Can DeAndre' Bembry Prove He's the Next Jimmy Butler at 2016 NBA Combine?

The story is the stuff of Midwestern legend by now: Jimmy Butler—hardly an exciting college or pro prospect coming out of Marquette—goes No. 30 overall in the 2011 NBA draft, a shock to most, including Butler himself.

"I was speechless and couldn't say anything," Butler told Marquette's official website. "I had to just walk outside and try to compose myself."

The shock was easy to understand if you paid attention to that season's mock drafts.

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ESPN.com called him a potential second-round pick prior to the draft. After an MVP showing at the Portsmouth Invitational—a seniors-only showcase tournament in April—ESPN barely upgraded his outlook. In a 2011 report from Portsmouth, NBADraft.net's Borko Popic highlighted the obvious concern:

"

His handle gets sloppy and definitely needs work, but the big question mark about his game is his ability to knock down the NBA range three pointer. His form breaks down a bit when he shoots from longer range, and it does not look the same as when he shoots from midrange. He certainly shares some traits with guys like Landry Fields and Wesley Matthews, but for him to stick around at the next level he will need to continue extending his range. 

"

Butler only hit 36 threes in three seasons at Marquette and never averaged more than 0.5 per game despite playing at least 33 minutes per night during each of his last two years. Pegging him in 2011 as an All-Star who could average 20 points and shoot 37.8 percent from three—as he did in the 2014-15 season—would have sounded ridiculous.

The two-time All-Star is now widely considered one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.

That brings us to Saint Joseph's DeAndre' Bembry, another wing whose predraft resume and profile should now sound familiar. 

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	NBA Position	Height	Weight (lbs)	Wingspan
Butler	SG/SF	6'7" (NBA-listed height)	220 (current weight)	6'7 ½"
Bembry	SG/SF	6'6"	210	6'8"

An unheralded recruit out of The Patrick School in New Jersey, Bembry didn't hit the radar until late in his freshman year of college.

"I played with a couple guys who ended up going pro, and they heard a couple of people saying the NBA guys are looking at you," Bembry told Bleacher Report. "I'm like, 'All right now.'"

But after a pair of productive seasons to close out his college career, the NBA buzz never got loud. Like for Butler, the specific statistical strides didn't happen, and scouts noticed.

This week at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Bembry will have a chance to reclaim the buzz and prove that a dip in his shooting percentage was an aberration—merely a function of added volume and the target on his back from opposing defenses. 

"My points stayed around the same; assists went up, rebounds up, but my shooting went down," Bembry said. "It went down every year. That was probably my main focus, me trying to get my jump shot better. But my percentage actually went down."

	FG pct.	Points	Rebounds	Assists	3PT	3PT pct.	Steals
Butler (2009-10)	.530	17.1	7.4	2.3	0.5	.500	1.5
Butler (2010-11)	.490	18.2	7.0	2.7	0.6	.345	1.7
Bembry (2014-15)	.432	18.4	8.0	3.7	1.7	.327	2.0
Bembry (2015-16)	.479	18.7	8.3	4.8	1.0	.266	1.5

After three years of Division I ball, Bembry failed to close a significant hole in his game. Just like Butler. 

An Unconvincing Shooter

Bembry's freshman three-point percentage fell from 34.6 percent to 32.7 percent his sophomore year. In 2015-16, he shot 26.6 percent from three and was below 70 percent at the line for the third consecutive season.

"His stroke isn't bad, but he definitely needs to improve his shooting," one scout told Bleacher Report. "Not sure if he'll ever be a good shooter," another scout said. 

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Unlike with Butler, the volume is there—he's connected on 120 threes over the past three seasons. One NBA executive expressed optimism about Bembry's potential to become more consistent from outside: "Early second-round stud who'll be a better shooter with reps in our league."

Bembry becomes an easier sell if you can see his stroke improving. The rest of his game, highlighted by athleticism and two-way versatility, is much more convincing. 

"He'll be a perfect fit in our league," the executive told me.

The Scouting Report

There's a lot on tape besides jump shooting for scouts to think about.

Bembry went for 30 points against VCU in the Atlantic 10 conference tournament final before hanging 23 points on Cincinnati during the Hawks' first-round NCAA tournament win. Oregon held him to 16 points in Saint Joseph's second-round loss, but he wrapped up his final year at school averaging at least 17 points for the second straight season. 

With showtime leaping ability in the open floor, Bembry's bounce translates to easy transition buckets and finishes off line drives.

In the half court, he's quick out of the triple-threat position, which allows him to capitalize on poor closeouts and space. 

The Hawks also used Bembry in pick-and-roll situations, where he's showcased impressive off-the-dribble scoring ability inside the arc. He's quick to split screens and find space to either stop-and-pop, toss up a floater or go hard to the rack.

Like Butler's at the time, Bembry's one-on-one game remains a work in progress. But he's flashed glimpses of isolation scoring using step-backs, pull-ups and a quick first step. And he's surprisingly adept in the post with drop-steps and fadeaways.

Credit the fact he played mostly inside during high school, something Butler did at Marquette early in his career as well. Bembry's transition to a full-time wing is complete, and he managed to take his post game with him.

"When I played AAU, I was tallest guy on the team, so I played the 5," Bembry said. "I think that part helped me gain my physicality, I guess, being down there, sometimes battling with 6'8"s, 6'10"s. I feel like I'm a really good post guy now just because, growing up playing the 5, I was used to playing down there. I can definitely take advantage of smaller guys playing down there in the post." 

"I like his playmaking ability. That's my favorite part of his game," a third scout told Bleacher Report.

Bembry averaged 4.5 assists playing somewhat of a point forward role for Saint Joseph's. He was one of three players this year (the other being LSU's Ben Simmons and Michigan State's Denzel Valentine) to average at least 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He's developed a strong feel and reputation as a setup man off ball screens and penetration, and his timing and crosscourt vision lead to regular assists on skip passes in the half court. 

"I was just born with [passing and playmaking skills]," Bembry said. "That's one thing I always had with me when I was younger. I always had to read and recognize the defense and where it's at. Since Day 1, all my coaches say I played older because I feel where the defense is at, make the right pass at the right time. A lot of people can't read and react as fast as I can."

NBA teams have also taken note of Bembry's leadership abilities. 

"Tough kid who led that team on his back. He'll be a nice fit for any team," the previously mentioned executive told Bleacher Report. "He is a great communicator and leader," the third scout said. 

Bembry moves well enough laterally to guard both wing positions, and his defensive tools—size, quick feet, springs, long arms—are similarly appealing. They helped him collect 143 steals and 78 blocks during his three collegiate seasons. 

Becoming a solid NBA defender seems like a real possibility. Scouts have noted he's not always engaged; Butler never had issues in that regard. Building that discipline will be a priority and is a must for Bembry to duplicate Butler's success.

The Next Butler?

"He's a two-way player," Bembry said of Butler. "He's the type of guy that can guard you full-court, make sure you don't score and then come right back down and score on you. That's the type of play that I'm about. 

"Those guys [Butler and Kawhi Leonard] had room to grow, and they got better. I definitely feel like I can get a lot better. I will get a lot better."

The right team fit could enhance Bembry's development. Landing on a veteran, talented Chicago Bulls squad likely aided Jimmy Butler's. And if I'm DeAndre' Bembry, I'm hoping to join a winning team like the Los Angeles Clippers (projected No. 25) or the San Antonio Spurs (No. 29) rather than a rebuilding one like the Philadelphia 76ers (projected No. 26) or Phoenix Suns (No. 28).

"I don't have a problem with being a role player," Bembry said. "A lot of guys feel like they're not role players, and they have to get shots up all the time. I'm more of a team guy. I feel like I can get my teammates better around me. I can play a role for a good team."

Some luck will be needed for Bembry to bust through his ceiling. Enough of it could help jump-start his NBA career and put him in position to shatter predraft expectations and beyond.

Convincingly beating your scouting report rarely happens. Guys like Draymond Green, Leonard and Butler are phenomenons, but their ascents are not impossible. It can and will be done again.

Bembry can be the next.