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Portland Trail Blazers: Potential second round steals in the NBA Draft

By Spencer Poole

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: (L-R) NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Abdoulaye N'Doye, Cholet Basket, Photo by Sandra Ruhaut/Icon Sport via Getty Images

Cholet Basket (France). 3. player. Scouting Report. Guard/Forward. 34. Pick Analysis. Abdoulaye N'Doye

After declaring for last year’s draft and receiving little to no interest, Abdoulaye N’doye rescinded his name and spent another year cultivating his game in France.

The move paid off in spades, he had his best season to date with Cholet in the LNB Pro A league, earning his first all-star selection. N’doye improved upon nearly every aspect of his game last season, especially on the offensive end.

Offensively, N’doye is an interesting prospect to say the least. Standing at 6’7”, he played the majority of last season at point guard and proved to be an effective passer, averaging over 4 assists per game with a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio. While he may not end up playing point guard in the NBA, he has proven himself to be a reliable passer and has great potential as a secondary playmaker who occasionally runs the point.

As a scorer, N’Doye was very efficient last season. He shot 54 percent on his two-pointers, 44 percent from deep, and a respectable 75 percent from the line. While impressive numbers, they are slightly deceiving. N’Doye got a lot of easy buckets inside going against smaller guards and while he was efficient around the rim, he still has a propensity to sometimes start a drive without thinking about where it is going to end first, leading to some ugly shots.

From beyond the arc, he shot very well but only on 1.4 attempts per game. NBA teams are going to want him to shoot from downtown at a higher volume and it is yet to be seen whether he will be able to keep up good efficiency.

As a defender is where N’Doye really has the potential to be something special. He has an incredible 7’2” wingspan which he can use to guard nearly every position on the court. He also has very quick hands, averaging nearly a steal and a half over his past two seasons in France. Mikal Bridges and Robert Covington are two similar defenders who come to mind when thinking of N’Doye’s defensive potential. One knock on his defensive game is that quicker guards tend to give him trouble and he can get blown by rather easily by speedy players.

For the Portland Trail Blazers, N’Doye would make a great second-round selection. He has the potential to be a quality 3-and-D player with the added bonus of being an above-average ball handler and passer. The one nagging question is whether he will come to play in America right away after just recently signing a deal with Monaco. But either way, N’Doye has the potential to be an absolute steal at the 46th pick.

NBA Comparison: Nicolas Batum