Draft Profile: Jimmer Fredette

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Jimmer Fredette, born on February 25, 1989, just completed playing four years of collegiate basketball at Brigham Young University. During the 2011 season, Jimmer was the leading scorer in NCAA Division I basketball, as well as the winner of multiple Player of the Year awards. Jimmer, out of Glen Falls, NY has divided scouts, analysts, and fans alike as to whether he will be successful on the NBA level.

Simply put, Jimmer is one of the most talked about players in this draft.

Jimmer Scouting Report Video Via DraftExpress.com:


Judging The Fit: It is well known that the Knicks like Jimmer a lot. In fact, they were close to giving him a guarantee last year. The Knicks have a need for outside shooting and a young point guard. Jimmer could potentially fill both voids. Jimmer piques the Knicks interest due to his outside shooting. He has a very quick release and needs just an inch of space in order to get his shot off. In Coach D’Antoni’s system, having outside shooters is needed because the system is based on spreading the floor. Having a shooter like Jimmer next to Amar’e and Carmelo would ensure that opposing defenses would have to think twice before sending the double on Stat or Melo.

Additionally, there is hope that under D’Antoni’s tutelage Fredette, who is viewed by many as being a high IQ player, will develop point guard instincts and one day become capable of taking the reins from Chauncey Billups.

The problem with picking Jimmer is that he is a combo guard. Standing at only 6’ feet, Jimmer is not big enough to play shooting guard at the NBA level. With Toney Douglas already on the roster, is there space for another combo guard?

As for defense, like many of the current Knicks, Jimmer is a below average defender. Scouts believe that Jimmers’ defense is the biggest flaw in his game. Adding him to an already below average defensive team may not be the right move.

 

In terms of outside shooting, Jimmer could be the best player in this draft, but the question is, can Jimmer develop point guard instincts? If not, can the Knicks afford to have two combo guards on the roster.

The Verdict: Jimmer fits a definite need and if he were to still be on the board I do not see any way the Knicks could pass on him. Sure, he is not a pure point and plays no defense, but his shooting would be lethal in Mike D’Antoni’s system. Plus, Jimmer is the hometown kid.

It is important to realize that it is very unlikely that Jimmer Fredette will still be on the board at the 17th selection (most mock drafts have him off the board by the 15th pick).

All things considered I’d give it a 15% chance that Jimmer Fredette is the selection at 17.

If Jimmer is available, would you pick him?

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  • Jason Dewitt

    Big mistake in this profile. Jimmer IS a true point guard. He played point guard his whole life, including all 4 years at BYU. He led the team in assists. He was among the Mountain West leaders in assists every year. What is all this “needs to develop point guard skills” stuff? He is a point guard and always has been. Where did this rumor get started? People sound so ignorant when they talk about him as a combo or shooting guard.

  • Azaz Ahsan

    Thanks for the read but from what I’ve seen he’s a shooting guard who masked as a point. Only ;.3apg and a volume shooter. Not really a point to me.

  • Jason Dewitt

    .3 apg? Try 4.3. You haven’t really seen him much. Volume shooter is like a way of saying he shoots too much. He averaged 1.4 points per shot. Phenomenal average.

  • Azaz Ahsan

    I meant 4.3

  • http://Knicksvision.com Jeremy

    I agree that if there’s one coach in the league who can coach Jimmer into a starting quality point guard in this league, it’s D’Antoni. And while a deadly marksman is always a valuable addition to any team (especially this type of team), I question whether or not fans are letting D’Antoni’s past dictate future team decisions. I

    I do understand the Nash-esque comparisons, although I don’t think Jimmer will ever be that caliber player. But just because D’Antoni had a talented enough Suns team to be able to gloss over Nash’s defensively inabilities for years, I don’t think that gives him carte blanche in terms of his point guard’s defensive abilities. I’ve loved watching Toney Douglas (and Raymond Felton before we traded him) as the Knicks’ 1, because both were willing to be floor generals on either end of the court; the term bull-dog comes to mind when thinking of those guys, which is exactly the type of player we need.

    I see how Jimmer can help us in some areas, but I ask this:

    - How does he improve our rebounding? Even at the 1, he’s still a well below-average rebounder given the current state of NBA point guards. Additionally, since his spacing generally orients him around the perimeter on offense, that’s one fewer body we have to band down-low (watch a team like the Thunder, and see that one of the reasons they’re so effective is because every player always crashes the boards and gets a body on someone)

    -How does he improve our perimeter (and to a larger extent, interior) defense? Penetration was the Knicks biggest problem post-Melo trade; it’s the reason why Rondo sliced us to pieces with his passes during the playoffs, and why Amar’e could never seem to stay out of foul trouble this entire season. Defense starts on the perimeter, and Jimmer’s athletic testing at the combine aside, he has not proven himself to be even an adequate defender at the 1. Unless this team is really buying into simply eschewing defense for firepower (which I think we can rule out), then Jimmer doesn’t help in this respect.

    - How much greater is his value for us than for any other team? I know it’s silly to remember this, but the Knicks may be in a position next year to acquire some pretty good players via trade should the opportunity arise. Jimmer would be a great fit in D’Antoni’s system, but would other teams value him as highly as, say, Nikola Vucevic, an under 20 legit 7 footer with upside? Obviously this shouldn’t determine our draft strategy, but it cannot be forgotten.

    Jimmer would be a popular pick for the Knicks for numerous reasons: he fits the system; fixes some holes; and has a really hot girlfriend (if she was on NBA Wives, I might be able to endure the lockout). But the question that I think many fans aren’t asking is this: sure Jimmer would be a good pick for the Knicks, but would be be the best pick? My answer at this point is probably no