2018 NBA Prospect Report Part 1: DeAndre Ayton

Defense

Deandre Ayton’s defensive issues revolve around recognition.

For a big man with a relatively high offensive IQ, it is strange that he seems completely unaware at times of when to rotate over and play help defense. This will only become more difficult at the next level when he must deal with the NBA’s defensive three-seconds rule.

Here you see Dusan Rstic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright defend a side pick-and-roll. They trap the ball handler, allowing Oregon’s roll man to get free. It is Ayton’s job to then rotate over and get between the roll man and the rim.

Most NBA schemes ice side pick-and-rolls, not trap them, so Ayton might not encounter that specific play very often at the next level. But still, he needs to be aware of what the defensive scheme demands of him. In this case, he needs to be ready to rotate over and pick up the roll man as the primary defenders put pressure on the ball handler.

Not to mention, bringing over help from the weakside in general is one of the NBA center’s most important jobs. Ayton simply must improve in this area if he wants to be a positive defensive player.

Everywhere else, he has at least shown signs of potential. He is good defending at the level of ball screens, moving laterally and up and down to hedge and switch.

On this play, Ayton steps up to defend at the level of the ball screen, but the ball handler rejects the screen and instead drives left towards the basket. This is a common offensive tactic to counter this kind of defense, and in most situations, would give the ball handler a massive advantage over an out-of-position big.

But Ayton shows off his impressive quickness and recovers to block the jumper.

Here, Ayton is on an island defending a perimeter player. Watch how he quickly rotates his hips back-and-forth to stay in front of the offensive player despite the jab step and then moves his feet laterally with his hands up. Another block:

Arizona does not play too much traditional drop or ice coverage so it is hard to judge his ability to contain ball handlers at this point. But his mobility and size are both reasons for optimism. His numbers defending roll men are good – only conceding 0.708 points per possession per Synergy – but the sample is still small.

Lastly, he shows high energy levels and proper technique closing out on shooters. He does not quite have the stopping ability to execute at an elite level yet, but he doesn’t run past shooters. He knows to get into position, force baseline and keep his hands up to contest.

Here he does exactly that, blocking the offensive player at the rim as a result:

Ayton needs to figure out how to harness his physical makeup into consistent results. With proper NBA coaching and a strong ecosystem, he could easily morph into a positive defensive player in a modern league that demands switchability and mobility.