Scouting Report – Myles Turner

Name:   Myles Turner        DOB:  3/24/1996 (19)   School: Texas

Height: 6’11.5         Weight: 238.6   Projected Position:  PF/C

Wingspan: 7’4      Standing Reach: 9’4

2014-15 Stats:

10.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg (22.2 minutes per game)

45.5 FG%, 83.9 FT%, 27.4 3FG%, 55.6 TS%, 48.8 eFG%

25.1 USG%, 7.2 ORB%, 24.9 DREB%, 16.7 TRB%, 12.3 BLK%

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SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Post Offense

Turner has a lot of potential as a low-post offensive player, though he is still very raw and reliant on jumpers. Turner works hard to get position around the basket, trying to get low with a wide base to seal his defender, though he doesn’t quite have the strength yet to do it consistently. Smaller players didn’t have much trouble pushing him away from the basket, forcing him to catch the ball 8 to 10 feet away sometimes. He hasn’t developed many reliable post moves yet, though he does have good footwork for his age, as well as nice touch out to 10 feet. Turner’s post offense at this time consists mostly of face-up and turnaround jumper on either block, though he can make a quick dribble move over his left shoulder into a right-handed hook. Turner isn’t very good with his left hand yet, so even when he makes a good move over his right shoulder, he’s forced to bring the ball back to his right hand to shoot, making it much more difficult. He has to watch a tendency to force shots, especially his jumper, often settling for it before looking to make a move towards the basket. Turner’s shooting ability can draw defenders in the sir with shot fakes, allowing him to draw fouls or make a dribble move to the basket, though he doesn’t do it often enough. Turner is a good screener on the perimeter, though he didn’t look to roll to the basket as often as popping out for a jumper. He didn’t see many double-teams in the post, likely because he would take a jumper before it could happen. Still, he has shown little ability as a passer anywhere around the lane, especially out of the low post. Turner’s tendency to rush shots also leads to him making careless errors when catching the ball, even though he generally has good hands. Turner’s lack of experience as a dominant big man was obvious this past year, but the tools are there for him to improve quickly over the next few years.

Perimeter Offense

Turner can be a good spot shooter on the perimeter, with range beyond the college three-point line, but he needs to work on consistency with his motion and release.  At his best, usually when he can step into his shot, he has a smooth motion off the catch, with a high release and good follow-through. When he’s off, it’s often because he doesn’t get full extension on his shooting arm, or he has poor spacing with his feet, affecting his balance and movement of his body. Turner has a tendency to rush shots, often not realizing that not many are going to be able to block his jumper, so he doesn’t always get square to the basket or complete his full shooting motion. When he does get it right though, it is such a nice shot for a big man. He moves well into open spaces, and he is a good option in pick-and-pop situations, opening up smoothly to the ball, and getting into his shot before defenders can recover. Turner should be able to add consistency at long-range once he gets stronger. He won’t often try to shoot off the dribble, but he can take a few dribbles in off a shot fake to create space. Turner also does a good job flashing into the high post area and getting good looks at mid-range jumpers, or cutting to the basket off of guard penetration and finishing strong. It is easy to see how he can be a weapon at the elbows at the next level. Turner is a decent ballhandler for his size, able to go to either hand well, though he when he does have space to make a move, he opts for the jumper. It would be nice to see him be more aggressive and look to explode towards the basket, especially after he gets a defender in the air off a shot fake.

Free Throw Shooting

Turner is a very good free throw shooter, especially for a big man. He has a consistent, compact motion, with a good release and follow-through. For a player who took a lot of jumpers, Turner did get to the free throw line an acceptable amount with a free throw rate (free throw attempts/field goal attempts) of 44.4. His activity on the offensive boards led to him drawing a good deal of contact, as well as on his cuts into the lane or to the basket. If he becomes more of a low-post threat as a pro, his free throw rate could rise, but his skill set seems to be with his ability to stretch the floor, so it may some years before he gets to that point.

Defense

Post Defense/Help Defense

Turner has the size and length to be a good post defender; he just doesn’t have the footwork or technique to be effective yet. Texas used zones often this past season, cutting down the opportunities to defend one-on-one in the low post. He does a good job positioning himself between his man and the basket, though he isn’t very physical and gives his man ample room once he catches the ball, allowing guys to get some momentum in their move to the basket, with Turner trading that off in hopes to try and block any shot attempts. His footwork can be a bit slow when defending against both back-to-the-basket and face-up post moves, and his movements aren’t always very smooth. Turner has the length to try and deny post-entry passes, and even after the ball is entered, he does a good job keeping his arms extended up to make shot attempts difficult. Turner needs to get stronger so he can use his body better to try and force his man away from the basket, as well as anchoring his spot and not letting his man dictate the movements. Turner has good defensive awareness, and he communicates well for a young player, seeing the floor and directing teammates. He is a very good shot blocker, though his technique isn’t often pretty to watch. Turner gets a lot of blocks just by keeping his arms up around the basket, and he even tips a good amount of shots before players can get their shot off. He isn’t a quick leaper, but he extends well without fouling, and with a bit of work on his timing, he can become an even better shot-blocker. Turner does a good job getting out and hedging on high screens, but he does need to watch a tendency to get caught out too far, and in poor position to recover to his man.

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Turner tries hard to guard out on the perimeter, but he just doesn’t show the agility or footwork that he does on the offensive end. He positions himself well, and he tries to keep a good defensive stance, but when it comes to reacting and moving his feet, he’s a step or two slow. Turner’s lateral movement can be sloppy and awkward, often getting his feet crossed as he moves, and he has trouble pivoting his hips, making it tough for him to react to changes in direction. As in the post, his communication and awareness are both good, and he sees the floor fairly well. Turner does a good job trying to close on perimeter shots, using his length well to disrupt however he can, though he needs to watch for falling for shot fakes too easily.   Off the ball, Turner positions himself well and he uses his length well to play passing lanes. He does a good job trying to stay in good help position around the lane, allowing him to try to recover off of penetration. The good news for Turner is that he often ended up guarding smaller, quicker players on the perimeter, so he should have better match-ups at the NBA level. He still has work to do, especially with his movement, but his potential isn’t as bad as this past season was.

Rebounding

Turner does a very good job tracking missed shots on the defensive end and getting into position quickly to grab the rebound.  He relies on his length, but will need to learn to be more physical and should look to put a body on someone. Turner does a good job securing the ball once he grabs it, and does a good job keeping it up high, scanning the floor for an outlet. Turner can be very good on the offensive glass, though because he was playing away from the basket so often, he didn’t have as many opportunities.  When he does have position, he uses his long arms well to get the missed shot, and does a good job keeping the ball high as he attempts a second-chance shot. He also has a nice ability to tip the ball in, showing good control of the ball as he tips it.

Transition

Turner doesn’t really move down the floor well, especially with the agility he shows in other areas. His running style is awkward, and, at times, you can see him take many different styles of running strides on a single trip. Turner is addressing the issue, as written about in this article on Draft Express.   If he can correct the issue, the hope is Turner can contribute in a more up-tempo style, while minimizing his risk of injury.

Intangibles/Summary

Turner’s rise from unknown high school player to first-round NBA prospect has been rapid over the past couple of years, though it does come with some pitfalls. He is still underdeveloped physically, and though he has some good skills, there are a lot of areas where he needs significant development. Just about seven-feet tall, with a 7’4 wingspan, Turner has the size of a legitimate big man, though he will need to work on getting stronger. He shows good footwork in the low post, though he hasn’t developed many reliable post moves. Instead, he uses his strong shooting ability for his size to either face-up out of the post or take turnaround jumpers. Turner can rush or force shots, but he should develop into a consistent shooter quickly with his form. He also has the ability to spot up and knock down shots on the perimeter, though consistency again is an issue, but he should have a good future as a pick-and-pop option, or even have him spot up in the corners behind the arc. Turner is a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, though his time spent on the perimeter does take him away from having an impact on the offensive glass. Defensively, Turner has the tools to eventually make an impact, but he needs to work on his technique and movements first. Still, if he is in the lane area, he is a good rim-protector, and his length can be a deterrent for those looking to get to the basket. Turner is mature his age, and he has a great understanding of what he needs to do to improve. He communicates well on the floor, and with the proper coaching and physical development, he should improve rapidly at the NBA level.       

Draft Value:  Mid-Lottery – Mid 1^st Round – #7-15

Not many players have as much long-term potential as Turner in this draft, and his ability to knock down perimeter shots will give teams some versatility in his use, with the possibility of him even playing the stretch 4 alongside another big man.  He just turned 19 years old a couple of months ago, and he has developed as a player quickly in a short period of time. It will be tough for Turner to make a real impact right away, as he still has a lot of development to do, physically and skill-wise, but the tools are there for him to eventually make an impact on both ends of the floor.

You can read my interview with Myles Turner here.

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