Here we continue to examine the top prospects for the 2013 NBA Draft. Today we examine:
Archie Goodwin, G, Kentucky, 6’4”, 198 lbs
2012-13 Collegiate Stat Line: (all stats courtesy ESPN.com)
14.1 points, 44% field goals, 26% 3-point field goals, 63% free throws, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.1 turnovers
The Skinny:
Depending on who you talk to, Kentucky’s Archie Goodwin could go in the middle of the first round or he might still be on the board late into the second round. (Photo by A.C. Dixon/Wikimedia Commons)
After the humiliating loss to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT, all of the Kentucky freshman stated they weren’t ready for the NBA and should return to school. Apparently Archie Goodwin changed his mind. In the 2012 NBA Draft, the draft class was stocked with Kentucky talent. In 2013, only Goodwin is coming out of Kentucky. How he’ll fare in the NBA is up to him.
Strengths:
Archie Goodwin is very athletic. He’s quick and moves well with and without the ball. He loves to get his man inside the paint for the finish. Goodwin’s a pretty decent shooter with room for improvement.
Goodwin’s ability to drive the ball is top notch, having the tendency to drive both right and left without favoring one side or the other. He thrives in isolation plays, scoring on 45 percent of his iso shot attempts.
He’s also an underrated defender, keeping his opponents at 30 percent shooting. He prefers to work in man defense and has little experience playing in a zone while at Kentucky. Lucky for him, NBA teams don’t generally run zone defenses. Opponents only shot 26 percent on jump shots against Goodwin.
These are the type of plays that could have NBA scouts excited about the the possibility of drafting Goodwin:
Weaknesses:
While Goodwin is very athletic, he often appears uncomfortable in his own skin. He has a tendency to get out of control and cough up the ball, as highlighted by his 3.1 turnovers per game average in 2012-13. He needs to learn how to slow down the game for himself.
Goodwin’s also has a very individualistic mentality while on the court. You’ll find numerous highlight plays from Goodwin this year, but one of the main reasons Kentucky wasn’t able to succeed with all the talent they had in 2012-13 is because of Goodwin’s one-on-one mindset. He’s a raw talent who hasn’t learned to play team ball just yet. At one point last year, Kentucky coach John Calipari told Goodwin, “I can’t coach you.” If Calipari tells you that he can’t coach you, you’re doing something wrong.
Overall, Goodwin’s attitude and selfishness could lead to a dramatic fall in the draft. He will need to address these concerns with NBA teams during pre-draft interviews and workouts.
Highlight Game:
Jan. 29 at Ole Miss (W 87-74) 24 points, 6-for-11 field goals, 0-for-2 3-point field goals, 12-for-14 free throws, six rebounds, four assists
This was a huge win for Kentucky to keep their hopes for an NCAA tournament berth and Goodwin stepped up in a big way. He asserted himself into the offense and got to the free-throw line regularly to keep the Wildcats in the game. This is one of the rare occasions when Goodwin was consistent and picked his spots. This is the tape Goodwin hopes NBA scouts look at.
Lowlight Game:
Feb. 16 at Tennessee (L 88-58) Seven points, 2-for-9 field goals, 0-for-1 3-point field goals, 3-for-5 free throws, two rebounds, four assists, four turnovers
Now here’s the tape Goodwin hopes NBA scouts will avoid. As the leading scorer on the team, the first game after Kentucky lost Nerlens Noel for the year with a torn ACL, Goodwin absolutely vanished. He gave up and appeared uninterested in trying to keep Kentucky together after losing their star center. He mishandled the ball far too often and just didn’t have it in a game Kentucky needed him to step up.
Potential Landing Spots:
Here’s where Archie Goodwin’s draft profile gets tricky. Nobody really knows where he’s going to end up. He’s been projected everywhere from a mid-first round selection to a late second-round pick, depending upon who you ask. Goodwin’s one of those guys who will just have to wait and see who is going to take the huge gamble on him.
Teams That Make Sense:
Washington Wizards: The Wizards could be a team willing to take a chance on Goodwin based on his raw abilities alone, especially if he falls into their laps in the second round. Garrett Temple (restricted), Trevor Ariza, Leandro Barbosa, A.J. Price and Martell Webster (all unrestricted) are free agents this summer, leaving a huge hole in the backcourt for the Wizards. If Washington can land a post with their first-round selection, guard help with room to grow could be a valuable option for the young Wizards. I’m sure John Wall and Bradley Beal would love another scoring threat to help them out.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Cleveland will have two early second-round selections in the 2013 as they receive the Orlando Magic’s second-round selection. Omri Casspi, Wayne Ellington, Daniel Gibson and Shaun Livingston are all free agents this summer. Like the Wizards, they will also have some openings in the backcourt. Dion Waiters has come on strong towards the end of the 2012-13 season and Kyrie Irving is an All-Star. Goodwin could learn a thing or two about letting the game come to him from Irving and Waiters.
Overall Synopsis:
Archie Goodwin is certainly one to keep an eye on for the 2013 NBA Draft. He has potential to be a standout from this class but there are too many unknowns at this point to say where he will end up. Goodwin’s ability to be coached will also be a huge question mark as he looks to elevate his draft stock.
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