Previous Scouting Reports:
Sam Dekker has made a name for himself in the past two NCAA Tournaments. Putting up big numbers, making clutch shots and helping his team make the National Championship game this year have all added to his resume.
That resume has his draft stock higher than some would have thought. Dekker is currently slated by a lot of experts as a late lottery pick (10-15 range).
Last Thursday it was reported that Dekker was on the Portland Trail Blazers short list of potential prospects to meet with. Here is his scouting report…
Scouting Report: Sam Dekker
Hometown: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Height: 6’9” (w/ shoes)
Weight: 218.6 lbs.
Noted Measurables: 6’11.5” wingspan, 34.5 max vertical jump, 3.28 second ¾ sprint (All measurements from 2015 NBA Combine)
School: University of Wisconsin (3 seasons)
Experience: 113 games played, 3 years in college (two-time Second Team All-Big Ten)
Age: 21 (May 6, 1994)
College Statistics: 12.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 49% field goal, 35% 3-pt field goal
Scouting Report: Big small forward. Can play minutes at stretch-4 if needed. Very good shot selection. Not afraid of crashing the boards. Good spot up shooter. Can attack the rim. Crashes boards hard. Better athlete than given credit for. Hot and cold shooter. Moves well without the ball. Gets to the line well. Good hands on both offense and defense. Shows a lot of patience on offense. Good mid-range stroke especially when being guarded by bigger power forwards. Can use post moves to dominate smaller defenders. Versatile. Good leader. Winner. Not a great ball handler. Has trouble creating his own shot with the ball in his hands. Can gain some muscle to be more reliable as a stretch four. Good in transition. Very vocal with teammates throughout the game.
Highlights:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jfJSFInqE] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcGiYe8wZWE]NBA Comparison: Tobias Harris – Dekker and Harris are very similar in size. Both of these players are aggressive offensively and gifted athletically. Harris has developed an off-the-dribble game which Dekker will need to focus on. Harris has struggled to defend marquee power forwards, which is something that I see plaguing Dekker for the first couple years of his career. Both of these players have good midrange games. Both are willing and capable rebounders from the wing. Harris has a little more “nasty” in him than Dekker does. Dekker is a better outside shooter. But these two are very similar players and a team drafting Dekker will find a very good player. Teams have struggled to pinpoint which position Harris is, a small or power forward. Dekker’s shooting will simplify that decision in his case, although he is more than capable of being a spot stretch-4.
Where he would fit in Portland: If the Blazers were to trade Nicolas Batum in order to move up the draft and select Dekker, then Dekker would slide into the starting lineup as the small forward (barring any major free agency moves). If Batum is still on the roster, Dekker gives the Blazers a very good backup/insurance plan if Batum has another off year. Dekker can shoot well enough to fit in the Blazers’ offense and is a capable team-defender. If Batum is retained, Dekker would have at least the next year to learn from Batum before Batum becomes a free agent in 2016. Dekker would certainly help add much needed depth to the small forward and power forward positions. Depth wins games.
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