Noah Clowney: The Most Versatile Defender in the 2023 NBA Draft
Why the Talented Alabama Forward Rose from Shadows of his Peers to Become a Widely-Regarded Prospect
"Mr. Versatile."
That's what I call Alabama Freshmen Forward Noah Clowney. Clowney, a graduate of the perennial powerhouse of South Carolina HS hoops, Dorman, burst onto the radar of scouts nationwide, piquing their interest with one thing. Versatility.
Versatility is a word I find myself using more and more as we progress throughout this draft, and it's really a testament to where the NBA is heading. The game continues to evolve each year, and more so than ever, positional versatility is valued at an all-time high.
Noach Clowney's rise surprised many, considering he wasn't on the radars of many draft junkies around this time next year. The 6'10", 210lbs Forward impact on the game is undeniable. Clowney's popularized his name through his stellar play on the court while helping lead Alabama to a 31-6 Overall Record, including a bid to March Madness as a #1 seed. The defensive demon became a favorite amongst self-proclaimed draft analysts due to his ability to impact winning at a high level. Here's what makes Clowney unique as a prospect:
Strengths
When mentioning Clowney's strengths, the first thing that comes to mind is his positional/defensive versatility. At 6'10, 210lbs, Clowney possesses an unorthodox frame that allows him to excel as a defender. Clowney's extraordinary length presents challenges for traditional 4 and 5 men, while his agility allows him to effectively defend against quicker, smaller opponents on the perimeter. As versatile as Clowney is defensively, he also can impact offenses by using his length to block/alter shots. There are many case studies of this on film where Clowney is trailing the play in transition and chases it down, pinning it on the glass. Clowney's defensive versatility is his calling card and could warrant him playing immediate minutes.
As much of these clips climax with a block displaying his great length, Clowney's ability to stay with guards, help as a weakside defender, and recovery ability make him an extremely complete defender in terms of what you look for out of a switchable forward.
Clowney's shooting upside is budding on the horizon, which makes him so intriguing as a prospect. Despite shooting 28.3% from beyond the arc this past year on over 3 attempts a game, Clowney possesses extremely fluid mechanics, which suggests that Clowney should be able to become a league-average sniper. Although the FT% of 64.9 could be more encouraging, I believe in his mechanics, which will help him improve in addition to reps. Take it from Clowney himself when in an interview with Bryan Kalbrosky, he said, "I do want people to understand that I'm not the same 28.3% 3-point shooter I was in college. I've come a long way in the 2 months since the season ended." This is encouraging for front offices to hear, as once Clowney pulls all of his defensive tools and combines them with his 3-point potential, he has the potential to blossom as a 3 and D player at the next level. Here are some examples of his shooting upside:
This game early in the season in a hostile environment perfectly shows what Clowney can give you when appropriately deployed. Clowney's three-ball was going down this game, opening up space for his dribble drive. Ideally, this is what you get out of Clowney night in and night out at the next level once Clowney reaches his potential.
Lastly, it's impossible to go without mentioning Clowney's exceptional finishing ability, which he displayed all year. Whether it was the highlight reel dunks or funky and-1s, Clowney found a way to get the ball in the bucket when he was in the paint. Here's a more general year-long clip of some of his finishes around the basket as well as more general highlights:
Clowney’s Finishing Ability + Season Highlights
Weaknesses
The main argument against Noah Clowney is about how raw he is as a prospect. Offensively, he has yet to show flashes as a creator and often shows his lack of judgment in those decision-making situations. As for the shooting we touched on earlier, Clowney has all the tools to become a good shooter, but it's about his consistency, which he didn't show at Alabama as he was quite streaky.
Noah Clowney Poor Decision-Making
This clip is a perfect example of Clowney not being proficient enough on-ball to create for himself or others. As impressive as his fluidity is for his size, it's still evident that Clowney is raw with many amazing physical tools. A plus on that side is that Clowney is one of the youngest players in the draft and will turn 19 after the draft.
Another weakness of Clowney's is that he'll need to improve on adding functional strength to hang down low with the bigs of the NBA. Also, I say functional here, as you want to keep Clowney's ability to slide on the perimeter. Doing this will officially cement Clowney's status of being able to guard 1-5, making him invaluable.
Fit
With Noah Clowney officially receiving a Green Room invite to attend the draft, I expect to see Clowney taken off the board somewhere in the late teens to early twenties. The tricky thing about Clowney is that he is such an overall winner that you could make the case that he could fit in some way in most places, but it makes sense to mock him to a place where he fits the timeline. Houston is the best spot for Clowney, as he checks those two boxes. Also interesting to note that Houston has multiple selections, so using a pick on Clowney could make a lot of sense here.
Wrap-Up
Noah Clowney's versatility as a forward has propelled him onto the radars of scouts and draft analysts. Standing at 6'10" with exceptional length and agility, Clowney excels as a defender, capable of guarding multiple positions effectively. His shot-blocking ability and how he alters shots demonstrate his impact on the defensive end. Moreover, despite his college shooting percentages, Clowney's shooting potential is an intriguing aspect of his game. With fluid mechanics and a desire to improve, he has the potential to become a reliable three-point threat in the NBA.
While Clowney is considered raw as a prospect, particularly in his decision-making and consistency, his youth and growth mindset provides ample room for development. With the right coaching and strength training, he can refine his skills and reach his full potential. The combination of his defensive versatility, shooting upside, and finishing ability make him an enticing prospect for teams selecting in the draft's late teens to early twenties. As he continues to refine his game, Clowney has the potential to become a valuable asset and make a significant impact at the next level of basketball. That is why Noah Clowney is the Most Versatile Defender in the 2023 NBA Draft.
boarderline lotto for Clowney-agreed on impact on D-cheers