Scouting Report – Jordan Adams
By Ed Isaacson
Name: Jordan Adams Age: 19 School: UCLA
Height: 6’5 Weight: 208 Projected Position: G
2013-14 Stats:
17.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.6 spg, 1.5 tpg (30.1 minutes per game)
48.5 FG%, 83.6 FT%, 35.6 3FG%, 60.3 TS%, 54.5 eFG%
26.5 USG%, 10.4 TRB%, 5.0 STL%, 14.7 AST%, 9.4 TOV%
SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Perimeter Shooting
Adams is an improving perimeter shooter, especially off the catch when he time to get set. He has good form on his jumper, though his release point could be higher. He gets into his shooting motion quickly, has good follow-through, and range almost to the NBA three-point line. Adams does a good job getting square to the basket quickly off the catch, though he needs to watch getting good balance with his feet. Also, since his release seems to be slightly low, he needs more space to be able to get clean shots off. Adams uses screens well to set up his jumper, but he needs to work on using his dribble more to clear space for his jumper, especially when he has a man one-on-one. Adams can move well without the ball, using screens and cuts to create space, though he needs to watch coming too wide around screens and allowing defenders space to stay with him. Adams is good at making multiple moves to get open, and he has a few different techniques he uses to misdirect defenders. He needs to work on coming off screens tighter, giving him more separation to shoot. His shot selection is very good, and he will almost always pass the ball if he doesn’t have a good look quickly.
Penetration
Adams doesn’t look to drive to the basket as much as he could, but he has shown he can be effective when he does. He doesn’t have a great first step, but he uses his body well to keep defenders on his hip as he goes to the rim. Adams doesn’t shy away from contact when he is in the lane, and he has shown that if the help is there quickly, he can hit the short jumper. Adams can be a creative finisher around the basket, and he has nice touch when he gets within 5 feet or so. He does a good job keeping his head up and seeing the defense when he gets into the lane, and he has become very good at finding open teammates left by the help defenders. He has an improving mid-range jumper, and his ability to find holes in the defense and make quick cuts into the space gives him plenty of good looks. Adams does a good job attacking the basket off of screens, though he needs to work on coming off them tighter.
Post Offense
Adams uses his body well to post up same-size or smaller defenders, and he has a nice array of post moves for a guard. He uses his lower body well to establish position and he is capable of making a move over either shoulder. Adams can make a quick move into the lane, face-up and drive by his man, or hit a face-up or turnaround jumper. I wouldn’t expect this to be a big part of his game at the pro level, but it is something to watch for when the opportunity is there.
Ballhandling/Passing
Adams is an average ballhandler with both hands, though he is more comfortable going to his right. He has good control, keeps the ball low and close to his body, and makes strong moves to the basket without forcing the play. Adams doesn’t use many advanced dribbles, though he will on occasion show a nice change-of-pace dribble, as well as a good spin move to the basket. Adams needs to continue to improve using his dribble effectively to make space for his jumper, even if it’s just a dribble or two to get a better look. Adams sees the floor well, and he is patient enough to allow plays to develop. He can find teammates when he draws help defenders off of penetration, and his passes are usually strong and on target. Adams is very good at making post entry passes from the wing, and he uses a variety of angles to get his man the ball in the ideal spot.
Free Throw Shooting
Adams is a good free throw shooter with a consistent routine, fluid shooting motion and good follow-through. Adams gets to the free throw line at a good rate for a player who spends most of his time on the perimeter (over .4 free throws for every field goal attempt). His ability to find open spaces around the basket, or to post up smaller defenders, allows him good opportunities to draw contact, and he doesn’t shy away.
Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Adams is a good on-ball defender, with solid fundamentals and a good understanding of team defense. He positions himself well between his man and the basket, and he shows good lateral movement over short distances. Adams does a good job looking to force his man to his weak side. Adams anticipates and reacts fairly well to his man’s movements, and he does a good job no falling for quick dribble or shot fakes. He can be an active defender, and while he doesn’t take many risks, he has a great sense of timing when swiping or poking at the ball. He has to work on how he handles getting through screens, both on and off the ball, especially getting over the top of screens. Off the ball, Adams generally positions himself well, and he has a very good sense of spacing between his man and his help position. He can be a good help defender, and he moves well between his man and the post in trapping situations. He needs to improve on navigating through screens off the ball, especially getting learning how to play angles and stay with his man. His defensive awareness is good, and you will not find him out of position on a play too often. Adams plays passing lanes well, and he does a good job anticipating and getting a break on passes that he can pick off.
Rebounding
Adams is a very good rebounder for his size, having a good idea of where to get position off the missed shot and going strong after the ball. Adams does a good job looking to put a body on someone when the shot goes up and he looks to seal the opponent off until he or a teammate can get the ball. Adams is a sneaky offensive rebounder, looking to find opportunities when the shot goes up to slide in under bigger bodies battling. He isn’t going to out-jump anyone to the miss, but he will outhustle them, and if he does secure an offensive rebound, he will usually look to go up strong with a second shot and draw contact. Opponents need to keep an eye on him when the shot goes up.
Transition
Adams may not be very fast, but he can be very good in transition, especially running one of the wings. If running on the wing in transition, Adams is capable of spotting up behind the 3-point line or taking the ball to the basket off the dribble. Adams could help push the ball in transition, and he has shown to be a much better passer in the open floor than most would think.
Intangibles/Summary
Adams was often underappreciated during his two seasons at UCLA, overshadowed by Shabazz Muhammad his freshman year, and Kyle Anderson this past season. This didn’t affect Adams on the court though and he continued to improve almost every aspect of his game from year one to year two. He is a very versatile scorer with a great knack for taking advantage of whatever a defense gives him. Adams is a strong mid-range shooter and an improving long-range shooter. He will hit holes in the defense quickly if he sees them, and will even post-up on his man if he senses a mismatch. Adams is not a great athlete, but he is skilled and has a very good understanding of the game. He is an underrated rebounder and defender, and his adjustment to defending at the pro level shouldn’t be as large as for many others. Adams reportedly lost between 15 and 20 pounds between the past season and the NBA combine, and I have little doubt he will continue to commit to trying to get into better shape.
Draft Value Late 1st – #22-30
With Adams’ skill level, if he was a bit taller or a bit more athletic, we may be talking about him near the mid-teens. Getting him later in the draft will be a very good value to whatever team gets him, and his scoring ability should find him a rotation spot for many teams quicker than many other rookies. While he may never be a star in the league, he can be a very valuable role player over many seasons.
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