Due to Covid protocol Oklahoma State has had its last two games versus Oklahoma and West Virginia postponed. O State stands 9-3 with a big home date scheduled this Saturday against top-ranked Baylor. This should be a great measuring barometer for Cade as the Bears feature one of the best players in the Big 12 in guard Jared Butler. Baylor is loaded…period. The most athletic team I’ve seen so far this season.
Cade is currently the No. 1 ranked player on the ESPN Big Board for this summer’s draft. He’d clearly be the player I’d take because of his NBA ready made frame, his BBIQ smarts, his skill set in that he does everything relatively well… plus his 6’8″ body allows him great defensive flexibiity to effectively guard multiple positions.
If I were Presti and I was fortunate enough to land Cade I’d team him with Shai and Dort and create a three headed guard tandem with Cade being what Chris Paul was last season. Then maybe what Coach D could do is move Bazely to the Sixth Man coming off the bench like some sort of Lamar Odom type. I could see Bazely developing more game to game consistency in this role. Maybe move Roby to the starting four at some point with a physical rim protector at the five. It’s fun to visualize a team as the process evolves.
With the Houston pick if it stays outside of (1-4) I’d look for a mobile rim protector. I actually like some of what I’m seeing from Isiah Roby, but with another young big it would give the Thunder some much needed punch defensively. I’m looking with that pick to make my team much better defensively down the road.
Cade is currently the leading scorer in the uber rugged Big 12. His stats so far read… 17.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1 bpg, 1.2 spg. I’m not worried about his assist numbers because O State is an extremely young team and his teammates have been streaky shooting the ball at times.
Cade’s shooting efficency so far this season goes…45% fg, 39% 3pt, 81.7% ft. His balanced shooting numbers are a microcosm of the overall balance to his game. He does everything well and is an excellent rebounder. He’s too unselfish or else his rebounding numbers would be higher. He is clearly not a Russell Westbrook stat padder. A great kid. Excellent family. Super teammate.
Sam Presti…that’s who I’d take.