Five Vegas Pro League Prospects To Watch (w/videos)
By Mike Garcia
Daniel Orton
Daniel Orton has had a rough start to his NBA career. After being picked 29th by the Orlando Magic in 2010, his progression as a player has been limited.
He is a project center with limited skill level. What he does have is a rare talent. He has a combination of a great motor, 7’4″ wingspan, and soft hands. While he’s listed at 6’10” with shoes on from his draft combine, he plays bigger than his size indicates.
Kendrick Perkins was a raw center and needed a lot of work to become the defensive anchor for the Boston Celtics. He didn’t do it with shotblocking. He did do it with post-defense, clogging the lane, and bumping out the opposition out of the paint for rebounding opportunities.
Orton has all the physical tools, and if developed well, can be a solid contributor at the center position. The risk is low, but the upside would be tremendously high if he worked out as a player.
Just four months ago, he had a 26 point, 16 rebound perfomance for the NBDL. He even hit a 3-pointer. His rebound and steal rate per-40 minutes played are outstanding based on Vegas Pro League play.