Devin Ebanks (West Virginia)
6'8, 210 lbs., SF
Devin Ebanks has talent and entered the season as a player to watch, however, he didn't show any improvements in his game and struggled on the court. Standing 6'8, he brings a mid-range game, long wingspan, and defense to the table.
Offensively, Ebanks is nothing to write home about. He scores frequently on put backs, transition, and other "easy" baskets. Otherwise, he mostly utilizes his mid-range game by shooting off cuts, curling around screens, or shooting over defenders with his size.
Unfortunately, Ebanks' struggles with ball-handling which will become an even greater liability at the NBA level. He's also lacks the strength to use his size to post up smaller defenders, and he lacks three point range. As a NBA small-forward, without ball-handling, limited long-range shooting, and no post-up ability, he is going to limit his team on offense.
On the plus side, Ebanks brings defense to the table. He uses his long arms and average lateral quickness to stay in front of aggressive small forwards. Even though he is lean, he fights hard on defense to keep from being posted up. With long arms, he plays the passing lanes and racks up deflections. He uses his size, hops, and motor to block shots and rebound well for his position.
How does his game translate to the NBA?
Right now, Ebanks is very limited offensively and is going to struggle to get good consistent minutes even being a good defensive whiz. If he adds a spot up three point shot from the corner and plays with good offensive players around him then he could play a Thabo Sefolosha like role.
Currently, Ebanks is predicted to go anywhere from late first until mid-second and has role player potential at the next level.
How does he fit in with the Bulls?
Currently, I think he is a bad fit next to the Bulls as he does not present the overwhelming talent and skill to pair next to Rose. With limited shooting and ball-handling, he presents many of the same attributes Luol Deng does, but not nearly as well.
Filed under: Draft Coverage
Tags: 2010 nba draft, chicago bulls, Devin Ebanks, draft profile, small forward
Nice article Kevin. Yea, he doesnt really impress me. There are two other SF that are waaay bettet than him in Babbitt(maybe given recent articles) and James should both be there around our picks.
My main concern currently is the pull out of Donatas Motiejunas from the draft and how it effects who drops to us at 17. I am not sure who will drop now but I hope its someone decent. Recent mocks stating that George, Babbitt, Henry and Hayward all possibly gone by our pick.
The one good thing I see is that there is a chance Cole Aldrich could fall to our pick at 17. There are rumors that he is falling our of the lottery for whatever reason and I highly doubt he will get picked up by teams with plenty bigs such as Houston, Milwaukee or Minnesota. Possibly Toronto but I could see them going with Whiteside. Hopefully he falls. You should do a story on him too if you can kevin.
+2 I would love to have Aldrich...not sure if he falls all the way to us though. I wonder what the Bulls are going to do if all their guys are gone by #17!??!!? Maybe go with Kevin Seraphin!? Possibly Daniel Orton!? Maybe trade down!?
If we hire Thibodeau...he is deff. going to want a bigman that can bang downlow.
Nbadraft.net has Cole Adlrich falling to 13, I think if he can get past Toronto somehow then he is as good as hours. Houston wont take him imo, Bucks definitly wont and neither will Minni(esp if they draft Cousins early).
+2 thats a good point
Im starting to think that Kevin Seraphin is alot like JJ Hickson just much stronger....and he also kind of reminds me of a young David West. Seraphin needs a jumper though.
I don't see either. I think he is more athletic and will be a better presence defensively than either. However, he does need to develop jumper.
Isn't that guy hurt? I think he is pulling out of the draft.
My understanding is that he may stay in draft more than pull out. He is just wanting a 1st round guarantee.
That's what Giovani is reporting
While i do agree with you a little bit Happy...i still think grabbing a big in the draft isnt a bad idea either. Theres a lot more SG's that would sign for a cheap contract then big guys in the free agency market. I would mind a SG though.
Possible cheap SG Free Agents: Kyle Korver,Mike Miller,Matt Barnes,JJ Reddick
Possible cheap Big Free Agents: Brendan Hayward, Joel Pryzbilla
And usaully bigs dont sign for cheap. I would mind if the Bulls did something like this....
Hire Thibodeau
Draft: If SG's are gone...go with either Kevin Seraphin or Daniel Orton.
Free Agency: Sign LeBron and then Sign a cheap SG...Barnes or Mike Miller
Rose, Kirk Hinrich
LeBron, Matt Barnes or Mike Miller
Deng, James Johnson
Taj, Kevin Seraphin or Daniel Orton
Noah, Brad Miller?, Asik
Plus you could always try to land a stud PF with the pieces we have in place.
Don't forget Anthony Morrow, though he might not be as cheap as some others.
I basically agree with you, except that if we draft Daniel Orton, I'm going to join in on the 'Fire Pax!' bandwagon.
lol Personally i think its a pretty smart idea. A vet SG will probably give you more then what a rookie SG would. Might as well add something else that you need...like some beef. LA was huge downlow last night...we are going to need to match that somehow. Seraphin might actually be a great pick if the top 3 SG's are gone.
Well, one of my top 3 will be there (not counting Evan Turner): Paul George, Avery Bradley, and Dominique Jones. I wouldn't mind James Anderson, either, but I think Henry will struggle in the NBA.
I like George and Jones and wouldn't mind Anderson, but I am not a fan of Avery Bradley for this team
Mind you, I'm not looking at Avery Bradley to answer our starting SG problem, but to replace Hinrich as a backup who can play both guard spots. He doesn't have shooting range yet, in fact his shot is pretty awful from distance. But he's long and almost as athletic as Rose, and never gives up on defense. If he can drive and dish/kick when he's backing up Rose, and learn to curl around a pick for a catch and shoot on an 18 footer when he's playing with him, he'll fit in just fine.
Ya im starting to like Dominique Jones a lot. He is a strong kid and a big time competitor. Has a little bit of Rodney Stuckey/poormans Ben Gordon in him. Plus he is a scorer...so i think he would be able to translate pretty well into the NBA.
Ya i just think Seraphin can do some similiar things as what JJ Hickson does. Set picks, roll to the hoop, dunk the ball. Rebounds, block shots, tip ins, dunks. Garbage guy/energy guy off the bench. IMO i think the Bulls just need to get bigger to be able to handle the Lakers...Gasol and Bynum are a load down low.
Here's what my guy, E'Twaun Moore, did to Devin Ebanks this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGCkhi8NpTA
I disagree.
Trade Hinrich. Draft a SG/SF (George, Anderson, Henry or Pondexter). Sign Wade.
Sorry, not a big Cole Alrich fan here.
Dude, You have to admit his size next to Noah would be pretty badass.
I have been saying it for a month...TRADE UP.
If I were Paxson or Forman, I wouldn't be PASSIVE, which they are, and hope a quality player, mainly a SG, falls to them at #17.
Go get the guy you want!!!
As for Devin Ebanks, I liked him better last year than this year.
He's not what they need.
I saw on Paul George's twitter that he took a picture of himself wearing a Bulls hat.
If he can get the IMMATURE STREET LANGUAGE out of his lexicon, than I'm cool with John Paxson and Gar Forman go hard after him come June 24th.
Personally, I think this month is just as important, if not more so , than next month. They need a HEAD COACH, they need to DRAFT A SG and it wouldn't hurt to clear more cap space for TWO All-Star level free-agents to join the team.
I still think Hinrich and/or Deng need to go.