Charles Matthews - 2019 NBA Draft Prospect

[timvp]

https://i.imgur.com/DUnw0Sw.jpg

Charles Matthews

School: Michigan
Position: SF/SG
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-6.25
Weight: 194.8
Wingspan: 6-foot-9.5
Draft Range: Second Round to Undrafted
Combine Results? Yes (https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/)

Why: Fantastic one-on-one perimeter defender; very likely the best in the entire draft. Great anticipation, lightning fast feet and keeps everyone in front of him. Plays with a mean streak on defense but also avoids fouls (only 1.8 fouls in 31.5 minutes per game). Isn't bashful on offense; very good athlete who can finish strongly in transition. Form on jumper is fine and can hit when stationary.

Why Not: Terrible on offense; tried to do way too much on Michigan. Shot just 29.9% on threes, 48.1% on twos and 64.5% at the line. Not a good enough ball-handler to play guard. Not selfish but doesn't have any feel about how or when to share the ball. Small for a modern day NBA wing and not a natural rebounder. Old and has a lot of high level experience so offensive upside is even more limited than usual.

Spurs Fit: His individual defense is ready for the pros but he'd need to figure out a role on offense if he's to have a chance to stick.

Spurs Comparison - Ceiling: Bruce Bowen

Spurs Comparison - Floor: Melvin Sanders

College Stats (https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/charles-matthews-1.html)
Highlight Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2qbZPXyAUo)
Tankathon Profile (http://www.tankathon.com/players/charles-matthews)
BSO Profile (https://basketballsocietyonline.com/charles-matthews-scouting-report)

[horseshue]

This one most likely heading to europe. Not an NBA player.

[r0drig0lac]

bruce bowen? yes please

[TXstbobcat]

Sounds like he might be lucky to get a spot in Austin.

[cd021]

His shooting numbers (3's and FT%) for his college career are pretty concerning. Looks like he can't shoot. May not get drafted but could end up as a 2 way contract player depending on what happens to Moore and or Eubanks.

6'6 with a 6'10 wingspan is actually decent size on the wing and 22.5 isn't super old when considering players like Brandon Clarke and Cam Johnson are already or about to turn 23. Think he could be a good pick at 49.

[Biggems]

We feed him to Chip for a year or two, that should fix his shooting. If he is a Bruce Bowen type of defender, he is worthy of the 49th pick......though I really want PF/C Jessie Govan at that spot.

[Truth4sale$]

If his defense is as good as I hear, he will find a spot in the PROS. I am okay with him at#49 but he would need to sign a contract similar to Jaron Blossomgame and stay a full year in the Gleague working on his handle and offensive shot or go overseas until a spot is ready for him. It wont be next year.

[Degoat]

I wanna say they talked pretty positive about him at the draft combine

[tbdog]

Glad your doing this Timvp. Too many toxic assholes on suicide watch after Leonard destroying the East.

[JeffDuncan]

...

Why: Fantastic one-on-one perimeter defender; very likely the best in the entire draft.
... Form on jumper is fine and can hit when stationary.


A 3 and D spotup shooter in the making, then. Draft him.

[Ocotillo]

Glad your doing this Timvp. Too many toxic assholes on suicide watch after Leonard destroying the East. For real, I look at the board and only look at the threads about the draft, free agency and other summer activity. I don't really get the joy some find in bitchin' about what should have been....

[south side spur]

I can’t believe I totally forgot about this kid after the 2018 Championship run Michigan had. He would be a great 2nd rounder. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an immediate contributor even though I know that’s asking too much considering the Spurs development standard. I wouldn’t be concerned with this kid offensively at all. He has all the tools to be a solid small forward for the Spurs.

If I’m not mistaken I recall him running some point duty in 2018. I definitely agree that he is a tremendous defender who should contend eventually for All-Defensive recognition. Nice job Timvp.

[south side spur]

A 3 and D spotup shooter in the making, then. Draft him.

This kid is not just 3 and D. He can create off the dribble.

[Strategic]

The bad shooting numbers but you don’t mention if he has a bad stroke. Spurs could use a strong defensive wing.

[99 Problems]

Started concentrating (that’s unusual for me) when I read Bruce Bowen.

[cd021]

We feed him to Chip for a year or two, that should fix his shooting. If he is a Bruce Bowen type of defender, he is worthy of the 49th pick......though I really want PF/C Jessie Govan at that spot.

With the exception of Kawhi and Parker has he ever really improved a player's jumpshot?

[Truth4sale$]

With the exception of Kawhi and Parker has he ever really improved a player's jumpshot?

Sometimes, it is up to the player to take what they learn from the coaching staff.
Besides, he might have had a role in Jonathan Simmons too

[JeffDuncan]

With the exception of Kawhi and Parker has he ever really improved a player's jumpshot?

Um-hm.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/sports/basketball/spurs-set-records-and-shooting-guru-offers-only-a-shrug.amp.html

[exstatic]

With the exception of Kawhi and Parker has he ever really improved a player's jumpshot?

Rudy Gay, a career 35% 3G shooter, shot 40% this year for the first time in his career.

[Dex]

If all he could do is defend, hit from the corners, and dribble well enough to not turn it over...I would consider that a huge win especially for a 2nd rounder.

[Larry O]

Oh yeah, Matthews sounds like Spurs material! Just get em to work on his shot, his rebounding & his handles, & for a 2nd round pick, he may be just fine. I was checking to see if his old coach, John Beilein, whose the new Cavs coach, won't target him for this year's draft pick. I was trying to check to see if the Cavs have a 2nd round pick, but it didn't appear that they do, so if the Spurs are looking to draft him in the 2nd round, hey, there is a chance! GSG!!!

[cd021]

Um-hm.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/sports/basketball/spurs-set-records-and-shooting-guru-offers-only-a-shrug.amp.html

Forgot about RJ tbh, Englund deserves credit for helping him become a good shooter.

[cd021]

Rudy Gay, a career 35% 3G shooter, shot 40% this year for the first time in his career.

Did he work with Chip? Don't remember if he did or didn't.

[cd021]

The bad shooting numbers but you don’t mention if he has a bad stroke. Spurs could use a strong defensive wing.

His shooting numbers are pretty bad across three seasons; bad freethrow shooter and below average 3pt shooter- that worries me when talking about guards.


Sometimes, it is up to the player to take what they learn from the coaching staff.
Besides, he might have had a role in Jonathan Simmons too

I was thinking Anderson and Simmons specifically when it came to my Chip question, I don't think that either actually improved despite working with him.

I think both did take what they learned from Chip but it didn't translate into success. Jury's still out on Murray bit apparently Chip did have a positive effect on his jumper.

Matthews can improve as a shooter but it's going to take a alot of work for him to become even a average one- if he ever does.

As a 49th pick candidate or as an undrafted player, it's fine to take that chance on him.

[exstatic]

Did he work with Chip? Don't remember if he did or didn't.

Who else wold he work with? Chip is the Spurs shooting coach.

[ducks]

Who else wold he work with? Chip is the Spurs shooting coach.

lol he worked with Becky on other things

[exstatic]

lol he worked with Becky on other things

Dude...Becky is a carpet muncher.

[pad300]

If all he could do is defend, hit from the corners, and dribble well enough to not turn it over...I would consider that a huge win especially for a 2nd rounder.

Yeah, a Bruce Bowen would be a really good pick from the 2nd round. Matthews could turn out that way. He's not, however, my choice if I am picking at 49 and looking for a Bruce Bowen. Abdoulaye N'doye is simply a better version. Bigger 6'7" and longer 7'2" wingspan. Has NBA athleticism and likes to defend (and is good at it). Already has a decent corner 3 (39% in the french pro A).

[cd021]

Who else wold he work with? Chip is the Spurs shooting coach.

So an established player has a career year with the Spurs and it's on Chip? That seems a bit of a stretch. Maybe it was because Gay was playing with better teammates and taking more open spot up 3's.

[exstatic]

So an established player has a career year with the Spurs and it's on Chip? That seems a bit of a stretch. Maybe it was because Gay was playing with better teammates and taking more open spot up 3's.

He was on a couple of VERY good Memphis teams, one that made the WCFs. Those were some pretty damn good teammates. And why is it totally out of the realm of possibility for you that a player improves his shooting markedly over his career mark, and it is due to, oh, I don't know, THE SHOOTING COACH.

[cd021]

He was on a couple of VERY good Memphis teams, one that made the WCFs. Those were some pretty damn good teammates. And why is it totally out of the realm of possibility for you that a player improves his shooting markedly over his career mark, and it is due to, oh, I don't know, THE SHOOTING COACH.

Yeah, he got traded early in the 2012-2013 season, he got shipped out months before and they made it to the WCF with out him. He also shot 39.6% from 3 in 2011 in Memphis, on the same amount of attempts as this past season, only shooting about half a percent worse than what he shot this season.

Chip may be a very good shooting coach but giving him credit for every player on the team that shoots well seems a bit much. In his first season with the Spurs, Beli shot 43% from 3, then in his second season with the Spurs he shot 37% is that on Chip or is it on the player?

[RC_Drunkford]

If all he could do is defend, hit from the corners, and dribble well enough to not turn it over...I would consider that a huge win especially for a 2nd rounder.

that would make him Danny Green with a better handle

[Dex]

that would make him Danny Green with a better handle

Precisely.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2qbZPXyAUo&t=256s

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

Yeah, a Bruce Bowen would be a really good pick from the 2nd round. Matthews could turn out that way. He's not, however, my choice if I am picking at 49 and looking for a Bruce Bowen. Abdoulaye N'doye is simply a better version. Bigger 6'7" and longer 7'2" wingspan. Has NBA athleticism and likes to defend (and is good at it). Already has a decent corner 3 (39% in the french pro A).

Nice name drop. I haven’t heard much about the guy you spoke of, I’m gonna have to check on him. How old is he?

[pad300]

Nice name drop. I haven’t heard much about the guy you spoke of, I’m gonna have to check on him. How old is he?

https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/abdoulaye-ndoye-1.html

He's 21.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Hopefully a camp invite.

[duncan2150]

Bad news he tores his ACL in a workout with Boston.

[timvp]

1137836255088168960

Damn, that sucks. I liked him as a 49 option if neither of the first two picks were SFs.

He's not good enough to draft after tearing his ACL, though.

Tough luck.

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1137836904894930944

[jbspurs]

This kid is not just 3 and D. He can create off the dribble.

I agree, This guy can create his own shot even with a good defense, he can hit mid range and drive to the hoop with quickness. He can also play really good defense. Potential Paul George type of player.

[jbspurs]

1137836255088168960

Damn, that sucks. I liked him as a 49 option if neither of the first two picks were SFs.

He's not good enough to draft after tearing his ACL, though.

Tough luck.

That sucks, Indeed!

[Chinook]

1137836255088168960

Damn, that sucks. I liked him as a 49 option if neither of the first two picks were SFs.

He's not good enough to draft after tearing his ACL, though.

Tough luck.

He is if he agrees to Blossomgame for a year. I can't see 49 making the roster right now away. Sure Jaron kinda got screwed by SA, but it would still be worth it for him so he'd have his medical care and rehab paid for.

[ceperez]

Bad break... not likely to be drafted.

[BackHome]

Boston could use some good PR would be nice if they signed him and paid him for a year.

[Big Empty]

Grab him with our 3rd pick.