Thon Maker – Are you a believer?

Excited for this conversation. I’m a Euro and beside highlight clips I haven’t seen much from him.

With one thing you’re not right imo. It’s not very uncommon, that immigrants say their kids are younger when they move to a foreign country. There are many reasons why they do this and two of them are school and child support from the goverment. If you say your boy is younger than he is, you get more years of money from the goverment until he is 18 years old or whatever age is the limit. I had a few guys in elementary school who came from Turkey (Kurdistan) who were way older, one was 3 years older than in his papers.

Another aspect is education. If you come over with a real age of let’s say 8 you need to go to the 3rd grade for example not even speaking the language there. If the parents claim he is just 6, he can go to 1st grade and this is way easier for him. 

I don’t say that is the case with Maker but I’ve witnessed actions like that. 

Anyway, he is skilled but skinny and I don’t have a problem with his (real) age if he develops as fast as he is niw

Excited for this conversation. I’m a Euro and beside highlight clips I haven’t seen much from him.

With one thing you’re not right imo. It’s not very uncommon, that immigrants say their kids are younger when they move to a foreign country. There are many reasons why they do this and two of them are school and child support from the goverment. If you say your boy is younger than he is, you get more years of money from the goverment until he is 18 years old or whatever age is the limit. I had a few guys in elementary school who came from Turkey (Kurdistan) who were way older, one was 3 years older than in his papers.

Another aspect is education. If you come over with a real age of let’s say 8 you need to go to the 3rd grade for example not even speaking the language there. If the parents claim he is just 6, he can go to 1st grade and this is way easier for him. 

I don’t say that is the case with Maker but I’ve witnessed actions like that. 

Anyway, he is skilled but skinny and I don’t have a problem with his (real) age if he develops as fast as he is niw

I think Maker is a fun prospect to watch. He’s so advanced offensively for a 7 footer his age, but the big elephant in the room, or giraffe, is his weight. The fact he plays more like a stretch 4 will help him, but for all those "wow" moments he produces, he can be prone to being pushed around under the paint, and really be rendered less effective than he could be with some weight training.

There is some Isaiah Austin in his game, and that’s not exactly a great thing as he was a guy ready to jump to college, but not necessarily to the pros (even before his sad news).  The thing that gives me hope with Maker is that he’s quicker, and a more better and fluid athlete than Austin, he’s also a better ball handler. There’s also some parts of his game that remind me of Anthony Randolph.

If I were a college coach, I’d be fighting tooth and nail to get this kid, but he’s got a ways to go before I can look at him like anything more than a big time upside pick in the NBA because of his lack of physical presence. 

I think he’s probably a 7-14 range guy, he’s 7 feet tall, could be an excellent stretch 4 and weakside shot blocker, but I think the two things he can do to really help his chances are really work on his mid range game, and hit the weights. The kid definitely has the potential to raise his stock, and go much higher, and year to year progression is something I rate very highly when evaluating players. I think he’s fun to watch, I really think he can improve some things that will help his stock, if after his freshman year in college he’s 230 lbs and improving at a good clip, the sky is the limit, but pointing out what a player needs to do to improve is much easier than all of that coming true.

I think Maker is a fun prospect to watch. He’s so advanced offensively for a 7 footer his age, but the big elephant in the room, or giraffe, is his weight. The fact he plays more like a stretch 4 will help him, but for all those "wow" moments he produces, he can be prone to being pushed around under the paint, and really be rendered less effective than he could be with some weight training.

There is some Isaiah Austin in his game, and that’s not exactly a great thing as he was a guy ready to jump to college, but not necessarily to the pros (even before his sad news).  The thing that gives me hope with Maker is that he’s quicker, and a more better and fluid athlete than Austin, he’s also a better ball handler. There’s also some parts of his game that remind me of Anthony Randolph.

If I were a college coach, I’d be fighting tooth and nail to get this kid, but he’s got a ways to go before I can look at him like anything more than a big time upside pick in the NBA because of his lack of physical presence. 

I think he’s probably a 7-14 range guy, he’s 7 feet tall, could be an excellent stretch 4 and weakside shot blocker, but I think the two things he can do to really help his chances are really work on his mid range game, and hit the weights. The kid definitely has the potential to raise his stock, and go much higher, and year to year progression is something I rate very highly when evaluating players. I think he’s fun to watch, I really think he can improve some things that will help his stock, if after his freshman year in college he’s 230 lbs and improving at a good clip, the sky is the limit, but pointing out what a player needs to do to improve is much easier than all of that coming true.

I have only seen the highlight videos, but he is still at least three years away from the NBA so he has time to mature his body and modify his game.

Whatever his projection is still has time to grow before it has any meaning. If strength/weight is always going to be a weakness for him then he still has a lot of skill and length. He has enough of both to be drafted first overall if he continues his development.

I expect him to be a premium prospect at the 4 who can step away from the basket.

I have only seen the highlight videos, but he is still at least three years away from the NBA so he has time to mature his body and modify his game.

Whatever his projection is still has time to grow before it has any meaning. If strength/weight is always going to be a weakness for him then he still has a lot of skill and length. He has enough of both to be drafted first overall if he continues his development.

I expect him to be a premium prospect at the 4 who can step away from the basket.

Th crazy thing about Thon Maker is that he goes to a small prep school in southwestern VA.  He’s not from Chicago, LA or New York City playing against elite guys everyday.  One of the youtube clips has him dribbling through about 5 slow white guys who are 2 feet shorter than him and dunking.  I’m not saying he isn’t talented, which he obviously is, but these clips of him playing need to be taken with a grain of salt, jut like college or NBA guys at pro-ams.  Hes still very young.  Give the guy a year or two more to develop, but definitely a high talent, high ceiling guy worht keeping an eye on.  

Th crazy thing about Thon Maker is that he goes to a small prep school in southwestern VA.  He’s not from Chicago, LA or New York City playing against elite guys everyday.  One of the youtube clips has him dribbling through about 5 slow white guys who are 2 feet shorter than him and dunking.  I’m not saying he isn’t talented, which he obviously is, but these clips of him playing need to be taken with a grain of salt, jut like college or NBA guys at pro-ams.  Hes still very young.  Give the guy a year or two more to develop, but definitely a high talent, high ceiling guy worht keeping an eye on.  

It’s pretty clear this guy is going to be a player. You can knock his competition and weight but if you have eyes in your head you can see this guy can play. His weight will not be an issue. The level of competition is not an issue. This guy is going to be a top 3 pick when he comes out. 

It’s pretty clear this guy is going to be a player. You can knock his competition and weight but if you have eyes in your head you can see this guy can play. His weight will not be an issue. The level of competition is not an issue. This guy is going to be a top 3 pick when he comes out. 

No, I’m not a believer. That doesn’t mean I don’t think he’ll be a quality NBA player but I don’t see him as anything close to a superstar. As mentioned above he reminds me a little of Isaiah Austin, another incredibly overrated prospect (compared to perception). Maker is much more fluid and athletically gifted then Austin was but isn’t as skilled and has the same overrated range/incredibly thin body. He’s also way too perimeter oriented for my liking. He likes to think he’s a 7’1 SG and he’s not. He’s fluid and athletic for his size but he does not have 2 guard athleticism.

If he can put on weight I think you’re looking at the next Serge Ibaka. That’s a very good player who brings a unique play to his team. A guy who can play fantastic help defense and also stretch the floor to a degree. Maker isn’t anywhere near the shooter he’s claimed to be but he’s still ahead for his age. However, the kid needs to toughen up and add tons of weight and strength. He’s a lock for top 5 in any draft he enters due to his massive potential, more realistically he’ll probably go top 2-3 no matter what but he’s not the superstar prospect many seem to believe he is. Too many things need to happen for him to reach his potential.

No, I’m not a believer. That doesn’t mean I don’t think he’ll be a quality NBA player but I don’t see him as anything close to a superstar. As mentioned above he reminds me a little of Isaiah Austin, another incredibly overrated prospect (compared to perception). Maker is much more fluid and athletically gifted then Austin was but isn’t as skilled and has the same overrated range/incredibly thin body. He’s also way too perimeter oriented for my liking. He likes to think he’s a 7’1 SG and he’s not. He’s fluid and athletic for his size but he does not have 2 guard athleticism.

If he can put on weight I think you’re looking at the next Serge Ibaka. That’s a very good player who brings a unique play to his team. A guy who can play fantastic help defense and also stretch the floor to a degree. Maker isn’t anywhere near the shooter he’s claimed to be but he’s still ahead for his age. However, the kid needs to toughen up and add tons of weight and strength. He’s a lock for top 5 in any draft he enters due to his massive potential, more realistically he’ll probably go top 2-3 no matter what but he’s not the superstar prospect many seem to believe he is. Too many things need to happen for him to reach his potential.

 I will elaborate on Thon Maker and my next statement in a little more detail later in the day, but to me… for my money.  Right now Jaylen Brown in the best high school prospect in the country.  Elite size AND explosiveness for a SG.  He seems to have the character and skills to capitalize on that.  In a league so empty of franchise talent at the SG…to me he is the best prospect.

 I will elaborate on Thon Maker and my next statement in a little more detail later in the day, but to me… for my money.  Right now Jaylen Brown in the best high school prospect in the country.  Elite size AND explosiveness for a SG.  He seems to have the character and skills to capitalize on that.  In a league so empty of franchise talent at the SG…to me he is the best prospect.

I may be wrong, but from what I understand he is turning 17 this year? If so weight issue should be no issue at all, at the age of 17 I went from 200lbs to 240lbs. He will fill in sooner or later, people are too critical of these kids these days, afterall they are still just kids. Im sure by the time he is 20yrs old he will be 230 solid, which is enough for him to be an effective stretch four in the NBA. To me he has a great skill set, work ethic and plays with heart, that is all you can really ask for. I wish him luck and much success!

I may be wrong, but from what I understand he is turning 17 this year? If so weight issue should be no issue at all, at the age of 17 I went from 200lbs to 240lbs. He will fill in sooner or later, people are too critical of these kids these days, afterall they are still just kids. Im sure by the time he is 20yrs old he will be 230 solid, which is enough for him to be an effective stretch four in the NBA. To me he has a great skill set, work ethic and plays with heart, that is all you can really ask for. I wish him luck and much success!