Draft Prospect: Precious Achiuwa

If I’m a guy and my parents name me precious I’m coming out the womb swinging

His brothers are God'sgift, God'swill, and Promise. His sisters got tame Grace and Peace. Honestly, once you get the theme it's kinda nice. However, once I became a high level basketball player and was no longer bigger than anybody that wanted to make fun of my name I probably would've chosen a nickname.

I like him, but more at like 16-18 rather than 13.

He’s almost a full year older than Zion

Zion came out as a Freshman. There are multiple guys we could draft that could be older. It’s only been a year.

This isn’t a Buddy Hield/Jamal Murray situation in terms of age.

Interesting player for sure. He played more on the perimeter in high school and has a decent handle. The most important thing for him as a small big is that he can defend his position very well and on the other end go at his man from the outside.

I know nothing about the guy, but just read the write up on him, I find myself wondering if he could transition to SF. I know it’s the exception and not the rule, but Jimmy Butler did it from college to the NBA.

I really like Bey as a switchable defender who will eventually be a really solid 3 and D guy. He’s going to get picked in the late first tho. Definitely not worth the 13th pick and no way we get him in the second. Reed would be an excellent second round pick if he falls that far

I want to bump this thread because of a thought I’ve been having about Achiuwa while watching Bam Adebayo in these playoffs. I want to start by saying Achiuwa is NOWHERE near Bam, but I see some comparisons.

Start with their size. Bam was 6’10” 242 lbs with a 7’3” wingspan. Achiuwa is reportedly 6’9” 225 with a 7’2” wingspan. If they have some sort of combine this year I would love to know how accurate those measurements are.

Both are incredibly strong, and incredibly athletic. Both move well in space. More on that later for Achiuwa.

Achiuwa, like Bam, has a really intriguing skill set for his size and position. He’s a guy that showed the ability to put the ball on the floor from anywhere on the court, he can grab and go in transition, etc. Just an overall really nice ability to put the ball on the floor.

I think the biggest area he lacks that Bam does not is the decision making and awareness. He’s not nearly the passer Bam is. But, I think he flashed some potential there. He made some really good reads last season at Memphis, but he’s not all that accurate of a passer. This is where his inexperience comes into play, last season was his first time ever playing the 4/5, and I think he’s someone that’s going to improve the more reps he get. Defensively as well, going back to the moving well in space thing, he has the ability to defend on the perimeter, potential to be highly switchable, but he needs to be well coached and sure up some things like footwork, overall technique. His potential is very high.

And he’s already a good rebounder and shot blocker, pulling down 11 boards and blocking 2 shots a game.