Noah Vonleh
Feb 12, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tim Frazier (23) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Noah Vonleh (1) battle for a rebound during the first half at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Fifth on the list is Noah Vonleh. Why did he drop? In the eyes of NBA executives, he climbed up the mock drafts because of his athletic testing and massive hands. Results matter more to me than just passing tests. What good are hands if he’s one of the most turnover prone forwards in the lottery? He’s not a playmaker. He has excellent 3-point range and tremendous rebounding ability. But, for a guy who has a 7’4″ wingspan and mitts for hands, don’t you want a guy who dominates in the paint? Vonleh wasn’t that guy. In terms of athletic testing, he surprised people with his vertical ability, and yet, rarely finished so well with contact. It doesn’t make sense. When Jonathan Givony made the comparison to Tristan Thompson, having all of the physical tools but not the best IQ, I was convinced. Boston can have him. The Lakers don’t have time for a project.