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Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

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    Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

    14 days until draft night 2015! With that in mind we begin the home stretch of these draft scouting reports with an up-close look at one of the best pure shooting guards in the draft, the University of Kentucky's Devin Booker. Previously I have done in depth reports on Kevon Looney, Tyus Jones, Jerien Grant, Frank Kaminsky, Kelly Oubre, Willie Cauley Stein, and Stanley Johnson, and you can find all of those reports, if you have yet to read them or want to check them out again, elsewhere on this site.

    Booker is the youngest player in this draft class (to my knowledge), having begun his freshman year of college last fall at age 17. Born on October 30, 1996, he will not have turned 19 quite yet when training camp begins next fall. Despite the young age, Booker is an extraordinarily mature young man emotionally, in part because of the unique upbringing he had.

    Booker was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, and raised there primarily until the age of 14. His mother, Veronica Gutierrez, was a life long native of Michigan when she met Melvin Booker. Melvin was a former All American basketball player at Missouri, and was playing in the CBA at the time when he met Veronica. While they never married, they both pledged to raise their son jointly, and to make the sacrifices needed to make things work. Veronica stayed in Grand Rapids, and Melvin soon went to Europe to play professionally for many years, sending money back home and then hosting his son each summer in his home town of Moss Point, Mississippi.

    Soon, both parents noticed that young Devin had an extreme amount of basketball and athletic ability. At age 12, Devin took a spring break trip to Italy to hang with his Dad for a week, and getting to be around the European basketball professional culture. He even met and got to play with, at age 12, a young Danilo Gallinari, who was then a teammate of Melvin Booker in the Italian League.

    At that point, Melvin Booker knew that he was going to have to make some more sacrifices for his son. Still making money and in demand in Europe, Melvin retired early back to Moss Point, and the family eventually made the tough decision for Devin to leave the suburban, comfortable life in Grand Rapids with his Mom, to instead live with his Dad in Moss Point and begin trying to really become as good a basketball player as he could be. By this age, Devin was already well known to the staffs at Michigan and Michigan State, but in their eyes, moving and training with his Dad could push him to greater heights.

    So, Devin moved to Mississippi. Melvin could have enrolled him in many of the private basketball type academies/factories around the country, but instead he put his son in public school in Moss Point. Melvin trained his son with the same drills he had learned at Missouri and as a professional in Europe, and drove him 3 hours one way to play with an elite AAU program in Alabama when necessary.

    The move helped forge a bond between father and son, helped train the son for the realities of what hard work and sacrifice were, and enabled him to grow up a little faster and a little tougher than your average high school kid may have. Far from coddled, Devin Booker excelled under his demanding father and for one of the most demanding college coaches in the country in John Calipari.

    Bottom line is this I think: despite the young age, Devin Booker is from a maturity, a "grown up" standpoint, as ready for the NBA as anybody in this draft. A long time gym rat and student of the game, Booker is a kid who watches "Synergy" for tips and knowledge, instead of the kid who watches Sportscenter.

    Booker measured at the NBA combine at 6'5 3/4, and weighed 206lbs. His wingspan has been reported incorrectly in several media outlets, so be aware of this...but at the combine, it measured at 6'8 1/4. Clearly he has NBA pure 2 guard measurable and skills, though I do believe he is limited to 1 position and 1 position only. Also, keep in mind that he may continue to grow some, being as young as he is....he did grow a bit during his freshman year in Lexington it appears.

    Let's now put Devin Booker under the microscope:

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    In Kentucky's star studded, platoon system, he put up rather pedestrian counting stats: just 10ppg, 2rpg, 1.1apg. If you go by that and that alone, you won't be too impressed with his numbers. I also assume that many of the more analytical people, who look and prefer guys with higher usage rates and more stats to compile, won't be impressed by the numbers that their formulas spit out. I like analytics myself normally, but in this particular case I am at odds with what they show.

    When you watch Booker, you clearly see that he has, at the very lowest floor you can give him, a chance to be an NBA specialist as a 3 point shooter. Even those who hate everything else about him I don't think can argue that.

    Let me make this statement: Booker has the best, most pure, shooting mechanics from a technical standpoint of anyone in this draft, and maybe in the last 10 drafts. Simply put, there is absolutely nothing you can change/criticize/discuss about his jump shot form.....it's cash money. He already has deep NBA range (though rarely needed at UK), and his shot is high and quick. He gets the appropriate elevation, a nice consistent spin and arc, and can shoot it off a variety of ways. He can shoot off of curls, pin downs, flare screen, relocations, transition, drive/kicks, and even off of ball screen pull up actions. He can shoot it perfectly formed off a bad pass and a good one (compare that to my report on Stanley Johnson, who really needed a perfect pass to him to be able to shoot it as well as needed), and he can shoot it off the dribble with a devastating 1 or 2 dribble pull up game going in either direction.

    Booker I think projects to be a higher volume, 40%-45% NBA 3 point shooter, even if he doesn't really develop into the complete player that I think he eventually will be. That and that alone makes him a 12-15 year NBA player and a rich man.

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    To be more than just a 1 dimensional shooter, Booker will of course have to continue to develop his offensive game. His lack of size likely means he will never have a back to the basket game, which while slightly annoying to a man like me who likes to post up smaller players, isn't really a major deal.

    But to be a top notch NBA 2 guard, he will need to expand his game to either be a guy who can get his own shot in ISO situations when needed, or someone who can do damage as a ballhandler off of a ballscreen. I clearly would choose to train him in the art of ballscreen ballhandling offense if it were me, and I assume that is what most of these teams will in fact do.

    Booker is smart with a high level basketball knowledge and IQ, and he has every athletic skill you need to be a very tough cover off a ballscreen. When you play Booker defensively, you better not be one of these teams who tries to lay back and allows him to shoot pull up jump shots, because he will bury those eventually, and quite possibly on day 1. You will have to jump out there and switch those ballscreens on him, or in the least hedge and hedge hard on him. That devastates the integrity of some teams defenses that aren't as tied together as need be, and is why the ballscreen continues to be such a strong NBA weapon. You'll have to bend your defense in uncomfortable ways to stop any ball screen action involving Booker.

    On wing or side ballscreens, teams these days many times like to use the "ICE" technique, which essentially means to force the ballhandler away from the screen and send him baseline. The advantage Booker has right now on day one is that is probably his best shot, the one or 2 dribble pull up going baseline....so if you do that to Booker, you better rotate to him with big time size quickly who will knock that mid-range shot exact shot down as well.

    Booker will also have serious gravity in transition, because if he runs the floor and you don't find him, he is going to be a spot up nightmare from 3 point range.

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    How does Booker run off screens in a more conventional halfcourt game/offense?

    Right now I would say he is pretty good, but not elite.......not elite YET, anyway. Being just 18 years old is what gives me extremely high hope for him as an off screens, primary scoring weapon, because I think his weaknesses in this area are largely things that will be solved by added athletic development and experience.

    Booker does not possess elite "burst" and take off power going around a screen. By that I mean that he doesn't always get a huge amount of separation from a defender who is trailing him.....he gets a 1/4 step when he needs a 1/2 step or 3/4 of a step to have a real advantage. In other words, he is somewhat guardable coming off a screen if you guess right as a defender on where he is going, or if the screen itself is sloppy and weak.

    That eventually will be solved I think by greater knowledge and technique that he will be taught at the pro level, because he will learn to WATCH HIS DEFENDER AND YOUR OWN SCREENER MORE THAN YOU WATCH THE BALL. Booker is very much a stare down cutter at this point, a guy who stares at the passer and doesn't know where his defender is at. He will need to be a better reader of screens to reach his high basketball ceiling as a scorer. He also doesn't slow down, then speed up quickly going around screens well, as he tends to be all at 1 speed.....he will need to get some veteran savvy, which is hard to have at age 18 unless you are some sort of freak.

    He also is not a perfect "square in the air" guy yet, which is a trouble spot for me if I was looking at an NBA shooting guard who was 21 years old....but at age 18 I can't knock him for that yet, though that is clearly is going to have to be something he learns to do for him to be able to hit his ceiling. The best of the best 2 guards can come off a pin down or "floppy" action and can catch/shoot all in one motion, and Booker can't shoot it accurately that way yet.

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    Is he a great passer and ballhandler who can play the PG spot in a pinch offensively? No.

    But he is careful with the ball and makes almost always the smart basketball play. On tape, even when he makes a choice with the ball that doesn't work, if you watch on tape slowly you can usually see what Booker was trying to do and what he was thinking.

    I also rated him as the number 1 player in this draft at a dying art, which is feeding the post. As the post game is slowly dying out, one of the many reasons that is happening is that almost nobody can get the ball to a player on the block well anymore. Booker can though, which really really made him a great fit for his team in college. He understands angles well, and uses his dribble constantly to get a better feeding angle to his posting up teammate. He also was great at not just making the correct "choice" to pass, but on feeding it to the post guy's correct hand and away from the defense.

    Booker generally plays within himself and the scheme, and makes the proper basketball play. He is a ball mover, and not a "creator". If you want someone to beat his man off the bounce, drive to the middle and either sky through/over the defense for a dunk or skip pass to open people, Booker isn't your guy. But if you are a team who values shooting and who moves the ball, Booker will fit in very well.

    So, in summary, I think you have a knockdown, premium "sniper" level shooter who has a chance to become a primary 2nd to 3rd option on the right team in the right system. You have a guy who plays the right way, makes few mistakes, makes a high percentage of bombs, feeds the post well, and who is a major gravitational force in transition, in ballscreen situations, and a guy who can become a guy who you run set pieces for. A major potential offensive weapon for a creative coach with the right circumstances involved.

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    His defense will have to play at a level that is good enough for a team to want to play him big time minutes. Can it be? For the team that drafts him, the answer will obviously be yes....but it won't be unanimous in all likelihood.

    There are clear questions no doubt about it. As we sit here today in June 2015, Booker is probably not a good enough defender to justify playing the big minutes that I think his offensive game will demand.

    But, to me and to whoever out there that likes him, it all comes down to this: he is 18 years old, still growing and developing into his body, and I think defensive athleticism can be enhanced at the pro level. If you draft him, you need to improve his body and make him stronger (he is a bit doughy in appearance, and can clearly become more "cut" and defined), and you can improve his ability to take a better defensive first step in a closeout situation....because closing out to people I think is his clear worst weakness.

    He simply needs to get half a gear quicker in his takeoff when he decides to go run or decides to leap. That fraction of a second that he lacks in that one skill is going to hurt him if you can't figure out how to gain it for him. Booker's defensive effort and techniques fundamentally are fine, no issues there....but he lacks just the pure athletic tools (at this point, he is JUST 18 remember to tell yourself!). He needs to take off running defensively faster and get in the air quicker.

    I am encouraged by reading such good things at the NBA combine about his athletic tests, and about his workouts with other teams. He scored in the top 5 all time in the shuttle run and the lane slide, which if you already like Booker, you can use to justify taking him. I don't think he plays defensively as quick as he tested yet, but he clearly has at least some untapped potential athletically that is likely being enhanced now that he is no longer a full time student and is in full time training with former NBA player Don MacLean.

    I do think on tape that he slides much better than he runs. Because of that, I do think he projects to be a guy (in about 12-18 months time maybe if not sooner) who will be able to slide over and defend some point guards, either on a switch late in the clock or in a specific cross-match in a special circumstance. His testing, age, pedigree, IQ, and work ethic all point to a high probability that he will end up being a reasonably decent, average NBA 2 guard defender....to win with him at a high amount, you'd like to surround him with plus defenders of course. He clearly can't guard 3's, but I do think he will be able to guard some mediocre point guards, particularly if he gets stronger in his upper body so he can belly up and physically over power some of them. Technically he is a good defender already, he just needs to grow, learn, and sculpt his body/train his athleticism to make it play at the NBA level.

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    So in summary, what do we have in Devin Booker?

    I think we have a gold mine of upside, a high character and smart sniper at the most scarce position in the NBA. I think we have a guy who can't miss offensively, and who I think will continue to improve his game and body and eventually be a key contributor for outstanding teams. I think he ends up scoring 15,000 points and has a very long and successful career. I think he is a great combination of a player with a high floor and high ceiling. To me, this kid clearly "gets it".....I think he is one of the guys in this draft who becomes what I call a "Podium Player". That is my term for a guy who is at the podium, talking to the media if your team gets to the finals or to a big game.

    I love the player, and I love his fit as a long term piece of the puzzle in Indiana. I think he clearly has to be in serious discussion at #11 if he is in fact available. So far he is my favorite combination of character/upside/floor/fit for us, although he doesn't seem to play a position that is as big as a need as others are at this point. But, if you are a "Best Player Available" guy like I am, I'd strongly consider him anyway and sort it out later....you don't skip a top talent if you believe in him just because you have a C.J. Miles or potentially have a Rodney Stuckey, that would be insane.

    To further clarify on the "fit" angle with our team....I think he is a perfect "sniper" starting 2 guard in time. Hill and George mitigate his defensive shortcomings, and he provides space and a post feeder for a bigger player who can score on the block....a player we don't have yet. Long term you need a better ballhandling/more dynamic lead guard who can score, a big man who can run and score, a rim protector (we have one now but he may not be long term as we know) and a lockdown wing defender who can spare Paul George from having to do that some of the time. Eventually this summer I'll expand on that theory of team building in another article, but for now, Booker clearly gets the "sniper" role.

    So, at this point on June 10th, I have clearly endorsed Frank Kaminsky, Stanley Johnson, and now Devin Booker, and I wouldn't completely hate Stein either.....and as a preview, I have other draft profiles to come that may or may not add players to the "endorsement" list. We are in good shape at #11, just like everyone is saying, to get a really good player no matter who exactly it ends up being.

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    Will Booker make it to #11 for us? Maybe, but maybe not. I clearly don't think he SHOULD, but there are some nutty teams out there, and not everyone will be as high on Booker as I clearly am.

    He is a perfect "triangle" type of player, but the Knicks won't take him at #4 I am sure.

    The Magic will not take him at #5 with Oladipo ahead of him you wouldn't think. The Kings at #6 would be a good fit, but they have 2 guards in that spot already in Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskus. I think Booker is better than both of them, but they'll take Stein I think as I have said previously.

    Denver at #7, Detroit at #8, and Charlotte at #9 are all major threats to take him.....I am assuming Miami would rather have immediate help at #10.

    In the end, I think Booker ends up a Charlotte Hornet at #9. For Booker's sake, I hope he ends up with either us at #11 or with Utah at #12....Utah from a scheme and personnel sake is about the perfect landing spot for him and I think that is his floor.

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    Just for fun today, I am going to provide some character background and links for Booker as well. I think all of these really tell you what a great kid this is, and why I think he is going to be hugely successful.

    This story about his friendship with an autistic boy and his family is very nice, especially for someone in an educational background like I am:

    https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/ne...elt-your-heart

    This one tells about his work ethic and background a little bit:

    http://www.coachcal.com/30543/2014/0...ight-kentucky/

    And this one gives you some of the backstory I wrote about above:
    http://www.foxsports.com/college-bas...rnament-031315

    NBA comparable if I am right: a bigger, more athletic Jeff Hornacek.
    NBA comparable if I am wrong: I still think he is Dell Curry, or Danny Green

    As always, the above is just my opinion. I totally expect that I am higher on this kid than almost everybody is, but clearly I like him a lot and am comfortable with how I rated him. I don't mind being on the proverbial limb, but keep in mind that is very possible that the consensus is right and I am wrong....we will see in a few years if I called this one correctly.

    But if nothing else, this should get all of you talking....because I haven't read hardly any mentions of him as a possible Indiana pick on this board, and I am telling you, it is very very possible he ends up here. I obviously, would be all for that!

    Tbird
    Last edited by thunderbird1245; 06-10-2015, 05:53 PM.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

    I like Booker. Pacers need shooters
    Being unable to close out a game in which you have a comfortable lead in the 4th Q = Pulling a Frank Vogel

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    • #3
      Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

      Just want to chime in and say thanks for your hard work, T-Bird. After a couple days without one of your profiles I get antsy and am constantly refreshing PD. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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      • #4
        Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

        This guy has been climbing up my want list the last few days. This post has me even more excited for him, but I'm thinking he ends up leap frogging everyone and going around 5. Things just seem a little TOO quiet around him.

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        • #5
          Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

          I liked this guy early, just because he is the best shooter available. I like him even more now. Dell Curry as a floor is very nice. Steph's papa could play.

          I will be stoked if the Pacers can get him.

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          • #6
            Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

            Me, vnzla, and tbird all agree on something. The end is near, internet basketball friends.

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            • #7
              Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

              Booker is my pick. Especially at #11.

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              • #8
                Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                Booker is a kid who watches "Synergy" for tips and knowledge, instead of the kid who watches Sportscenter.
                I'm sold.

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                • #9
                  Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                  I'm pretty sold on him. I know we could use a big guy, but damn it'd be nice to finally have that Korver-esque, knock-down shooter. Miles is good, Hill is good, George is good, but it would be great to have some one who is elite.

                  Definitely one of my favorite prospects previewed thus far.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                    Booker, like nearly all the Ky. players suffered from lack of PT as well as lack of usage. If the Pacers are in a position to let him have the 12-18 months of learning, developing, then he would be a very good pickup. The fact that we are in dire need of athletic big men to replace both West and Scola as well as Roy and Ian after this season makes it hard to believe LB will go for another Wing player. Now a trade gets the Pacers another draft pick in Booker's range would be another kettle of fish altogether.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                      I think Booker goes to either Charlotte or Miami who are probably the most desperate for shooters in the top 10. Booker is given the specialist title but I think he can eventually become an all around star player. He may be closer to Klay Thompson than Danny Green which would be great for him. Although, I'm surprised the Pacers didn't bring him in with Oubre, I'm sure he'll be in for a workout.
                      Last edited by eldubious; 06-10-2015, 08:23 PM.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                        Booker reminds me of Byron Scott. Very sweet shot and build.
                        {o,o}
                        |)__)
                        -"-"-

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                        • #13
                          Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                          Other than PG, there isn't a legit consistent scorer. You just can't say that about West anymore. Pacers need consistent reliable shooters. His lack of steals and blocks concern me for he seems like a defensive liability, but he's also young and learning.
                          First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                            I'm in the camp the believes the Pacers need to draft a big man. I had not even considered Booker until this analysis.

                            I still think the Pacers top priority should be a big...but if Bird has some kind of trade up his sleeve for a young big, then drafting Booker (or Johnson) would be a good move.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Tbird 2015 NBA Draft Analysis #8: Devin Booker

                              I'd still like an athletic 4, but given the choice between Booker and Kaminsky, it's Booker all day.
                              "Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

                              "And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "

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