2023-06-27 06:05:00
On June 22, Adam Silver distributed all the rookies within their respective house. At TrashTalk, we decided to make a tactico-technical point for the top 10 of this Draft 2023! The goal? Interweaving the profile and environment of the first 10 players selected, projecting both their collective contribution and their individual development. We continue with Taylor Hendricks, the inside shooter of the Jazz. An interesting profile for the team, but not necessarily the best context for the player.
If you don’t know the player well, HERE the homemade profile!
After dealing with the case of Cason Wallace at the Thunder, it’s Taylor Hendricks’ turn to be inspected before hitting the floors of Salt Lake City. Unsurprisingly compared to the projections, the former Florida interior joins a rather attractive young frontcourt on paper. Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and even John Collins recently: it’s okay, we’ve seen worse as co-workers. But who says good colleagues, also says competition, and the recent trade from Utah to bring Collins back to Salt Lake City suggests a future place on the bench for Hendricks. But although his atypical profile seems to be interesting to make his place in the workforce, the Jazz still has some deficiencies from which Taylor might potentially suffer…
Reliability: theoretical complementarity with Walker Kessler
When Taylor Hendricks was called up by Adam Silver in 9 for Utah, that was surely one of the first things many observers thought of. For those who don’t necessarily know him, Walker Kessler had a high-level rookie season as a Jazz circle protector. He also earned a well-deserved All-Rookie 1st Team spot this year thanks to his defensive prowess. Something to comfort Utah fans from the departure of Rudy Gobert. But adding Taylor Hendricks to the equation is having a young racquet with very high defensive potential, while maintaining spacing in attack.
In defense, Walker Kessler already brings this role of circle protector as the anchor of the racquet. His drive and already very good reads can even extend his defensive impact away from the ball. On the side of Taylor Hendricks, we are also on the beast capable of protecting an NBA circle. The real question of his defensive profile remains in his ability to switch to smaller players, especially the most explosive, but the main thing is to deter access to the circle. It’s not impossible to see him in the role of second-curtain arch protector behind Walker Kessler, thanks to his mobility-verticality alloy. If we overlook the defensive errors specific to a rookie (lack of communication, jumping on feints, etc.), we are faced with a good complementary element from Kessler, suggesting a defensive racquet that largely holds up:
I think Taylor Hendricks can help bring out the best in Walker Kessler
Kessler’s role as a rim protector has made it so he stays around the paint to help his teammates
Having a secondary rim protector like Hendricks will allow Kessler to play more aggressively and force TO’s pic.twitter.com/HlZBH1Vdf7
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) June 25, 2023
But the other considerable asset which makes all the charm of Hendricks’ profile is his high-level 3-point shot. Last year in Florida, he was shooting at 41% en catch & shoot (54/132). Assuming his address doesn’t evaporate in Utah, there’s reason to presage a very interesting pick-and-pop option (when the screenwriter then steps aside for a position shooting). And being able to defend your circle might even portend a 5-Out by replacing Walker Kessler (the 5 attackers deviate behind the 3-point line), just to favor the spacing of Will Hardy. In short, the association is self-evident, and the tactical possibilities are rather interesting.
However, the recent arrival of John Collins will give Hendricks time to develop. Will Hardy’s interior rotations will be on loan next season. An additional challenge for Taylor, which is not necessarily negative. Cohabiting with Collins in his favorite position might be perceived as a brake on his development. But we can also see the glass half full: pushing him to be competitive can be a method of getting his best, while learning from those who are struggling in the Big League.
The concern: the lack of creators around him
What can be problematic in the development of Taylor Hendricks, however, is an offensive creation still vacant in Salt Lake City. After the trades of Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley, Will Hardy’s team, until proven otherwise, seems to want to bet on Lauri Markkanen as the main piece. Except that Lauri is not not really oriented towards creation for others. In addition to this first option rather oriented towards scoring, the Jazz does not really have a leading creator capable of organizing the game by finding open buddies, thanks to an above-average vision. Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, even Talen Horton-Tucker have rather profiles of scorers who like to swing the bombinette alone.
And all this configuration does not really optimize the profile of Taylor Hendricks, far from being a pro to create his shot himself. Which is a shame when you know its potential in catch & shoot. Keyonte George, one of the other Jazz rookies, might potentially bring some two-man play, but once more we are on a young player who needs to make progress in this area. A veteran signing to the Free Agency might ease a lot of needs, while promoting youth development. Bring us a daron to frame all this, just to be a bit relieved.
The tipping point: his ability to land one or two dribbles calmly
As said before, Hendricks is not the champion to shake the nets without the help of anyone. A lot of his NBA baskets are likely to be assisted, whether in catch & shoot or under the basket by cuts to the circle. His lack of weight compared to the standards of the Big League will not help him to impose himself immediately in the racket to create shots. We’ll have to be patient with Taylor Hendricks…
But what handicaps him above all in his scoring prospects is the inability to put the ball on the ground calmly, to the point of being dangerous. If Taylor manages to progress in this direction over the years, he might gain autonomy to score baskets. By being at 40% success for half-court lay-ups (22/55), Hendricks will have to fine-tune his finish near the circle. But if he manages to better control the ball by posing a dribbling or two, while gaining weight, the young pivot of the Jazz might make his already impressive physique fully functional. This is certainly what might make him pass a milestone in the NBA.
Taylor Hendricks represents the modern interior profile that a lot of NBA teams can envy. Solid foundations to impact the game in its first year, but caveats that require a certain patience. Let’s hope for him and his development that Utah does what is necessary to put him in good conditions, without asking him for the impossible. One of the exciting developments to follow in the coming years.
Sources : wingspan, Hoop Intellect, QiBasket, No Cellings
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