Coby White - Maximize
When Flip Saunders made the home run draft pick that became Zach LaVine, he targeted a player with two characteristics: and elite physical trait plus an elite skill.
If that’s the formula to hitting those home run swings, than Coby White is the guy to swing at.
LaVine came into the NBA with elite athleticism and an elite catch-and-shoot ability. The rest was a mess. But because he had those two things to rely on, and was not a top lottery pick, he was able to work his way into the star player conversation by maximizing what he did well and working to catch the rest up.
The Wolves are again in the same situation, without a top draft pick and needing a star.
Strengths:
Coby White is one of the fastest players there is. Even at the NBA level, he will be a blur compared to most guys. He’s Russell Westbrook fast. De’Aaron Fox fast. Has-two-functioning-knees John Wall fast. White’s downhill acceleration is incredible to watch.
On the skill side, White ranked in the 96th percentile in both pick-and-roll and catch-and-shoot. He set UNC records for freshman scoring and threes. And that ability to consistently split defenses is no joke, either. That’s high level handles and a lot of “getting it” intangibles that can’t be taught at work.
In short, White has a natural attack mode that will, at the very least, make him an effective scorer in the NBA.
Concerns:
Physically, White had a major red flag come up at the combine: he has alligator arms. His height-to-wingpsan ratio is 1-to-1, which is very much less than ideal for NBA players. He’s 6’5” with a 6’5” wingspan. For comparison, Josh Okogie is 6’4” with a 7’ wingspan. Even acknowledging that this is less of an issue for guards than forwards - Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry…Steve Nash….Jason Kidd - it’s still a concern. A lot of being an NBA player is about getting the ball around the outstretched arms of other players. White will need to prove he can get his shots off and passes through without the advantage of reach.
The other concern is White only plays at one speed: really really fast. He will need to develop multiple gears. Much of being an NBA guard is about getting the subtleties - change of pace and direction, creating shots and passing lanes, carving through the defense instead of barreling straight into it. The lack of craft in his game will make it difficult for him to be an effective point guard early on. White knows only one direction: straight downhill. Until he learns how to traverse, his impact - particularly in halfcourt sets - will be limited.
In summary:
The Wolves pulled a bit of a surprise when Coby White came to town for a private workout. That would indicate both the team and White’s camp believe the Wolves moving up to draft him is a very real possibility.
White, despite his limitations, would solve a few key deficiencies on this roster: the need for a high level secondary ball handler; the need for a reliable shooter off catches and off screens; the need to push the pace and limit isolation. And if he can get around the short arms and mature the lead guard part of his game, stardom is within reach.
