KJ Simpson and Bronny James had some eye-catching moments Wednesday, as ESPN's draft experts reveal the best of the combine.
'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footstepsKJ Simpson, Nikola Djurisic and Coleman Hawkins finished Wednesday's combine on a strong note, looking to make lasting impressions during the week's remaining scrimmages. The G League camp got things going Saturday, and Monday marked the start of drills, measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, team interviews and 5-on-5 scrimmaging at Wintrust Arena.
After two up and down seasons on a Mega MIS team, it was important for Djurisic to show he can hold his own against his American peers. NBA teams still have some questions about his feel for the game, shooting consistency and general streakiness, but big wings in Djurisic's mold who have size, skills, shot-making versatility and passing aren't easy to come by, making him a viable prospect to draft in the second round.
Hawkins had a notable showing in Wednesday's first scrimmage, showcasing a wide range of offensive skills. He's a plus passer, looked comfortable shooting from distance, moves well for his size and finished well around the basket, scoring 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting. However, he lacked on defense with occasional lapses in decision-making. The concern with Hawkins has always been on his reliability but he has the potential to become a useful frontcourt player if he puts it all together.
Salaun clearly didn't hurt his draft stock, and a big contingent of NBA executives is now en route to France to take in the rest of the LNB quarterfinals, where both him and potential No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher are competing against Parisian-based teams, making for one-stop scouting shopping for lottery teams.I was pleasantly surprised by the level of participation in the scrimmages.
Simpson was his usual self on Tuesday, showcasing his aggressiveness as a scorer racking up 16 points and 3 steals. Despite his size, measuring at just over 6-feet barefooted, Simpson gets into the paint effectively with a fearless approach going downhill and a good understanding of how to work his way to the rim.
While known primarily for his defensive play and active hands, Shead, who is ranked No. 55 in our Top 100, also has positive qualities as a game manager, making excellent reads and passes and taking care of the ball. While he made 1 of 4 3-point attempts, he looked comfortable taking open catch-and-shoot looks, an area of growth for him to earn minutes. His playmaking skills and toughness are easy to appreciate if you can get past his size .
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