Cazzie Russell (SF)

[Derek]

Cazzie Russell
Small Forward
6'6" 218 lbs.
6/7/1994

abcalegends.com/players/player587.htm

PROS: Cazzie is as an elite of an athlete as this league will see. Great Strength, Great Leaper, and Great Quickness will allow him to match up at numerous positions. Solid Stamina will keep him on the floor as well. He already possess a nice touch from the Free Throw line and has the potential to be an elite FT shooter. He also has the potential to become and average to above average jump shooter as well as three point shooter. Though he'll never be a great defender; his size, athleticism, and defensive abilities will allow him to defend multiple positions. He enters the draft at 21 years old which is younger than most good players in this class.

CONS: Cazzie's biggest knock will be his skill level. He doesn't handle or pass well and doesn't give you much in the way of rebounding. At least not skill wise. He won't ever be more than an average defender and he could use a little more inside game. I am sure his lack of skill will scare a number of GMs away and rightfully so. He is a project player at this point in his career and teams aren't trusting those at this point.

OVERALL: Cazzie Russell has the body and base to become a great player but it'll take some serious dedication by a team to improve his skills. This will be a classic case of athleticism taking over and his value in this league largely depends on how much athleticism really matters. Does it mask inabilities? I believe some GMs would say it does.

PROJECTION: Top 10

[Jeb]

abcalegends.com/players/player587.htm

PROS: Cazzie is young right now. He posses a skill set that will make any GM think twice about passing on him. He's got skills that make him a work out warrior and may well lead to a great player down the line. His quickness and strength as well as his ridiculous vertical make him show even better in person than his college stat sheet gives him credit for. I can see him becoming one of the best free throw shooters in the league given time and that combined with his athleticism alone should gain his team quite a few points per game. His jump shot and three point shot have the mechanics to become well above average given the right coaching.

CONS: Cazzie is young right now. Yes that did get stated again, with reason. He's not as well developed as some of his other draftmates. Day one Russell won't come in and save a downtrodden franchise and bring them back from the dead. He's going to take time and work. Although he has the speed and size to guard multiple positions I feel he wont ever be an elite defender at any one position. Again he is caught in a flex with his lack of ball handling or passing skills keeping him off the perimeter, one would hope he could rebound well; wrong, I dont think that he's ever going to get much better there.

OVERALL:
Size? Check. Speed? Check. Strength? Check. Russell has the body to become a very good player in this league but it will take some time and effort from the GM and coaching staff to get his true potential out. Another thing is just how much does athleticism make up for? have the days of slow half court dominant teams gone by the wayside if so Cazzie is your guy. Or will they always hold the edge. Its all up to you.

PROJECTION: Top 10