Measurables:
- Age: 19
- Height: 6’11”
- Wingspan: 6’10.5″
- Weight: 227 LBs
Strengths:
Very good shooter with high release point.
Skill is very developed for his young age.
Good athlete vertically. Can finish well at the rim.
Handles are decent for a 4.
Good rebounder in EURO. Has size/timing to be decent in NBA.
Weaknesses:
Needs to add significant muscle to play in paint.
Inconsistent at times. Can be passive.
Not much of a shot blocker. May not be able to play the 5.
Will struggle with quickness of small ball 4’s.
NBA Comparison:
Jonas Jerebko
6’10” Combo forward reliant on stretching the floor and using size defensively. Jerebko added some weight as a young player in order to guard stronger big men which Samanic will need to do too.
NBA Draft Outlook:
Late First-Early Second.
Ideal Fits:
Milwaukee at 30:
Bucks have seemed to go all in on shooters to surround Giannis and Samanic is just that. Brook Lopez went from a rotation guy to one of the best centers in the league in their system, and Samanic could be maximized in a similar way.
New Orleans at 39:
Davis has developed into a decent shooter, but is maximized in the paint. Zion is probably a year or three away from being a consistent shooter. Samanic could give them some space to work, and his lack of strength/athleticism would be significantly minimized.
