Nik Stauskas in SI: I'm more than just a shooter.

Submitted by jerasaurus on

Great article.  Money quote about halfway down.

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/01/20/nik-stauskas-michigan-wolverines-big-ten-mitch-mcgary/

Uh-oh quote, from dad:  "He knows all he has to do is keep his nose to the grindstone for another couple of months, and there's a really good possibility he might be able to go pro. He's working really hard to achieve that."

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BJNavarre

January 21st, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^

Compare Stauskas' stats to JJ Redick's Duke's stats. Very similar, except Stauskas is already a better passer and rebounder than Redick ever was. Redick had a much higher usage his Junior and Senior years. Redick was known as a poor defender in college, possibly even worse than Stauskas. Redick was taken #11 in the horrible 2006 draft. If Stauskas continues to play at this level, I doubt I slips past #25, and more likely will get taken around #20 in a very good draft class.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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gwkrlghl

January 20th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

I think Nik has been quiet about his pro plans - probably because he wasn't really on any draft boards preseason - but that is certainly Telling if his dad came right out and said that like it's a foregone conclusion that if he's good enough he'll go pro. Seems like if he keeps it up, he's probably a 1st round lock and likely a goner

Joined: 04/13/2012

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robmorren2

January 20th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^

When did we become the Kentucky of the B1G? It seems like every other damn B1G team gets to keep their core players for 4 years. We're lucky to keep ours for 3.

Joined: 06/04/2011

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ppudge

January 20th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^

He's good enough. But this is such a deep draft he's probably a 2nd rounder. He's more ready than Darius Morris was. Hey, it's his life and I'll enjoy it why he still plays for us. I personally don't enjoy watching the NBA, but I think he can play. I think it would be great for him to come back, work on his lateral quickness on defense and going with his left hand, but he's decent with those 2 things already - although not NBA elite with those items, which keeps him in the 2nd round, in my opinion.

Joined: 10/19/2008

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Eskabeaner

January 20th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^

I'm of the opinion that in the NBA, right now, he WOULD be just a shooter.  Doesn't yet have that ability to get to the basket among the trees in the NBA.  They're a whole lot more able to contest shots than the kids in college.  Another year at least to put more meat on, work on his handling, then absolutely he can play in the league.  First round, i'm not so sure, but definately has a place in the league somewhere.

Joined: 03/19/2012

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ppudge

January 20th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^

I can agree with this. Not too different from my thoughts. I think he could leave now and he'd be a Manny Harris/Darius Morris fringe NBA player. Hanging around on the end of the bench as a shooter. Another year under Beilein? Who knows how much he could improve, but I bet with that kid's dedication and work ethic, he'll definitely get better.

Joined: 10/19/2008

MGoPoints: 11439

stephenrjking

January 20th, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^

What's wrong with that? We're not talking about the next Larry Bird, here--Nik is an exceptional college player who has really grown his all around game, but the NBA is REALLY TOUGH. The fact is, if you're not a superstar, the way to make it is to find a niche to fill, a role that NBA teams need on the floor.
3-point shooting is a huge asset in today's NBA. A player with a reliable 3-point stroke spreads the floor, occupying a defender, and hits daggers from the corner on kickout passes.
Nik is a good player who can drive and pass, but there are always going to be guys in the Association who can do that better than he can; he does it well enough that a defender who ignores his ability to drive will pay, and that's enough. He won't do more than that.
Nik Stauskas has the potential to be a great perimeter threat in the NBA. Nothing more. And that's alright.
The one area where he can really help himself is not on offense. His ceiling there is set. But his improvement or lack thereof on defense will be decisive in determining how far he goes in the NBA. A shooter who can't defend will be a spot bench player. Paid, but hidden to guard against his defensive liabilities. Shooters who D up, though, are gold. Ten-year-career-NBA-title gold.
I

Joined: 03/15/2012

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Nick

January 21st, 2014 at 3:15 AM ^

It just has 6 to 7 possible franchise players at the top of it.

Embiid, parker, wiggins, randle, exum, smart, gordon... after that a big dropoff to guys like Saric, G Harris, Cauley Stein, ZLavine, Vonleh, Hood, GR3, James young, Selden, Harrison twins, Dekker, payne, 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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michfan4borw

January 21st, 2014 at 12:36 AM ^

Stauskas works like crazy on his game.  The pace of his improvement is impressive.  I say he can be a first rounder either this year or as a junior, depending on how his improvement continues.

Let the chips fall where they may, and either way, it's great for Michigan.  The future is bright for him and Michigan.

 

Joined: 12/11/2009

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SF Wolverine

January 20th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^

He's not there yet.  He's a great shooter, but the NBA line is back further.  He is starting to show the ability to be a playmaker, but he's never going to be a PG in the NBA.  And his defense is not at all there yet. 

Unless he continues on his steep development curve for the rest of the year, I think he will be back again next year.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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brandanomano

January 20th, 2014 at 9:49 PM ^

The amazing thing is, even if Stauskus goes pro after this season I'm not worried about the team next year. We have some tremendous young talent at every position and I expect Walton to make big strides in the offseason. It also doesn't hurt recruiting if they see Michigan guys going in the first round every year.

Joined: 09/05/2009

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maizenblue92

January 20th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^

When he said this I thought two things

1. That has to be like, chug a bottle of whiskey in the drinking game and;

2. That Michigan Basketball would implode on itself much like if one Chuck Norris were to do a roundhouse kick and collide with another Chuck Norris doing a roundhouse kick.

Joined: 01/01/2009

MGoPoints: 19715

TheNema

January 20th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^

I'm really, really sick of the selfish "uh-oh" attitude fans have about these guys turning pro.

Personally, I love that we have a program that can spot talent, develop guys at a rapid rate and make them attractive pro players. That will only begin a cycle here. It sure is a more advanced happening then the "Four Year U." mentality down the road where the coach has to beg his former five-star recruits to stay and where they rarely make individual growth.

 

Joined: 12/18/2013

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gmoney41

January 20th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^

Gone are the days where a glen rice stays 4 years, but thank god we had days like those. I think we all wish the best for our guys, and that is why most of us want them to stay for at least another year. Just watching our potential Nba players and I haven't seen a lot that would make any of them first rounders. Even McGary. I have seen flashes, but if I was an Nba scout I would tell these guys they need another year.

Joined: 07/13/2009

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CRISPed in the DIAG

January 20th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^

I think his handle, penetration and passing is good enough for entry to the Association.  They're at least sufficient for him to create enough space to hit threes. Meme notwithstanding, shooting is where he will be earning his money.  If he can sniff the late first round - seems reasonable at the high end - it's understandable if Nick wants to work on weak points of his game while getting compensated for his work.

Joined: 11/08/2010

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PizzaHaus

January 20th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^

I'd be disappointed. Presently, he doesn't have a prayer of going top 20, and slipping into the 2nd round is a strong possibility for anyone in that situation. 2nd round contracts are shit - few years or guarantees, most are cut within a year or two. 

He's got a better shot at locking down a 1st round spot next year, in a weaker draft, as a presumably improved player.

Joined: 01/09/2014

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gmoney41

January 20th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^

Out of the 3 players who might go pro, I think Stauskas is the most pro ready guy we have. I have not seen enough out of GR3 and McGary to draft them anywhere near the top 20. I think all 3 will be decent pros, but I think all 3 need another year. All of them have enough deficiencies in their games to warrant another year, but I could also see all 3 leave simply because that is the nature of the beast. The NBA doesn't go off production only potential. If they went by production, Trey would have been a top 5 guy.

Joined: 07/13/2009

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Rick's American Cafe

January 20th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^

    This year, he's done everything that Tim Hardaway Jr did last year, but better, and without Trey Burke.  Maybe he doesn't get out in transition quite as much as THJ, but he more than makes up for that in other areas of his game.  

    From what we've been seeing the last 2 months, he definitely has 1st round talent.  It's just a question of how long it takes the NBA scouts to really start believing in him.  I'm guessing the answer is "not too much longer"...

    

Joined: 05/29/2011

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snarling wolverine

January 20th, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^

THJ was a solid defensive player last season.  There's definitely a dropoff from him to Nik at that end of the court.  I recently rewatched some of last year's tournament games and he was pretty strong at both ends - he'd gotten much better defensively over the course of his three years.

I agree that Nik is improved - he's no longer so bad that we have to always hide him against the weakest offensive player -  but he's still not a very good defender.  His height and wingspan help him get the occasional steal but guys still blow by him with regularity.  He could stand to improve on the defensive glass as well.
 

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

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RyanParrill

January 20th, 2014 at 11:37 PM ^

Why does Stauskas have to stay to develop? Shouldn't he get some credit for what he did last offseason and think it could continue to happen? Does talent stop developing once it's in the NBA?

If Stauskas thinks the 1st round is possible, get out now & get paid. Don't stick around for the fans, we wouldn't do the same.

Joined: 06/29/2010

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snarling wolverine

January 21st, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^

The issue is that if you're a borderline NBA player, and only get picked in the 2nd round (or not at all), an NBA franchise won't wait for you to develop - it will cut you.  

If Nik can raise his stock into the first round, he has reason to leave, but that could be tough to pull off in this year's draft.

Joined: 12/14/2011

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Wee-Bey Brice

January 21st, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^

Some of you guys are seriously underestimating how good you have to be to play in the NBA. Even Burke, in all his glory, struggled mightily in the summer league (against a bunch of guys who won't even make rosters) and still from time to time so far this season. Stauskas has vastly improved but he has to get stronger, faster before he can play in the league. THJ is one of those players whose game translates better to the NBA than it does to college. M Carter-Williams is another example. I can't say that for Nik... Not yet, at least.

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