7’0”/255 pounds; Age: 22
2011-12 Stats: 7.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.9 BPG
Pros: He made major strides in his power, agility and conditioning this past season, but there is still even more room for improvement. His best asset right now, is his ability as a shot blocker. Offensively, Melo has a solid shooting touch from the free throw line area and he has shown scouts he can finish around the rim. The Brazilian has good hands as well, which leads us to believe there is still some untapped potential when it comes to his offensive game. The Syracuse product has great length and reach, and showed an emerging toughness during his second season playing for Jim Boeheim, so he should be able to contribute early on as a defender.
Cons: Melo is considered a sold rebounder by most scouts, but he can do better. He had only one double-digit rebound game during his sophomore campaign. Melo is very raw offensively, with little to no post moves. Most of his points came off of put backs and finishes at the rim, opportunities created either by an offensive rebound or a teammate. Then there are the academic issues, which prevented the center from playing in the NCAA Tournament. How much NBA team wills hold this against him, considering he has only been speaking the English language for four years, is hard to say. But it is something teams will take into account.
X-Factor: He simply hasn’t played basketball very long. Melo would have benefitted from another season at the college level, especially since he only played 9.9 minutes per game as freshman. Another season in the Big East could have also improved Melo’s court awareness. Many have questioned his basketball IQ, which could impact his learning curve in the NBA. Coming from Brazil, he is not as far along in his development as your typical American born 22-year old. However, judging by how much he improved from year one to year two under Boeheim, with the proper coaching he may come quicker than most scouts think.
Quote of Note: “A little. Is he a guy who can handle the task in front of him? It’s a little concerning, but it has nothing to do with his playing on the court. He won’t be the first or last kid with some academic problems. You can’t hold it against him that way. You talk to the kid and get his take on it. You want to feel like there’s some remorse there for letting his team down. That’s a more important issue.”– Western Conference assistant GM on suspensions/academic issues
Potential Landing Spots: No. 15 Philadelphia 76ers, No. 19 Orlando Magic, No. 21/22 Boston Celtics, No. 24 Cleveland Cavaliers, No. 25 Memphis Grizzlies, No. 26 Indiana Pacers, No. 27 Miami Heat
Overall Analysis: The Brazilian improved by leaps and bounds during his sophomore campaign. After being close to a total bust as a highly-touted freshman, Melo became the player many believed was the most valuable on a deep and talented Syracuse squad. It’s hard to say what the finished product will look like when selecting Melo, but it’s obvious he is a talented kid with the potential to be an impact player on the defensive end. If he ever gets it together on the offensive end, then he could end up being one of the biggest steals in this draft. Moreover, how many legit centers are there in the NBA? Getting one in the mid-to-late first round is a bargain.
