Atlanta Hawks: How good can DeAndre Bembry be?
The Atlanta Hawks selected DeAndre Bembry with the 21st selection in Thursday’s NBA Draft. Bembry is a small forward from St. Joseph’s University. The Atlanta Hawks selected Bembry after the selection of Taurean Prince from Baylor. Bembry has a chance to make an immediate impact for the Hawks.
DeAndre Bembry has the ability to provide some quality minutes in his first couple of seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. With Kent Bazemore becoming a free agent, Bembry has the opportunity to crack the starting lineup and become an instant contributor on the team. Bembry also has great athleticism to build upon in the Hawks system.
Bembry measured around 6’6 and around 207 pounds. At St. Joseph’s, he averaged over 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Bembry also has the skills and the poise due to staying in school for three years. He is a skilled wing and likes to drive to the basket and create easy opportunities for his teammates and himself.
Bembry’s Strengths
Bembry has many tools that make him not only a versatile wing player, but an overall great athlete. He brings a high basketball IQ and seems to always be around the ball. Bembry also has a long wingspan that helps him get in the passing lanes on defense and block shots around the basket.
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Bembry also is one of the better passers in this draft. Stemming from his high basketball IQ, he is able to see passing lanes open up and able to distribute the ball to teammates on their way to the basket. In the open floor and in transition, he is deadly. He is also able to see potential opportunities for an easy basket.
Areas of Improvement
Although Bembry is an experienced college veteran, he does have some areas that he needs to improve on if he wants to not only become a all around great player in the NBA, but a starter on the Atlanta Hawks. One of the areas he needs to improve on is his outside shooting. Last year at St Joseph’s, Bembry only shot a little over 27 percent from three point range.
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On a team that is predicated on making outside shots, he will have to work on making those. Also the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff will have to work with him on improving those numbers. Another issue he had was staying in front of defenders and not letting them get past him. He will have to bulk up and add good weight if he wants this not continue in the NBA.
Prediction
Bembry brings a lot of great tools and attributes to the Atlanta Hawks. He has some things to improve on, but the athleticism and the talent is there to make an impact this year. If Bembry can improve his outside shot and work on defense, he can make an impact.
Next: Atlanta Hawks 2016 NBA Draft selections
Bembry can help the Atlanta Hawks in many ways and he will be able to learn from the veterans that are already on the roster. If Bembry puts in the work, the sky is the limit for the future of the Atlanta Hawks.