Workout 3: Jalen Bridges, Xavier Castaneda, Nelly Cummings, Jordan Miller, Tamell Pearson, and Nae’qwan Tomlin

1 Comment

1. jaynay1 1 year ago

   As always, ranking the prospects in this workout:

   1. Nae’qwan Tomlin

   I don’t think Tomlin is particularly good, but he occasionally moves really well for a 6’10” guy. He’s also fairly new to basketball, so his rawness of skill is at least somewhat understandable. Has some kind of sketchy intel behind him, but that’s pretty standard for NY kids. Definitely worth a two-way, and might be worth a second, just not one of the seconds we actually own.

   2. Jordan Miller

   Miami guys this season were weird — I’ve seen 4 different players that actual serious draft people thought were the best prospect on this team. Miller was probably the 2nd most popular answer there, mostly because it’s a lot easier to see the translation of a 6’6″ guy to the league. Miller’s shot is a big swing skill, having been ~<33% for most of his career before making it up to 35%. He’s a respectable but not elite passer, a respectable and arguably elite finisher, and a respectable but not elite finisher, so if he can shoot that’s probably worth a two-way given his size, but I don’t think he’s worth a pick at any range. He is worth a two-way though.

   3. Jalen Bridges

   3 and D player except he’s a terrible shooter and a terrible defender. But hey that’s how he’s been marketed his whole college career even though it doesn’t make any real sense. He is actually a good finisher, but mostly he’s just not a good player. That said his frame is worth investing in as much as sticking him in the G League on an E10.

   4. Xavier Castaneda

   If Castaneda were 6’3″ he still would not be quite good enough. Electric shooter, efficient scorer in general, and not an outright terrible passer, but he’s too small and a lot of the scoring is bad competition stuff. He’s fine to bring in as a G League guy, and could start games for you there periodically, but if his agent is smart he’ll be in Europe already.

   5. Nelly Cummings

   Cummings vs. Castaneda is actually a bit tricky. Cummings is the better passer, Castaneda the better scorer and shooter, but Cummings played the stronger competition level and was the (very low bar) better defender in what I saw. Basically though, I think between those two you’re going with the potentially elite skill in Castaneda’s passing, and they’re both more destined to be G League roster filler.

   6. Tamell Pearson

   Averaged <4 points in the Sun Belt. Here because he’s a local kid. Pretty sure he actually got invited last second because someone else bailed.