2017 NBA Draft: Don’t sleep on Purdue star Caleb Swanigan
If you’re looking for a diamond in the rough, look no further than Caleb Swanigan. Swanigan could be the steal of the 2017 NBA Draft.
The 2017 NBA Draft is shaping up to be one of the most influential events in Association history. The star power at the top of the draft is being heralded as some of the strongest since 2003, and the depth of the class is perceived as laced with diamonds.
If you’re looking for a diamond in the rough in the 2017 NBA Draft, then you should look no further than Purdue Boilermakers big man Caleb Swanigan.
Swanigan was one of the true stars of the 2016-17 college basketball season. He finished his sensational sophomore campaign with dominant averages of 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.7 offensive rebounds, and 3.1 assists on a slash line of .527/.447/.781.
For his efforts, Swanigan was named Big Ten Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, and the winner of the Lute Olsen and Pete Newell awards.
Despite leading Purdue to a 27-8 season and a Sweet 16 appearance, however, Swanigan is stuck on the first round bubble. DraftExpress has him ranked at No. 34 in its Top 100, while Chad Ford of ESPN Insider has the bruising big man at No. 31.
Understandable as the skepticism may be, Swanigan has a chance to develop into one of the best players to emerge from this stellar draft class.
Work Ethic
If there’s only one thing that you need to know about Caleb Swanigan, it’s that he has an incredible work ethic. He was a 360-pound eighth grader who was homeless at a young age, and has since become a fit college basketball superstar.
Between his weight loss, his backstory, his expanded shooting range, and the raw tenacity that he displays on the boards, Swanigan is a prospect worth investing in.
Swanigan was 271 pounds as recently as 2015, yet he measured at a far more muscular 246 pounds at the 2017 NBA Draft Combine. That, of course, is just a pound lighter than he weighed at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, so why the fuss?
Swanigan was measured at 12.55 percent body fat percentage in 2016, but came back with a leaner and more defined frame during the 2016-17 season.
On the court, he improved by 5.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.3 3-point field goals made per 40 minutes between 2015-16 and 2016-17. He went from 21 3-point field goals made on 29.2 percent shooting in 2015-16 to 38 converted on 44.7 percent shooting in 2016-17.
No team can truly know what’s going to transpire with the player they draft, but Swanigan has proven that he’s willing to put the work in.
It’s Physical
Caleb Swanigan may have lost significant weight, but he remains as tough and physical as any prospect in this draft class. He’s a ferocious competitor on the boards and a physical interior scorer who plays in an almost throwback manner.
This may be a finesse league, but teams still benefit from the presence of a player who can physically overwhelm opponents down low.
Swanigan may stand at just under 6’9″, but he has a 7’3″ wingspan, a solid 9’0″ standing reach, and raw power that few possess. He puts those tools to use by cleaning up the defensive boards and commanding double teams along the interior.
Swanigan must continue to polish his offensive fundamentals, but he’s one of the rare prospects who feels comfortable with putting his shoulder into a defender and finishing in traffic.
That may be common on the drive, but it’s become something of a lost art amongst post players. It may not be pretty, but for even the most finesse of teams, it’s a way to simplify the game by simply dumping it down low and letting a scorer go to work.
From a physical perspective, Swanigan could be a Zach Randolph type of player in the way he brutalizes interior defenders in a more perimeter-based NBA.
Offensive Versatility
Caleb Swanigan may be a bruising big man, but don’t think for a second that he can’t adapt to the modern standards for execution. With no hyperbole, he’s developed into one of the most well-rounded offensive big men in the 2017 NBA Draft.
With the ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game, Swanigan could be fairly compared to either Z-Bo or Paul Millsap.
Swanigan’s primary appeal is his ability to use his body to create space down low and finish around the rim. He’s also a capable shooter, however, who should experience early success on open midrange jump shots.
Swanigan also made 59 3-point field goals during his two-year college career, and shot 78.1 percent from the free throw line in 2016-17.
As a projected center, he should thrive as a strong screen-setter who can both roll to the basket and flash out to the perimeter. He’s an outstanding passer—see: 3.1 assists per game—as well as a smart finisher who uses the glass and instinctively backs his man down.
Whether or not he develops into a star, Swanigan has the work ethic, toughness, physical profile, and offensive versatility to be an impact player in the NBA.
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When the 2017 NBA Draft arrives, don’t sleep on Caleb Swanigan. He could be this year’s diamond in the rough.