2016 NBA Draft Scouting Report: A.J. Hammons

At the ancient age of almost 24-years old, you need to have a lot going for you to still be a relevant NBA Draft prospect. Luckily for A.J. Hammons, he is a really talented dude. Standing 7-0 in shoes with a 7-3 wingspan and weighing 278 lbs Hammons is an absolute load physically. He could stand to get in better shape, but he is shockingly mobile and even has some pop off-the-ground for a man his size. He’s not just a beast either, as Hammons has some real touch and even range on the offensive end.

Despite his tremendous physical and basketball tools, Hammons ended up a 4-year player at Purdue. Dogged by questions of conditioning, focus, effort level, and off-court issues, he struggled to dominate college competition the way one would hope. This past year he seemed to turn the corner a bit, and there’s a lot to like about his potential NBA future.

Offense

Hammons isn’t the most polished offensive player in the world, but he’s got a lot of fluidity and coordination for a man his size. As a post-player at the college level, he mostly stuck to basic hooks and drop-steps, but his ability to adjust his body to his defender and create angles is rare for someone so big. Giant soft hands and a wide body allow him to receive the ball in good position to score, though he could be a bit more aggressive about using his natural strength to back guys down.

While not advanced enough to project as a weapon against traditional NBA 5’s, Hammons has more than enough post game to take advantage of the defenders he will face in the small ball and switch happy modern NBA. The worrying aspects of Hammons’ post game are mostly his shot-selection and distribution. He has a tendency to settle for long hooks or fadeaways instead of patiently working for the best shot. Even worse, when he draws a double or gets into a lane full of crowded defenders he’s prone to making errant passes or losing the ball. He occasionally makes some impressive reads, but he generally has a hard time dealing with help defense.

All the time Hammons spent in the post in college should translate to some effectiveness in pick-and-roll play. His soft hands make him an easy target rolling down the lane, and he has the coordination and soft touch to navigate defenders and score. He’s not the bounciest athlete in the world, but he has some pop for his frame which allows him to be a target for lobs at times as well. Again, the big issue in his potential as a pick-and-roll player is his ability to read the floor and make decisions with the ball. He will undoubtedly be used more in pick-and-roll than in the post in the NBA, so improving his passing as well as getting down the timing of screening and rolling will play large.

Defense/Rebounding

Hammons biggest strengths, and arguably his biggest weaknesses, all lie on the defensive end of the floor. A 7-3 wingspan, relatively quick leaping ability, and great natural timing make him an imposing shot-blocking force. He blocked over four shots per 40 minutes each of his last three years in college and has the tools to be an elite rim protector even in the NBA. Even his ability to go up straight with verticality is relatively advanced for a college player.

Combining his length with his thick frame Hammons is a very adept post defender. He isn’t always the most committed to fighting for position, and post-defense isn’t all that valuable in the NBA right now, but Hammons is certainly a strong option in that regard. His physical tools also translate into his capacity to rebound the ball.

Lack of effort and awareness caused Hammons to struggle with consistency as a defensive rebounder, but he hit the glass at a pretty strong clip his senior year, ending with a 24.9 percent defensive rebounding rate. His offensive rebounding was always strong due to his length and some quickness for his size. He’s not going to be as good as his tools might suggest, but he’s going to rebound at an adequate level for an NBA center.

Guarding on the perimeter is an interesting story for Hammons. His 280-pound frame inevitably means he is limited to executing drop coverage, but he is relatively mobile for his size. His fluidness allows him to track the ball pretty well, and while he will obviously rarely add a lot of value in pick-and-roll defense, he has the makings of a drop big who can force ball handlers into pretty tough shots, and even get up and move a little in emergency situations.

Reading just the above parts, Hammons would seem like a pretty elite defensive prospect. However, it is worth coming back to his awareness and effort level, which are pretty big factors on the defensive end. Whether it be from lack of conditioning or focus Hammons never really seems to play with much energy on either end, and his rotations on defense are inconsistent due to effort and recognition issues. With consistent effort, Hammons could be a solid defender, and certainly a plus rim-protector, but his below par anticipation will probably prevent him from ever being the force he could be.

Conclusion

Hammons’ various mental concerns are always hard to weigh when performing draft analysis as a layman. From a pure talent perspective, Hammons would be deserving of a lottery pick — even in an NBA increasingly moving away from traditional centers. However, lack of commitment to learning the game and playing hard can submarine even the greatest of talents. Hammons definitely improved in all aspects his senior year at Purdue, and even at the age of 24, it is reasonable to hope for continued mental improvement. It won’t take much for him to carve out a role as a useful two-way center because he really has the tools to be an elite rim protector, good pick-and-roll scorer, and is not awful in any other department of the game. He’s currently being projected as an early-to-mid second rounder, but this draft isn’t good enough to push someone with his talent down that far. He’s deserving of a late first round pick and has a good chance of turning into a solid spot backup, if not something more.

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