Hoops Hello: Nojel Eastern? I Guess?
Michigan's player to be named later in the Spike Albrecht deal is Purdue transfer Nojel Eastern:
— Nojel Eastern (@NEblessed_20) May 14, 2020
Eastern is not in the portal as a grad transfer and so would have to sit out this year before playing a final season in 2021-22 unless he gets a waiver. These days waivers are pretty common and COVID-19 might make them universal, that'll be something to keep an eye on. Matt Painter's recent statements about his departures make it clear that he wasn't encouraged to leave.
[After THE JUMP: kind of like X, if X was 6'7" and a much worse shooter]
Eastern is one of the strangest college basketball players in America, a no-shoot "point guard" listed at 6'7", 225 last year. Eastern had a TO rate (24) slightly higher than his assist rate (20) and usage in role-player territory on Kenpom; he shot 43% from two and was 0/3 from three. He also has an infamous free-throw stroke.
On the bright side, Eastern is a spectacular defender and showed a lot of potential as a rebounder early in his career. (Last season Purdue played two bigs most of the time, blunting his opportunities on the boards.) If he could shoot at all he'd be of interest to NBA teams. The Stepien has an incredibly in-depth post on him from last offseason:
Let’s go over this all again: 6-foot-6+, dribbling skill, can drive and finish, rebounds well, passes well, doesn’t turn the ball over, creates defensive events at a decent rate and is an overwhelmingly positive and projectable defensive player going forward. We’re basically talking about a group of players with three possible outcomes in regards to the NBA.
First, an all-star level player. … Second, a way above average to star level role player. … Third, a death by can’t shoot player.
Eastern is certainly in the "death by can't shoot" category now. That's a problem at the NBA level. At the "oh shit it's May and we have roster holes" level, it's fine.
His on/off splits don't show a ton, but here they are, guarantee games excluded:
Eastern played starters' minutes for the #24 team in Kenpom and Purdue was a hair better with him out there than with him on the bench. Whatever his limitations are, "average player on a top 25 team" is a giant win for a transfer at this stage in the process. That's whether or not he gets a waiver. Michigan currently has seven openings for 2021.
I get that Coach Howard was in a tough place but gosh this just feels very 'last resort' territory. 2 year scholarship for a guy that only plays for one year? Defense numbers are fantastic but that offense? Oof!
I think we could do better & the move feels a bit desperate but I guess we'll see. The staff knows better than I do and I trust them.
They had two open scholarships and there really isnt anyone out there worth taking to use one up. He's using a scholarship this year that no one else was going to, and then using one next year when UM has like 6 open scholarships and needs a veteran player.
They have two open scholarships for next season before Eastern. Five more coming free in 2021. Were you expecting to use every last one of them? It's a good piece at this point, even if only situationally in games.
Your last sentence sort of refutes the two paragraphs before it, but sure. It's a starter-ish transfer in May, in a team with lots of minutes to spare. And I'd be amazed if he didn't get a waiver given what's happening in the world. Seems like a great move for UM
"Great" seems extremely Maize colored glasses, but certainly not bad in any way.
I'd take Bajema back over him tho, to be honest!
And Castleton, and DDJ
I think Eastern in Bajema out is very telling about the coaching change. I tend to agree with you. Give me a gunner over a brick all day everyday. Poor mans Duncan Robinson > whatever Eastern will bring. Coach probably didnt have the option but I dont want to watch us transform into the 1990s Knicks.
Former 5 star with unused scholarship? Fuck off.
Former 5 star with unused scholarship? Fuck off.
If your last resort is a two time all Big Ten defensive player, a starter on a first place Big Ten team, your expectations are way out of whack.
As far as how bad a shooter Eastern really is, he shot 65% on 100 FTs in 2018-19 and over 50% from 2. He can't shoot 3s, so he doesn't try to.
Last season was worse. He was supposed to be Purdue's best player and was preseason All Big Ten. He should be back to a role that suits him better in Michigan's offense.
I think this could be a good add, especially if he sits a year. It feels like he was never a fit at Purdue and might thrive in a more fast paced NBA style offense. And if he doesn't work out great, then he's only a one year player and one the scholarships from a 7 man class gets spread out. I think people are overreacting about this a bit too much. He either plays this year and we get some added depth then he's gone, or he sits one, and plays one and is technically a grad transfer in the 2021 class
IME he was a solid complement to Carsen, since the one way you can hide a no-shot guard on offense is if you can give his entire usage to another guy who'll still be efficient with it. (I could see a team like Houston giving him an NBA shot, since I think you or I could start alongside Harden and not have much impact on their offense, and I'm a foot shorter than Eastern with a shot like his and nowhere near the defense.)
But once Carsen left - and two other solid three-point shooters - Purdue needed/needs the opposite of that, someone to pick up a good bit of the scoring slack. Eastern's not in a position to do that, definitely not on a team with an old-style post presence. Part of the problem the Boilers had last year was that they ran some of the same sets as the year before, only this time there wasn't a Carsen around to jack up a shot inside 5 seconds and hit it.
I think Howard will find a way to get quality minutes from Eastern, especially in the 2022 season. It'll help to have a solid defender who has Big Tenteen experience to help the younger players adjust, and if he's able to contribute something on offense, even better.
Is poor man's Andre Iguodala a fair comparison?
If by "poor" you mean can't shoot, then sure...
Not really at all. Iguodala was a triple-double threat on any given night in college, and a basketball genius. Eastern seems more like a smart, hard-working player with above-average intelligence who really struggles with his shot. Very different profile in my opinion, as Eastern's feel for the game is nowhere near Iguodala-in-college level.
Anthony Mason with no J.
Possibly, if you're looking at his Golden State years, 2017-18 in particular. Plenty of offensive firepower among his teammates, so he could just D up and exist on offense. Turn down the offense a bit more (.567/.282/.632 is probably optimistic).
Late-career Lindsey Hunter is probably a better comp. When he came back to Detroit, his outside shot was awful, but since he was strictly perimeter that kept him off the foul line, and his defense just about evened out his offense. Of course Hunter was on his way down, and in theory Eastern can improve, even if only by working more on shot selection (assuming his stroke is what it is).
Didn’t Beilein want him coming out of HS? He must have at least some offensive potential.
I'll take a big defender to put on the court w Franz, Livers and Brooks (wish he could shoot though - bad FT shooting makes me nervous).
The team has had lots of attrition and Livers may not return. This guy comes in with B10 experience and can help defend. Worth the risk since we need depth. It’s late in the shopping year folks!
Feels a little hinky happening so quickly after he went in the portal. The year off could be of some benefit to work on his broken shot.
This is fine I guess? He is one of the worst shooters I've ever seen so he will wreck havoc with offensive spacing. But he might be able to play and guard four positions on the court. That's good for Livers insurance or to fill an empty roster after this season.
As with most transfers, the challenge will be expectations. I LOVE him as a role player off the bench who comes in to shut down the other team's best player and can back up four positions if needed. But I'm guessing he thinks he's a starting PG for a B10 team (the supposed reason why he and Beilein didn't link up during his high school recruitment). What happens if Eastern ends up playing 15mpg as a role player?
What happens if Eastern ends up playing 15mpg as a role player?
What's he going to do? Transfer again?
He can dribble, pass, rebound and defend which puts him ahead of Nunez who is the worst shooter I’ve ever seen at Michigan.
Not bad but I would feel much better about this if I knew the waiver was approved. I think he could help the team this season with the need at guard.
But if no waiver, then it's a wasted scholly for this year (when getting another contributor is still possible) plus I hope the need at guard will be less next season when we can recruit more help.
It's not really a wasted scholarship for this year though. They have two open and there are not really many players out there available who are actually contributors.
How is it a wasted scholarship?
We have two open spots not including Eastern and assuming Livers comes back. Who are the two “contributors” that are still possible” at this stage? You’re looking at “okay” players from mid-majors as transfer options at this point.
if your two options to fill those spots are: okay mid major player or leaving the spot open, what exactly is the downside of Eastern?
Welcome aboard. I'll take any Michigan sports news these days that doesn't look like...
Turn your news feed off after Thanksgiving dinner.
If Xs shot drove people crazy.... oh god.
Defense took a large step backwards without Charles. Eastern gives you a lot of flexibility on D and can fill that role. Also for all his shooting woes, he's still large and Juwan could draw up some post plays and let him bully smaller guards. Playing Eastern and Wagner together gives you a lot of length to disrupt opposing wings. People wanted Haarms, who was also strictly a defensive stopper. I prefer this over Haarms.
Late in the game you're getting a power 5 transfer. Pretty good pickup.
That’s IF he gets the waiver. He might not ever play with Wagner if he sits out.
Brooks is going to have to wear a face guard any time the two practice together.
Well, with the way current world events are going, everybody on the team is going to have to wear a face guard at practice.
eric snow (percy snow's brother) was a no-shoot point guard for msu several years ago. he also played great D and made it to the nba for a few years.
That was pre-analytics NBA where volume scoring and back to the basket play was coveted.
Players who can’t shoot are roster holes in 2020.
Uncool comments, Painter. Uncool.
At worst, he is a depth piece with elite defensive skill to rely on and a ton of experience. More than most transfers can offer.
At best, he shows he can be a good secondary initiator of the offense while maintaining the same level of defense.
High floor addition with a maybe limited ceiling. Regardless of the waiver situation, I think this is a positive addition for 20/21 and 21/22.
I'd say this was unexpected but welcome aboard Nojel! I'll take a big ten all defensive team player any day. I hope he sits a year, that sounds bad hear me out, because if we think guard depth is bad this year we are looking at only Zeb and Nunez the next. That's a lot of bodies to fill and if one can be a senior guard with NCAA tourney experience all the better.
I'm thinking we fill that other roster spot then, maybe Lands-Coleman. Look Nojel or Lands-Coleman won't single handily lead us to the championship but they are veteran guards which won't hurt to have. Nojel will also help in practice defending some of our young guys and getting them ready.
I agree that if we could still get JCL for this year then Noel fits much better on next years team. Count me in for that!
Seems like this has no downside so late in the game -- I'd rather have him than an empty roster spot to be filled by a walk-on. I loved his tenacity on D, and he always played hard against us. Whether he gets the waiver or not, great pickup. Especially for depth in 2021.
I saw this guy play in high school and was never very impressed. But Magic Johnson couldn't shoot either, so who knows? I just hope Livers comes back.
Magic played in college when there wasn't a three point line and played in the NBA when almost no one shot threes. He was also 6'9 and capable of playing center so not really anything to compare.
Magic actually shot pretty decently from 3 in his later career, once he began taking more than one three-pointer per game. He was a 38% guy in 1990 on 3 attempts per game.
Kind of interesting that Purdue was better on offense with him in the game and worse at defense with him in there. Differences are probably not significant but was surprising to see. I wonder if he played more of his minutes with Williams and not Haarms because those two were wildly divergent on offense and defense and could explain it.
I like the pickup. Can never have enough tough defense, passing and rebounding. Hopefully a change of scenery will help his shooting.
He may be the second most laughed at B1G player by M fans (after foster loyer of course) but this is a great pickup considering the situation.
I've gone back and forth on this, but I think it makes sense if you're not expecting much to shake out this year from the change in the transfer rule. Michigan badly needs another guard who won't sink them if he has to play 20 minutes some nights. Eastern fits that description.
I am looking forward to seeing Eastern in the transition game. Howard is definitely looking to play fast and get up and down the court. A 6'7 ball handler with athleticism is made for an up tempo offense. He's definitely a threat to grab a rebound and push the ball up court quickly. I think that alone will help boost his numbers a little playing in Howards offense versus Painters. Hopefully most of the shots we see from him are at the rim.
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