NBA Draft Profiles: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State

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Stats: 15.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, 2.5 apg

Age: 19, sophomore

Size:

• Listed: 6'7", 225 lb
• Official: 6'6" (no shoes), 6'7" (with shoes), 7'3" (wingspan), 8'10" (reach), 227 lb

Strengths: The first thing that anyone talks about when bringing up Leonard is the length of his arms. His wingspan is 7'3", which is exactly the same length as Tyson Chandler's wingspan. That length allows Leonard to have a significant impact on the game without having the ball in his hands. For starters, he's a terrific rebounder, averaging a double-double and over three offensive boards per game. Leonard is also a terrific on-ball defender. He's got quick feet, he's athletic, he has the desire to shut down his man one-on-one, and he has the arms to disrupt the offense. Most importantly, Leonard is a hand-working, blue-collar player. He flies in for rebounds, he dives on the floor for loose balls, and he gives up his body defensively. Offensively, however, his skill set is developing. What Leonard does do well for his size is handle the ball and pass the ball, showing the potential to be a versatile playmaker down the road.

Weaknesses: Leonard is fairly raw offensively. His jump shot is the aspect of his game that needs the most improvement. He's already been working hard on that aspect of his game, however, proving to be a better than expected shooter in his workouts. That is a good sign for his potential in the long term. Beyond that, the rest of his offensive repertoire is more-or-less a work in progress. He doesn't have the handle of a point guard, but it has improved significantly since his freshman season to the point that he would grab a defensive rebound and lead the break as a sophomore. His post game is solid as well, as he has god footwork and is quick on the block. Perhaps the most shocking part about Leonard's game is that he did not test out as a great athlete, something that surprised quite a few people. He had just a 32" max vert and was a step slower than expected. There is an explanation for that. For starters, Leonard has always been considered more of a smooth athlete than an explosive athlete. He also sat out of the drills session during the combine, having to go and do his athletic testing after sitting for 45 minutes in a cold gym.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Shawn Marion and Gerald Wallace are the two guys that Leonard gets compared to the most. Since Leonard is so young and so raw offensively, its tough to predict whether he will end up mre perimeter oriented like Marion or more of a blue-collar scrapper like Wallace. Whatever the case, Leonard should be able to be a guy that can change the rhythm of a game without have to score a point.


• Worst Case Scenario: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute gets solid minutes in the NBA, but its as nothing more than a role player. He does some defending, he rebounds the ball, and he'll dive on the floor. But beyond that, he doesn't have much impact on the offensive end of the floor. If Leonard's offensive game doesn't advance, that is the kind of player he is going to end up being.

Outlook: Leonard has the potential to be a starter and major contributor to an NBA team. Scouts love a guy with intangibles, and Leonard has intangibles for days. He plays hard and he plays smart, he can defend anywhere from the two to the four, he is an exceptional rebounder for someone that projects as a perimeter player, and he has an offensive arsenal that is slowly but surely becoming very well-rounded. Another positive Leonard has going for him is that the NBA plays a much more open style than San Diego State. Steve Fisher's club was one of the slowest in the nation last season, preferring to execute in the half court. Leonard's game is probably better suited for an uptempo style where he can make plays in transition. By the time Leonard reaches his prime -- remember, he is only 19 years old, which makes him the age of many freshman -- he could end up being a guy that averages 15 points, 10 boards, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Draft Range: Mid to Late Lottery

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Last year we had Leonard listed as a sleeper. Now that he plays on the No. 6 team in the country, that sort of talk has died down. But now the expectations may be almost too high for him. He's still developing his game offensively, but when you watch him, it's hard not to see what makes him special. NBA scouts love guys with intangibles, and Leonard appears to have them."


• Draft Express: "The ideal setting for Leonard as a rookie would likely be one next to a slew of shooters who can push tempo and score one-on-one. Though he may not have the tools to be an high-level option from day one on the NBA-level, his ability to get up the floor, crash the glass, and do a little bit of everything would fit well on a team with a defined offensive hierarchy in their backcourt. He has the tools to excel in a fast break oriented system that would allow him to get out and run, something he didn't get a chance to do all that regularly in the NCAA on a San Diego State team that ranked 301 of 345 in terms of the tempo they played at."


• Swish Scout: "Leonard is a very intelligent player who is an excellent rebounder, passer, and playmaker who propels his team with high energy. The biggest gift and curse to his game is his enormous hands, which greatly contribute to his rebounding prowess, but will always inhibit his shooting abilities."

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