Standing 6-foot-11.5 barefoot, with a 7-foot-9 wingspan and elite feet for a player his size, Badji put a lid on the rim defensively for stretches, getting to shots few NBA centers could wipe away. His 3.2 blocks per 40 minutes wasn't indicative of his enormous impact around the rim. Badji is an ambidextrous shot-blocker whose reach and quick leaping ability make him a force as a defensive anchor when he's fully engaged. He even showed glimpses of verticality technique that we hadn't always seen from him in the past.
He's capable of stepping away from the rim defensively, too. His discipline and mechanics in pick-and-roll or switch situations need major work, but he has zero issue getting deep into a stance and staying with even the quickest guards. Overall, defensive discipline will be the focal point for Badji, but he has the type of versatility that NBA teams covet. It's easy to envision Badji playing a
JaVale McGee,
Mitchell Robinson or
Hassan Whiteside type of role in the NBA.
That said, Badji struggles to catch the ball cleanly, make quick reads offensively and play to his strengths. Although we shouldn't fault him for wanting to show off his improved midrange stroke and post game in his first competition away from Barcelona in some time, he made a handful of questionable decisions. His back-to-the-basket footwork can be rigid, and he isn't that comfortable operating in dribble handoffs. He doesn't always run the floor consistently, either.
But with a strong frame, incredible length and elite run-and-jump athleticism, Badji could already hold his own physically in the NBA. He'll be one of only two NBA players with a wingspan 7-foot-9 or greater, joining
Mo Bamba and
Tacko Fall. Even with some of Badji's shortcomings and his limited role in Barcelona, it's difficult to envision all 30 teams passing on him twice.
-- Schmitz