In 33 games for the Blazers this year, hes averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.6 minutes per contest. Making an instant impact for Head Coach Will Wade in the SEC, Watford scored 13.6 points per game as a true freshman. Possessing some length and timing to make plays defensive, Watford held his own sometimes more than others in LSUs switch-heavy system. On offense, he slides into open space to create passing lanes for ball handlers or force a defensive shift. About Saturday Down South | Ethics and Editorial Standards | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Its not a sure thing that Watford will declare for the draft, however, after his freshman season he flirted with going pro before returning. Id like to think Watford realized he had a big on him (instead of a quicker player picking him up on the break) and knew it was game over for the defender. Taking what the defense gives you (and sometimes the defense doesnt even know what they are giving you) is a vital basketball skill. Trendon Watford is considered one of the greatest high school basketball players in Alabama state history and holds multiple state records. We support responsible gambling. Whether it is betting on SEC football or LSU football games or the Heisman race each year, if you live in Louisiana, you can now do it from your mobile phone. Watfords 3-ball his freshman season was 26.9%, also at 2.2 attempts per game. Watford is, in my own extremely original words, a basketball player. Watford is a cerebral player capable of reading the floor on both ends of the court. An aggressive, skilled scorer who can create his own shot, score from awkward angles, contribute with his instincts off the ball, and even find the open man pretty creatively when he wants to, he is very capable offensive weapon. Currently, Trendon Watford will appear in mock drafts anywhere in the early to late second round, and sometimes not at all. As I alluded to earlier, Watford is a good athlete, but he is not vertically explosive. Stepping into a bigger role as a sophomore, the 20-year old forward averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 points, and 2.9 assists per game to earn All-SEC 2nd Team honors. In watching sequences this season, no matter whether Watford makes shots, misses shots, and everything else, hes usually quick to realize what kind of advantage he has on his defender or the defense as a whole. Film Dont Lie: Braxton Key isnt an upside play, but he can carve out a role in the NBA, I take a look at Keys minutes in Las Vegas to see what he brings to the Detroit Pistons, Whos the 4? Louisiana sports betting is officially live in much of the state. His footwork is sloppy in some areas. Isaiah Livers brings an ideal fit and a mature game, Isaiah Livers has impressed in his limited time and he fits perfectly with the Detroit Pistons young backcourt, The Pistons Pulse: Breaking Down Summer League and Projecting Lineups w/Shawn Windsor, Free Press Sports Columnist, The Pistons Pulse Podcast w/Bryce Simon of MotorCityHoops & Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press, Film Dont Lie: Jalen Duren shows upside AND youth in Summer League, I break down the three games in Las Vegas from the 18-year-old #13 overall pick.
His shooting numbers from the free throw-line and from downtown have improved from last season: Watford is shooting north of 70% from the stripe on a healthy 5-plus trips per game, and north of 31% from three at 2.2 attempts per game. Watford plays in kind of a free-flowing, push-it-up-the-floor offensive system at LSU with more than a couple offensively talented teammates.
In this horns set, the simultaneous jab and triple-threat ball fake does the job. Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 21, 2022. He shuffles his feet (aka: travels) when launching into a drive after a pump fake, from the triple threat, or off the catch.
But, that only consistently works if you have a dangerous perimeter skillset. In the NBA, he wont have it that easy on a fast break all of the time, but it will be difficult for most players of similar size to defend Watford in that much space. Marvin Bagleys rim gravity, rebounding key to Detroits success. His pass fake gets the defender in the air, and he throws a ridiculous sidearm pass for a dunk. Standing 69 with an improving 240-pound frame and good length, Watford has good size for a forward and is a solid athlete. If you use any portion of this material, please credit NBA Scouting Live. He can get himself into trouble by trying to do too much, too quickly. Currently, he projects to be a second round prospect in the 2021 draft. If youre interested in any of my past pre-NBA Draft musings and wondering how right and wrong I was, here are a few links. Watford took to Twitter shortly after the report broke to confirm that he was indeed sticking around in Portland: https://twitter.com/trendonw/status/1495840407758032898. Due to recent trades by Portland, there should be plenty of opportunity available for the ex-LSU forward.
Bagley III formed a formidable pick and roll duo with Cunningham in 18 games with Detroit a season ago. We really dont know what NBA scouts are thinking, but its fun to forecast.
Still, Watford attacks at a steady but unassuming pace, keeping his defender guessing.
He is tied for second in scoring (16.2) for the LSU Tigers, behind projected first rounder Cam Thomas, a 6-foot-4 guard who never met a shot he didnt like. Its still early on in the pre-draft feeling out process. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). That sounds simple enough, but it can be a flummoxing concept for some. 4-star wide receiver narrows list to 3 SEC programs, Martavious Collins, 4-star 2024 TE out of Georgia, announces SEC commitment, Greg McElroy ranks his top 5 SEC quarterbacks ahead of 2022 season, Desmond Howard names college football's biggest 'sleeper' team, Former Alabama All-American named coaching intern for Falcons, Josh Heupel has a hilarious answer to 'Would You Rather' question at SEC Media Days, South Carolina receiver target sets commitment date, Deion Sanders explains why Jackson State is 'not ready' to play Alabama, Alabama commit nails long-range, crosswind field goal in training, 2 LSU linebackers, former top-100 recruits, no longer listed on Tigers roster, Brian Kelly explains how his recruiting mindset has changed at LSU, LSU players discuss what's different between being coached by Brian Kelly, Ed Orgeron, Everything Brian Kelly said from the podium at SEC Media Days. Watford either missed it or thought it was too risky. Will it work? Its clear though, theres high-level skill in his bag. Taking Watford at 30 would be a reach, and Utah does not have a 2nd round pick in this years draft. While he is capable of making an occasional catch and shoot jumper, he has room to tighten up his mechanics to force defenders to respect him away from the rim. Watford is a key cog in LSUs success (they are a tournament team that could make it past the first weekend) and it leads him to take certain defensive possessions easy with no risk of facing consequences.
With a quarter of his shots in the half court coming on the perimeter, Watford averaged 87 points per jump shot in the half court [43rd percentile]. While the top of the NBA Draft receives all the headlines, as we have seen with players like Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee, its lower in the draft when front offices really earn their money. Watford will win pretty much every one of those battles against a big in space. Although hes not an explosive athlete, his movements are fluid and he has superb body control. The Jazz have gone head-long into a rebuild.
NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 2021 NBA Draft prospect watch: LSU forward Trendon Watford, Whos the 4? Height: 6-9Weight: 237College: LSUClassification: SophomoreBirthdate: 11/9/2000, 2021 Top 100 Prospect Rank: 62Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted, Solid low post scorerDecent scorer off the dribbleExcels at scoring on off-ball motion playsHas stretch big potentialAdequate playmakerDecent rebounderAdequate defenderSolid athlete, Can be reluctant to take jumpersNeeds to improve his outside shotCan be careless on offense, which can lead to turnoversNot an elite rebounderNot an elite shot blockerMay struggle to guard quicker playersNot outstanding at any one particular skill. He was a 5-star recruit, and although his college career wasnt as dominant as some might have expected, hes still only 20 years old with potential for growth and development. Watfords ball-handling skills, solid build, and wingspan of over 7 feet afford him a variety of ways to score in the lane on the break and in the half court. Holding his own one-on-one more consistently inside than on the perimeter, Watford was still learning how to give himself a cushion against quicker guards and finish plays as a sophomore. Draft Home|Draft Board|Teams|Prospects. In 2017, I wrote about John Collins here. That is why its important to flag potential second-round picks who are worth keeping an eye on to potentially join the rebuilding Detroit Pistons. One of the best things Watford has going is his dribble-drive ability, as it will open extra room for him to get jump shots off. Narratives dominate Donovan Mitchell trade talks, As Donovan Mitchell trade discussions evolve as the offseason marches on, public facing narratives are dominate the landscape as both sides aim to establish leverage in negotiations, Utah Jazz have signed Simone Fontecchio of Baskonia to a two-year deal, The Jazz have found a wing in one of the best european prospects, Utah Jazz finish Las Vegas Summer League with a win over the Denver Nuggets, A productive summer league has given the Jazz more to think about with their young prospects, Utah Jazz sign Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract, Johnny Juzang has a chance to be a rotation player in the NBA with his combination of talent and skill, Utah Jazz take on Denver Nuggets in final game of summer league, Utah Jazz hire Jason Terry as Assistant Coach. RealGM ProfileESPN Draft ProfileNBADraft.Net ProfileLSU Basketball BioHighlights of the 1/8/20 Arkansas-LSU Game from YouTube via Matthew Loves BallThe NBAs 2021 NBA Draft Combine Player Measurements, 2/18/20 LSU vs. Kentucky1/13/21 LSU vs. Arkansas. 2 in white) in a nutshell. Of the 11 play types tracked by Synergy, none of them up more than 16% of his possessions per NBA.com.
He is the news editor at Saturday Down South. The 20-year-old may not have a ceiling as high as many of the first-round prospects do (such as Kai Jones or Jalen Johnson), but he has a marketable skill as a scorer.
Hes often is scoring mode, and it shows. Since then, his career has been on an upward trajectory. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 14 SEC football teams.
Premier, top-notch content on prospects for the NBA Draft.
Find him on Twitter @AdamSpencer4. In 2018 I wrote about Svi Mykhailiuk here and here. Updated as of 7/31/2021, scouting report written by Alan Lu.2021 rankings were finalized on 7/29/21. In the second round of the draft, teams should be focusing on finding high-upside players or players that already have one elite or near elite skill. One of the only players in recent history to generate no more than 16% of his possessions from any one of the 11 play types Synergy tracks, Watford truly did a little bit of everything for the Tigers as a sophomore. This season, his turnovers have actually increased a small tick, but his assists have nearly doubled from 1.7 to 3.2.
Sophomore 6-foot-9 forward Trendon Watford from LSU is an enticing player that will likely be an option for the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Watford has improved key parts of his game this season, making him a probable second-round pick. NBA refs will nail him for traveling most of the time with that footwork. Widely regarded as a top-15 prospect in the high school class of 2019 following his senior year at Mountain Brook High School (AL), the Birmingham native capped his senior year with McDonalds and Jordan Brand All-American honors. Trendon Watford is a natural scorer with good instincts whose mismatch potential stood out as he helped LSU to an NCAA Tournament berth as a sophomore. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page.
Early on, after Watford starts off, theres seemingly a quick passing window up the court with a teammate on the left that could have led to a quicker or easier opportunity. Watford is a Swiss Army knife, capable of slotting into multiple roles and positions. A versatile offensive player, Watford scored in bunches on several notable occasions, but still has room to grow as a jump shooter to round-out his skill set. On the other hand, trying to make an NBA roster, or say, working his way into an NBA rotation, will obviously force Watford to ratchet his defensive awareness up several levels. With Watfords ability to score in a variety of ways off the dribble and his improvement at the foul line this season now being over 70%, which is usually a good indicator of shooting potential its my belief that he offers a higher ceiling than a lot of the players pegged for the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. My Preseason Top 30 Big Board for the 2022 Draft, Highlights of the 1/8/20 Arkansas-LSU Game from YouTube via Matthew Loves Ball, The NBAs 2021 NBA Draft Combine Player Measurements, Observations on the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic, Impressions of the 2022 NBA Summer League So Far, The Top 35 Unrestricted Free Agents for the Summer of 2022, The Top 20 Restricted Free Agents for the Summer of 2022. Averaging 1.25 points per shot around the rim in the half court [71st percentile], 0.92 points per post up possession [42nd percentile], and 0.97 points per floater [79th percentile], Watford did not just hunt shots in a variety of ways, but showed terrific touch and quite a bit of creativity inside of 15-feet as well. Detroit Bad Boys Nation is Trendon Watford a prospect worth keeping an eye on? He also had a good sophomore season, and his numbers were up pretty much across the board.
Defensively, he has good court awareness, rotates well, and plays sound positional defense. LSU fans and media types were quick to get on Watford for his wild, careless play and less than reasonable shot selection throughout much of his frosh season, as Watford turned the ball over 2.5 times in 31 minutes per game. Any other potential second-round picks you are interested in that might be worth a closer look? Watford, while a good enough athlete, is more known for his raw basketball skills and touch rather than athleticism or flashiness. In the back half of the 2nd, Watford is absolutely worth a flier. Fitting nicely into an inside-outside role as the Tigers played a lot of small lineups, Watford, did much of his scoring around the rim. He will need to significantly improve his jump shot, but he is a talented player that has the ability to excel in the association. In 2019, I wrote about Ky Bowman here. Trendon Watford didnt hear his name called in the 2021 NBA Draft despite playing 2 solid years at LSU. Watfords versatile offensive game is as balanced as it gets. After pick 40 or so the Jazz should be able to buy their way into the 2nd. More on Cam maybe another day. In order to flourish at the NBA level, he will need all the polish he can get with his interior game and dribble-drive ability. Possessing good length and instincts defensively, Watford had some positive moments contesting shots guarding on the ball and getting in the passing lanes, but has room to be more consistentparticularly off the ball. Watford is currently projected as a 2nd round pick (possibly undrafted).
Of course, he will need to develop a consistent jump shot.
We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Watfords (#62, black) versatility stood out during a scrimmage at this years NBA combine: On defense, Watford rotates multiple times, then protects the rim, blocking a layup and forcing a turnover. With his future secure, itll be interesting to see if Watford can earn even more minutes in the games following the All-Star Break. He was a 2019 McDonalds All-American, and he had a decent freshman season. Defensively, the word is out on Watford that theres a lot of room for improvement. Next, he catches a pass at the 3-point line, already looking toward the big on the baseline. Does tanking actually work in the modern NBA? Unlike last March, where most NBA prospects were unable to showcase themselves on the national stage during March Madness due to the beginning stages of a pandemic, this March things are a bit more under control so hopefully the basketball fun is here to stay. This single play is Watfords game (no.
That has impressed team officials enough to reward him with a 4-year, $5.8 million contract, per ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski: Watford, undrafted out of LSU, has worked his way into Portland's rotation and made a strong impression with coach Chauncey Billups and interim GM Joe Cronin. Pair Watford with a defensive-minded big and it might unleash his best value as a long, offensive-minded power forward. He is skilled and loves to attack. Doing a little bit of everything as one of the Tigers three key offensive threats as a sophomore, Watford showed the ability to score opportunistically around the rim, exploited slower big man on the perimeter, took smaller forwards in the post, and ranked among the most prolific players in the country converting floaters in the paint. Despite a massive wingspan and 240 pound frame, his college rebounding numbers are uninspiring. Watfords size, length, and scoring prowess is enticing for a Pistons frontcourt that sans Jerami Grant is not adept at creating their own shot. Whether its focus, scheme or coaching, or a combination of all three, there is work to do. While his raw shooting numbers (32% from 3, 65% from the free throw line) arent great, his soft touch on floaters/runners and his ability to hit pull-up twos are positive indicators for potential growth as a shooter.
His shooting numbers from the free throw-line and from downtown have improved from last season: Watford is shooting north of 70% from the stripe on a healthy 5-plus trips per game, and north of 31% from three at 2.2 attempts per game. Watford plays in kind of a free-flowing, push-it-up-the-floor offensive system at LSU with more than a couple offensively talented teammates.
In this horns set, the simultaneous jab and triple-threat ball fake does the job. Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 21, 2022. He shuffles his feet (aka: travels) when launching into a drive after a pump fake, from the triple threat, or off the catch.
But, that only consistently works if you have a dangerous perimeter skillset. In the NBA, he wont have it that easy on a fast break all of the time, but it will be difficult for most players of similar size to defend Watford in that much space. Marvin Bagleys rim gravity, rebounding key to Detroits success. His pass fake gets the defender in the air, and he throws a ridiculous sidearm pass for a dunk. Standing 69 with an improving 240-pound frame and good length, Watford has good size for a forward and is a solid athlete. If you use any portion of this material, please credit NBA Scouting Live. He can get himself into trouble by trying to do too much, too quickly. Currently, he projects to be a second round prospect in the 2021 draft. If youre interested in any of my past pre-NBA Draft musings and wondering how right and wrong I was, here are a few links. Watford took to Twitter shortly after the report broke to confirm that he was indeed sticking around in Portland: https://twitter.com/trendonw/status/1495840407758032898. Due to recent trades by Portland, there should be plenty of opportunity available for the ex-LSU forward.
Bagley III formed a formidable pick and roll duo with Cunningham in 18 games with Detroit a season ago. We really dont know what NBA scouts are thinking, but its fun to forecast.
Still, Watford attacks at a steady but unassuming pace, keeping his defender guessing.
He is tied for second in scoring (16.2) for the LSU Tigers, behind projected first rounder Cam Thomas, a 6-foot-4 guard who never met a shot he didnt like. Its still early on in the pre-draft feeling out process. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-888- 532-3500(Virginia) 1-800-522-4700 (NV, TN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI). That sounds simple enough, but it can be a flummoxing concept for some. 4-star wide receiver narrows list to 3 SEC programs, Martavious Collins, 4-star 2024 TE out of Georgia, announces SEC commitment, Greg McElroy ranks his top 5 SEC quarterbacks ahead of 2022 season, Desmond Howard names college football's biggest 'sleeper' team, Former Alabama All-American named coaching intern for Falcons, Josh Heupel has a hilarious answer to 'Would You Rather' question at SEC Media Days, South Carolina receiver target sets commitment date, Deion Sanders explains why Jackson State is 'not ready' to play Alabama, Alabama commit nails long-range, crosswind field goal in training, 2 LSU linebackers, former top-100 recruits, no longer listed on Tigers roster, Brian Kelly explains how his recruiting mindset has changed at LSU, LSU players discuss what's different between being coached by Brian Kelly, Ed Orgeron, Everything Brian Kelly said from the podium at SEC Media Days. Watford either missed it or thought it was too risky. Will it work? Its clear though, theres high-level skill in his bag. Taking Watford at 30 would be a reach, and Utah does not have a 2nd round pick in this years draft. While he is capable of making an occasional catch and shoot jumper, he has room to tighten up his mechanics to force defenders to respect him away from the rim. Watford is a key cog in LSUs success (they are a tournament team that could make it past the first weekend) and it leads him to take certain defensive possessions easy with no risk of facing consequences.
With a quarter of his shots in the half court coming on the perimeter, Watford averaged 87 points per jump shot in the half court [43rd percentile]. While the top of the NBA Draft receives all the headlines, as we have seen with players like Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee, its lower in the draft when front offices really earn their money. Watford will win pretty much every one of those battles against a big in space. Although hes not an explosive athlete, his movements are fluid and he has superb body control. The Jazz have gone head-long into a rebuild.
NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 2021 NBA Draft prospect watch: LSU forward Trendon Watford, Whos the 4? Height: 6-9Weight: 237College: LSUClassification: SophomoreBirthdate: 11/9/2000, 2021 Top 100 Prospect Rank: 62Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted, Solid low post scorerDecent scorer off the dribbleExcels at scoring on off-ball motion playsHas stretch big potentialAdequate playmakerDecent rebounderAdequate defenderSolid athlete, Can be reluctant to take jumpersNeeds to improve his outside shotCan be careless on offense, which can lead to turnoversNot an elite rebounderNot an elite shot blockerMay struggle to guard quicker playersNot outstanding at any one particular skill. He was a 5-star recruit, and although his college career wasnt as dominant as some might have expected, hes still only 20 years old with potential for growth and development. Watfords ball-handling skills, solid build, and wingspan of over 7 feet afford him a variety of ways to score in the lane on the break and in the half court. Holding his own one-on-one more consistently inside than on the perimeter, Watford was still learning how to give himself a cushion against quicker guards and finish plays as a sophomore. Draft Home|Draft Board|Teams|Prospects. In 2017, I wrote about John Collins here. That is why its important to flag potential second-round picks who are worth keeping an eye on to potentially join the rebuilding Detroit Pistons. One of the best things Watford has going is his dribble-drive ability, as it will open extra room for him to get jump shots off. Narratives dominate Donovan Mitchell trade talks, As Donovan Mitchell trade discussions evolve as the offseason marches on, public facing narratives are dominate the landscape as both sides aim to establish leverage in negotiations, Utah Jazz have signed Simone Fontecchio of Baskonia to a two-year deal, The Jazz have found a wing in one of the best european prospects, Utah Jazz finish Las Vegas Summer League with a win over the Denver Nuggets, A productive summer league has given the Jazz more to think about with their young prospects, Utah Jazz sign Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract, Johnny Juzang has a chance to be a rotation player in the NBA with his combination of talent and skill, Utah Jazz take on Denver Nuggets in final game of summer league, Utah Jazz hire Jason Terry as Assistant Coach. RealGM ProfileESPN Draft ProfileNBADraft.Net ProfileLSU Basketball BioHighlights of the 1/8/20 Arkansas-LSU Game from YouTube via Matthew Loves BallThe NBAs 2021 NBA Draft Combine Player Measurements, 2/18/20 LSU vs. Kentucky1/13/21 LSU vs. Arkansas. 2 in white) in a nutshell. Of the 11 play types tracked by Synergy, none of them up more than 16% of his possessions per NBA.com.
He is the news editor at Saturday Down South. The 20-year-old may not have a ceiling as high as many of the first-round prospects do (such as Kai Jones or Jalen Johnson), but he has a marketable skill as a scorer.
Hes often is scoring mode, and it shows. Since then, his career has been on an upward trajectory. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 14 SEC football teams.
Premier, top-notch content on prospects for the NBA Draft.
Find him on Twitter @AdamSpencer4. In 2018 I wrote about Svi Mykhailiuk here and here. Updated as of 7/31/2021, scouting report written by Alan Lu.2021 rankings were finalized on 7/29/21. In the second round of the draft, teams should be focusing on finding high-upside players or players that already have one elite or near elite skill. One of the only players in recent history to generate no more than 16% of his possessions from any one of the 11 play types Synergy tracks, Watford truly did a little bit of everything for the Tigers as a sophomore. This season, his turnovers have actually increased a small tick, but his assists have nearly doubled from 1.7 to 3.2.
Sophomore 6-foot-9 forward Trendon Watford from LSU is an enticing player that will likely be an option for the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Watford has improved key parts of his game this season, making him a probable second-round pick. NBA refs will nail him for traveling most of the time with that footwork. Widely regarded as a top-15 prospect in the high school class of 2019 following his senior year at Mountain Brook High School (AL), the Birmingham native capped his senior year with McDonalds and Jordan Brand All-American honors. Trendon Watford is a natural scorer with good instincts whose mismatch potential stood out as he helped LSU to an NCAA Tournament berth as a sophomore. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page.
Early on, after Watford starts off, theres seemingly a quick passing window up the court with a teammate on the left that could have led to a quicker or easier opportunity. Watford is a Swiss Army knife, capable of slotting into multiple roles and positions. A versatile offensive player, Watford scored in bunches on several notable occasions, but still has room to grow as a jump shooter to round-out his skill set. On the other hand, trying to make an NBA roster, or say, working his way into an NBA rotation, will obviously force Watford to ratchet his defensive awareness up several levels. With Watfords ability to score in a variety of ways off the dribble and his improvement at the foul line this season now being over 70%, which is usually a good indicator of shooting potential its my belief that he offers a higher ceiling than a lot of the players pegged for the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. My Preseason Top 30 Big Board for the 2022 Draft, Highlights of the 1/8/20 Arkansas-LSU Game from YouTube via Matthew Loves Ball, The NBAs 2021 NBA Draft Combine Player Measurements, Observations on the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic, Impressions of the 2022 NBA Summer League So Far, The Top 35 Unrestricted Free Agents for the Summer of 2022, The Top 20 Restricted Free Agents for the Summer of 2022. Averaging 1.25 points per shot around the rim in the half court [71st percentile], 0.92 points per post up possession [42nd percentile], and 0.97 points per floater [79th percentile], Watford did not just hunt shots in a variety of ways, but showed terrific touch and quite a bit of creativity inside of 15-feet as well. Detroit Bad Boys Nation is Trendon Watford a prospect worth keeping an eye on? He also had a good sophomore season, and his numbers were up pretty much across the board.
Defensively, he has good court awareness, rotates well, and plays sound positional defense. LSU fans and media types were quick to get on Watford for his wild, careless play and less than reasonable shot selection throughout much of his frosh season, as Watford turned the ball over 2.5 times in 31 minutes per game. Any other potential second-round picks you are interested in that might be worth a closer look? Watford, while a good enough athlete, is more known for his raw basketball skills and touch rather than athleticism or flashiness. In the back half of the 2nd, Watford is absolutely worth a flier. Fitting nicely into an inside-outside role as the Tigers played a lot of small lineups, Watford, did much of his scoring around the rim. He will need to significantly improve his jump shot, but he is a talented player that has the ability to excel in the association. In 2019, I wrote about Ky Bowman here. Trendon Watford didnt hear his name called in the 2021 NBA Draft despite playing 2 solid years at LSU. Watfords versatile offensive game is as balanced as it gets. After pick 40 or so the Jazz should be able to buy their way into the 2nd. More on Cam maybe another day. In order to flourish at the NBA level, he will need all the polish he can get with his interior game and dribble-drive ability. Possessing good length and instincts defensively, Watford had some positive moments contesting shots guarding on the ball and getting in the passing lanes, but has room to be more consistentparticularly off the ball. Watford is currently projected as a 2nd round pick (possibly undrafted).
Of course, he will need to develop a consistent jump shot.
We do not target any individuals under the age of 21. Watfords (#62, black) versatility stood out during a scrimmage at this years NBA combine: On defense, Watford rotates multiple times, then protects the rim, blocking a layup and forcing a turnover. With his future secure, itll be interesting to see if Watford can earn even more minutes in the games following the All-Star Break. He was a 2019 McDonalds All-American, and he had a decent freshman season. Defensively, the word is out on Watford that theres a lot of room for improvement. Next, he catches a pass at the 3-point line, already looking toward the big on the baseline. Does tanking actually work in the modern NBA? Unlike last March, where most NBA prospects were unable to showcase themselves on the national stage during March Madness due to the beginning stages of a pandemic, this March things are a bit more under control so hopefully the basketball fun is here to stay. This single play is Watfords game (no.
That has impressed team officials enough to reward him with a 4-year, $5.8 million contract, per ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski: Watford, undrafted out of LSU, has worked his way into Portland's rotation and made a strong impression with coach Chauncey Billups and interim GM Joe Cronin. Pair Watford with a defensive-minded big and it might unleash his best value as a long, offensive-minded power forward. He is skilled and loves to attack. Doing a little bit of everything as one of the Tigers three key offensive threats as a sophomore, Watford showed the ability to score opportunistically around the rim, exploited slower big man on the perimeter, took smaller forwards in the post, and ranked among the most prolific players in the country converting floaters in the paint. Despite a massive wingspan and 240 pound frame, his college rebounding numbers are uninspiring. Watfords size, length, and scoring prowess is enticing for a Pistons frontcourt that sans Jerami Grant is not adept at creating their own shot. Whether its focus, scheme or coaching, or a combination of all three, there is work to do. While his raw shooting numbers (32% from 3, 65% from the free throw line) arent great, his soft touch on floaters/runners and his ability to hit pull-up twos are positive indicators for potential growth as a shooter.