NBA Draft Prospects: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

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Stats: 14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 57.5% FG, 34% 3PT

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 223 lb, 21 yrs old
  
• Combine: 6'9 1/4" (in shoes), 240 lb, 7'1 1/4" (wingspan
  

About Him: Generally speaking, when you leave the collegiate ranks with eligibility left, you want to do so after having a really good season, at the very least showing improvement from the year before.

Not Patrick Patterson. Considered a potential lottery pick had he left after his sophomore season, Patterson returned to Kentucky as the chance to play for John Calipari alongside an extremely talented group of freshman -- and make an NCAA Tournament appearance -- was more appealing than pursuing the NBA. As a result, Patterson's numbers took a bit of a hit, as he had, statistically, the worst season of his collegiate career. But in doing so, he may have made himself more attractive to NBA teams.

You see, Patterson probably isn't destined to be a star in the league. He's got good size (over 6'9" in shoes), excellent length (7'2"), and definitely has the frame to be an NBA four, and while he's a good athlete, Patterson is far from a Chris Bosh or a Gerald Wallace in terms of physical tools. In other words, he's not the kind of athlete to go over, go around, or go through a defender.

Offensively, there are some things to like about Patterson. He's an excellent finisher in and around the rim. While he's not like a Dwight Howard -- he probably won't be making too many highlight reel dunks -- his strong frame allows him to absorb contact, and he's difficult to block with that 7'2" wingspan. His post game is solid as well. He doesn't have an overwhelming array of back-to-the-basket moves, but what he does have in his arsenal -- a nice jump hook, a couple power moves -- is effective.

One of the most notable improvements that Patterson has made this season is that he has added the ability to knock down a perimeter jumper with range to the college three point line. While he is strictly a catch-and-shoot (with a lot of time) guy right now, Patterson has actually showed pretty solid form on the perimeter, and the fact that he has always been a decent free throw shooter (despite the 69% he shot this season) makes it believable that this aspect of his game could develop even more.

The next aspect of Patterson's game that he needs to develop is his face-up game. Prior to this season, Patterson was essentially a center for his entire life, playing with-in 8 feet of the rim and using his size and strength to do his damage. With Cousins on the roster this year, Patterson was forced to spend much more time on the perimeter, which he will be doing in the NBA as well. While that jumper developed, Patterson still struggled when he was forced to put the ball on the floor and create, which is understandable. That should develop with time and effort, and given the improvement to that jumper -- and his work in the class room, graduating in three years -- its pretty evident that Patterson is a hard worker and a quick learner.

If there is a knock on Patterson, it is that he doesn't always play as strong as he is. Patterson is a big, muscular guy, but he tends to get pushed around in the paint, both defensively and when boxing out. He's never been a great defensive rebounder (he is a good offensive rebounder, however), although the terrible numbers he had this year were likely a result of spending more time on the perimeter and the emergence of DeMarcus Cousins as a human mountain, or post defender, which is something NBA teams will be looking for from him as a role player at the next level.

Comparison:

• Best Case Scenario: I really like the Carl Landry comparison. I think Patterson is exactly that kind of player. I think a rich man's Paul Millsap also works.
  
• Worst Case Scenario: Leon Powe the year he won a ring with the Celtics, or a Brandon Bass kind of player. Either way, I expect Patterson to be a solid contributor for a decade in the league.
  

Outlook: Patrick Patterson does a lot of things well on a basketball court; there are a lot of reasons to believe that he will be a valuable asset in the NBA. But perhaps the most ideal part about Patterson right now is that he has proven that stats don't matter to him. He is fine deferring to more talented teammates. That's why his numbers took a hit this season, and why he was fine changing position with Cousins and Daniel Orton joining the fray. He's a talented, hand-working big man with size, length, and athleticism that doesn't mind playing second or third, or even fourth, fiddle. I don't see any reason he won't be a valuable role player at the next level.

Highlights: