Draft Profile: Evan Fournier and Tomas Satoransky
2012-06-18The podcast moved to tonight, so how about another draft profile instead?
With Cleveland’s four draft picks, the option to draft-and-stash a Euro exists, similar to last year with Milan Macvan. Today, two of the draft’s highest rated Europeans get a look. Not having seen much of these players, this profile stays brief.
Evan Fournier breaks down the defense
Evan Fournier generally falls on draft boards around Cleveland’s 24th pick. At 6’ – 7” tall, he possesses great size for an NBA wing. Despite not turning 20 until this October, he lead his French League team in scoring, at 14 per game, and also won player of the month for March. Not an elite league; the French sent four teams to the early rounds of the Euroleague competition, but none advanced to the final sixteen. The five teams competing in the lesser Eurocup finished with only 16 victories compared to 24 losses. But I digress; nineteen years old and the best player in a respectable pro league for a month – that is really solid. This season, he proved most effective attacking the basket, making 52% of his two-point-field-goals and 75% of his four free-throws per game. Strong ball-handling, combined with his size, allowed him to convert 63% at the basket this season according to Synergy (via draftexpress). This June, at the annual Adidas Eurocamp for NBA draft prospects, he made the first-team, thanks to 26 points in 57 minutes on 68% effective field goal shooting. According to reports I have seen; he clearly played at a higher level than others, scoring inside & out and looking strong & fast in transition. Downsides include average athleticism, as his test results look similar to William Buford and Khris Middleton of other 2012 draftees, and inconsistent shooting, where he knocked down only 28% of the shorter European threes in 2011 – 2012.
Based on this picture, I project Satoransky to be a cross between Magic Johnson and Blake Griffin
Tomas Satoransky stands 6’ – 7” tall and plays point guard in the Spanish League – the second best national league in the world. Of course, he’s a back-up and not terribly effective; tallying 5 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists on 43 / 27 / 71 shooting in 17 minutes per game this season. Turning 21 prior to next season, this is his third ACB season, and last year he played much better, including 45 / 42 / 75 shooting across ACB & Eurocup games. Not an NBA level point guard, he never posted a positive Pure-Point-Rating for a full season, and this season for that metric, he ranked 35th of 42 Spanish League point guards in the draftexpress database. He exhibits plus-ball handling, but plays slow, struggling to beat his man off the dribble and to stay in-front of quick players on defense. Named first-team at the recent Adidas Eurocamp; his play was praised for excellent court vision, a smooth shooting stroke, and the ability to score in traffic.
Summary: I’d be excited about the Cavs drafting Fournier. He has great size and a knack for scoring. Apparently owning great confidence, he strives for NBA success with a strong work ethic. In a report on his private Eurocamp work-out, mention was made of him closing out the workout by finding twine on five straight shots from way outside NBA range. Also, he converted 4 of 7 threes in the Eurocamp games. If Fournier added shooting range to his game, I would not be shocked if he ended up with a top-ten career from this draft class. I remember last year reading that Kawhi Leonard spent a lot of time leading up to the draft working on his shot. Reports from workouts raved about the improvements he made. I was skeptical – after all, he made less than one-quarter of his NCAA threes after two seasons. Then he stepped into the NBA and drained 38% his rookie season. Certainly it is not that easy, but for a hard working teenager like Kidd-Gilchrist or Fournier, with great shot-specific coaching, a shot can be reconstructed and amazing strides made. Possibly Fournier is already making those changes, and certainly my evaluation of MKG relies to some extent on the same.
Satoransky – meh. I mean, his PER was 10 in the Spanish League last year as the equivalent of a college junior. If he proves his 2010 – 2011 shooting as a non-aberation, maybe an NBA career is there for him, but I don’t see it.
What is the downside of stashing multiple developmental picks in Europe? (Assuming you don’t see a rotation player available)
I think ideally they would like to bring in MKG/Beal, move up to get someone in the late lottery, and then use/buy another pick (OKC?) to store a guy like Fournier overseas to stagger the contracts. I think they’ll do all they can to turn those 3 mediocre picks into 1 good pick.
I would be happy to get something like Beal, PJ3, and Fournier. That being said, I think it’s safe to say we should expect the unexpected on the 28th.
He’d be fine to stash if he falls into the second round. I think there’s too many better players who will be there at 24. I have no problem stashing quality Euros for a couple years. 4 rookies is a lot to have in one year, especially if they all turn out to be keepers (doubtful we’d be that lucky).
Beal/Fournier would be ok…Barnes probably not so much. Barnes/Jenkins would be good. MGK/Jenkins, lots of combos there. I don’t know how effective Fournier will be in the NBA, he’s definitely a little risky.
Evan would be a natural fit for the Cvas if only his last name was Threenier. That being said, I have no problem with them bringing in another 4 even if he is actually 2 or a 3. The biggest thing people miss about drafting and stashing a player is that it allows a team to keep more CAP flexibility than signing a guy and developing him on the bench. It’s not a huge issue right now for the Cavs but CAP flexibility is like rainy day money. If you spend it you don’t have it when it’s needed. Remember… Read more »
If we get Barnes, Fournier fits perfectly with him.
Milan Macvan was not a draft-and-stash, he was a money saving waste of a pick that the Cavs knew they would never have to pay to sit on the bench for 10 days before cutting him. On a different note, Fournier is pretty good but I don’t see him coming to the Cavs. They need someone good that can step in immediately and contribute, and at #24 someone good is likely to be there. Unfortunately, he’ll be gone by #33 because there are plenty of teams that are looking to save money in the short term and have the convenience… Read more »
AlexS,
I was being nice in calling Macvan a draft-and-stash. It doesn’t sound like he has any intent to come to the US. Neither does Kaun. Also, I’m not sure that either would be a very good NBA player.
Also, to me the Cavs are in the perfect position to be able to wait for a player. There is no pressure to contend next year. They’ll add players at 4, 33 and 34 even if they stash 24.
Faithwalker_98,
It sounds like Fournier wants to come to the US, plus I think he can be a good NBA player.
we do not get any foreign players….last year we wasted a pick on one…then we have Sasha Kaun that has never been on the team yet…we need players that can get a look at now and become valuable no matter what…and where they end up in NBA or D league….My point is……unless they come to play for the Cavs, we do not need them……and I am talking now…..stop planning for tomorrow and plan for today….
we do not get any foreign players….last year we wasted a pick on one…then we have Sasha Kaun that has never been on the team yet…we need players that can get a look at anyways and become valuable no matter what…and where……unless they come to play for the Cavs, we do not need them……and I am talking now…..stop planning for tomorrow and plan for today….