Drake Powell Impresses Despite Low Usage Rate in College
TORONTO — Drake Powell’s college usage rate raised some eyebrows ahead of the draft, but Jordi Fernandes isn’t too concerned about it.
Despite being a first-round pick and somewhat inexperienced, Powell impressed in his first preseason game. Fernandes noted he’s not worried about North Carolina’s historically low usage rate for players like Powell.
“I wasn’t there [at UNC], so it’s hard for me to judge if it was good or bad. What I see is that [Powell] is an elite on-ball defender, likely the best athlete in this draft, and he can facilitate plays effectively. He was a point guard in high school, so you can witness those skills coming into play,” Fernandes commented.
He added, “He simplifies complex plays and makes them seem easy, but it’s really not that simple. You’ll see him mature. He’s got to earn his time, that’s how it works for point guards, you know? Drake will need to maximize his opportunities; I expect all of them to get some playing time.”
According to The Athletic, Powell had the lowest usage rate at 13.8% among drafted wings, which didn’t help his cause.
Though many pointed to his offensive shortcomings, his performance against the Suns shows promise. He shot 3-of-6 from three-point range and held his own in ball-handling duties, which was somewhat surprising given the context.
It seems likely that among Brooklyn’s five first-round picks, Powell may be the one to see more time in the G League. This will be crucial for him as he develops an offensive game that matches his already strong defensive skills.
Other Team Highlights
Michael Porter Jr. is acknowledged as one of the top cutters in the league, having played against stars like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in Denver. The Nets are actively incorporating plays at the top of the key to make the most of his talents.
In financial news, the latest Sportico rankings reveal that the Golden State Warriors top the list as the most valuable NBA team at $11.33 billion. The Knicks follow at third with $9.85 billion, while the Brooklyn Nets hold sixth place with a valuation of $6.22 billion. The ridiculous growth in team values reflects an impressive average increase of 113% over the past three years.
On another note, NetsDaily reports that Brooklyn will “pause” the BK Block, a fan-only section that’s taken care of the Brooklyn Brigade for seven seasons. While brigades will continue, the designated section will not be in operation this year.
