NBA Comparison: Brian Cardinal

Strengths: Floor spacing wing with great size and tremendous experience as a five-year contributor for the Clemson Tigers … Catch-and-shoot specialist who shot over 40% from beyond the arc as a super senior on six attempts per game … High release on his jumper allows him to shoot over aggressive closeouts, even over players with NBA size … Instant contributor who can fill out a rotation as a shooting threat who moves intelligently and is always ready to pull a quick trigger … Shoots well on the move and in spot ups … Elite rebounder by every definition. Averaged 9.6 rebounds per game this season … Can step into long two’s and exploit undisciplined closeouts … Takes care of the basketball with only one turnover per game this season … Efficient scorer from everywhere on the floor (58% from 2PT, 40.5% from 3 PT and 84% from FT) … Potential 50/40/90 role player with NBA size and veteran presence … Performed at an elite level in shooting drills at the 2023 G-League Elite Camp. Earned a call-up to the 2023 NBA Draft Combine for his efforts … Stays out of foul trouble. Should be able to contribute solid minutes and stay on the floor because of it … Improved each season at Clemson, growing into much more than a shooter with a 15-point average this season … Can take advantage of mismatches in the post with a decent post-scoring bag and a sound fadeaway jumper … Good finisher when he gets to the hoop

Weaknesses: Not much of a shot creator and one of the oldest players in the draft at 23 years old … Will struggle to separate and get open looks for himself off the dribble … Doesn’t project to be much more than a shooter on the wing … Below average athlete who gets beat off the dribble often and rarely contests shots inside the arc. Could often be the guy that opponents exploit on defense both in the post and on the perimeter … Doesn’t have great length for his height, which can be seen with the lack of steal/block production on defense … Will need to improve drastically on the defensive end to earn consistent minutes … If his shot isn’t falling, he provides little value to an NBA team

Notes: Measured 6’7.50 barefoot, 8’9.00 standing reach, 208.8 lbs, 6’9.75 wingspan with a 28.5 inch standing vertical and 30.5 inch max vertical leap at 2023 G-League Elite Camp … 2023 All-ACC First Team … 2023 Karl Malone Award Finalist … Drafted 37th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Draft …

Derek Bast 6/22/23