Measurables: 7’1”, 7’2” wingspan, 250 lbs, 19.0 years old
Strengths
- One of the youngest prospects in this draft – easily stashable
- Already has solid NBA frame at center – good size, bangs around
- Plays with toughness – not stereotypical “soft European”
- Solid rim protection ability – not afraid to step up and use size
- Finishes above rim in space
- Very nice off dribble game – attacks closeouts, able to make nice dump passes
- Advanced perimeter game in terms of playmaking
- Flashes of 3 point shot – slow release at this point though
- Solid shot blocker – uses length, has good instincts
- Can become big time weapon if his shooting ends up working out
- Very good rebounder at just 19 – 14 rebounds per 40 mins
- 5 STL/2.4 BLK per 40 – good sign for defensive activity going forward
Weaknesses
- Reputation as a shooter isn’t backed up by stats – sub 30% 3 point shooter with Zalgiris, sub 70% FT shooter
- Struggles at rim – 54% finisher
- Not very explosive around rim, contributes to finishing problems
- Fairly slow player in the open court, not much of a transition threat
- Doesn’t have great foot speed on perimeter – hurts him in switch situations
- Offensive game depends a lot on 3 point improvement because of interior struggles
- Lacks touch in paint, bad when combined with lack of explosiveness
- Sometimes gets too cute when trying to create for others – 5+ turnovers for 40
- Not much of a post player inside arc – very small sample
Overall
- Hartenstein’s a unique player because he’s a rugged, interior-oriented big on the defensive end but a flashy, perimeter oriented big on the offensive end. He’s got very rare playmaking ability for a center prospect, and his elite ballhandling allows him to attack closeouts and make plays for others. His reputation as a shooter is much better than what he actually is at this point, but he’s shown flashes of stretch-5 ability. Hartenstein’s below average athleticism and lack of touch harm him on the interior on offense, and he’ll need to become a consistent 3 point threat to become a good offensive threat. Still, his tools and upside make him worth a first-rounder, whether a team wants to develop him in-house or stash him for a couple years.
- TAGS
- 2017 NBA Draft
- Isaiah Hartenstein
- Scouting Report
- Zalgiris
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