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Men’s basketball: Breaking down Kaminsky, Dekker’s draft stock

Mens+basketball%3A+Breaking+down+Kaminsky%2C+Dekkers+draft+stock
Joey Reuteman

Frank Kaminsky (7-0, 234 lbs)

Jason Chan/The Badger Herald

Biggest Strength

As far as what will transfer nicely to the NBA, it’s Kaminsky’s touch from behind the arc and his ability to stretch the floor offensively. In his senior season at UW, Kaminsky shot 41.6 percent from the 3-point line, which was the best mark on the team. At 7-feet tall, the consensus National Player of the Year will create plenty of mismatch problems for some NBA big men by stretching them out to behind the arc and opening up the floor for his teammates.

What he’s improved on the most

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Kaminsky has taken advantage of his ability to stretch the floor by improving on his quick first step and dribble penetration. He repeatedly used his quickness to get past slower big guys who had to guard him on the perimeter. He was most effective off the pump fake, which put his defender in the air and allowed for an open lane to attack the rim. Obviously players at the next level will be quicker on defense, but Kaminsky still has great quickness off the dribble for someone his size.

Biggest Weakness

While Kaminsky showed plenty of aggression on the offensive end, he sometimes lacks that same aggression and drive on the defensive end. Which, to be fair, it is a lot to ask of someone when he is already his team’s primary option on offense. Regardless, Kaminsky got pushed around in the post and it will only get harder as he enters the NBA. This could leave Kaminsky as a potential liability on the defensive if big guys continue to back him down and push him around in the trenches.

Other areas for improvement

Kaminsky showed plenty of ways to finish last season, with both conventional and unconventional moves. Kaminsky will have to become more consistent with his post moves if he wants to become the same inside-out player he was in his final year at UW. There were times last season when Kaminsky would throw up shots that left fans thinking, “How the heck did that go in?” He won’t be able to get away with those shots in the NBA. He will absolutely have to refine his post game.

Projected Draft Position

Kaminsky is projected to go anywhere from as high as 10 to as low as 16.

Team with the best fit

In that 10 to 16 range, Kaminsky would fit in best with Atlanta at No. 15, which has the rights to Brooklyn’s pick. The Hawks are an ideal fit because it not only puts Kaminsky in the weak Eastern Conference, but Atlanta is also a team that loves to share and move the ball. Kaminsky, a great passer out of the post, would be a perfect fit into that offense and would be just another 3-point weapon on a team that already loves to shoot threes.

Sam Dekker (6-9, 229 lbs)

Jason Chan/The Badger Herald

Biggest Strength

Dekker’s biggest strength is definitely his versatility thanks to his size and athleticism. At 6-foot-9, 229 pounds, Dekker is bigger than a typical wing player, so he has the ability to play both small forward and power forward. With his solid shooting ability, Dekker can also be thrown out onto the court as a two-guard if need be because he presents athleticism and skill along with such a large frame.

What he’s improved on the most

Along with scoring from three positions, Dekker has also proven he can guard three positions, which is the aspect of his game where he has made the biggest strides. A lot of guys who were offensive juggernauts in college don’t make it in the NBA simply because they cannot get away with bad defense, save for extraordinary offensive talents. Coming into UW, Dekker was a very poor defender, but he made huge improvements in his junior season and was playing superb defense on some of the best wing players the Big Ten had to offer. It’s something he will need to continue to grow if he wants to be a somewhat successful defender in the NBA, but Dekker is definitely headed in the right direction.

Biggest Weakness

Dekker’s biggest weakness is his offensive consistency. There were times, especially in this year’s NCAA tournament, where Dekker was ruthlessly attacking the basket and playing out of his mind from behind the 3-point line. But then there were times when it appeared that Dekker disappeared. He would follow a 20-point performance with five points, or a 15-point performance with four points. And while Wisconsin was usually good enough to afford an off-night from Dekker, Dekker will not be able to afford off-nights where he shoots 0-for-6 from the behind the arc in the NBA. Dekker will be most effective at the next level if he can maintain that aggressive, killer mentality he showed at times on a consistent basis.

Other areas for improvement

Dekker showed his ability from behind the arc both off the dribble and with his feet set, but he still only shot 33 percent from behind the arc. If Dekker can establish a more consistent jump shot, he could go from solid NBA scorer to borderline deadly NBA scorer. To start, defenders will likely sag off Dekker and dare him to shoot from the NBA three, simply because they know he will be much more lethal attacking the basket than hoisting up a three. In improving his jumper, both from three and mid-range, Dekker will force his defenders to respect his shot and give him more control over what he wants to do offensively.

Projected Draft Position

Dekker is projected to go anywhere as high as 12 to as low as 20.

Team with the best fit

It may be lower than Dekker would like to be drafted, but in that 12-to-20 range, he would fit in best with Houston at No. 18, who have the Pelican’s first-round pick. The Rockets lack a true scoring presence on the wing, something that most championship teams have, and Dekker could ultimately be just that. It also gives them another isolation scorer, as James Harden is the only true one-on-one scorer this team has. Finally, Houston plays a fast-paced game, and Dekker excels in the fast break as much as anybody in the draft.

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