2015 Draft Prospect: Justin Anderson

[Namundy]

http://content.draftexpress.com/headshots/justinanderson.jpg

Height: 6-6
Weight: 222 lbs
Birthday: 11/19/1993 (21 years old)
Team/Class: University of Virginia, Junior

DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Emmanuel-Mudiay-6472/):
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Justin-Anderson-5676/

SI Article:
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/01/14/justin-anderson-virginia-cavaliers-acc

Freshmen Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzP6Hn4pq0

Highlight Reel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W5OlV9BSko

Why He Fits San Antonio:
Projected late first round pick (where SA should be drafting next year). Excellent NBA ready physique at 6'6" with a 6'11" wingspan. Athletic wing who has a penchant for chase down blocks and alley oops. Lacks a consistent jump shot but has improved that area in his Junior year. Unselfish individual who is always willing to make the extra pass to the open man. Great head on his shoulders and a defense first mentality.

[Namundy]

Update: Anderson is listed at #17 on SI's latest big board.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/01/15/nba-big-board-2-jahlil-okafor-karl-anthony-towns-emmanuel-mudiay

Would not be surprised at all if Justin returned to UVA to finish out his career.

[adonis827]

Looks like a Jimmy Butler

[CGD]

He just suffered an injury in the Hoos win over Louisville which will keep him out for about a month. Will be interesting to see if he makes it back in time to have a good tourney.

Still early of course, but DX has the Spurs picking him at 22. Seems about his range. Dude is tough and has a great lefty stroke from 3. Would be my pick. (Plus he went to my alma matar)

[Namundy]

He just suffered an injury in the Hoos win over Louisville which will keep him out for about a month. Will be interesting to see if he makes it back in time to have a good tourney.

Still early of course, but DX has the Spurs picking him at 22. Seems about his range. Dude is tough and has a great lefty stroke from 3. Would be my pick. (Plus he went to my alma matar)

Yea, unfortunate about the injury as it may end up hurting his draft stock. Luckily for the Spurs that might put him in range. He slowed down a bit as teams started to notice him but would still be a great late first rounder.

[CGD]

He's back, hope he can have a good tourney.

[AFBlue]

Seems like good insurance against Green leaving this offseason; solid defender, good athlete and improved catch-and-shoot player. Seems to have the right mix.

[CGD]

Good insurance for green, but also for bench depth if Manu and Beli leave after this run.

[Namundy]

Forgot to mention, Justin's older brother played at my college and would bring him around occasionally. He must have been in 7th/8th grade and was hammering home some impressive dunks. Nicest kid in the world though and comes from a great family. Fits the Spurs mold very well.

[AFBlue]

Forgot to mention, Justin's older brother played at my college and would bring him around occasionally. He must have been in 7th/8th grade and was hammering home some impressive dunks. Nicest kid in the world though and comes from a great family. Fits the Spurs mold very well.

Interesting. Thanks for the insight.

[BackHome]

Some mock have him an early second after watching some vids I came away with the following thoughts:
1. The kid is built like a NFL player
2. Very athletic on offense and defense
3. CAN TAKE IT TO THE RIM - SIGN HIM...:)
4. Plays with emotion/passion
5. A Spurs player

[Mal]

Athletci junior from defensive minded team. Yes please, but we have Anderson, Jean-Charles and Bertrans in line at this position

[lmbebo]

Would take him, would be nice to get a big man too though. But thats harder to find.

[bluebellmaniac]

Athletci junior from defensive minded team. Yes please, but we have Anderson, Jean-Charles and Bertrans in line at this position

Could make for an amazing small ball lineup...

[loveforthegame]

Draft Expess scouting report and video breakdown. :tu

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Justin-Anderson-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-4932

[CGD]

Draft Expess scouting report and video breakdown. :tu

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Justin-Anderson-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-4932

Excellent video, thanks for posting. This is our guy if he's still available when the Spurs pick.

[AFBlue]

Excellent video, thanks for posting. This is our guy if he's still available when the Spurs pick.

Agree. Hopefully he lasts until #26.

[intlspurshk]

Good pick but will prefer a shooter like RJ Hunter or Devin Booker

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

Anything but a soft euro, please.

[AFBlue]

Good pick but will prefer a shooter like RJ Hunter or Devin Booker

Not likely that either guy falls to #26 unfortunately. Hell, Anderson might not even make it that low.

[Chinook]

Spurs need a playmaker, not a Danny Green understudy.

[Namundy]

Spurs need a playmaker, not a Danny Green understudy.

I agree his play-making tools are not there. The one thing I really like about Justin is that he seems to have the physical tools to guard the three at an NBA level. Something we sorely missed this season off the bench.

[CGD]

^ part of the idea with this pick is precisely Danny Green insurance. If you can trade up for a playmaker then I agree, but at 26 I'm not sure what'll be available other than potential 3D guys and raw big men.

[AFBlue]

^ part of the idea with this pick is precisely Danny Green insurance. If you can trade up for a playmaker then I agree, but at 26 I'm not sure what'll be available other than potential 3D guys and raw big men.

There are a glut of PGs in the mid-late first round, one of which could conceivably slip. But, I agree that Anderson is a good value late in the first for his defense and spot-up shooting alone. There's not likely to be a "home run" pick that late.

[jesterbobman]

I'm with Chinook in being against another DG type. I think Beli and Manu are gone, which makes some playmaking at SG pretty important.

The exception is that if Kyle Anderson is a good enough playmaker to make a ?(Baynes-O'Quinn-Someone else)/Diaw/Kyle/Justin Anderson/Mills bench unit work. Justin fits that, though I think that Delon Wright fits better there as well, given his playmaking ability, and the desire to have multiple playmaking options on the floor at once.

[Cklbmk]

Spurs need a playmaker, not a Danny Green understudy.


It really depends how much faith you have in Kyle Anderson.

I agree if there's a Manu available instead sure take him. But this guy wouldn't be a bad option, if theres no playmaking wing available

[loveforthegame]

I don't want to downplay a playmaker off the bench. It will be a crucial need once Manu retires. But we also need a defensive specialist off the bench as well. Pop developed a nasty habit of having both Leonard and Green on the bench at the same time and it wasn't pretty. This would be the guy to take care of that.

[buttsR4rebounding]

What about Hollis-Jefferson. He is a similar player with better playmaking ability. Most mocks have him in our area I think.

[AFBlue]

What about Hollis-Jefferson. He is a similar player with better playmaking ability. Most mocks have him in our area I think.

He's probably the best perimeter defender in the draft, which is why most mocks have him ahead of where the Spurs draft. If he slides on draft day it'll be because non one thinks they can fix it. I haven't watched him enough to know whether he's more MKG than Kawhi, but based on his defense and athleticism alone I don't think he's an legit option for the Spurs.

With Anderson you at least had a stretch where he consistently made 3s. Can't say the same for RHJ.

[buttsR4rebounding]

Don't get me wrong. I would love Anderson. I was just throwing out an alternative that I think brings a lot of the same attributes.

[AFBlue]

Don't get me wrong. I would love Anderson. I was just throwing out an alternative that I think brings a lot of the same attributes.

A guy that may be available in the mid-second round with a similar skill set is Anthony Brown of Stanford...prototypical 3&D.

[alfahdlan]

If manu returns and spurs take j anderson. the second unit could look like this: PG k. anderson; SG ginobili; SF j. anderson; PF diaw, and; C baynes. Not bad. Good length at PG and wings.

[AFBlue]

Anderson was the pick for the latest version of Jeff Goodman's mock draft. He's the other guy employed by ESPN to mock.

[AFBlue]

Measured over 6'6 and a solid 230lbs with a reach just shy of 7ft. Good initial measurements for a swing man that would project to play the 2/3.

[Cklbmk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9-i4htHCYQ

Yes please

[AFBlue]

Seconded.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

The guy is a total Danny Green clone. I approve.

[AFBlue]

FWIW, DX updated their mock post-combine and jumped up Anderson to #22. Based on that vid, I can definitely see why.

[Richie]

If we get Anderson, I think we would consider letting Green walk in free agency if we can get Aldridge/Marc. We can then keep Cory as our bench playmaker.

Sadly if he's still on the board I'd be amazed if Memphis doesn't take him

[Richie]

Most mocks have him going just before us, I'd consider trading up to grab Anderson. He seems like he'd fit perfectly.

[palangi]

I'd like to see us trade splitter to move up and get him. Then use our pick to get Robert Upshaw to replace splitter.

Anderson and Kawhi would be a very good wing combo. Either can play the 2 or 3. So instead of giving them positions let them start together. Then sign Shved to be the backup at the 2 and Dorell Wright to be the back up 3.

[Uriel]

This thread has already reached 2 pages. No way RC drafts him now.

[Chinook]

I'd like to see us trade splitter to move up and get him. Then use our pick to get Robert Upshaw to replace splitter.

Anderson and Kawhi would be a very good wing combo. Either can play the 2 or 3. So instead of giving them positions let them start together. Then sign Shved to be the backup at the 2 and Dorell Wright to be the back up 3.

So let's trade Splitter and let Green walk for Anderson. Makes a ton of sense. And let's replace Tiago with a head case who can't score.

I'm not against trading Splitter, but they better come away with a much better player than Anderson. They need star potential if they intend to let an elite role-player who's under contract for two more seasons go.

[Richie]

I'd like to see us trade splitter to move up and get him. Then use our pick to get Robert Upshaw to replace splitter.

Anderson and Kawhi would be a very good wing combo. Either can play the 2 or 3. So instead of giving them positions let them start together. Then sign Shved to be the backup at the 2 and Dorell Wright to be the back up 3.

Upshaw was kicked out of two college programs, he has certainly be red-flagged by the Spurs. No chance we touch him with a 10-foot barge pole.

[Richie]

So let's trade Splitter and let Green walk for Anderson. Makes a ton of sense. And let's replace Tiago with a head case who can't score.

I'm not against trading Splitter, but they better come away with a much better player than Anderson. They need star potential if they intend to let an elite role-player who's under contract for two more seasons go.

There's no reason we'd have to let Green walk per se, trading Splitter would comfortably allow us to bring in a max guy and keep Green. A Green/Anderson/Kawhi wing rotation going forward would be the best defensive group in the league, multiple guys to throw at the likes of Curry, Harden, Paul etc...

The reason I don't think it'd happen is that we wouldn't give up a guy like Splitter on a good contract unless we were certain of bringing in someone great to replace him, and there's no way we could be certain on draft day. If he's still there, Mills to the Mavs at #20 might be an option. I'm pretty dubious we'll make any move in the draft because our guys are all proven guys on great contracts and we won't give them up before we get a feel for free agents.

Maybe trade Mills to the Mavs, pick up Anderson at #20 and Delon Wright to play backup PG at #26. As a Senior you'd hope he's close to NBA ready.

[palangi]

So let's trade Splitter and let Green walk for Anderson. Makes a ton of sense. And let's replace Tiago with a head case who can't score.

I'm not against trading Splitter, but they better come away with a much better player than Anderson. They need star potential if they intend to let an elite role-player who's under contract for two more seasons go.
There is this thing called Free Agency. I would do this with the idea of Aldridge coming in as well.

[AFBlue]

Ford has Anderson dropping to the Spurs, but he admits in the blurb that Anderson could rise as he works out for team's leading up to the draft. Interestingly, he drops a few names at the end of the blurb...a couple we've heard (Connaughton and Frazier) and one we haven't (Vaughn).


The Spurs always seem to find value guys in the late first round and Anderson fits that definition -- especially if they end up losing Danny Green to free agency. He's another 3-and-D guy with an NBA body and athleticism. He also drew rave reviews from NBA teams in his interviews. I could see him rising much higher as we get closer to the draft if he shoots the ball well in workouts. That's the only real question with him; was this season's elite 3-point shooting a fluke? Rashad Vaughn, Michael Frazier II and Pat Connaughton also are fits in San Antonio.

[buttsR4rebounding]

If we get Anderson, I think we would consider letting Green walk in free agency if we can get Aldridge/Marc. We can then keep Cory as our bench playmaker.

Sadly if he's still on the board I'd be amazed if Memphis doesn't take him

I agree. Memphis seems like they would be all over him. He is exactly the kind of player the Grizz need.

[Mal]

out of reach at 25

[Ditty]

In a perfect draft we would draft him in the first, and George Lucas in the second. Don't think either of those will be available but the time we draft though...

[Uriel]

In a perfect draft we would draft him in the first, and George Lucas in the second. Don't think either of those will be available but the time we draft though...
In a perfect draft, we would get Towns at #25 and Okafor at #55, tbh. :lol

[jesterbobman]

I have 2 questions

1. Are we sure he's a good 3 point shooter? He shot well in his last year in college, after not showing brilliantly in his first 2 years. He's a good FT shooter, so will probably be fine, but I don't think we can be sure.
2. If he looks to be a good 3pt shooter, is there any reason he gets past the Grizz at 25? A SF size wing (he's close) who can shoot 3's has been on their list for ages.

[ace3g]

Eric Pincus @EricPincus
(https://twitter.com/EricPincus)
Justin Anderson has worked out for the Bulls and Spurs, today Lakers, next Celtics

[loveforthegame]

I wish. This is my pick but I've given up it happening.

[objective]

I really like him.

Re: the grizzlies, last year they passed on Rodney Hood to take Jordan Adams and were immediately trashed by writers and grizzlies fans for it. So who knows what they do.

[AFBlue]

He's slotted to go to the Spurs in the latest DX mock.

[Uriel]

I'm really starting to think this is the pick, especially if those reports about the Spurs being unable to afford Danny Green are true.

[AFBlue]

I'm really starting to think this is the pick, especially if those reports about the Spurs being unable to afford Danny Green are true.

If he's there and the Spurs still own the #26 pick, I don't see how they pass...he's just too good of a value at that point, like Kyle last year. I think it's more "best player available" than drafting for need, but it would seem to help on both fronts.

Caveat: if there is another guy available that's higher on their board than Anderson...say RJ Hunter drops, obviously they go that route.

[Namundy]

Sucks he's not a Spur but happy he landed with a good organization.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZpqJEGLrp0

[BD24]

Yea was really hoping for him or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Not sure the Spurs would have picked either even if they were left though tbh. Oh well though, excited to see how they do this year. Interesting and deep rookie class in general.