Texas Legends Prospect Report

Daryl Macon (Two-way w/ DAL)

Age: 23

Height: 6’3”

Position: Combo Guard

Stats:

 

Strengths

• Good size for a PG at 6’3”
• Not elite, but good first step
• Advanced handle: hanging crossovers, hesitation moves, etc.
• Speed in the open floor to finish in transition
• Changes speeds well
• Can get up vertically in space
• Touch on shots around the rim
• Understands how to run PnR: snake dribbles, puts his man in jail, manipulates the defensive big
• Very versatile jumper: stepbacks, pullups, off crossovers
• Gets to the line
• Great vision, sees the whole floor
• Shows he can compete at times defensively, will pressure up although sometimes to his detriment

Weaknesses

• Right hand dominant
• Developing decision making
• Not great fighting through screens off ball
• Not great mirroring on ball defensively
• Weak frame, probably not very switchable
• Not a great midrange shooter
• Not the most explosive player in traffic

 

 

Takeaway

I think he has all the tools to be an effective combo guard off the bench at the NBA level. He didn’t dominate at summer league, but I believed in him in college too. I think he can score and distribute at the NBA level. Don’t know how much time he’ll get in one of the most crowded PG rotations in the league, but my guess is the Mavs find minutes for him late in the season if they drop out of the playoff race.

 

Kostas Antetokounmpo (Two-way w/ DAL)

Age: 21

Height: 6’11”

Position: Center

Played Previous Season for: Dayton

Stats:

Strengths

• Incredible length that effects plays around the rim and clogs passing lanes
• Can handle in the open floor with space, will push in transition
• Very hard to score over when he walls up
• Impressive fluidity on some of his drives
• Very agile for someone his size
• Good lob target in PnR
• Very athletic, gets up well off one or two feet

 

Weaknesses

• Tries to do way too much off the dribble, high turnover player (18% TOV%)
• No jumper at all yet, 2 of 21 on shots not at the rim
• Poor finisher on the rim, bad touch, doesn’t handle contact well (only 59% at the rim)
• Very weak, gets pushed around easily for post position
• Can’t hold rebounding position
• Not very disciplined yet, will go after shots he can’t get and give up offensive rebounds
• Not the best positioning in PnR defense/Rim Protection

 

 

Takeaway

The exact type of player a team should want on a two-way contract. Has some wow type skills with his length and athleticism. He’s very rough around the edges right now with his decision making, skill level, and strength. His rare attributes make him a player worth investing in though. Will be very interested to see how much he’s improved by the end of the year. Could be a contributor if he figures things out.

 

Ray Spalding (Under Contract w/ DAL)

Age: 21

Height: 6’10”

Position: PF/C

Previous Season Played for: Louisville

Stats:

Strengths

• Exceptional length, gets tons of deflections
• Good passer for his position, can make quick reads
• Active on the offensive glass, good motor
• Can put the ball on the floor on straight line drives
• Length helps him to dunk with ease in finishing situations
• Improved jumper, showing more versatility

 

Weaknesses

• Not a great athlete
• Not very flexible or agile
• Weak base, can be pushed around
• Shooting confidence exceeds his shooting ability. 29% from 3pt range, wasn’t a good shooter in college. Don’t love his mechanics, kind of a catapult motion at times
• Not a creator offensively, no advanced handle or burst to create separation in iso situations
• Below average defensive instincts, needs to learn positioning
• Doesn’t have recovery speed

 

 

 

Takeaway

Spalding has shown some nice improvement with his jumper. He has the tools to be an impact player defensively, some offensive feel, and can contribute on the offensive glass. I don’t know if he’ll shoot and finish at a high enough level to stay on the floor and I question whether he can switch effectively on the perimeter. Does some things decently but I don’t think he has an NBA skill yet.

 

Codi Miller-McIntyre (Available to Sign)

Age: 24

Height: 6’3”

Position: PG

Previous Season Played for: Parma Basket Perm (VTB United League)

Stats:

Strengths

• Strong frame
• Good PG skills, reads the floor well, makes good decisions
• Can hit the roll man with on target lobs
• Can attack closeouts and finish at the basket with touch
• Great defensive instincts off ball
• Terrific nose for the ball defensively
• Knows rotations, plays passing lanes well, blows up plays
• Good hands defensively

 

Weaknesses

• Below the rim athlete that lacks ability to create separation consistently
• Poor shooter, shooting just 24%. Shooting over 4 a game though. Was never a good shooter in college
• Not the quickest laterally
• Lacks creation ability in iso situations
• Doubt he’ll be able to finish at the rim against bigger centers
• No midrange game

 

 

Takeaway

Miller-McIntyre is interesting because of his combination of passing and defense. He’s got an NBA body as well. If he could develop a 3pt shot he might be capable of contributing at the NBA level, but even then he has very limited upside as someone who lacks much creation ability in iso situations. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on.

 

Jameel Warney (Available to sign)

Age: 24

Height: 6’8”

Position: PF

Previous Season Played for: Texas Legends

Stats:

Strengths

• Amazing footwork on the block
• Great touch on awkward looking floater, surprising range on it too
• Carves out space with thick lower body and low center of gravity
• Finds a way to finish on the inside despite no vertical with flip shots and different release angles
• Has added a 3pt shot this year (albeit not a very effective one)
• Terrific passer, makes quick reads and sees the whole floor
• Understands defensive positioning, executes

 

Weaknesses

• Very poor footspeed
• Can’t slide laterally with wings even
• Won’t be very effective attacking closeouts and getting all the way to the basket
• Not a strong 3pt shooter, teams won’t be concerned leaving him open in PnP situations
• Can’t switch defensively
• Too small to really impact plays at the rim in help situations

 

 

Takeaway

Warney is a hell of a player at the G-League level, but it seems unlikely that his total lack of athleticism will reach the baseline level necessary to play at the NBA level. He’s too small to be an effective center and too slow to guard the perimeter. Combine that with his lack of outside shooting and he’s a very difficult fit. His passing, footwork, and floaters do however make him one of the most fun players to watch in the G-League.