The 10 most irresponsible 2017 NBA Draft prospect comparisons

4. Jonathan Jeanne probably is somewhere between Rudy Gobert and Javale McGee

In the wake of the Frenchman’s explosive NBA Combine performance, there’s been a wave of hyperbolic claims regarding Jeanne’s potential in the NBA. On one hand is the camp that sees Jeanne as more offensively advanced Rudy Gobert — a big with a 7-foot-7 wingspan that can protect the rim and shoot from outside. On the other hand, is the camp that doesn’t trust Jeanne’s combine performance, and sees him more like Javale McGee — a physical specimen that is high on physical tools but doesn’t have the awareness and instincts to use them.

As always, the truth will probably lie somewhere in between these two polarizing outcomes. Jeanne really struggles with basic aspects of defensive play and doesn’t have great feel. However, does that mean he’s going to be sailing passes out of bounds and fouling everyone and everything? Of course not. But at the same time, just having a 7-foot-7 wingspan and some decent hops doesn’t mean you’re going to become a scheme-changing rim protector. And as Thon Maker showed in the playoffs, just because you look incredibly raw leading up to the draft doesn’t mean things won’t click for you in a more stable situation.

Jeanne’s become a polarizing prospect, just as these types of players always are. He could become an elite rim protector, or he could flame out of the league at age 25. Or he could fit somewhere in between. Regardless, it’s going to be a few years before this gets settled, as he’ll need time to mature into his body and learn the game. It’s a little bit futile to argue about what he will become when he has so far to go to get to either outcome.