(as of 2/19/24)

likes:

• 6'8. has the body of a forward but the iq of a guard (take this as you will).

• 19 currently and will just have turned 20 on draft night.

• an outstanding three-point shooter. 33% from three and his film makes him look like a crazy talent from deep.

• ^ i think his shot will translate too! he's 86.5% from the ft line, very telling his shot is for real.

• ^^ another thing that makes him a great three-point shooter is his ability to create space while on the perimeter. he has a lot of self-creation to get himself a better-looking shot.

• shows flashes of being a good finisher at the rim.

• super high confidence (double-edged sword though).

• doesn't average a lot of turnovers.

dislikes:

• ajinca offers practically nothing on the defensive end. i didn't see a single clip of him getting a stop, or even playing defense. he genuinely seemed to not care much when he wasn't on offense.

• and even when he was on offense, he didn't give too much effort either. he had no off-ball movement, he just waited for the ball to get to him on the wing or in the corner to shoot a three.

• wasn't active on boards, offensively or defensively.

• not a good passer. showed some flashes that he could do the bare minimum, but nothing else.

• ^ it's also hard to tell if he can pass because if he gets the ball, that's most likely where the possession will end. he will shoot a three even if it's an awful look, 100% smothered and all that. would like it if he tried to at least make a play or extend the possession a little longer instead of just shooting immediately.

• ^ some of his shot selections were so bad that i started to see his teammates get frustrated with him.

• even though he shows glimpses of being able to be a good finisher, he doesn't get himself to the rim often. he doesn't utilize his body to make a move down in the post or finish strongly, just resides in shooting threes.

• his ast/to ratio is mediocre, mostly because he has no assists.

• averages 2.2 fouls per game.

-- / --

ajinca is an appealing prospect because of his three-point shooting and his build. i genuinely cannot find anything else other than that which makes me like him. how much can he offer offensively? he shows flashes of being able to finish and maybe pass, but he doesn't do it in game and resorts to just chucking up threes at times. and he doesn't do anything off the ball, will he put in as much efforts as other guys offensively? and defensively, he seems to not be able to offer much either. he doesn't try and he seems more like a liability than anything.

there's only so much to go off of with ajinca, considering he's a foreign player. there's still a lot of stuff i don't know about him statistically and in general, and his film was very limited. very raw, and i don't really like him considering he doesn't do much, but i can see why some teams might take a gander on his shooting ability and with hopes of developing him into a better rim driver and finisher.

SF - HT: 6’8” - WING: - WT: - A: 19y)

- Big versatile wing
- Good shooter, avg 45/35/85 on huge 3pt rate
- 3 ball is really good, can hit C&S, step backs, off movement
- Good handle and can do some stuff off the dribble but not a primary creator at all
- Will be a versatile defender, especially playing down on guards because he's quick. Good off ball with smart rotations
- Great frame and strength, but not a good wingspan

Not a playmaker or on ball guy. Not a great rebounder but solid. Despite that, he still seems to impact the game at a high level even when his shot isn't falling. Played solid minutes and had great impact for a good team in a top euro league. Shades of Corey Kispert, Saddiq Bey, bigger Aaron Nesmith, Simone Fontecchio

Poste(s) : SF

Âge : 19 ans

Taille : 2m03

Stats : 9.2pts, 3.2reb, 0.7ast, 0.5stl, 0.1blk

Adresse : 38%fg, 31%3pt, 87%ft

Ajinca est avant tout un shooteur à 3pts sur du catch-and-shoot. Bien qu'il ne soit pas un super dribbleur, il est aussi capable de poser la balle au sol pour surprendre son adversaire. Ce qui lui confère peut-être un avantage par rapport à d'autres spécialistes des coins parmi la cuvée. Fort dans ses finitions près du cercle, il sait utiliser les deux mains pour marquer et prend généralement de bonnes décisions. En défense, il fait preuve de détermination, de polyvalence et d'une bonne lecture du jeu, en plus de s'impliquer au rebond. Sa timidité offensive reste néanmoins un frein pour une projection au-delà de simple remplaçant.

STRENGTHS:

• A very legit NBA body at 6'8", 215 pounds who was the length and build to be a versatile wing defender, which is what he showed over in France

• Shot 36% from three on five attempts a night; was mainly a spot-up player but knew how to make himself available and lift from the corner

• A good effort and energy player who crashes the glass, remains engaged as an off-ball defender and is an athletic defender who can turn his hips well

WEAKNESSES:

• He did not get many ball handling reps; did not show any creation skills and was used way more away from the ball; showed decent ability to make step back jumpers but I'd prefer him more off of the ball

• Not having the ball in his hands also took away from potential playmaking opportunities; seems destined to be just a role-playing wing

• Did fine on basket cuts to the rim, but never looked the most confident when he finished against players of similar size or bigger

Player Comparison: Shades of Danuel House and Taurean Prince

Pros: Great 3 ball with even better upside. Has deep range. Shows flashes of good passing so upside is there. Solid on ball D-gives some room which is not terrible but has advantages. Good driving with frame and strength.

Cons: Passing is just not the most consistent. Makes some sloppy decisions. Raw movements and handles-has that European raw like movements.

Range: Late 1st-late 2nd Age: Pretty darn young. Aura: 6/10

Notes: I like this kid, could make a real difference for a rebuilding team.

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Pro Comparison: Evan Fournier

• Pull-Up Threat

• Catch-and-Shoot Threat

++Strengths:++

1. Knockdown shot up 3-point shooter with a great feel for locating

2. Flashes isolation scoring potential with pull-up midrange jumpers and stepback 3s

3. Good straight-line drive finisher and cutter who can finish with either hand

4. He makes the right decisions off the dribble showing a willingness to make the simple play

5. Hard-nosed defender who displays versatility, off-ball awareness

6. Has a willingness to crash the glass

++Weaknesses:++

1. Not a dynamic off-ball player who hasn't shown his 3-point skills off screens or handoffs

2. Lacks experience running the pick-and-roll and serving as a playmaker

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