Draft Prospect: Luke Babbitt

[yavozerb]

Not a fan of this guys D.........He is an Adam Morrison clone.

Babbitt is bigger, much more athletic, and plays much tougher around the basket. Not even close to Morrison, he is a white guy though, so you and some of others can at least keep making the comparison on that I guess.

[Mr Bones]

The Adam Morrison comparisons don't ring true-- it's just another case of people seeing Babbitt as merely a "white guy."

Babbitt's standing vertical jump is 4" higher than Morrison's. His maximum vertical leap is 7" higher. His lane agility time is half a second faster, he lifted the bar 4 more times (15 compared to 11), and his 3/4 court sprint was slightly faster. So, he jumps higher, runs faster, has more agility and has more strength than Morrison, and by a pretty significant margin.

It's interesting that Babbitt's measurements are also slightly better than Xavier Henry's, which is funny since Henry is scouted as having "above average athleticism" while Babbitt has been stuck with the "below average athleticism" tag. Again, Babbitt outperformed Henry in standing vertical, max vertical, lane agility, and strength. Henry had a better time in the 3/4 court sprint.

[benefactor]

If the Spurs picked Babbitt he would be at 20 and used as a role player who makes open shots from the perimeter while doing things that don't hurt the team while he is on the floor. Morrison was a top 3 pick and was expected to me an impact player. I'm not really seeing similarity here.

[Thompson]

I haven't seen Babbitt play at all. Does he have the potential to be a good/great defender (since he has length/athleticism/quickness)?

[SenorSpur]

I admit I haven't seen much of him in college. It would be curious to see how he would fare when matched up against others, in a workout against his draft class.

[Bruno]

http://www.examiner.com/x-46212-Neva...edraft-workout

Babbitt was in Milwaukee on Thursday to work out along with Pittsburgh's Jermaine Dixon, Hawaii's Roderick Flemings, Milwaukee's Ricky Franklin, St. John's Anthony Mason Jr., and Michigan State's Raymar Morgan.

The Bucks have three picks in the June 24 draft but just one in the first round at No. 15.

"He could be there at 15, but I know he’s also going into Utah to work out with the Utah Jazz and they have the ninth pick in the draft," McKinney said. "He appeals to a lot of people because of the way he plays."

Babbitt, at 6-foot-9, was the tallest draft prospect in Milwaukee on Thursday. Morgan is 6-8 , Flemings and Mason are 6-7, Dixon is 6-3 and Franklin is 6-1.

"It was a good workout," Babbitt said. "It was compe ive, a lot of three-on-three, two-on-two, one-on-one stuff, it was a good workout. This was my third plus the combine in Chicago. (I’ve also worked out with) Miami and San Antonio.”

[Mr. Body]

Throwing my vote in. This is the guy I want, but I think he'll be long gone by the SAS pick.

He's being underrated defensively because he's white. There, I said it. He'll be average at worst in part because he'll cover any shortcomings with pure effort.

[Mr Bones]

Throwing my vote in. This is the guy I want, but I think he'll be long gone by the SAS pick.

He's being underrated defensively because he's white. There, I said it. He'll be average at worst in part because he'll cover any shortcomings with pure effort.

+1. One good thing about the pre-draft measurements/combine is that we get to see an objective number for vertical leap, agility, strength, etc... Too many people looked at this guy when he had longer hair and simply said, "he must be just like Adam Morrison." Babbitt's numbers beat Morrison in every single category, and they were even better than other players in this draft who've been labeled as supposedly more athletic than him.

[outmap]

Draftexpress has us drafting this guy!
I want either him or Paul George!

[benefactor]

That's strange. He was at 12 on their mock a week ago. I wonder what caused him to drop?

[GooberNuts]

That's strange. He was at 12 on their mock a week ago. I wonder what caused him to drop?

It is actually nbadraft.net that has him at 12 - he's been 20 for awhile now at draftexpress (i don't think that website has been consistently updating like nbadraft)

[MaNu4Tres]

It is actually nbadraft.net that has him at 12 - he's been 20 for awhile now at draftexpress (i don't think that website has been consistently updating like nbadraft)

Draftexpress actually had Babbitt at 12 during their last update and they usually update the mock every week.

[kbrury]

It is actually nbadraft.net that has him at 12 - he's been 20 for awhile now at draftexpress (i don't think that website has been consistently updating like nbadraft)

I believe DX had him higher.

[Mr. Body]

I think guys like Avery Bradley have gone up the boards. Maybe Hayward or others. I also thought Babbitt was higher.

[Darkwaters]

Babbitt at 20 would be fine with me. More than fine actually - great

[GooberNuts]

Draftexpress actually had Babbitt at 12 during their last update and they usually update the mock every week.

Whoops nevermind then

[benefactor]

Babbitt also weighs just 210, and will get busted up by most SFs nightly....His lat quickness is lacking which showed as he was a piss poor defender in college against sub-a caliber college players, what do you think is gonna happen when he trys to defend NBA 3s?

White guy has nothing to do with it.......Morrison was PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN COLLEGE......yet cant get on the court in the nba and struggled at both ends when he did. Morrison could shoot of the move while babbitt has not shown he can do that yet.

I am very leary of this guy and unless he gets in a system like the triangle I think he will struggle.

So you are expecting Babbitt to play 30 minutes per night right off the bat?

[MaNu4Tres]

So you are expecting Babbitt to play 30 minutes per night right off the bat?

He's mistakenly implying that Babbitt will be another guy who has had a piss poor work ethic in the NBA.

Not the guy who was the college player of the year.

[lefty]

With a name like that, he will end up with the Lakers.

[admiralsnackbar]

Babbit is thinner, like Morrison cant defend SG SF OR PFs......let us also remember Morrison was player of the year in the NCAA Babbitt is not close to the player Morrison was coming out........They guy maybe can shoot but what good does he do us if he cant defend?

Dont we have enough guys like that already, Bonner, Mason...

We don't have either player... both FAs, unlikely to return.

[benefactor]

No I dont but I think we need someone who can play 20 at pf or Center not a guy who may be a good player in 2 or 3 years......My line of thought is the window for this team may close at the end of next season, the only way to keep it open it to find guys who can play now.

I hate to tell you this, but the Spurs are not going to find a guy that will play 20 mpg at PF/C next season with the 20th pick...even if Splitter does not come.

3 years from now Babbitt may be a good player but I would much rather have an Alabi who if nothing else helps make our wings better defenders by allowing them to get in guys grills knowing we have a shot changer behind them........

So Babbitt can't help now but Alabi can? That's pretty hard to take seriously. Like Whiteside, Alabi has great physical tools but he is clearly a project that won't be an NBA player anytime soon. In looking at the big man pool that the Spurs will be picking from at 20 they are probably better off re-signing Mahinmi if they want someone that can play meaningful minutes next season.

Also dont we have enough wing scorers.....Manu TP Hill RJ how many shots do you think this guys is gonna get per game?? We need a post guy who can do more than face up and shoot 15ft shots.

They need a SF more than they need anything else. There is really not much to debate on this. The only depth they have at that position is an unproven Malik Hairston who still has even shown enough development to warrant more than situational minutes.

[ChuckD]

I'm going to play my card on this one. The following two paragraphs make me say NO on Babbitt:

A versatile threat that could possibly play either forward position on the next level offensively, Babbitt doesn’t enjoy the same potential defensively. Possessing average lateral quickness and leaping ability at the college level, Babbitt likely lacks the physical tools to defend NBA small forwards. Though his length affords him some success defending the post and rebounding the ball on the college level, Babbitt’s lack of physicality and athleticism are definitely a concern, and a characteristic that limits his ability to ac ulate blocks, steals, and rebounds. He doesn't appear very quick to react when his man makes a move, nor does he appear to have the type of intensity that would help him be a solid defender.

At this juncture, Babbitt reminds us of Austin Croshere, and has the potential to be a Steve Novak type shooter down the road. Potentially a four year player, Babbitt’s lack of physical tools will always limit him defensively, but if he can diversify his offensive game, he could propel himself into the draft conversation. Improved polish in some aspects of the game and improved productivity will no doubt afford him a shot at the NBA whenever he declares.

If you're picking in the 20s, don't settle for Steve Novak. Go after someone raw who might blow up. You can always find Steve Novaks in free agency after they've developed a bit. In fact, it's probably better to get them after the shock of the speed and physicality of the NBA has dissipated, maybe a couple of years down the line.

[Thompson]

When was the article you quote written? It might have been before Babbitt tested so well in his athleticism measurements (2nd or 3rd best in the whole draft, I think).

[DesignatedT]

I still like Babbit as an option after George. Sadly i don't see either of them at 20.

from BR:
Luke Babbitt, SF 6’8’’ Nevada

Luke Babbitt is one of those unknown talents that will have to make a name for himself. He is a 6’8’’ forward but many people don’t know what position he is designated at. One thing, Babbitt is a fierce compe or and will survive in the NBA.
During the NBA Draft combine he displayed his wonderful shooting tactics, hitting 75.7 percent of his shots, which was fourth at the combine.
Babbitt has now raised his draft stock into lottery status but still isn’t getting enough respect for what he does.

I think the comparison to Mike Miller is more fair than comparing him to Steve Novak...

[ChuckD]

I still like Babbit as an option after George. Sadly i don't see either of them at 20.



I think the comparison to Mike Miller is more fair than comparing him to Steve Novak...

Uh, no. Mike Miller is a guard with serious handle who can create for himself and for others off the dribble. Don't go imagining that isn't there.

Oh, and that 75% was uncontested. His contested number was about 25%.