DNHQ Draft Tourney Finals: Jalen Bridges vs N'Faly Dante; plus open thread
Both have had GSW workouts
Our Draft Tournament
Yes, we are having our FIFTH annual DNHQ Draft Tournament, where Dub Nation gets to vote on whom the Warriors should draft via head to head showdowns.
If the Warriors end up trading the pick, I’ll end the draft tournament early. If the Warriors somehow trade up, I’ll somehow re-fashion the Tourney.
Overall results and how we chose the field at 2024 Dub Nation HQ Draft Tournament. Past Draft Tourneys archived here.
Don’t be a party pooper and say the Warriors should trade the pick or that it doesn’t matter.
void’s Big Board Vote Site
Super commenter void has made (again) a web app where you can record your Big Board for our limited pool of “Might Fall To #52” Tourney participants.
I particularly like this site, because you can put your money where your mouth is. So when you start bragging about how all your draft picks were better than the dumb Warriors pick, people can check. For instance, you can look at all my draft picks from since 2021, from brilliant to horribly misguided.
void’s DNHQ Big Board Vote Site
DNHQ Draft Tournament Finals
Now it’s time for the winners of the second group stage to have a showdown. Both these players has had a pre-draft workout for the Warriors, so they are legitimate possibilities for the Warriors the draft or invite for a two-way.
All the candidates were discussed thoroughly at the linked header, so we’ll only include the scouting reports for the winners, updated with the latest mock draft ratings.
Dub Nation will never stop pining for a Big Man, so why stop now? Dante, dominant college defender, faces off with Jalen Bridges, tantalizing 3-and-D wing who can create off the dribble.
Semifinals Group 1
Dillon Jones 3%
Jaylin Williams 23%
Cam Spencer 23%
Jalen Bridges 52% WINNER
If Bridges’s senior year 41.7% 3P is real (and the career 79.6% FT is encouraging), then he might be the legendary big wing 3-and-D guy that returns spacing and athleticism to GSW lineups. He’s not just a guy to sit in the corner, he’ll handle the ball in the pick and roll, go between the legs, and pull up for 3 in your face.
Semifinals Group 2
Pelle Larsson 45%
Jamison Battle 6%
N’Faly Dante 48% WINNER
If you believe in BPM, then you should believe in Dante. BPM is absolutely INFATUATED with Dante, ranking him the 4th most productive player in the country. DBPM thinks Dante is the #15 defender in the country. Being a block AND steal leader is unusual. On offense, well… the guy can dunk and catch lobs. Hey, if he had a big offensive package, he’d be going in the first round. You know how people always want GSW to get a rim protector? Dante is your man.
Jalen Bridges
Forward, 6-7, 220lb
BPM #34
PRPG #32
Givony Woo ESPN 6-19 #53
O'Conner 6-17 #41
SI 5-16 #48
Tankathon 6-19 #56
Vecenie 6-5 #52
Yahoo 6-17 #48
Why does BPM love him?
Good 42% on 3s, 61.6 True Shooting
Positive defender and just solid all around.
Low turnovers and fouls rarely.
Why isn’t he in the first round?
He’s a fifth year senior.
Low usage in college.
Apricot’s Highly Questionable Statistical Comps
This is from an experimental program finding closest statistical comparisons to other NCAA players since 2010.
Bennedict Mathurin 2021
Hunter Tyson 2023
Gradey Dick 2023
Saddiq Bey 2020
Isaiah Livers 2021
Sam Vecenie, NY Times
Slater: In his most recent mock draft (which you can read in full here), Vecenie has the Warriors selecting 23-year-old Jalen Bridges, a 6-foot-7 wing out of Baylor.
Vecenie: Bridges is the kind of rangy 6-foot-7 wing with long arms that fits this scheme as a 3-and-D player. He’s turned himself into a solid shooter, having made 37 percent of his career 3s and 41.2 percent of his 3s this season. Defensively, he does a solid job on the ball, but where I really love him is with team defense. He’s excellent at playing one-on-two on the back side with his length, and can occasionally cover some ground around the weak side of the rim. He’d make some sense for them, for sure.
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
Quintessential role player who enhances his teammates with 3-and-D skills and flashes higher upside.
SHADES OF
Royce O’Neale crossed with Mikal Bridges
On-Ball Defense
Catch-and-shoot Threat
Off-Ball Mover
PLUSES
Dynamic shooter with clean mechanics who can run off screens or take 3s off the dribble.
Displays shot creation skills in some of his pull-up 3s, in-out dribbles on drives, and spin moves. Even if he never becomes a primary ball handler, he can at least thrive attacking closeouts and going coast-to-coast on the break.
High-IQ player without the ball. He relocates on the perimeter for 3s and looks for cutting opportunities at the rim. His intelligence applies to his passing as well, as he limits his mistakes.
Competitive defender with a long wingspan who can switch screens to defend multiple positions or fight through them and slide his feet to mirror opposing shot creators. He also disrupts passing lanes, especially when Baylor plays its zone defense, showcasing his ability to be an effective helper at the next level.
MINUSES
Inconsistent 3-point shooter until his senior year, though his near–80 percent clip from the line in his collegiate career bodes well for his potential.
He’s a low-usage player who hasn’t proved he can be a lead creator.
Wasserman, BP
#58
May 12 Mock Draft Spot: No. 51
School/team: Baylor
Position: SF/PF
Size: 6'7", 213 lbs
Age: 23, Senior
Nationality: American
Pro comparison: Dorian Finney-Smith
Jalen Bridges had some encouraging stretches of shotmaking during scrimmages to follow up a breakout shooting season at Baylor. His measurements likely didn't help, considering Baylor listed him at 6'9", 225 pounds, and he came in under 6'7" in socks.
Midway through the second round, teams could start thinking about the idea of an adaptable, three-and-D wing who can guard both forward spots.
MavsDraft
Pros:
Good rebounder
Successful standstill shooter with an effortless release
Good off-ball mover, both for cuts and for movement 3s
High upside for coming off screens as he irons out minor tweaks in his base from going full sprint to stop
Consistently good rebounder
Low mistake player that doesn’t force bad plays
Good motor that helps him win loose balls
Plays the passing lanes well and does a good job of zone defensive playmaking
Cons:
Has a poor handle and dribbles off his foot/knee too often
A bit stiff in general
Doesn’t get to the line much, largely in part because of the 2 point shots he takes
Struggled in isolation defense, and can be shaken off his spot easily by hard jab steps and by shifty ball-handlers
Swing Skills:
How does his mediocre athleticism limit his game?
…lots more at the original linked report…
Projected draft range: 25-40
Expected role: Off-ball mover with excellent shooting ability.
Unplayable if: A bad shooting night happens and his handle doesn’t improve, and stiff movements limit his defensive ability against quicker ball-handlers.
Exceeds expectations if: Defense hits, shot translates at an almost elite level, and he adds more muscle to his frame.
N'Faly Dante
Center, 6-11, 230lb
BPM #4 (holy cow)
PRPG #23
Yahoo 6-4 #41
TheAthletic 4-19 #69
Wasserman 4-23 #57
Why does BPM love him?
And let me point out that BPM is absolutely INFATUATED with Dante, ranking him the 4th most productive player in the country. For context, #1 is Zach Edey, #2 is Donovan Clingan and #3 is Johni Broome (who returned to school and will be next year’s Trayce Jackson-Davis).
He’s a blocking (5.7% of shots, #83 in the country) machine.
He’s a stealing (3.2% of opp possessions, #136) machine.
He’s a rebounding machine (#199 OREB rate, #61 DREB rate)
Above average at not fouling and at drawing free throws.
His true shooting is very efficient (68.6%, #18).
So basically he does everything that BPM thinks correlates to winning.
Why isn’t he in the first round?
He’s a fifth year senior.
Considered raw offensively.
Apricot’s Highly Questionable Statistical Comps
This is from an experimental program finding closest statistical comparisons to other NCAA players since 2010.
Derrick Favors 2010
Willie Cauley-Stein 2013
Robert Williams 2018 (Time Lord!)
Brandon Clarke 2016
Nerlens Noel 2013
In Dante’s defense, WCS was a really good college player.
Wasserman, NBA.com
Previous mock draft spot: No. 57
Team: Oregon
Position: C
Size: 6-foot-11, 265 lbs
Age/Year: 22, Senior
Nationality: Malian
Pro comparison: Daniel Gafford
Through five postseason games between the NCAAs and Pac-12 tournament, N’Faly Dante averaged 22.4 points on 74.6% shooting. Even though he hasn’t expanded his range or added any ball-handling skill, he’s improved offensively in the paint with his footwork, poise and off-hand. A career 2.8 steal percentage is also extremely rare for a center. Dante has become a name worth watching heading into the predraft process, and more impact two-way play at the combine could further strengthen his chances of being drafted.
NBADraftRoom.com
Dante has elite physical tools pushing 7 feet tall, with a massive wingspan and good coordination and strength, he has a chance to become a special defensive talent. He goes after every shot around the rim and is an intimidating force who causes opponents to think twice before entering the lane.
Although Dante isn’t a polished offensive player he does have good hands and shows good timing on the offensive glass. He takes the ball hard to the rim and uses his impressive reach to get way above the rim with his dunks.
Shows some touch from mid range with a decent looking stroke, although he’s got a long ways to go on the offensive end.
His post game consists mostly of strong moves to the rim, including a power dribble and drop step move. He also has a nice right hand flip hook that he shoots with great height, making it nearly impossible to block.
Has good mobility and changes ends well. Can make plays in transition, showing off his coordination and great length.
Still learning the game, figuring out where to be on the court and which rotations to make on D.
Is very raw on the offensive end, lacking consistency with his outside shot and isn’t a good free throw shooter.
Comparisons
[trigger warning - EA]
Ekpe Udoh+
Hollinger on NBA Combine
Tentacles Award: N’Faly Dante, Oregon
Dante was just OK on the court, but he was the winner of the wingspan measurements that preceded five-on-five play.
Dante has what scouts call a “plus-8 wingspan,” measuring 6-10 without shoes with a 7-6 fingertip-to-fingertip length, the biggest differential of any player at the combine. Since wingspan does correlate with pro success (albeit not as well as some other factors, like, for instance, being good at basketball), this is always a measurement front offices keep an eye on.
Maxwell Baumbach, No Ceilings
Look, I get it. N’Faly Dante is old for a draft prospect, and he’s had some injuries. But the dude is clearly good in a way that scales up to the NBA level. He’s 6’11” with the length, strength, and toughness to bang it out against pros. He’s an effective finisher who never gets fancy with it. He knows who he is and he doesn’t make mistakes. On defense, he moves his feet exceptionally well. When guarding in space, Dante displays the agility you’d expect from a soccer player rather than a man with his size. Still, he has the power and bounce to turn people away at the cup. N’Faly Dante isn’t going to drastically swing the fortunes of an NBA team. But when it comes to lower usage bench spots, competitive teams should be seeking guys who know who they are, who know how to play, and most importantly, actually can play at a high level. That’s N’Faly Dante.
Vote
You can vote here. You can also post a comment vote which counts as 10 votes. (Or both.) However, to officially count, the comment must be include exactly one hashtag out of #Dante and #Bridges.
Funny variations cause extra work for me.
NBA Draft Second Round is coming on Thursday! Holy Toledo
OT: Warriors trivia. Fill in the season:
The 2024 Celtics won their conference by 14 games, which was the biggest margin by any NBA team since the ____ Warriors won the Western conference by 16 games.