Part of Jeff Peterson’s responsibilities as Hawks assistant general manager is to oversee the team’s scouting process. That’s a particularly important role this year as the Hawks own the No. 3 draft pick in addition to Nos. 19, 30 and 34.
I recently sat down with Peterson to get his thoughts on eight top prospects in the 2018 draft: Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley III, Jaren Jackson Jr., Mo Bamba, Michael Porter Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and Trae Young. Over the next several days I’ll post some lightly-edited transcripts of those conversations.
Previous entries: Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley III, Jaren Jackson Jr. , Mohamed Bamba.
Michael Porter Jr, SF/PF, Missouri
Height/weight: 6-foot-10.75 inches, 211 pounds (measured)
Age: 19 (June 29, 1998)
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
ESPN draft projection: No. 8 to the Cavaliers.
Q. (Cunningham) There are obviously big questions about his medical (Porter suffered a back injury in his first college game that required surgery). He says he’s 100 percent, but he didn’t look good when he came back to play at the end of the season. How does he look to you?
A. (Peterson) I don't know how he looks because we haven't seen him since the end of the season. (Note: Porter didn't do on-court drills at the combine.) But anytime you are dealing with the back, it takes time. He says he's fine. He says it feels good, which is a great sign to hear that. Look, when he's healthy, he's a very unique player. Probably one of the best scorers in the draft. He finds ways to score the basketball in a variety of different ways. He can do some things that no other player in this draft can do on the offensive end.
Q. What are some of those things?
A. He's got good instincts. Scores off the dribble. Catch-and-shoot. He's got range. Scores on the block, in the mid-post area, gets to the free-throw line. He scores in transition — he has long strides. Offensive rebounds. He's able to find a way. Some of it, I'm sure, comes from being naturally gifted but a lot of it is he worked for that stuff. Just being younger and playing a lot, and getting those instincts and timing. Can't take away anything from his work ethic in trying to perfect his craft.
Q. I interviewed him briefly at the combine and he seems to be a pretty mature and smart guy. You interviewed him along with other Hawks officials. What were your impressions?
A. I think he's probably one of the few guys in this draft who was home-schooled. So he had a little bit of a different upbringing. But he's been around basketball his whole life. His whole family played. He has seen brothers and sisters. Mom and dad did a good job of raising them all. He's a guy who has a unique perspective on everything. Moved around a lot when he was young and then when he was older he moved out West. He's seen a lot.
Q. Do you see him as a small forward?
A. Yes. But I think he will play some power forward in certain lineups just because he can. If it's a mismatch, absolutely he will play some four.
Q. How is his playmaking ability as a wing?
A. He certainly identifies with scoring. That's his strength. That's why he's on the court, to score the ball. But at the same time he's a smart player. He knows when to make the correct pass and the correct play. He can get other guys involved, as well. It's just, he can score very well.
Q. You didn’t get to see him in many college games and he didn’t work out at the combine. What are you looking at to evaluate him?
A. High school, Nike Hoop Summit, McDonald's (All American game). AAU stuff. I went to (Missouri's ) practice earlier this season. They scrimmaged against Kansas. I saw him two or three years ago at the (Nike) academy. You see these kids early and you just keep tabs on him. Now, it would be nice to have a larger sample size in college, but it's part of the game. That's what we are working with.
