Bullets Forever - NBA Draft 2015: Wizards select Kelly Oubre, Aaron White in draft"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2015-06-26T15:12:17-04:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/86133942015-06-26T15:12:17-04:002015-06-26T15:12:17-04:00Drafting Oubre shows a shift in philosophy
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards' playoff run was a revelation to all of us. Certainly, we all had an idea that the Wizards could do well playing a more modern style, but few expected the Wizards to flourish the way they did against Toronto and Atlanta. In the days and weeks since the Wizards' exit, everyone has said the right things about building on what the team showed in the playoffs. Even <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/randy-wittman-exit-interview-5-18-15">Randy Wittman said in exit interviews that the Wizards were hoping to play smaller and faster at the start of the following season</a>, creating optimism that the big, poorly spaced lineups are a thing of the past.</p>
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<p>Last night’s draft confirmed in my mind that this change in philosophy is for real, however, in a more unconventional way. Instead of drafting a stretch four that would seemingly signal the transition toward a modern, pace-and-space offense, the Wizards decided to bolster their wing depth, going so far as to give up two future second round picks to move up and secure Oubre, rather than take one of the stretch fours (Bobby Portis, Kevon Looney, Jarell Martin, Montrezl Harrell, etc.) that would have been available at the 19th pick.</p>
<p>So how does Kelly Oubre help the Wizards move toward a more modern offense? Look at this season’s NBA champions. Some would point to the NBA MVP, Steph Curry as the primary reason for the Warriors’ success, but if one looks closer, it was their depth on wings that helped push them over the top. Other teams may a player or two like Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala, or Shaun Livingston, but we've never seen a team have so many skilled wing players employ them so effectively. And when you add Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Draymond Green, who can also play effectively on the perimeter, you have five versatile defenders with incredible length and the ability to attack on the offensive end as well. While they were questioned for their lack of size all season, the Warriors proved that length and speed can make up for height in today's NBA, finishing the season with the league's best defensive rating.</p>
<p>If the Warriors are too lofty of a comparison, then take a look at Milwaukee. The Bucks, under new coach Jason Kidd, were able to build the second best defense in the league this season, and they did it thanks to incredible length on the perimeter. With Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounpo, Jabari Parker, (before his injury) and Jared Dudley, Kidd was able to employ "long ball", a version of small ball which prioritizes length and helps create a unique defensive identity that fueled Milwaukee's surprising growth into a playoff team.</p>
<p>These two examples are quintessential when analyzing why the Wizards drafted another wing player with Bradley Beal and Otto Porter seemingly entrenched as the starting duo of the future. When Randy Wittman came to D.C, one of the most significant changes he made to this Wizards team was crafting a strong defensive identity. Wittman forged the Wizards' identity over the last three years with big lineups that sacrificed offensive spacing for defensive muscle. Clearly it worked, as the Wizards finished with top ten defense each of the last three years, despite losing key defensive cogs like Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. However, Randy Wittman knew the team needed to evolve offensively to keep up with the rest of the NBA, even if it cost them size in the paint.</p>
<p>Still, being a defensive-minded coach at heart, Wittman undoubtedly wants to keep this defensive culture. As we all know, the NBA is a copycat league, and Kelly Oubre is a long, versatile player who helps the Wizards improve their length and versatility on the perimeter. With John Wall, Otto Porter, and now Oubre, the Wizards have put together a roster of incredible athletes with pterodactyl arms. <span> </span>Now they can use their length to overwhelm teams in the same way Milwaukee and Golden State did last season. Plus, we will see a faster more exciting team on the defensive end who can get their hands on everything and create turnovers to open up more opportunities for Wall in transition.</p>
<p>Whether or not you think Kelly Oubre is a player that will help this team long term, the fact that the Wizards traded up four spots to get him indicates a clear shift in philosophy. The Wizards want to adapt to the modern NBA, and they want to mimic what helped the Golden State Warriors to a championship. Perhaps Oubre, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/06/25/wizards-draft-pick-kelly-oubre-jr-has-insane-shoes-and-limitless-confidence/">in his spiky shoes and colorful attire</a>, had a point when he said anyone with him on the team is winning a championship. <u></u></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/26/8851639/washington-wizards-kelly-oubre-philosophy-shift-small-ball-nba-draft-2015Akbar Naqvi2015-06-26T12:52:54-04:002015-06-26T12:52:54-04:00Kelly Oubre will be worth the wait
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<p>Following their selection, Randy Wittman and Ernie Grunfeld both expressed that their new draft pick may not be ready to contribute right away. While true, there's still reason to like the pick. </p> <p>It'll be easy to chalk up <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/25/8849121/nba-draft-2015-kelly-oubre-washington-wizards-trade">Washington's selection of Kelly Oubre</a>, the lanky 6'7" athlete out of Kansas, as a nod to Golden State's army of 6'6" wing defenders. It became the buzzword all evening along with "position-less basketball," "switch-everything defenses" and whatever else you can link to the Warriors defense.</p>
<p>But that's a tricky path to follow. The Warriors may have a stable of wing defenders that gives them lineup flexibility, but what unlocks their switch-everything scheme is Draymond Green, who can string out a Mike Conley 30 feet from the basket and neutralize Marc Gasol on the block in the same possession. That's a luxury not many teams have, certainly not the Wizards, and they passed on a prospect that could conceivably bring a semblance of that in a pinch in Bobby Portis, who would have been had at 19 without giving up two future second rounders.</p>
<p>There's no downplaying their lack of depth at the four either. Nene showed his age throughout the season, and it's unclear whether they can rake in his replacement with limited resources this summer either. They'll look to slide him up a position behind Gortat at the five, but that could mean starting Kris Humphries, who isn't very fleet of foot defensively and hasn't proven he can extend his range beyond 18-feet. I don't doubt that they'll exhaust every avenue to find that player this summer be it through trades or with their mid-level exception, but the draft served as their most cost-effective method, and it's unclear whether they'll find someone more suitable for that role than Portis.</p>
<p>It's also possible that they simply came away from Portis' pre-draft workouts unimpressed. Maybe they soured on his ability to function as a full-time stretch-4 after seeing his unconventional shot mechanics up close, or that they simply weren't as high on him like the other seven non-lottery teams that passed on his services.</p>
<p>Regardless of where the Wizards stood, they've now armed their own stable of wing defenders with this selection. It's not quite the Warriors model, smarter teams will scheme to take advantage of their lack of girth by posting up on the block against mismatches, and between Porter and Oubre, they'll have to bulk up before giving any thought to playing the four. But they also don't have a player like Stephen Curry that they have to actively hide against better teams, making them that much tougher to score on, and with Oubre, they're looking at a potential stopper down the line. Let's go through this pro prospects further:</p>
<h4>Offense</h4>
<p>The first thing that jumps out to you is how smooth his jumper looks. His shot mechanics are compact; he has a nice follow through when he squares himself to the basket and generally gets good lift. But what separates him from the rest of the shooters in this class is how he gets his shot off against defenders rushing out at him. He gets off the ground very quickly (which aids him on the glass), and for better or worse, is able to beat defenders closing out on him by speeding up the process of his shot.</p>
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<p>That's a tough shot to make. The pass is off-target and over his head, but he still generates enough power by dipping the ball down to get his legs into his shot, all while having to avoid a defender right in his vicinity. Again, there's always the downside to shooters who don't sport consistent mechanics, and in his case, he'll frequently short-arm his shot when he feels rushed. That tends to flow into his poor off-the-dribble game as well, as he'll take a few ill-advised shots in traffic despite having a defender draped all over him.</p>
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<p>But there's still value in hitting contested shots, especially off catch-and-shoot opportunities in which John Wall is feeding you those looks. How many times did Bradley Beal or Paul Pierce pass up threes last season because a defender happened to close out on them a little quicker than expected? That wouldn't be the case with Oubre; he'll take those looks because he knows he has the length and jumping ability to get his shot off.</p>
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<p>Here's his shot chart courtesy of ShotAnalytics:</p>
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<p>The lack of midrange attempts shows he's not comfortable creating his own shot. What's more concerning though is his success rate once he gets into the painted area. He doesn't have many advanced dribbles aside from a nice spin move he'll flaunt if he has enough space, but more often than not, he's driving into the teeth of the defense without much of a plan. Help defenders will regularly crash down on him and he'll still struggle to find the open man, and what that leads to is a lot of inefficient floaters and helpless rim attacks against big men waiting for him at the rim.</p>
<p>He didn't light the world on fire after being touted as the heir apparent to Andrew Wiggins, and a large part of that was due to his shooting. He shot a good-not-great 36 percent from downtown but only 32 percent in Big-12 play; reminiscent of Beal's lone season at Florida. But unlike Bradley, he wasn't playing out of position, nor did he have to worry about stepping on anyone's toes. Kansas needed him to be the man from the onset, but he failed to make much of a mark as he would start in only one of his first nine games, totaling just 31 points in the process.</p>
<p>He found his footing in the middle of the season though, giving everyone a glimpse of what he can become. The question to me isn't whether he'll become a good marksmen from deep -- he should -- but whether he can develop a floor game to attack closeouts and make plays off kick-outs.</p>
<h4>Defense</h4>
<p>The same caveats that you typically see from great collegiate defenders apply to Oubre. He's a terrific athlete with outstanding lateral quickness, but will often cede driving lanes because he's not always in great position or isn't in a low enough stance to slide his feet. He can fill up the stat sheet defensively with his quick hands and instincts, but he falls susceptible to backdoor cuts. He can help-and-recover from the weakside, and has good closeout speed, but he'll sometimes get over over-aggressive in his pursuit.</p>
<p>All of that is reason enough for Randy Wittman and Ernie Grunfeld to <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/25/wizards-trade-select-kelly-oubre/">echo what many draft pundits have thought</a> in regards to his potential. He's not ready to contribute just yet. He'll have to fill out his frame and possibly redshirt the year to gain a better understanding of the schemes, but once he's there, the sky is truly the limit.</p>
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<p>That's him going under the initial screen, still sliding east and west to cut off the ball handlers' first drive to the basket, forcing him to reset. He then cuts off his drive again, recovers nicely after his man crosses back over to the middle, and manages to contest the shot.</p>
<p>As for the quick hands? This is what he's suckered so many players into last season.</p>
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<p>Hold the ball in front of him for even a split-second and he's bound to get his hands on it. The combination of length, lateral quickness, and ball-hawking ability is downright scary.</p>
<h4>Draft grade: B</h4>
<p>I respect the front office's decision to stick with their draft board, but I'm not so sure I'd rank him ahead of Bobby Portis, <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/9/8751253/nba-draft-2015-bobby-portis-washington-wizards">who I thought fit their team to a T</a>. Still, the idea of having Wall, Beal, Porter, and Oubre out there will make for a formidable perimeter defense, especially if the latter two pan out as "3 and D" prospects.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/26/8851353/kelly-oubre-washington-wizards-nba-draft-2015-worth-waitUmair Khan2015-06-25T23:59:36-04:002015-06-25T23:59:36-04:00Wizards take Aaron White with 2nd round pick
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<p>Good news: The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> are not trading their second round pick for cash considerations. Instead, they'll be taking Iowa's Aaron White with the 49th overall pick. Seeing the Wizards take White here isn't a shock, <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/18/8803657/justin-anderson-rondae-hollis-jefferson-washington-wizards">considering they brought him in for a workout last week</a>.</p>
<p>Bad news: We probably won't see White in a Wizards uniform this season, according to Draft Express:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With the #49 pick, the Washington Wizards take Aaron White from Iowa. He will get stashed in Europe. DX profile: <a href="http://t.co/6LvalfYnDh">http://t.co/6LvalfYnDh</a></p>
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/614279826283888640">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p>It's sad to see White probably won't be with the team right away, but it keeps space open for this season when White probably wouldn't crack the rotation anyway.</p>
<h4>What to expect when White joins the Wizards</h4>
<p>If you were hoping the Wizards would add a stretch four in this year's draft, Aaron White fits the billing in principle, at least. He only shot 35 percent from beyond the arc last season with Iowa, <a href="http://www.btpowerhouse.com/2015/6/25/8741465/2015-nba-draft-aaron-white-iowa-breakdown-stats-evaluation-scouting">but as BT Powerhouse explains</a>, he's not just a standstill shooter:</p>
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<p>White is not going to be the go-to guy for an NBA team at the next level, but he can do many different things in the NBA. He did not shoot many three-point shots in college, but he has the ability to knock-down long distance jumpers and attack the rim, which makes him a dangerous stretch-four. He is pretty athletic, which helps him score at the rim. He is a crafty defender because he has good hands, he averaged 1.3 SPG in his senior season at Iowa. White is a very intelligent basketball player and he always seems to make the right decisions on both ends of the floor.</p>
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<p>Our sister blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, <a href="http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/basketball/2015/6/23/8822073/nba-draft-2015-the-aaron-white-scouting-report">broke down where White can help the Wizards on the defensive end</a>:</p>
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<p>He generated quite a few steals by getting his long arms into passing lanes on the perimeter (and then was very good at taking those steals in for dunks). Was a very good defensive rebounder and used his leaping ability and length to serve as a decent help defender and occasional shot blocker. Not great on perimeter players, but showed versatility in his ability to at least temporarily handle players at any position on the court.</p>
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<p>As a 23 year old senior, White is on the opposite site of spectrum from Kelly Oubre when it comes to potential, but a year or two in Europe could do White some real good in developing his shot to round out his offensive game. It's not a sexy pick, but it could provide some good value in a couple of years.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/25/8849521/nba-draft-2015-washington-wizardsJake Whitacre2015-06-25T21:27:53-04:002015-06-25T21:27:53-04:00Wizards trade up to 15th pick to select Oubre
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<figcaption>Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In a move no one saw coming, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> are not going to be taking the best player available with the 19th overall pick. Instead, they're trading up to pick someone most didn't expect to be Wizards' radar, Kansas' Kelly Oubre:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Washington has traded for No. 15 and will select Kelly Oubre, sources tell Yahoo.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/614240998147923968">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Washington will send Atlanta the No. 19 pick tonight and two future second-round picks for Kelly Oubre, league source tell Yahoo.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/614241302624997376">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 2nd rd picks Wizards are giving up are 2016 and 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WizardsTalk?src=hash">#WizardsTalk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNWizards">@CSNWizards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash">#NBA</a></p>
— J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMichaelCSN/status/614247617791422468">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p>Now, I know what you're thinking: Is there a <span>Kevin Durant</span> connection here? Absolutely:</p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a target="_top" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" href="https://instagram.com/p/4Sz2MYzSrs/">Follow my homeboy @kellyoubrejr. Good luck Thursday, I remember u as a young pup now I'm about to play against u in the big boy league lol. My man</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Kevin Durant (@easymoneysniper) on <time datetime="2015-06-24T01:44:28+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jun 23, 2015 at 6:44pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>But Kelly Oubre isn't just a piece to lure Kevin Durant to Washington. <a href="http://www.rockchalktalk.com/2015/6/23/8818413/2015-nba-draft-prep-kelly-oubre-jr-ku-basketball">As Rock Chalk Talk, SB Nation's Kansas blog explains</a>, Oubre should give the Wizards a much-needed jolt of athleticism on the wing that should help the Wizards defensively:</p>
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<p>He made huge strides in his defensive game while at KU and is expected to be able to contribute immediately in the NBA on the defensive end of the floor due to his length and quick reflexes. Oubre has the potential to be a terrific stopper on the wing.</p>
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<p>On the flip side, he's still very much a work in progress:</p>
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<p>It may be a bit of a stretch to call Kelly's offensive game a weakness, considering that his most NBA-ready quality may be his jump shot. A knock on his offense is that he's still too streaky due to shot selection issues, and that when rushed he tends to change release point which causes his shot to come out flat. His ball-handling skills are described as "rudimentary" due to the primary use of his strong left hand and his reluctance to finish right-handed.</p>
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<h4>Opinion</h4>
<p>The Wizards' track record with hyper-athletic draft picks that need to develop skills isn't great. Most Wizards fans can still recount the horrors of the <span>Nick Young</span> and <span>JaVale McGee</span> era. If you want to be pessimistic because of that alone, it's an understandable but premature reaction. The Wizards have come a long way in how they develop players in recent years, and there won't be any knuckleheads around to hamper Oubre's development like there were in the Arenas era.</p>
<p>Also, if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> taught us anything this season, it's that you can never have too many versatile swingmen who can guard multiple positions. A Porter-Oubre tandem should allow the Wizards to play a more aggressive defensive style in the future, so that's a plus.</p>
<p>Oubre aside, there's also the issue of the Wizards once again not showing very high regard for second round picks. Getting rid of two second rounders to only move up four spots in the first round of a deep draft seems a bit excessive, especially considering players like Bobby Portis, Jerian Grant, Justin Anderson, Montrezl Harrell and Kevon Looney would have been available with the 19th pick.</p>
<p>To be fair, this move looks better if <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/24/8840253/nba-free-agency-paul-pierce-washington-wizards-boston-celtics-los-angeles-clippers">Paul Pierce decides to go to the Clippers or Celtics in free agency</a>, because they'd have someone to help fill the void right away, but even still, it's a big gamble from a team that hasn't had much success rolling the dice.</p>
<p><b>GRADE: C- unless Kevin Durant joins the Wizards next season, in which case A+++++++++++++++++</b></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/6/25/8849121/nba-draft-2015-kelly-oubre-washington-wizards-tradeJake Whitacre