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  1. #1
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    Position: SF
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 205
    Date of Birth: 10/23/1994
    Team: George Washington
    Country: Japan
    RealGM
    Last edited by Chinook; 04-25-2018 at 12:05 PM.

  2. #2
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    I've watched quite a bit of college basketball these past few years (following international prospects) and Yuta Watanabe caught my attention. The Spurs desperately need a rotation SF, so Watanabe fits the bill perfectly. NBA teams regularly attended GW games to scout him and his teammate last year, Tyler Cavanaugh, currently plays for the Hawks. Watanabe's a 2017-18 draft prospect (likely a second rounder if he gets drafted) but will no doubt get a summer league invitation if he doesn't given his ability and NBA connections.

    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 205
    Position: SF (but has played the 2 in a big lineup)
    Hometown: Kagawa, Japan

    Quick notes

    * One of the best defenders in college basketball. 2017-2018 A10 Defensive player of the year; two-time All-defensive team selection.


    * Very versatile on both ends. Has played the 2 (in a bigger lineup) and the 4. Can guard 1-4. Guarded opposing team's best player (inc. point guards) for 40 minutes.


    * Can score inside and out. Led team in threes made.


    * Athletic and quick. An anti-Kyle Anderson. Will attack the rim. Great shot blocker.


    * Terrific handles for his size. Known to take it coast to coast.


    * Only 4th Japanese to ever play D1 basketball. Has FIBA experience at a young age; played against Parker and Diaw. Will lead Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.


    * Needs to gain a bit of muscle.


    * Selfless. Doesn't have an ego and won't quit on his team


    The Spurs have a propensity for finding and developing international gems that fit the system. Yuta Watanabe could be one of them.







    Last edited by Boomersgold; 04-25-2018 at 12:55 PM.

  3. #3
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    Watched his tape not bad for late second round pick or camp invite has some potential

  4. #4
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    Watched his tape not bad for late second round pick or camp invite has some potential
    Won't find too many players at his height as versatile as he is. 6-9 can handle the ball, score inside and out and defend multiple positions. Not saying he'll ever be anywhere as good as Durant offensively, but that's what makes Durant so good (his versatility at his size). Defensively, Watanabe's a beast. I can see him being a Toni Kukoc-like player or at the very least a great 3 and D guy

  5. #5
    Savvy Veteran spurraider21's Avatar
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    he'll be 24 when the season starts... and he's not a very good outside shooter

  6. #6
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    he'll be 24 when the season starts... and he's not a very good outside shooter
    His lockdown defense and length more than make up for it. How many 6-9 players have the quickness and coordination to defend guards for 40 minutes? He's not a one trick pony like a Korver. If we're talking about him as a 3 and D player, he's a better shooter than many of the 3 and D players in the league like an Andre Roberson or a Demarre Carroll. His game isn't just shooting threes but he's better than average at it (shot better than Jayson Tatum).

    Him being 24 just means he's had more experience than the one and dones. Played FIBA and spent time in college developing his game and working on his body. Keep in mind he'd be a second round pick.

  7. #7
    Pop took his brain back. xellos88330's Avatar
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    Worth a look in the second for sure.

  8. #8
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    he'll be 24 when the season starts... and he's not a very good outside shooter
    Found this video of his as a freshman. Not a three-point specialist but more than capable of hitting them. Made 7 threes


  9. #9
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    Found this video of his as a freshman. Not a three-point specialist but more than capable of hitting them. Made 7 threes

    He needs to add about 15pds of muscle but to me I want to know how is laterial foot speed is? If you can not move your feet fast enough you can’t be a good one on one defender.

  10. #10
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    He needs to add about 15pds of muscle but to me I want to know how is laterial foot speed is? If you can not move your feet fast enough you can’t be a good one on one defender.
    That was his freshman year. He's worked hard since then to develop his body. His game is predicated on quickness so gaining too much weight would be detrimental to his game

    Really quick in both directions (lateral and baseline to baseline) but his main advantage is his length. Conference Defensive player of the year because he could guard almost every position and was always assigned to guard the best player from the opposing team. He was regularly used at the top of the 1-3-1 zone (usually reserved for quick, athletic guards). I think he's massively underrated

    Here he is guarding 22ppg Davidson guard Jack Gibbs in 2016




    Last edited by Boomersgold; 05-02-2018 at 06:50 AM.

  11. #11
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    Yuta Watanabe was one of the 40 players (and the only one from Asia) invited to the NBA Global Camp (starts tomorrow). It's basically the NBA draft combine for international prospects. The workout will be streamed online for those that want to watch.

    Source: http://nbaglobalcamp.com/

    He's also worked out for the Nets and the Wizards and expects at least 6 more workouts before the draft. Really hope the Spurs at least work him out with the lack of depth at the SF spot. Yuta's athletic and versatile enough to play multiple positions and actually plays defense (unlike Bertans or Anderson).

  12. #12
    44-50-21-1 Biggems's Avatar
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    If we are able to keep Kawhi and Danny, drafting this kid would be huge.

    We can run out a lineup of LMA, Watanabe, Leonard, Green, and Murray against GS and Houston. It would make for a nice defensive unit.

    In the first we should go for Harrison.

    Harrison and Watanabe would be a sweet draft for us.

  13. #13
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    Patricio Garino 2.0?

  14. #14
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    Patricio Garino 2.0?
    A more athletic and longer Garino. They played on the same team. Both very versatile. Probably the only negative thing I have to say about him is that he doesn't try to force anything. He does the little things which don't show up on the stat sheet

  15. #15
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    Camp invite. He is not going to get drafted...

  16. #16
    Veteran ace3g's Avatar
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  17. #17
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    Yuta Watanabe at the NBA Global Camp (vs the best international draft eligible prospects). Showed the ability to drive and shoot. Also showed his versatility with his ball handling and full court defense on point guards (impressive at 6-9). Watanabe plays both ends of the floor.

    Last edited by Boomersgold; 06-05-2018 at 10:31 AM.

  18. #18
    Veteran ace3g's Avatar
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    Game reminds me of Joe Ingles.

  19. #19
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    He will get drafted by either Houston, GS, LA, Sacto, or New York.

  20. #20
    Savvy Veteran spurraider21's Avatar
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    there's definitely a good amount of intrigue here. but he's going to have to be a much better shooter than he is to find a role imo

    i do like that he can put the ball on the floor, though

  21. #21
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    I'm sold on him for the second round. He's actually a month younger than Blossomgame was at draft time, and even though he played in a small conference he's more well rounded, nice versatility.

  22. #22
    Savvy Veteran spurraider21's Avatar
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    I'm sold on him for the second round. He's actually a month younger than Blossomgame was at draft time, and even though he played in a small conference he's more well rounded, nice versatility.
    i still dont know what blossomgame is supposed to be. gerald wallace? darius miles?

  23. #23
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    i still dont know what blossomgame is supposed to be. gerald wallace? darius miles?
    No idea.

    Not expecting Blossomgame to be an NBA player.

  24. #24
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    there's definitely a good amount of intrigue here. but he's going to have to be a much better shooter than he is to find a role imo

    i do like that he can put the ball on the floor, though
    He's a better than average three point shooter (36% on 150+ attempts) and excels at the mid range. The other facets of his game more than make up for it (especially his defense). Look at Kawhi and how he turned out. Elite defender who could handle the ball but had a questionable three point shot (20% from three). Watanabe's a better shooter and probably more versatile at 6-9 coming out of college. Not saying he'll be anywhere near as good as Kawhi but there's always a place in the league for players with his skillset. The NBA is moving towards being a league dominated by big guards. Ben Simmons is one and he can't shoot to save his life.

  25. #25
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    measurements from NBA Global Camp

    http://nbaglobalcamp.com/global-camp-measurements/

    6-8.0 barefoot, 6-9.0 in shoes. One of the few guys to wear shoes that only give an additional 1.0 inch instead of the usual 1.25-1.75. However, Kubolka's shoe height was only a +0.5, that dude must be balling in loafers

    6-10 wingspan, 8-9 standing reach

    29.5 standing jump, 36.5 max vert

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