It’s Jaden Ivey’s (top-five) world
The only guard likely to crack the elite level of the first round is Ivey, the Purdue sophomore who averaged 17.3 points this past season for the Boilermakers, and who gobbled up all-American honors: first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and by the John Wooden Award, second team by Associated Press. He was just the second Purdue underclassman in nine decades to garner first-team All-American honors. The six-foot-four Ivey’s ridiculous hops and first step make him the top incoming guard, with some separation, over the rest of the guard pack, according to my guys. His pedigree is enhanced by his family ties: His mother, Niele, is a longtime former WNBA player and current head coach at Notre Dame, where she played college ball — and where Jaden’s father, Javin Hunter, also starred as a wide receiver in football before playing in the NFL for several seasons.
Eastern Conference Executive No. 1: He’s a (Russell) Westbrook/(Dwyane) Wade type of guy. I like (Purdue head coach) Matt Painter. But if Ivey had been in a situation where they get up and down the floor and get more open, there’s no telling what he could have done. I know
Detroit loves Ivey.
Western Conference Executive No. 1: In his own tier. In the next two to three years, wherever he’s drafted, he’ll start immediately.
College Assistant Coach No. 1 (his team played Purdue): Everybody always tries to make the Ja Morant comparison, which I think is a huge reach. It’s not close. If people could lose what they’ve seen from Russell Westbrook, and how they feel about Westbrook, Ivey is very similar. He’s downhill, he’s tough to guard. Against us, he beat us from the free-throw line. He got downhill. He can create a lot of fouls just because of his athleticism. I think he’s got a lot of work to do as a point guard. But I think his upside is really good, and from what I hear, he works his tail off. He’s got a lot of his game he has to work on. The part that people, when they make those comparisons with Ja Morant, it’s a horrible one. Ja Morant was leading college basketball in scoring and assists. Jaden passes it a little bit. And he don’t score it like that.
Western Conference Executive No. 2: Ivey’s a freak. Tad wild but puts immense pressure on the defense. May struggle some in the half court for a while.
Eastern Conference Executive No. 2: He’s got elite speed. He’s got the elite-level speed. And he’s got some size. He’s not like 6-foot or 5-11. He’s got good size to him. And he can touch the paint when he wants to. And in the open floor — oh, he’s got some turbo boost, kind of in the same vein as Ja Morant and Westbrook. And I think his neck up is better than what people give him credit for, because of his mom. He’s been around the game. It’s just getting the reps, and understanding when you put the ball in his hands as a point guard, what he needs to do on the NBA floor…
I think his execution will be a whole lot better than Russell’s, even at a young age. And the difference is, he’ll be getting coached. When Russell was young, Russell was allowed to just go out there. … (Ivey’s) shooting has gotten better. He’s got the toolset to do it (defensively), and he’s competitive enough that he’ll sit down and want to guard people. I don’t see him not giving a shit. He’s competitive enough. And you’ve got to be held accountable. If he’s held accountable, I think the kid will play defense. Watching him, I didn’t see a non-defender…
I see his advantage being at the point. How many traditional point guards are there in the NBA? ‘Cause positionless basketball has filtered into the backcourt, too. His IQ is just as good as
Tyrese Maxey’s. Putting him at the point is the advantage. He’s not a guy that you’re going to be running a bunch of pindowns for. His advantage is open floor, getting into the seams, second side, third side, late in the shot clock, he’s got the boogie-woogie to get where he needs to go. He’s got the toolset. Now it’s on whoever drafts him to coach him to bring that all out.