The Rundown:
“WINGS! Yes all I really want is WINGS! And in the morning its WINGS, cause in the evening it’s WINGS! I like the way that they walk!” I bet you weren’t expecting to find THE Beastie Boys in MY Marjon Beauchamp scouting report, just keeping you on your toes, you can thank me later. But aside from the monotony induced cringe, it really is the truth, wings are what all teams should be targeting in the draft. The lineup versatility they offer, the varied roles they can play, the athleticism and shooting they can bring, all of it necessary if you want to succeed at the next level. Teams are always wanting more wings, because the value lost with a replacement level wing compared to a high end wing, is a lot greater than that same formula for a guard or a big. That makes it prime time for Marjon to step into the spotlight, because he is (as you may have already guessed) a wing! A prototypical one at that, listed at 6’6 (but I would not be surprised if he was taller) with a reported 7 foot wingspan, all on top of blazing athleticism and fluidity. Before even diving into specifics, it is tough for me to see Marjon burning out of the league anytime soon, with his measurables, motor, and general basketball skill. He doesn’t have to be great at the game to be a productive NBA player, not enough credit is given to the guys who show up, run around, and can grab a board or two here and there, just saying. Now, on to the nitty gritty.
There is no better place to start than on the move, especially with Marjon. Transition is his home, it is where he feasts on physically inferior opponents who are hanging on by a prayer. He uses his blazing open sprint along with his wiry -and sometimes deceptive- strength to funnell his way to the tin and get quality offense. One of the more underlooked skills in basketball is your offball play in transition. How well can you fill the lanes? How well can you RECOGNIZE the holes that the defense is almost bound to give you? Can you quickly hit teammates to capitalize on a flummoxed opposition? Marjon does all of these things in spades, cooking in the open court with some room to breathe. I’ll touch on this more later, but when he does have the ball and isn’t masterfully working off of it, his finishing touch and strength is tremendous, shedding off opposing defenders with brutality, before quickly shifting to a more restrained form of artistry. He has his counters as well to get to his slick finishes, with hop steps, euros, hesitations, and reverses all comfortably in his bag. Still, he’s better streaking to the rim where his IQ, athleticism, and hands shine through when finding the perfect spot to rise for a lob.
Now, how do transition plays like this come to pass? It all starts on the defensive end, where Marjon is less polished, but still very proficient. I wouldn’t describe Beauchamp as a technically savvy defender by any means, but I would call him effective, using his high motor and physical tools to leave and obvious mark on the game whenever he is playing. He is good on the ball, sliding his feet quickly, getting low with the dribbler, and keeping his hands ready to contest. His footwork isn’t always perfect, but his recovery skills make up for that more times than not. Due to the fact that he is relatively skinny, he can get skinny on screens better than most wings. He seems like a candidate, that in time will be able to “swallow up” slower opposing guards with his wingspan, quick hands, and quicker feet. Sometimes more experienced or shiftier players can throw him off of his game, he is better the wings that rely on their athleticism, but this is before even touching on the most intriguing part of his defense; when he is not guarding the point of attack.
He is still decidedly not on the Alex Fudge or Jeremy Sochan levels of off the ball defense, but he is also decidedly not a slouch. Marjon uses his wingspan and quick hands to be an intimidating roamer on the baseline, jumping on top of passes to initiate that transition game. He is a very instinctual helper, seemingly sliding to the next pass without a thought, just based on his gut feelings. Beauchamp is a menace as a weak side rim protector, using his quick first and second jumping ability to terrify unsuspecting opponents. His pick and roll defense seems for the most part technically sound, a few errors here and there, but that is to be expected. I wish he was a bit more polished due to his age (21, for all of those who care) but at some point you just have to say he’ll get better in an NBA training situation. And to top it all off, his best skill, not necessarily his most valuable, but his best. Marjon excels at positional rebounding, perfectly tracking the ball and skying up, hitting the rock at the highest point of his leap. This rebounding ability essentially unlocks his transition game, where he is a legitimate rebound and run asset. His motor is also most present down in the trenches, fighting for boards, where he is more than willing to throw his body around to get that ball for his team. So, while he isn’t the perfect defender, and doesn’t have the same defensive upside as some of the other wings in this general range, his ability to guard multiple positions at an above average level, on top of his rebounding and weak side rim protection, it is clear that Marjon will be a strong positive to any team at this side of the ball.
Offensively is where there is a bit more debate on his outlook. What is clear is his driving and cutting game, where he essentially opens up a mini transitional attack, using his long strides to get to the finishing look that he wants. I expect him to start his career as primarily a play finisher, rolling to the rim or making smart backdoor cuts. When his shot develops, which it needs to, his ability to attack closeouts will be amplified. Let’s talk about the shot for a minute, we really should. The percentages this year aren't great. Last year in JUCO he shot 40% from deep and around 77% from the foul line on higher volume, and he has good touch and clean shooting stroke now, so I definitely buy the shot to be passable. I don’t think he will ever be great there, at best maybe around Dorian Finney smith levels, but that’s ok. His 1-2 dribble pull up in the midrange is pretty, I wouldn’t be running any sets with his isolating in that region but he for sure has the touch and wherewithal to make it work impromptu. Some say that this shows upside of higher self creation, and I don’t think that’s fair. He may be able to attack a bench unit as a secondary creator, but anything more than tertiary in a starting role would be setting him up for failure. One thing I do love about his offensive game is his tendency to do all the little things. He battles for offensive rebounds, surprising the other team with his tendency to crash. He always make the extra pass, continuing the blender to perfection. He has good accuracy and timing on his passes in general, be it off of movement or the catch. But setting hard screens, cutting to the rim, properly moving around the ball handler, he just instinctually makes good things happen time and time again. I don’t think that Marjon will ever be a star, that ship has sailed. However, I do think that every championship contending team craves a Marjon, to do the dirty work that no one else will, to simply make things… happen.
The Synopsis:
High flying wing with a great wingspan, does all of the little things on both sides of the ball. Good offensive upside as a play finisher and eventually shooter, and great defensive upside with his rebounding, weak side rim protection, and quick feet. Dominates in transition, really builds himself a home there.
Shades of:
Dorian Finney Smith, a splash of Shawn Marion, maybe a sprinkle of Michael Finley? Andre Iguodala
