Lazar's Draft Stock

[mstang917]

Draft Express's take on Lazar's NBA chances
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NCAA-Weekly-Performers-32410-3419/

[GGGG]

I love Lazar...but he's like Marcus Landry.  Too small for the 4...not quick enough for the 3.  He'll get paid somewhere, maybe even as the 11th or 12th guy on an NBA bench, but I don't think people should expect a Wes Matthews type emergence.

[reinko]

After a solid junior campaign, playing alongside the likes of Jerel McNeal, Dominic James, and Wesley Matthews, Lazar Hayward emerged from their collective shadow as Marquette's top option this season. Playing out of position (at the 4 or even sometimes the 5) in the Golden Eagles' extremely undersized lineup, Hayward showed the competitiveness and toughness that coaches love, but remains notably limited in certain areas.

Possessing solid size and strength for a small forward –the position he'll need to play on the NBA level—Hayward is a physical wing who had success in the NCAA thanks his aggressiveness and role-player skills, not his athleticism. Not terribly quick, looking a little stiff in the open floor for a wing, and not displaying much in the way of explosive leaping ability, Hayward is a limited athlete by NBA standards –a reality that will constantly force him to prove himself against his more athletic peers.

Though his athletic profile unquestionably limits his upside from an NBA perspective, it is hard not to like the way Hayward approaches the game on both ends. Hard-nosed, confident, and unwavering, Hayward has been a consummate team player at Marquette from the moment he stepped on campus. Though he received more touches this season, and subsequently wasn't as efficient as he's been in the past, the composition of Hayward's offensive game has been consistent for most of his career.

Nearly half of Hayward's offensive is composed of jump shots according to Synergy Sports Technology, and while he didn't shoot the outstanding 45% from three that he did as a sophomore, Hayward remains a capable catch and shoot threat. Though he short arms his release on occasion, the senior does a nice job squaring up his body and knocking down his open looks. With roughly a third of his shots coming from behind the arc in each of his seasons at Marquette, Hayward's ability to stretch the floor has always benefitted the guards playing around him.

While his 36.5% shooting in catch and shoot situations is a 4% drop from last season, much of that has to do with the quality of those shots rather than Hayward's shooting itself. Last season, nearly 71% of such shots were categorized as unguarded, while only 38% have been categorized similarly this season. Clearly, Hayward's efficiency as a shooter has a lot to do with his teammates, as he's seldom creating his own shots. Only taking roughly 1 pull-up jump shot each game and knocking down only 22.9%, Hayward isn't much of a midrange threat due to his inability to create space off the dribble and tendency to float through his release instead of jumping straight up and down off the dribble. Right now he projects as almost strictly a spot-up threat.

Aside from his merits as a jump shooter, Hayward also proves to more than capable of scoring in the post and around the basket. Though he lacks great leaping ability, the New York native does an excellent job using his body to attack the baseline off the dribble in face-up situations and to protect the ball when he elevates to score.

Hayward's spot up shooting, face up game, and ability to play tough around the basket all speak to his ability to flourish as a role-player. Doing all of the little things, rebounding the ball at a high rate, and playing a fundamental brand of defense, Hayward thrives as a complementary option. Though he had a productive season as Marquette's leading scorer, his reliance on his teammates for efficiency, lack of dynamic ball-handling and shot creating ability, and his role in half court sets are emblematic of his ideal fit at the next level.

Hayward's dedication and ability on the defensive end are unquestionable, but his potential from an NBA perspective remains problematic. Using his body just as well defensively as he does offensively, Hayward does a very good job getting a hand in the face of shooters when closing out, fighting for position against much bigger players on the block, and holding his ground when his man tries to take him off the dribble.

Extremely sound fundamentally, obviously well-coached, and showing a knack for being in the right place at the right time, the biggest concern about Hayward's defensive potential is his lack of lateral quickness. Spending most of his time defending fours and fives last season, Hayward's ability to deny dribble penetration will be one of the key aspects of his game that teams judge in workouts.

With the Portsmouth Invitational only a few weeks away, Lazar Hayward is the type of player that would surely benefit from a good showing, especially if he can showcase his defensive ability against a collection of better athletes on the wing. A known commodity at this juncture, the holes in Hayward's game may not guarantee him a spot on draft night, but he will at the very least have his suitors in the form of training camp invites and overseas offers.

[mu_hilltopper]

Fingers crossed for Lazar.

Whoa .. That website has a great feature to show all the recruiting rankings for incoming kids since 1998.    Shows 8 different services.

http://www.draftexpress.com/RSCI/2009/

[MerrittsMustache]

For fringe NBA players, so much of making it in the league involves landing on the right team and filling a role.

Wes is a perfect fit in Sloan's system in Utah - he's a smart, hard-nosed player who can defend out on the perimeter.

IMO, Novak would fit in nicely in a place like Orlando, where he could shoot 3s and have a shot-blocker down low helping him out when he gets beat on D. The Clippers are a train-wreck of a franchise and the sooner he gets out of there the better.

Diener is a smart player who can handle the ball and hit open looks. He has had, and should continue to have, a nice career as a back-up PG.

Lazar could probably fit in well with a veteran team like San Antonio. He's a tough, fundamentally sound, team-first player who can knock down open shots from the perimeter. There are teams out there who could use a guy like that on their bench...perhaps pretty far down the bench, but on the bench nonetheless.

[4everwarriors]

Analysis is very accurate in describing Lazar's game. While he has all the intangibles and appears to be a good citizen, Hayward is a man without a position. Look for him in Europe as well.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Analysis is very accurate in describing Lazar's game. While he has all the intangibles and appears to be a good citizen, Hayward is a man without a position. Look for him in Europe as well.

Should we have another go at the bet....I'll take NBA for him and you take non-NBA?

[CAINMUTINY]

The thing that bodes well for Zar is his ability to shoot; lateral quickness is an issue for plenty of decent players in the NBA.

[Nukem2]

Obviously, being drafted or signed by the right team is key for Zar's NBA chances.  If not, he could have a very long and lucrative European career.

[Hards Alumni]

Should we have another go at the bet....I'll take NBA for him and you take non-NBA?

I'll take a little of that action...

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Didn't I just see the Spurs put a 6'6" guy out there to defend against Pao Gasol?
Seems Like I did and I immediately thought of Lazar

[flash]

I think he will get drafted somewhere in the secon round.  I think he can develop into a solid NBA player because of his experience and toughness.  I think he dos have a poition, small foreward.  He may not be the prototypical NBA small foreward but he is used to playing against much bigger players.  I think he will have a nice NBA career. 

[reinko]

Didn't I just see the Spurs put a 6'6" guy out there to defend against Pao Gasol?
Seems Like I did and I immediately thought of Lazar

You mean DeJuan Blair?  And yes he is about 6'6" maybe 6'7"  And if I were a betting man, Lazar is closer to 6'4" than 6'6".

[BrewCity83]

I'm pretty sure Lazar is actually around 6' -4 1/2", without shoes.

[GGGG]

I think he will get drafted somewhere in the secon round.  I think he can develop into a solid NBA player because of his experience and toughness.  I think he dos have a poition, small foreward.  He may not be the prototypical NBA small foreward but he is used to playing against much bigger players.  I think he will have a nice NBA career. 

Every NBA player, except for the knuckleheads, have "experience" and "toughness."  He has to be skilled.  If he pushes his range out to the NBA 3-point range and can hit it consistently, then he may have a place on an NBA roster.  Otherwise, he's simply undersized and lacking in explosiveness.  He's got a great attitude, so he'd do fine at the end of a bench...and he may just stick because of it.  But my guess is that he will be NBDL or Europe.

[tower912]

Hard to argue with the article.   Tough, fearless, well coached, fundamentally sound, good shooter.      Undersized with questionable lateral quickness.   Who is he going to guard, particularly at 6'4 1/2?   Can he put the ball on the floor and attack the rim from the wing?    If he can, we haven't seen it very often.     Thank you, Lazar, for a great 4 years. 

[ATL MU Warrior]

I'm pretty sure Lazar is actually around 6' -4 1/2", without shoes.

I've never seen an NBA game played barefoot so you might as well let him have the extra inch-inch and a half 

[jficke13]

have you ever seen a guy who's 6'4" 1/2 play bigger than Lazar?

He needs to find the right situation to catch on in the NBA, but if he does, he's got the strength/physicality to secure a spot on a bench somewhere.

[flash]

Every NBA player, except for the knuckleheads, have "experience" and "toughness." 

This is simply just not true.  8 out of the first 14 picks in this years NBA draft are either freshman or sophomores.  I don't think i am mistaken to say that a freshman or sophomore does not have the same ammount of experience as Lazar.  Most of these young lottery picks are immature projects that will take a few years to reach their full potetial.  Lazar's intangibles, work ethic and good attitude will find him a job somewhere in the NBA.  www.nbadraft.net has Lazar going in the second round 41st overall to Chicago.  

[reinko]

This is simply just not true.  8 out of the first 14 picks in this years NBA draft are either freshman or sophomores.  I don't think i am mistaken to say that a freshman or sophomore does not have the same ammount of experience as Lazar.  Most of these young lottery picks are immature projects that will take a few years to reach their full potetial.  Lazar's intangibles, work ethic and good attitude will find him a job somewhere in the NBA.  www.nbadraft.net has Lazar going in the second round 41st overall to Chicago.  

Zar's SKILLZ on the court will get him a job somewhere in the NBA.  Demarcus Cousins shows little work ethic and has a horrible attitude, and will get drafted in the top 5.  Those other things are nice, but NBA GM's won't pay some 23 year old rookie, $500K because he is nice and tries hard.

[GGGG]

Zar's SKILLZ on the court will get him a job somewhere in the NBA.  Demarcus Cousins shows little work ethic and has a horrible attitude, and will get drafted in the top 5.  Those other things are nice, but NBA GM's won't pay some 23 year old rookie, $500K because he is nice and tries hard.

Yes.  Thank you.  We went through the same arguments last year regarding McNeal. 

[MerrittsMustache]

have you ever seen a guy who's 6'4" 1/2 play bigger than Lazar?

Yes. Charles Barkley.

[Hards Alumni]

Yes.  Thank you.  We went through the same arguments last year regarding McNeal. 

+1, and this is why I'd put money on not getting drafted.

[4everwarriors]

Should we have another go at the bet....I'll take NBA for him and you take non-NBA?

You're on bro. Just define when (date) you're betting that he is listed on an NBA roster.

[ChicosBailBonds]

You're on bro. Just define when (date) you're betting that he is listed on an NBA roster.

By opening day of the 2010-11 season