Brandon Clarke - 2019 NBA Draft Prospect

[timvp]

Brandon Clarke

School: Gonzaga
Position: PF/C
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 215
Wingspan: 6-foot-10
Draft Range: 12 to 25

Why: Plays really hard. Plays with a really high basketball IQ on both ends of the court. On offense, makes the right passes, sets stout picks, has good hands, dribbles well for a big and finishes extremely well. Defensively, his elite athleticism shines. Jumps very well, has super fast reaction speed and has quick feet. As a result, he's a tremendous shot blocker for his size. Based solely on advanced stats, he's the most productive player in the draft this side of Zion Williamson.

Why Not: He'll be 23 years old by the start of training camp. How much of his dominance at Gonzaga was a result of him being a man among boys? Unlikely he'll ever be a shot creator and has no jumper. If he doesn't develop a jumper, he'll most likely be relegated to playing center on offense. Doesn't have the size, length or rebounding instincts to play full-time center on defense ... thus, a conundrum.

Spurs Fit: Mosty a finished product so could play right away. Fits nicely next to Aldridge but otherwise an awkward fit in the short-term.

Spurs Comparison - Ceiling: More Athletic, Higher Basketball IQ Malik Rose

Spurs Comparison - Floor: 6-foot-8 Nazr Mohammed

College Stats
Highlight Video
Tankathon Profile
The Stepien Profile

[Chinook]

Love him. Think he's one of the uber prospects of the class, and I think there's a pretty good chance he's still around at 19. If PATFO think they can develop him, it's a no-brainer. His energy and defensive instincts alone are enough to warrant the pick. But I agree he could be pretty finished, and unlike White, you can't just hope his current play translates. Chip is a miracle worker, but there are guys like Splitter and Blair who tried to learn to shoot but didn't. I don't think teams would be stupid for passing on him really high, but I think there's a really good chance he's one of the five best players from this draft in a couple of years.

If White goes to the bench, he and Clarke could really excel together. , I'd love to see what Brandon and Lonnie could do in the summer league.

[cd021]

Much rather have PJ Washington tbh. More skilled offensive player; looks like he can develop into a stretch 4 with a solid post game and at 6'8 has a 7'3 wingspan and looks like a solid athlete. He is also 20 as opposed to Clarke who is almost 23

[Down Under]

I don't think he'll be there at 19, nor his teammate Hachimura, though would love either

[objective]

I like him, don't really forecast as a starter. Mini-Larry Nance with better defense. Jordan Bell-esque but a much better scorer with better touch, however even smaller.

Wasn't Roberson a college 4? I could see Clarke have to be a defensive SF/PF in the NBA.

His measurements might make him fall to the Spurs. If he's under 6-8 in shoes with a wingspan under 6-9, that combined with his age could sink him.

[cd021]

I don't think he'll be there at 19, nor his teammate Hachimura, though would love either

Think Rui will go a few spots before but I would be surprised if he wasn't around at 19. Not all that high on him compared to Goga, PJ Washington and his teammate- Rui though.

[cd021]

I like him, don't really forecast as a starter. Mini-Larry Nance with better defense. Jordan Bell-esque but a much better scorer with better touch, however even smaller.

Wasn't Roberson a college 4? I could see Clarke have to be a defensive SF/PF in the NBA.

His measurements might make him fall to the Spurs. If he's under 6-8 in shoes with a wingspan under 6-9, that combined with his age could sink him.

Good point on his measurements; for an undersized 4/5 height and wingspan matter alot.

If he's not even 6'8 with only a 6'10 wingspan then he is a really small NBA PF, and not a 3 that play the 4. His age may makes bad measurements worse.

[picnroll]

Once you get past the first 4 or 5 picks draft projections have players all over the place. This is a player I hope falls to the Spurs.

[kobyz]

I'll consider him for 29, for the 19 I want more than an undersized center...

[R. DeMurre]

The most encouraging thing about Clarke's game is the growth he displayed between his sop re and junior years after transferring to Gonzaga. Gonzaga plays a much stronger schedule than San Jose State, but Clark's productivity and efficiency both went up while playing there. The potential for him to be a wing defender is what makes him really interesting imo...

[BillMc]

I don't think he'll be there at 19, nor his teammate Hachimura, though would love either

This

[paperboy77]

They need to really make a run at him. Unfortunately I don't think 2 firsts plus Davis or Bryn gets this done. The guy was a beast highlight reel in the tourney. Big time hustler.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I'll consider him for 29, for the 19 I want more than an undersized center...

why not use both picks on someone else

then promote guys on the torros a chance on the main spurs roster end of the bench seats... blair, eubanks, etc

[Blackhaus]

He’s too much of a tweener tbh. 6 8 and can’t shoot, then put him in a line up with Murray, DM, and LMA? Yuck. Talk about no spacing

[look_at_g_shred]

See him going #10 to Minny in almost every mock

[picnroll]

I'll consider him for 29, for the 19 I want more than an undersized center...

See him going #10 to Minny in almost every mock

He’d be a great fit for Minny next to Towns.

[RC_Drunkford]

so people don't want Hachimura cause he likes to shoot from midrange, but want a guy who's 2 years older who can't shoot at all?

[DPG21920]

If he can be a better defensive version of Montrez Harrell we have seen how valuable that is even today.

, look at Al Farouq Aminu; he’s still a struggling offensive player but provides a certain level of value when paired with the right players.

[Blackhaus]

If he can be a better defensive version of Montrez Harrell we have seen how valuable that is even today.

, look at Al Farouq Aminu; he’s still a struggling offensive player but provides a certain level of value when paired with the right players.

those 2 players have nothing in common. Aminu floats aroun the perimeter and slashes a tiny bit while Harrell lives down low and playes straight playground ball. I fail to see the similarities between the two nor between them and clarke

[kobyz]

He's like a smaller, less strong, older Bam Adebayo

[cd021]

See him going #10 to Minny in almost every mock

Him in the top 10 is laughable to me, Minnesota would be a silly for taking him that early.

He is a 23 year old big that relies heavily on athletism and is only 6'8 with a moderate wingspan. Washington is a better player in my opinion, 2 years younger, long arms, good athlete, more skilled, with potiential to be an inside-outside threat and a good defender.

[cd021]

If he can be a better defensive version of Montrez Harrell we have seen how valuable that is even today.

, look at Al Farouq Aminu; he’s still a struggling offensive player but provides a certain level of value when paired with the right players.

Don't like the Aminu comp, Aminu is a 3/4 but mostly a 4 that can rebound pretty well and shoot the 3 at a slightly above average percentage and a moderate amount of attempts and is a good defender.

I don't think Clarke will be capable of defending the wing or hitting 3s despite being a similar height (he may be shorter and having a much shorter wingspan) someone compared him to Nance Jr. but better defensively and shorter, that is probably a better comp.

[pad300]

In college he was a C (effectively), but he doesn't have the size for that in the NBA (yeah, Draymond is shorter, but has a significantly bigger wingspan, as well as being much heavier). Clarke has, however, the athleticism to play the 3 in the NBA (seriously, he's freaky), where he'd be a big a big 3, or an acceptable sized 4. The question is how much can he develop his perimeter skills necessary. Everyone acknowledges he works hard, and is a character guy, but he is older and hasn't got the skills necessary yet. At a minimum to be more than a backup, he needs a jumper... There are positive signs, for discussion, see

https://www.thestepien.com/2019/01/1...randon-clarke/
and
https://www.thestepien.com/2019/01/0...randon-clarke/

He'd be a strong pick, IMO, at 19. If we can get him at 29, that's gravy.

[phxspurfan]

Pass

[DPG21920]

Don't like the Aminu comp, Aminu is a 3/4 but mostly a 4 that can rebound pretty well and shoot the 3 at a slightly above average percentage and a moderate amount of attempts and is a good defender.

I don't think Clarke will be capable of defending the wing or hitting 3s despite being a similar height (he may be shorter and having a much shorter wingspan) someone compared him to Nance Jr. but better defensively and shorter, that is probably a better comp.

Yeah - that was confusing. Was not necessarily trying to comp his game to Aminu but make a point that you can have players with some limited offensive game still make an impact. I think Harrell is a more apt comparison and it seems like Clarke could at least have an impact like that.

Is that good enough? Maybe, but with no shot or dribble ability, if you are that active on defense and the glass and can finish at the rim when setup/rolling, then you can still be productive.