NBA Draft Combine Analysis

The two days of the NBA Draft combine have ended.  After ten hours of analysis that included measurements, athletic testing and drill work, many scouts and GMs have a better look at many prospects.  Perhaps the most telling portion of the combine were the individual meetings with teams, who had a chance to interview up to 18 prospects each.  Here is my analysis of who helped their stock the most, and who might have damaged theirs negatively:

Up:
Shane Larkin- Larkin measured under 6 feet- to no surprise- but tested out of the gym.  He had a 44 inch vertical max- 2nd best in the history of the combine- and also won the lateral sprint.  Coupled with a very good shooting performance and he could have paved the way for a late lottery selection.

Cody Zeller- The myth of the 6'8" wingspan was just that- a myth.  While his wingspan still was not exemplary, it alleviated concerns that he was not long enough to get his shot off at the next level.  His standing vertical was also very impressive.  He is a definite top ten pick.

Rudy Gobert- Gobert's 7'9 inch wingspan was legitimate.  While he did not test great athletically, he showed he can run the floor well and be quite the defensive presence.  The factor determining whether or not he is a bust will be how much he develops offensively.  If he gets some post moves he could be a great center in the NBA for a decade.  If not he is Saer Sene.  I think he will improve enough to help a team a lot.

Isaiah Canaan- Canaan, like Lillard, had a huge scoring role at his mid major college.  His distribution and ball handling skills need to improve, but his 40 inch vertical was unexpected.  Given the athleticism he showed, he could be an immediate 6th man, and potentially a starter down the road along the lines of a more athletic Jeff Teague as his ceiling.

Down:
BJ Young, Archie Goodwin, Phil Pressey- All three of these guards stood out for the wrong reasons.  A quote from Chad Ford said "Goodwin and Young are apparently having a contest to see who can airball the most shots.  In a drill with no defense, that is not ideal.  Pressey was said to look lost, and measured shorter than even Pierre Jackson.  Of this group, I think only Goodwin is draftable.

Kelly Olynyk- For all of the heat Zeller took about his poor wingspan (again, refuted), Olynyk measured a pathetic wingspan.  While his game is not reliant on length, this is still a hit to his stock, and most likely knocks him out of lottery consideration.