevor Booker [and] JaVale MCGee - there's great guys in the interior positions for the Wizards. Personally I don't think he will have a lot of playing time. I'd have to see it to believe it."

He also believes that Seraphin's playing time will be partially linked to the Wizards perception of their team - whether they believe they are a playoff team or if they are truly rebuilding. His comments appear to suggest that he believes that their focus will be on making the playoffs which will diminish Seraphin's opportunities for playing time. Jerome Knoepffler said, "He will make lots of mistakes. He needs to get some experience and Wizards won't want to wait for him. They selected John Wall in the draft and have some talent with Blatche and McGee. And they want to go to the playoffs this year."

Lastly, he pointed to the difficulty that some European, particularly French, big men have had earning significant minutes in the NBA. For example, he said, "[Ian] Mahinmi, [Alexis] Ajinca and Johan Petro. They have been in the league for a few years and can't seem to get playing time." However, while that is true it is also important to point out that each of those players were on talented and veteran dominated teams - Spurs, Mavericks and Nuggets respectively. Generally speaking, minutes for young players are difficult to come by on those teams - regardless of nationality.

French A League and Euroleague Basketball

The French A League is the top basketball league in France. However, Jerome Knoepffler indicated that while there is good basketball played it does not have the depth of talent of the NBA. For example, he mentioned that within the A League there are approximately 10 - 15 players who have NBA potential. He highlighted two such players in Stanley Dubois (France National Team U19) and Bangaly Fofana (ASVEL Basket). However, he also suggested that many of the players with NBA potential do not work hard consistently to develop their talents.

The Euroleague, on the other hand, is second only to the NBA in skill level and talent. Jerome spoke about the highly competitive nature of the league. And how a few teams have risen to a point where they are consistently good - FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv. As a point of comparison, he said that the NBA has great athletes and the Euroleage has good athletes. However, he said that the Euroleague is highly focused on technical (fundamental) play.

In an interesting side note, Jerome Knoepffler mentioned how, the San Antonio Spurs PG and French National, Tony Parker purchased a stake - reportedly 20% - in ASVEL Basket, a French basketball franchise in Villeurbanne. After Parker retires from the NBA, he has the option of buying controlling interest in the team. Jerome Knoepffler mentioned that ASVEL plans on building a new arena by 2012. This new arena may seat as many as 15,000 people. Jerome said that many European teams play in small arenas, typically 5 - 6,000 seats. Building this new arena for Parker's franchise is important because the Euroleague passed a rule that all of its teams must play in a stadium with a minimum capacity of 10,000 seats. Teams were given a three year window to begin building or to have fixed plans in place to build. This decision could mean that some teams would lose their place in the Euroleague if they were not able to secure a new arena.

Jerome feels that ASVEL's plans for a new arena are tied to a larger objective as well. He reminded that David Stern has long talked about plans for NBA expansion into Europe. And he indicated that Tony Parker's long-term plans are for his franchise to be one of the NBA European teams. Only time will tell if Tony Parker's long-term plans will come to fruition.

French National team

He loves the French National team and playing for them is very important to him. However, his focus is currently on the NBA and his career. He does not yet know if his NBA schedule will allow him to play on the French National team in the future. The demands of his NBA career may conflict with the French National team schedule. Kevin's first priority and focus is on his career with the Wizards.

Final Thoughts

In talking with Jerome Knoepffler it is clear that he believes that Kevin Seraphin has the talent to play in the NBA. His concerns revolve around whether or not he will receive adequate playing time to adjust to and develop within the league. In that regard, he sounds very similar to Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee neither of which made significant progress until after they began to receive significant playing time. The Wizards staff seem to have found a player with a significant amount of raw talent. And if the reports are true, it appears that they believe that he will develop best from within their program and not through playing an additional season or two in Europe or with their D League affiliate.

If Kevin Seraphin continues to do what he has been doing - work hard, play defense, be physical and grab rebounds - he may have more control over his playing time than any of us think. If he does those things consistently, he will earn more time and generate "credits" for when he makes mistakes.

I would also point out that nothing about this team's off-season moves suggest that they are outwardly fixated on the playoffs this season. Sure, if during the second half of the season they are in striking distance, they will do what they can to make it. But, I truly believe that the team is trying to assemble pieces that will make it successful down the road. And in that vein, this may be the perfect team and situation for Kevin Seraphin.

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Comments

This kid has D League written all over him

According to Knoepffler Seraphin has the raw talent but has only been playing bball for 6 years and thus lacks experience. As said AB and Javegas just recently showed real progress when they got significant PT. HELLO??! Seraphin needs to play!

Also, when you draft 2 power forwards in Booker and Seraphin as part of a rebuilding plan, what exactly is the plan with AB?? Im thinking they might trade him somewhere down the line….

by Dutch Hoopfan on Aug 29, 2010 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

And don't forget...

Yi Jianlian who was picked up for at least one season. That’s four PFs fighting for playing time. That will be interesting to watch during camp and the pre-season.

Follow me on twitter - @CJ_202SB

by CJ Hempfield on Aug 29, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Again...

I am NOT OK with the Wizards trading Andray Blatche. Anyway the moves made this off season really puzzle me. The team has Blatche. They then draft Booker, pick up Yi and at the same time contradict their statement of wanting to make an effort to utilize the D- league more by assuring Seraphin will not be sent down there?

by qthaballa on Aug 29, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Nobody's trading Blatche, relax.

Dray optimistically suggested he’d be healed by training camp. But dude has pins in his foot, (usually indicates a stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal). These kinds of injuries usually take a while to heal, the only way to heal them is simply to take it slow, or even slower.

Yi is insurance, a free peek at a potential talent, he cost us nothing but cap space, literally nothing since New Jersey paid the Wiz 3 million to take him. Quinton Ross wasn’t going to play at all, in adding Yi we add a back-up at three positions of need. Even if he stinks at all three positions, it still saves you two roster spots for other cheap scrubs. He’s like a swiss army knife: worst frickin corkscrew in the world, but dude, it’s better than a rock, right? Like I said, even if he sucks, he’s versatile at sucking.

There’s a possibility he habilitates his game here (can’t ‘re-’ habilitate his game, since he never showed one in the NBA). IN that case he becomes a trade asset. An expiring contract. And a back-up to Dray, placeholder while he recuperates.

It’s a no risk, all reward. signing.

Whereas Booker was drafted in part with the idea that he could defend the 3 position, especially on strong ‘Smalls’ like LeBJ. Flip wants him to captain the defense, pick up full court etc. same way he ran the point of the Clemson press. With Josh injured we’re by no means deep at the SF spot. Booker’s got the speed and athleticism to convert to the position even if he was low-post oriented in college. There are configurations where he fits in easily at strong Three on offense as well, as what I call a ‘Crash Forward’ on the baseline, setting nasty picks, hitting wide open jumpers if left alone and swinging in like a wrecking ball to collect rebounds. Who else on the team sets a pin-screen on the baseline to spring free the off-ball guard?

Look, it’s a good thing to add assets, just because you’re a Wiz fan doesn’t automatically mean that disaster is just around the corner. Well, okay, maybe it does. But at the least, we’ve got an owner who answers emails. Feel free to panic in his inbox.

As for Seraphin, check me below. I think he earns his PT honestly.

by doclinkin on Aug 29, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Not terribly worried about the 'Center' designation

Dude has a better standing reach than either Joakim Noah or Al Horford among others. And as far as his ability to stand his ground in the post, he’s 260+ of natural athletic muscle without ever having hit a Big League weight room.

Playing next to a finesse Big like Blatche, or a longbody like McGee, he’s got the tools to do everything Flip requires out of his low-post grunt work player: put a body on someone, rebound, force the opposing center away from the basket.

In Flip’s Hyperparaboloid Transitional Floating Zone, he’s the guy under the basket boxing out or collecting rebounds while the longer Bigs float to the ball pressure side and prevent interior passes. Picture (Kev’s role model) Ben Wallace underneath while Sheed challenges the ball side (or Ervin Johnson to the roaming KG). You can put either McGee or Blatche on that pressure role. Seraphin thudding and thumping to snatch the carom. Doesn’t matter which one you call the center (6’11" Blatche or the brachiatingly long-armed Seraphin)

I suspect he’ll carve out playtime since he’s the only player on the roster with the aptitude and desire to play in the moshpit. And on offense he prefers to actually play with his back to the basket, hit that hook in the lane, finsih easy buckets on the baseline blocks and in the post. Contrast with our probable starting Center McGee who is far more comfortable floating free outside the paint where he can get a good head of steam for the allez oop, or poaching offensive boards. Or trying that dribble drive from the pick and roll position. Or even taking the long jumper that he hasn’t yet shown he can really hit.

As far as team chemistry, Seraphin is the closest thing this team has to DeMarcus Cousins. I’m pretty sure John Wall will know what to do to make him look good. He’s our only dump off option on the low block who is actually willing to go up strong and try to finish even when bumped. He’ll only get better at it (with better ups as well) once he hits the iron and gets even more monstrous. Kid seems like a good natured hard worker who isn’t afraid of a little contact. And for all that he’s raw, understand by year’s end he actually started a few times for a team deep in Bigs that eventually won the League championship in one of the world’s strongest domestic leagues (Behind the NBA, Spain, and probably Russia). Not a polished product, but clearly a fast study.

And considering the lack of defensive desire or instincts shown by a guy like JaVale, I get the feeling Seraphin will pretty quickly challenge for minutes on this squad, especially in a development year. You don’t think he’ll show he can force McGee or Dray away from the basket in practice? Foul-per-minute king Fab Oberto stole minutes from the phenomenally athletic 7’ JaVale last year. There are minutes available.

by doclinkin on Aug 29, 2010 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Personally I'm waiting on that practice footage.

I want to see the B-Team take on the alpha squad. Especially when the coaching staff decides to mix it up a little bit.

Gil vs John Wall
Kirk vs Nick
Thornton vs Booker
Blatche vs Yi or Hilton
McGee vs Big Kevin

Only Blatche has the obvious clear match-up dominance at both ends. (Josh Howard would if he were healthy, but I’d guess we won’t see a 100% Josh Howard this year). The others provide interesting style contrasts, offense vs defense, finesse vs strength, talent vs skill, range vs slashing, etc.

by doclinkin on Aug 29, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I've posted similar thoughts

This is what stands out to me the most though;

“Jerome indicated that in the French A League, teams’ generally do not have a strength/conditioning coach. Due to the Wizards strength & conditioning program, he would expect that Kevin Seraphin will add another 10 – 15 pounds of muscle in his first year with the Wizards.”

This kid will be a beast and I do agree if he continues to work hard and excelling at his usual pace then there is a real possibility that he will unseat Ja’Vale McGee. And personally I am much more comfortable with a lineup of C. Seraphin PF. Blatche SF. Howard SG. Arenas PG. Wall, that seems like a more balanced offensive and defensive starting lineup.

by Kend3zy on Aug 29, 2010 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm wondering if Blatche can stay with other threes

But he might be able to handle himself.

by JoCro on Aug 29, 2010 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Despite being much taller and a better shot blocker

the one thing that Blatche has in common with Jamison is that neither one is capable of guarding either the 3 or the 4 even remotely adequately.

Aim for the head baby Jesus

by Doncosmic on Aug 30, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Great comment

Thanks for spending the time to write all that down. I didn’t see too many games last year and was curious what the offense looked like. I am excited about this season. To see so many players playing for a roster spot. Including Gilbert.

by dyun1dyun1 on Sep 9, 2010 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions