(as of 2/14/2024)
there's a lot to like about yves!
he's 7-foot with a 7'6 wingspan,
on the younger side (19 currently, 20 on draft night),
active on boards offensively,
a defensive presence in the paint (averaging 1.7 bpg),
agile compared to many other centers,
an amazing P&R player and a lob threat (with a good pg he could be one of the best p&r players imo),
a play-through-contact player,
decent finisher,
and averaging a good fg% (63.4).
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there’s also a lot to dislike about yves though, mostly stuff to do with his offense.
he's shooting 58% from the ft line; doesn't have a jumper. i don't think i ever saw him attempt a shot that wasn't 1) a layup or 2) a dunk... not even floaters.
only averaging 5.7 rpg and 2.9 defensive rebounds. this doesn't worry me too much though, it's obvious he can still rebound! just something to keep in mind.
not as aggressive as you'd like. he rarely had any self-creation... no post-moves, no big bodying, no cutting or flashing to get open, nothing. if it wasn't him asking for a lob, he wasn't asking for the ball.
^ the few times i did see him attempt to make a move around the rim, he would seem to be a little out of control. he wouldn't go up very strongly (which is why i called him a decent finisher and not a good one before), and he would smoke a layup or miss a floater. sometimes he would also catch a lob and have to come back down with it instead of slamming it down. but this didn't happen very often so i don't view that as a problem personally.
not someone you should expect to guard the perimeter, though sometimes i would see him come up to play help defense or trap someone (don't expect that to translate).
won't be someone who'll be able to pass the ball out or make a play by himself. didn't see any videos of him passing the ball, and i didn't see any flashes that he could pass the ball. he's averaging less than an assist a game, guess that's just not his role at baylor.
i think he should gain some weight. he's listed at 235, but he looks slimmer than that. while i don't think it'll be an issue if he doesn't end up putting on some more weight, it would help him become a better center and a better player overall.
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yves feels like a very limited player, but still, someone worth taking. he'll be a project but could pay off as a good role player off the bench. drafting him now, you have to understand he won't do much for you but play defense in the paint, rebound, catch lobs, and run the P&R. i don't have much hope he'll develop a shot (maybe a floater or an inconsistent mid-range), nor that he'll end up being able to make plays for his team. but i do think he'll develop some post moves (considering his quicker footwork and frame), average more rebounds, and start getting his own buckets without having to be assisted all the time. he just NEEDS to start playing more aggressively, something i don't doubt he can do.