NBA Draft 2012: Comparing Top International Prospects with NBA Players
Ognjen Kuzmic
Kuzmic is probably the most intriguing of the internationals. He has the size (7'1'', 231 pounds) to be strong in the post. Kuzmic hasn’t been playing that long and has shown remarkable improvement recently.
He’s mobile, agile for his size and can score around the basket as well as block shots. He needs to get stronger and work on his offensive game away from the basket, but he works hard and he may have the highest potential of the international players.
This season, Kuzmic played for Clinicas Rincon in the Spanish LEB-Gold league where he averaged 10.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game.
He’d be a solid second-round pick for a team willing to let him stay in Europe for two to three years and further develop his game.
Best-case comparison: Brook Lopez
Kuzmic has a chance to eventually develop into a solid NBA center. He has the potential and work ethic. He’s already a good shot-blocker and rebounder. Let’s see if he can develop a face-up game and get strong enough to defend position against solid NBA big men.
Worst-case comparison: Hasheem Thabeet
If Kuzmic never fully develops his offensive game and does not get stronger, he can turn out like any number of international big men that never really make it in the league.
Nihad Djedovic
NetScouts Basketball international scout Demetrius Laffitte feels that Djedovic, a 6'5'' shooting guard, "has similarities to a right-handed Manu Ginobili."
He utilizes a spin move to get free, is excellent shooting off screens and can create offense by himself. He’s a solid defender with quick feet.
Djedovic had an inconsistent season, and left Lottomatica Roma in midseason and went to play for Galatasaray MP Istanbul in Turkey. He averaged in double figures in both countries but did not play consistently well.
Best-case comparison: Manu Ginobili
This is obviously a stretch, especially after Dejedovic’s disappointing performance at the adidas Eurocamp. However, as referenced above, his game does have similarities to Ginobili. It’s doubtful he’ll ever develop to Ginobili’s level of play but even if he can get part of the way there, he’ll be a valuable NBA player.
Worst-case comparison: Jiri Welsch
There’s a large possibility that Djedovic will not be able to harness his skill and develop into a reliable NBA player.
Kostas Papanikolaou
Papanikolaou, a versatile 6'8'', 225-pound forward, made a name for himself in leading Olympiacos past CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague Championship game. He scored a season-high 18 points in the final.
Papanikolaou is a lefty who can score inside and out. He’s athletic, explosive and quick and can play multiple positions. He moves very well off the ball and would seem to fit San Antonio’s system.
His downside is that he hasn’t shown the ability to create off the dribble and his outside shot needs more consistency.
His season was pretty much a disappointment (7.4 points per game) but his showing in the Euroleague final gave an indication of his ability.
With his size and potential, he’d be a worthwhile second-round pick.
You can read our scouting report on Papanikolaou here.
Best-case comparison: Carlos Delfino
Papanikolaou is big for his position and moves very well off the ball. He’s flexible and could play the two or the three in a system like San Antonio’s. He has also shown his best in the biggest games.
Worst-case comparison: Luke Jackson
It’s questionable if Papanikolaou has the athleticism to get off his shot against athletic NBA wings. If he doesn’t develop the ability to create off the dribble and improve his long-range shot he may never really succeed in the NBA.
Tornike Shengelia
Shengelia has the size, athleticism and versatility to make it in the NBA. At 6'9'', he can play both forward positions.
He’s a very strong rebounder who plays with intensity, runs the floor well and is aggressive attacking the rim. He needs to improve his shooting from midrange out, but did connect on 30 percent of his three-pointers this season.
NetScouts Basketball international scout Luka Bassin indicates that Shengelia “could become an excellent role player due to his size, energy and physical attributes at the small forward position.”
Playing in Belgium this season, Shengelia averaged 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Best-case comparison: Andres Nocioni
Shengelia impressed us at the adidas Eurocamp with his ability to create offense and his penetrating ability. If he can improve his shooting he’s got a chance to become a starter in the NBA.
Worst-case comparison: Shelden Williams
It’s possible Shengelia will never fully develop his offensive game. If that happens he can still be a solid player off the bench who works mainly inside, grabs offensive boards and hustles.
Furkan Aldemir
If a player can do one thing really well, they generally can make a career in the NBA. Aldemir can rebound.
A 6’9", 220-pound power forward, he averaged 8.5 points and 6.6 rebounds playing for Galatasaray MP Istanbul in Turkey this season.
Aldemir got NetScouts Basketball excited when we scouted him at the U20 European Championships last year where he averaged 15.8 rebounds per game.
Aldemir is not particularly quick and his offense needs a lot of improvement, but he’s the type of player who’ll score off the offensive boards.
With his skill set, teams won’t be running many plays for him. We think he’ll be a second-round draft pick.
Best-case comparison: Paul Millsap
If Aldemir can develop a reliable 15- to 18-foot shot he can be a double-figure scorer and rebounder in the league. That’s a big if, but he’s similar to Millsap when Millsap came out of college.
Worst-case comparison: Jon Brockman
If Aldemir never gets his offensive game together he could still be a rebounding specialist. Brockman made the NBA almost entirely on his rebounding ability but has not developed a reliable face-up game.
Tomas Satoransky
Satoransky is a tall (6'7'') point guard with a lot of potential but needs a few years of seasoning in Europe, growing into a point guard role.
He has the size and physical tools to make it but must work on his individual defense and overall guard skills. Satoransky can penetrate and handle the ball well and has a solid basketball IQ.
The potential is there, but he's not ready to play at the NBA level at this point. He’d certainly be worth a second-round pick and be left to develop in Europe for a few years.
His physical profile at the point is something that can take him far if he gets his game together.
In a limited role with Banca Civica in the top league in Spain, Satoransky averaged 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in slightly less than half a game.
Best-case comparison: Evan Turner
Satoransky is a big combo guard with point guard skills. He can create off the dribble and take advantage of size mismatches. As with Turner, he needs to develop a more consistent outside game.
Worst-case comparison: Marquis Daniels
Satoransky is athletic and has very good size for his position. However, if he never develops a consistent outside game, he’ll wind up being a backup point guard or a defensive specialist.
Evan Fournier
Forunier, a 6'7'' wing, got our attention at the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit. He displayed solid athleticism, very good body control and explosiveness to the basket.
If he improves his shooting and defense, he has the potential to be an NBA starter within a few years. He needs to get stronger and become a more consistent shooter, but that should come with time.
What we like is that Fournier has been improving. He averaged 14 points per game this season with Union Poitiers Basket 86 in France, more than doubling his average from the 2010-11 season.
He only shot 27.7 percent on three-pointers, so clearly that’s an area he needs to work on. We look at Fournier as a late-first-round draft pick.
Best-case comparison: Kevin Martin
Fournier is athletic, has size at the 2-guard and is a scorer. If he can develop a consistent three-point shot and add some strength he’s got a shot at a solid NBA career.
Worst-case comparison: Brandon Rush
If Fournier can’t become a consistent scorer he’ll last a few years in the league and then gradually disappear and wind up back in Europe.
