Rasheed Sulaimon - is he the next Russell Westbrook?

[sagegrouse]

Yeah, I think Nolan is a decent comparison.

Remember, Nolan was much better as a junior and senior; his scoring averages were as follows:
FR 5.9
SO 8.4
JR 17.4
SR 20.6

Rasheed, so far:
FR 11.6
SO 9.9

Sheed is a key player for the 2014-15 season, both for his play and to help bring along the young guys.

I hope Rasheed is the next Nolan Smith at Duke -- 2nd team All-American and first-team All-ACC.

[kAzE]

I like the Nolan Smith comps for college, but Rasheed is a better NBA prospect because of his superior size. He still needs to improve quite a bit to be considered a lottery pick, though. I believe he will ultimately be a late first rounder who will carve out a role as a good defensive player who can hit open shots, and sometimes make an aggressive drive to the basket. I wasn't too fond of any of the NBA comparisons thus far. Westbrook and Nash are like . . . . in another galaxy. Barbosa was way faster. Harden and Ginobili in his prime are/were top 10 offensive players in the league. Dragic is a true point guard who is a one-man wrecking crew, and unstoppable in the open court. Unfortunately, I don't see Sulaimon ever being that good offensively. I think the best comp I can come up with right now is Raja Bell or Cuttino Mobley. Both were career role players who were good defenders, and decent shooters. Raja is probably Sulaimon's ceiling as a defender, and Mobley is his ceiling as an offensive player. At his prime, Raja was one of the most hated players in the league for his in-your-face defensive prowess. Mobley is the closest thing in terms of size, defensive ability and shooting, but his work ethic really propelled him to a stellar career. I think if Rasheed does everything right, he could enjoy the same type of career: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...o-Mobley-3629/

[Des Esseintes]

As a senior, Smith has the full offensive arsenal: good 3pt shooter, great mid-range, strong to the hoop. But when he got to the NBA, all those assets just weren't good enough. Sulaimon has a better 3pt shot and should continue to become a better driver. I don't really like his mid-range, and I'm sure he'll be asked to drop it once we gets to the NBA, but if Sulaimon can become a highly serviceable 3pt shooter with good driving ability, he can easily become Goran Dragic 2.0

Dragic should have been a Western Conference All-Star this season. He was massively good on the court. You say "highly serviceable" three point shooting and driving ability, but that doesn't begin to describe what the guy brought. That three point shooting was often off the dribble or coming off of a screen. Way more difficult than the catch-and-shoot threes Sulaimon enjoyed at Duke as the beneficiary of not being Jabari Parker or Rodney Hood. Dragic was a relentless and, frankly, amazing driver into the paint. He was markedly better there than many guys who make a living attacking the paint, combining tremendous awareness of the self in space and excellent vision once among the trees. He is fantastic on the pick-and-roll, something Sulaimon has shown no sign of executing with consistent success. Simply put, Dragic is a passer on a level Rasheed has little chance of ever approaching. He's also a very good next level defender. As a white guy, people overlook his athleticism, but his steal rate in the NBA is slightly better than Sulaimon's in college, suggesting Dragic's speed and instincts are probably much better than Sulaimon's. (Steal rate does not measure quality of defense, obviously, but it often gives a window into the player's capacity to get around the court and make stuff happen. Scouts use it to predict how an athlete can translate to the next level.)

Here are some even more relevant stats. For Dragic first. True shooting 60.4%. 56.1 eFG% Assist rate 28%. Now Sulaimon in these respective categories: 55.2%, 49.0%, 17%. Which is to say that Dragic is far more effective at the NBA level--as arguably his team's #1 option--than Rasheed was at the college level as his team's third option. Billy Dat is right. We need to quite the star comps for all but Duke's most elite players. If Sulaimon becomes Dragic 2.0, it not be easy. It will be the result of a wholesale reinvention of himself as a player, a reinvention that would include discovering skills he has not yet evidenced. Sulaimon can make the NBA. But the lazy comparisons do no one any good.

[SupaDave]

I'm not focusing on a Smith comparison. I'd rather see him do the JJ jump from sophomore to junior year where he is in tip top shape and he has to have a dedicated defender following him the whole game. IF this happens, then quite frankly Coach K can go back to the days of Shelden and JJ and take lots of pressure off young Tyus. There's lots of expounding that can go from there but if K makes Sheed the engine that pushes this train - and I believe he will - he's gonna have to be in the best shape of his life.

[jipops]

Since this is mostly about comparisons, I definitely see more George Hill and Nolan Smith than Westbrook or Dragic.

Sheed had to adjust to playing more off the ball last season with Jabari and Rodney. He'll likely get more of that with senior Quinn and with Tyus but since those guys are more natural facilitators he may be in more comfortable position to score. Defensively, it still feels like there is some unrealized potential. Having a big guy behind him should help.

[luvdahops]

Since this is mostly about comparisons, I definitely see more George Hill and Nolan Smith than Westbrook or Dragic.

Sheed had to adjust to playing more off the ball last season with Jabari and Rodney. He'll likely get more of that with senior Quinn and with Tyus but since those guys are more natural facilitators he may be in more comfortable position to score. Defensively, it still feels like there is some unrealized potential. Having a big guy behind him should help.

Kirk Hinrich is another comp for Rasheed that has been thrown around, and a decent one in my view. Good but not great athlete with a solid handle, defensive tenacity, high basketball IQ and just enough scoring ability to play both guard spots credibly at the NBA level. A solid 3rd guard for a contender, potential starter on a weaker team.

From the DraftExpress Measurements Database (which includes the NBA Draft Combine and USA Basketball):

Rasheed (from 2013 USABB) - 6'3" in socks, 6'4" in shoes, 194 pounds, 6'7" wingspan, 8'5.5" standing reach
Nolan (from 2012 Draft) - 6'1.5", 6'3.5", 188, 6'5.5", 8'3"
Hinrich (from 2003 Draft) - 6'2.75", 6'3.75", 186, 6'6", 8'2.5"
Hill (from 2008 Draft) - 6'1.25", 6"2.5", 181, 6'9", 8"1.5"

Hill has broader shoulders than any of the others, which may account for the seeming disparity in wingspan vs. reach

[Duke4life92]

I hope sheed becomes something we've never seen before.Be the beast i mean best you can be sheed and be all you can be.I'll take that.Be you.

[greybeard]

I will repeat the mantra I have had the last two years -- Sheed could be a lottery pick before all is said and done if he pulls it all together. May the consolidation of consistency start this season!

Yes Sir. Don't laugh, but I wrote here before he arrived that I saw a lot of MJ in this guy. Not the superstardom, but how he moved, his long legs and arms, anticipation, playing with ease that belied steel determination, diversity of play, and willingness to take the important shot. I'm not big on comparisons; only saying that he reminds me of, if he works hard might have the understated-type impact of, probably not to the same dimensions of, Sidney Moncrief, 6'3" guard from the '80s. Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADAo3W4Hos.

I don't see much of Westbrook in his game and much of his game in Westbrook's. Sheed understands and embraces "team" in ever more sophisticated ways, thanks to K. In the end, assuming what OldPhiKap says must be done, "pulls it all together," wouldn't care to argue with might well be "a lottery pick before all is said and done." Certainly, impactful on the next level.

[luvdahops]

Yes Sir. Don't laugh, but I wrote here before he arrived that I saw a lot of MJ in this guy. Not the superstardom, but how he moved, his long legs and arms, anticipation, playing with ease that belied steel determination, diversity of play, and willingness to take the important shot. I'm not big on comparisons; only saying that he reminds me of, if he works hard might have the understated-type impact of, probably not to the same dimensions of, Sidney Moncrief, 6'3" guard from the '80s. Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADAo3W4Hos.

I don't see much of Westbrook in his game and much of his game in Westbrook's. Sheed understands and embraces "team" in ever more sophisticated ways, thanks to K. In the end, assuming what OldPhiKap says must be done, "pulls it all together," wouldn't care to argue with might well be "a lottery pick before all is said and done." Certainly, impactful on the next level.

Sidney Moncrief is one of my all-time favorite basketball players. As much as I would LOVE to comp Sheed to him, I think that is a considerable stretch despite some meaningful similarities. Moncrief was one of the best defenders of his era (2-time NBA DPOY), and maybe of all-time, as well as an exceptional leaper who held his own on the boards and could check NBA SFs more than capably (Larry Bird cites him as one the toughest defenders he ever played against). He was also a 5-time All-Star and 5-time All-NBA player (4x second team, 1x first).

I don't see Sheed's ceiling as being quite that high.

SI Moncrief.jpg

[JNort]

I was just trying to compare to other shooting guards. I still can't get off the Manu comparison. They are of similar height and build, have the same play style, both are serviceable defenders, good shooters, decent ball handlers and good passers. I could see Sheed being a Manu type player in the NBA, just maybe not as potent an offensive weapon.

[Wander]

I think Rasheed is sort of halfway between Nolan Smith and Gerald Henderson. Similarities to Nolan as already noted, but taller and plays more off the ball, like G.

[Troublemaker]

Role player combo-guard like a Reggie Jackson, Jordan Crawford, or Jarrett Jack, all of whom were drafted late first-round. That's what I would (reasonably) hope for Sheed.

He needs to have that big breakout junior season, though. I do think it'll happen.

[NSDukeFan]

I was just trying to compare to other shooting guards. I still can't get off the Manu comparison. They are of similar height and build, have the same play style, both are serviceable defenders, good shooters, decent ball handlers and good passers. I could see Sheed being a Manu type player in the NBA, just maybe not as potent an offensive weapon.

Isn't Ginobili 3 inches, or about a position, taller, with great vision? I hope Sulaimon has a breakout year and a long and successful NBA career, but I doubt Rasheed will popularize an offensive move (euro step) like Manu.
I think Heinrich may be the best comparison that Rasheed could strive for. I would love for Rasheed to have a couple years like Heinrich did in college.

[OldPhiKap]

I like to picture Sheed as a mischievous badger, or maybe a figure skater doing interpretive dances of my life.

[Des Esseintes]

Let's put it this way: as long as Rasheed not on track to have his jersey retired at Duke, comparisons to guys headed to the Hall of Fame as NBA players are likely to be inaccurate. So no, he is not like Steve Nash or Manu or Westbrook.

[Duvall]

Let's put it this way: as long as Rasheed not on track to have his jersey retired at Duke, comparisons to guys headed to the Hall of Fame as NBA players are likely to be inaccurate. So no, he is not like Steve Nash or Manu or Westbrook.

You don't think Sulaimon reminds you of a shorter George Mikan?

[JNort]

Isn't Ginobili 3 inches, or about a position, taller, with great vision? I hope Sulaimon has a breakout year and a long and successful NBA career, but I doubt Rasheed will popularize an offensive move (euro step) like Manu.
I think Heinrich may be the best comparison that Rasheed could strive for. I would love for Rasheed to have a couple years like Heinrich did in college.

Nope Manu isn't even a full inch taller. I just see zero comparison Heinrich. They are almost nothing alike

[JNort]

Let's put it this way: as long as Rasheed not on track to have his jersey retired at Duke, comparisons to guys headed to the Hall of Fame as NBA players are likely to be inaccurate. So no, he is not like Steve Nash or Manu or Westbrook.

I disagree, you can play like somebody or have very similar traits and abilities but never pan out or have the same success

[kAzE]

Nope Manu isn't even a full inch taller. I just see zero comparison Heinrich. They are almost nothing alike

Yes he is . . . Manu is all of 6 foot 6. (1.98m), and Rasheed is 6 foot 4 (1.93m) he's almost 2 inches (1.96 inches) taller than Rasheed. And as I mentioned before, Manu Ginobili was a top 10 offensive player in his prime in the NBA, and is a lock to join the hall of fame. Even the most wildly optimistic projection for Rasheed will never touch Manu's career.

Manu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Gin%C3%B3bili
Rasheed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasheed_Sulaimon

[Henderson]

And as I mentioned before, Manu Ginobili was a top 10 offensive player in his prime in the NBA, and is a lock to join the hall of fame. Even the most wildly optimistic projection for Rasheed will never touch Manu's career.

I don't know how you can say that. When Ginobili was Rasheed's age, he played for Estudiantes Bahia Blanco in Argentina and was so unimpressive that he went at the bottom of the NBA draft (57th) when he was 21 and had already been a Europro for 4 years. Rasheed will be that age at the end of next season. I'd say Rasheed is at least as well-regarded for his age as Ginobili was at the same stage in his career. We know how Ginobili turned out. To say that Rasheed "will never touch" that level is silly speculation. Who projected Ginobili's success when he was Rasheed's age? Clearly not NBA scouts.

To make such a categorical statement that Rasheed "will never touch Manu's career" is at least a decade premature and, therefore, irresponsible in my opinion.