NBA Comparison:

Strengths: A mismatch combo forward with some interesting skills…Displays decent athleticism and above average quickness and explosiveness as a tweener, and it gives him the ability to pose problems for the defense off the dribble and on the offensive glass…Is very strong and bulky… Has a 6’10 wingspan that allows him to play bigger than he is … Has a very high motor, which allows him to be a threat for offensive rebounds and for some easy baskets without having the ball in his hands … Rangy strider, and he uses them effectively off the dribble…Solid straight-line slasher  … Capable of the emphatic slam at the rim, especially when leaping off 2 feet … Utilizes a jump hook as the main weapon in his post arsenal…Also likes to use 2 dribbles to set up a quick spin move that serves as a solid change of pace move when posting…Shows good scoring instincts and was very productive in the D-League and at Providence as a scorer and rebounder..

Weaknesses: Peterson is about a half inch under 6’6, so he’s very short for a combo forward who plays the way he does…Although he has a strength advantage, he’s not quite good enough on the perimeter to play extended time on the wing…Not a complete liability as a shooter, but he’s still a guy who will have his screens dived against pro competition…As a post player, his footwork and moves are basic and his right hand can be sat on since he rarely goes left…Doesn’t pass the ball much…Never has been a very good defender, and at his size those problems will likely continue…Not quite athletic enough to guard wings, and not quite big enough to defend most wings…Much better on the offensive glass than he is on the defensive glass…Will have to answer questions about his maturity, given the reason he was dismissed from Providence after his Junior season…Was unceremoniously dumped from his team in Greece after modest production and the team repeatedly losing games, then trying his hand in the D-League…Never won at Providence, despite his production and playing with some talented scorers…

Overall: Peterson has certainly had an interesting journey to the NBA…He’s a mismatch combo forward who has shown he can score and rebound pretty well with his high motor, and he finishes around the rim with explosiveness often…There are legit questions about his extreme lack of height, tweener status, his bad defense, the way he was dismissed from both Providence and his team in Greece, and why he never played with winning teams