Previewing the Grizzlies Summer League - Gauging The Potential Of Simi Shittu

Shockwaves from the Grizzlies' 2019 draft reverberated throughout the NBA. The team's front office acquired Ja Morant with the second overall selection, and traded up to pair him with quick jump specialist Brandon Clarke, forming a formidable tandem. As a result, Grizzlies fans from far and wide have grown considerably more optimistic about the team's promising future. As the Grizzlies adapt to the current state of the league by transitioning from Grit N' Grind to a new 'Grit N' Motion' offense, they must bring in players with potential in the open floor. 

Simisola "Simi" Shittu qualifies as a raw, high upside big that can potentially thrive out in transition. Standing at a chiseled 6'10 (6.2% body fat at the combine), Simi possesses a unique handle, and can be effective attacking the basket. Relative to his size, he is surprisingly agile with the ball in his hands. Simi sports an effective Euro step, which projects to be deadly in one-on-one scenarios in summer league. At Vanderbilt, he regularly utilized this move, pulling the ball over his defender's head, and escaping past his man. Importantly, Simi will be able to cue fast breaks at the professional level, pushing the tempo with his outlet pass, or driving the ball up the floor himself. In terms of his handle, Simi must do a better job of protecting the ball when met with double teams. His handle is still relatively loose at this stage, and he could stand to tighten it up in some ways - refining the height of his dribble first and foremost. 

With that said, Simi was a mixed bag attacking the basket in his freshman season at Vanderbilt. Simi often initiated his rim runs from beyond the three point line (or bringing the ball up the floor in transition), as he would typically fake a hand off before opting to beat his man off the bounce. Because of his unique agility with the ball in his hands, Shittu was able to draw 5.4 fouls per 40 minutes, 6th best in the SEC. He did a nice job of initiating contact this season, but must work to avoid charging straight into his man at the next level. On the flip side, Simi struggled finishing at the rim, mostly because of his poor body control. Importantly, Simi must work on his 'contact balance', or ability to absorb contact (from the defender) and remain under control. At Vanderbilt, Simi was consistently thrown off his spot and opted to shoot extremely off balance scoop layups. Statistically, he shot a remarkably poor 49.6% from 2-point range (44% in conference play [as competition improved]), though most of his shots were taken close to the basket. With improved balance and better concentration, Simi would likely have been able to finish many of his shots at the rim with ease. Like many freshman, Simi seemed to play fast and often forced the issue when he was not receiving an appropriate number of post touches.

On the interior, Simi was effective as a back to the basket weapon, with a half hook and a quick drop step-spin move in his arsenal. He appeared most comfortable here and typically finished balanced, off two feet, contrasting his tendency to clumsily finish off one foot when driving the lane. He must continue to improve his lower body strength so that he can initiate his post moves quicker and closer to the rim. Importantly, Simi must fight for deep post position, working to seal his man on the block. Frustratingly, Simi's teammates failed to find him on countless possessions where he was open on the block, and this likely was a contributing factor in his decision to leave early. In terms of his ability to secure offensive rebounds, Simi did a poor job mixing it up inside on the offensive glass at Vanderbilt, and instead tended to float along the perimeter - where he was a non-threat.

With that said, Simi Shittu is a capable rebounder, with solid strength, a 7'1 wingspan, and decent box out fundamentals. While he was a below average presence on the glass at the offensive end, Simi habitually fought on the defensive glass, out-muscling more physical opponents and working to establish position. His 21.3% Defensive Rebounding % was the 5th best in the SEC this season. Once he secured a board, Simi would typically look to push the tempo, which is where his potential lies for the Grizzlies. All in all, Simi's rebounding ability should translate to the next level, though he must improve his assertiveness on the offensive glass.

In terms of his most glaring weakness, Simi's shot is no where near ready for a higher level of play. His 5.6% three point percentage (on 18 attempts) was abysmal at Vanderbilt, and he needs to work with player development coaches on his mechanics. His poor balance was also evident when he was forced to step into his shot or move beyond the three point line. Instead of pointing his toes in a staggered manner in the direction of the hoop, he occasionally fanned his left foot towards the scorer's table, leading to awful balance and poor lift for his jumper. Even when he did properly get his feet under him to shoot, he shot the ball on the way down from his jump. Optically, he also must work to make his shot more fluid and less mechanical. If he does not make significant strides in this area, defenders at the next level will slack off him and render him a non-threat. He must improve significantly here if he ever hopes to earn a shot at the NBA.

Despite this, Simi possesses unique potential as a passing big man. Operating mostly from the high post or beyond the three point line, Simi does a nice job of feeding both cutters and post weapons high-low. He has good vision when attacking the basket, and is often patient, drawing multiple defenders before hitting cutters. Simi needs to do a better job kicking the ball out along the perimeter, particularly towards the top of the key, when he draws defensive attention. This type of ball movement is a pivotal part of NBA offenses. While Garland's injury impacted the pace at which Vanderbilt played, it is clear that Simi would thrive passing the ball in an up tempo offense, as he did in his first contest against Winthrop.

On the defensive end of the ball, Simi improved considerably from his first college game. He still must grow as a rim protector, utilizing his length to contest shots in help defense, instead of sticking with his man and allowing easy layups. He possesses good fundamentals contesting without fouling at the rim, utilizing every bit of his 7'1 wingspan and displaying remarkable verticality, which altered many shots last year. Also, Simi does an excellent job contesting three point shooters without fouling. He often disrupts opposing offenses by getting his hands in passing lanes and deflecting the ball. Despite this, Simi was surprisingly unproductive on the defensive end of the floor at Vanderbilt, posting a 2.0% block rate, good for 39th best in the SEC. Simi tends to get beat on switches and must improve his defense in space, particularly out of pick and roll sets. He tends to float in no man's land at times, which will allow for easy jumpers and/or layups at the next level. While Simi must still remember to stay in his defensive stance, especially along the perimeter, he improved considerably here by the time conference play started. Simi also was much more vocal on the defensive end towards the back half of the season, and this was clearly reflected in his team's hotly contested overtime battle with in-state rival Tennessee at home. 

Overall, at 19 years old, Simi Shittu is still young enough to develop his game, and must utilize his opportunity in summer league to build on his freshman year. If he refines his shot, improves his balance, and learns to properly defend pick and roll sets, Simi has a shot. Otherwise, as Fran Fraschilla famously put it, he is "two years away from being two years away." 


(Photos courtesy of insidehalton.com and anchorofgold.com)

Previewing the Grizzlies Summer League - Intriguing Stretch Four Lyle Hexom

Shockwaves from the Grizzlies' 2019 draft reverberated throughout the NBA. The team's front office acquired Ja Morant with the second overall selection, and traded up to pair him with quick jump specialist Brandon Clarke, forming a formidable tandem. As a result, Grizzlies fans from far and wide have grown considerably more optimistic about the team's promising future. But, as the Grizzlies adapt to the current state of the league by transitioning from Grit N' Grind to a new 'Grit N' Motion' offense, they must still address what plagued them during their playoff runs: a lack of viable three point shooting. 

6'8 summer league invite and Peru State (NAIA) grad, Lyle Hexom, certainly can fill this void. This non-DI standout is the consummate stretch big, connecting on 42.9% of his 259 attempts from three point range last season. He sports a sweet stroke (compact and quick) with a high enough release point to shoot over the top of most perimeter defenders at the next level. He typically gets his shot off the catch, but can shot fake and step into his shot as well. At Peru St, he incorporated this shooting within the flow of the team's offense, and has deep NBA range.   

Consequently, Hexom's most defining feature and what makes him a verifiable NBA prospect at this stage is his proficiency operating in the pick and roll. Hexom utilized his solid upper body strength to set hard picks, either out of pick and roll sets or for his teammates cutting back door. Considering that Hexom is extremely light/quick on his feet, he is very nimble operating as a roll man, and does a nice job of gaining separation when darting to the basket. He slips screens incredibly well. This is an elite aspect of his game. If he is overplayed, Hexom does a nice job of reading the situation and fading to the perimeter, where he makes defenses pay with his dead eye accuracy from distance. Thus, he was remarkably effective operating on the perimeter for Peru State. When he decided to cut inside, Hexom finished with finesse at the rim, but has the run-jump athleticism to throw down dunks over his opponents as well. 

While he functioned predominantly as a stretch, Hexom was effective inside when he decided to go down there. He moved well without the ball, which led to some easy finishes around the rim. As a post man, Hexom demonstrated some quick spin moves on the block and was able to get by quicker/smaller defenders with ease. He did not take too long to let the play develop when operating in the post, a common tendency for bigger players at the NAIA level. While he was able to score as a back to the basket option at Peru State (with a nice jump hook in his arsenal), he does not possess the lower body strength to hold/establish deep post position on the block at the next level. Instead, he will likely operate as a faceup player, which was one of his greatest strengths this past year. With that said, he must continue to develop his handle so that he is not stripped at the next level. More than likely, though, Hexom will operate mainly along the perimeter in summer league and professionally moving forward, opting to post up only on rare occasions. 

Although he posted an abysmal 0.68-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, Hexom is a decent passer, particularly to cutters in the lane. He is capable feeding the post, but does still have a tendency to throw chest passes, which are more readily picked off. It is important to remember that Hexom's handle is still underdeveloped, despite the fact that he spent considerable time playing along the perimeter. Also, when handling up top, Hexom tended to focus on getting his shot off, rather than creating for his teammates. He needs to be stronger with the ball when met with double teams, but his basic vision passing out of traps/double downs should translate.   

In terms of his rebounding prowess, Hexom did a nice job of corralling loose balls for Peru St., particularly on the defensive glass. He was physical and utilized his solid length and leaping ability to track down boards, to the tune of over 8 drpg. Hexom was also effective on the offensive glass at the NAIA level when he opted to do so, but was not always assertive crashing the glass on the offensive end (~20% of his rebounds), instead choosing to float along the perimeter. He needs to display a better motor following up misses and not just running back on defense. While he does have a good nose for the ball, Hexom must fight harder to obtain post positioning and use better fundamentals boxing out, if he hopes to make an impact on the glass at the next level. At Peru St, he relied extensively on his size and athleticism to get the job done. 

The defensive end, however, is where Hexom will have to make the most strides in order to stick at the NBA level. Despite utilizing his length to be productive at the NAIA level with 2.38 blocks per game and 1.29 steals per game, Hexom still possesses notable flaws on this side of the ball. Most importantly, he lacks NBA-level lateral quickness and is too upright in his stance, allowing for perimeter players to drive right by him on switches. When the ball enters the post, he tended to concede deep post position to players with no business operating on the block. He needs to be more physical chesting his man outside. While he does occasionally contest with good verticality at the rim, Hexom is inconsistent in this regard and either allows his man to score, or swings his arms down. Importantly, Hexom is extremely foul prone and tends to reach, rather than defending with his body. While Hexom can get by as a 1 on 1 defender due to decent length, he must improve defending in space. At Peru St, he was not effective as a help defender at the rim, allowing some easy buckets at times. Further, he tended to slack off shooters and struggled chasing down perimeter players coming off of screens. When he does close out on shooters, he utilizes his excellent length to contest. 

All in all, while Hexom's defense will be a bit of an achilles heel at the next level, he is an elite pick and roll player with a sweet shooting stroke that could catch on in summer league and beyond.   

(Photos courtesy of pscbobcats.com and omaha.com)

The Case for 'Didi' Louzada: The Perfect Answer to an Imperfect Trade

While yesterday's Mike Conley deal did not net a commensurate return in terms of available young assets (due to protections, the second 1st round pick in this trade will likely convey in 2022), the Jazz did send their #23 pick as part of the deal (or more technically, they will select for the Grizzlies at this spot), which places the rebuilding Grizzlies firmly in a position to pick up some young talent. And, no player is flying further under the radar than Brazil's 19-year old phenom, Marcos 'Didi' Louzada.

This past season, Louzada was arguably the most talented youth in Brazil's domestic league, the NBB. Not a traditional powerhouse, his team - Franca - powered all the way to the final, only to lose to Anderson Varejao's Flamengo squad. And Didi was a pivotal part of this success. 

In final's action, Didi did not receive significant minutes for the first half of this series. But, by the fifth and final game, he not only saw significant playing time, but was his team's leading scorer throughout most of the contest. Unfortunately, Didi hyperextended his elbow and was forced to leave part way through the game. Still, his performance in the NBB playoffs highlighted his strengths and weaknesses on both ends of the floor.

Most importantly, Didi Louzada projects as a ballhawk at the next level. He was the most impressive defensive player that I witnessed in the NBB, boasting elite lateral quickness, which places him in rare company in the 2019 draft class. While still somewhat unrefined, Didi Louzada's defensive instincts, activity, vocal approach, and overall tenacity lead me to believe that he can develop into a lockdown wing at the NBA level. When examining film, the most evident thing that jumps out is Louzada's lateral quickness and ability to track his man. All season long, while defending on the perimeter, Didi was glued to his man's hip. He fought hard over the top of screens and regularly shadowed his man, limiting the effectiveness of both rub screens and pin downs. Didi is a willing help defender and regularly switches or leaves his man to defend the ball at the rim. He possesses quick and active hands, getting low in his stance and regularly stripping the ball without fouling. 

With that said, he has a tendency to over-help at times, and this is particularly evident against strong side three point shooters. Louzada has a tendency of doubling offensive players attacking the rim, which leaves some perimeter shooters open on the strong side. Due to his elite quickness, Didi is often able to recover back to his man. But, this will not always be the case at the NBA level. Additionally, he does struggle at times to defend stronger players who are able to create space against him. Flamengo's Marquinhos, for example, often got the better of him by creating space and connecting on balanced jump shots. Given his innate ability to track and recover on offensive players, Didi must do a better job of selling push offs. In terms of closing out on shooters, Didi does an excellent job of extending his arm at the right moment when closing out on three pointers. With that said, he must be careful when contesting these shots at the next level, as players will draw a foul from beyond the arc if Didi extends his arm too early. Under the tutelage of NBA coaches, coupled with elite strength and conditioning programs, Didi should make these adjustments rather easily. 

On the offensive end, Didi is mainly a three point shooter with a high basketball IQ. Though he is somewhat streaky, Louzada shot 42.7% on his 7.3 3 pt attempts per 40 minutes, due in large part to his consistent mechanics. While he does not sport the most fluid looking stroke - failing to release the ball at its apex and maintaining a very slight hitch - his shot was effective for most of the season. Didi is capable shooting off the catch or off the dribble, though the vast majority of his three point shots came off drive and kick plays. Additionally, the vast majority of the three point attempts that I witnessed were uncontested and a result of dribble penetration in Franca's four-out sets. As a result, I believe that Louzada still has room to improve as a shooter, though I expect him to excel shooting corner threes the second he enters the league. Didi must also develop more of a mid range game in the NBA, if he hopes to keep defenses honest. In terms of his post moves, Didi had been able to back down his man at the NBB level, before implementing a textbook drop step and finish. I do not believe that this will translate to the next level, however.  

In terms of his ability to attack the basket, Didi possesses a very quick first step. He is an excellent athlete with the requisite creativity to avoid defenders and streak to the basket, finishing with exceptional hangtime. When getting downhill, Louzada's Euro step is deadly, and he is creative enough to finish at the summit. While he thrived attacking the rim at the NBB level, he will need to make some adjustments if he hopes to experience the same level of success in the NBA. To do so, he must first fine tune his handle, which is rather rudimentary at this stage. Importantly, he has not mastered any hesitation moves to keep defenses off balance simply because he has always been able to beat his man with a quick first step. Additionally, though his dribble is fairly high off the ground, Didi does an excellent job of shielding the ball, rarely turning it over. He must make adjustments here, though, if he hopes to be effective against NBA traps and double teams.   

While Didi's elite tools give me confidence that he can develop as a slasher at the next level, his inability to finish through contact at the rim is still concerning. Importantly, Didi's play must be examined in the context of his four-out offense. Most of the film on Louzada shows that he rarely was met with a secondary defender at the rim after beating his man off the dribble, due in large part to his team's spacing. Given the fact that most of Franca's bigs were capable shooters on the perimeter, opposing defenses were rarely able to help on Didi. Thus, he often had one man to beat before scoring at the rim. This will change at the NBA level, where interior players possess far superior lateral quickness and rim protection. With that said, I believe that with improved strength and concentration, Louzada will be able to make significant strides in this area at the next level. 

With regard to his basketball IQ, Didi's strong floor vision was masked by Franca's static four-out offense. Their sets featured limited movement off the ball, and as a result, Louzada was not able to showcase his elite vision hitting cutters - something that defined his play at the Nike Hoops Summit. To put this offense into context, a favorable comparison might be the Houston Rockets when Harden opts to go one on one, rather than utilizing pick and roll sets. Within the context of Franca's system, Didi did an excellent job spacing the floor and occasionally fed the post or hit cutters when met with a double team. Set apart from the context of his NBB offense at the Nike Hoops Summit, Louzada was extremely unselfish (often too unselfish) facilitating for his teammates, and demonstrated his knack for seeing plays before they developed. He consistently hit the roll man and did this before hunting his own shot. While he still must fine tune his handle, Didi Louzada should develop into an effective pick and roll player at the NBA level, due to his exceptional vision and quickness. 

Ultimately, Didi's willingness to move without the ball and facilitate for his teammates makes him the perfect complement for master floor general Ja Morant in the Grizzlies' newly minted up tempo offense. Importantly, Didi is very effective in transition, and most assuredly Morant will push the pace. Further, given his elite athleticism and attention to detail boxing out, Didi Louzada is an effective rebounder who can leak out in transition. All in all, 6'6 Marcos Louzada is a special athlete who already spaces the floor and defends. While I have read some reports suggesting Didi is a decent draft-and-stash candidate, I do not believe that his skillset is best suited to develop in Europe. Didi's speed and athleticism will be most valuable in an up tempo offense. And, in order to ultimately reach his potential, Didi must become more effective in pick and roll sets, which are commonplace in the NBA. Importantly, it should be noted that Didi has received limited fanfare largely because Franca continued to play into June, and it is possible that he has slipped under the radar, given that he only recently started working out for NBA teams. Do not let the lack of buzz fool you: Marcos Louzada is the steal of the 2019 draft and should be the Memphis Grizzlies' selection at 23.           

Images Courtesy of: Basquete de Franca, FIBA Basketball