Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) drives against Duke Blue Devils forward Amile Jefferson (21) in the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Frank Kaminsky, the Skilled Big Man
By Allana Tachauer (@ChitownHeiress)
Although I share Miami Heat president Pat Riley’s sentiment of preferring to grow a team around already developed NBA players rather than rebuilding with draft picks, there are some solid choices currently floating around out there. And with the uncertainty surrounding Goran Dragic and Luol Deng’s contracts, along with Hassan Whiteside’s future in South Beach, it may not be a bad idea to take the draft a little more seriously than usual.
Generally speaking, the Heat love to acquire and develop big men. With Whiteside being the latest example, there is also Chris Andersen, Shaquille O’Neal and of course Alonzo Mourning. Miami even took a chance on Eddie Curry a few years back. Therefore (and because of the reasons listed below), I am putting in my vote for Frank Kaminsky.
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin Badgers, F, 7-0 ft, 234 lbs
55% FG, 42% 3FG, 78% FT, 18.8 PPG, 8.2 REB, 2.6 AST, 1.5 BLK
Coming out of Wisconsin, Kaminsky led his team to the NCAA Tournament Championship game. While he could have entered the draft after his sophomore year, he finished out his college career and it certainly paid off; he went from averaging 1.8 points a game as a freshman, to 18.8 points his senior year.
Obviously Kaminsky would add size to the rotation. However, his skill set does not match those of most other 7-footers, which is why he is listed as a forward rather than a center. His rebounding would not hurt the Heat, but he is more useful on the other side of the floor.
Despite Kaminsky’s height, he is still extremely skilled offensively. Versatile with his shots as well as efficient, he would certainly cause plenty of matchup problems on the court. He also has the third best rate in this year’s draft projections regarding turnovers, as Kaminsky only turned the ball over 9.9 percent this season.
Some of his other positive attributes include having good control over his footwork, the ability to finish a play with either hand, and lateral quickness. He also has a good sense of timing, whether setting up an offensive or defensive strategy.
Kaminsky shows a high basketball IQ and regardless of his success, seems to be an unselfish player. He may have to put on additional weight and as is the case with most draft picks, the transition from college to professional basketball may take some getting used to. However, he has shown great competitive spirit and intensity over the years. And as proven by his decision to play for Wisconsin for four seasons, he is willing to put in the time and effort to get the job done.
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