Film Breakdown of Elliot Cadeau's Playmaking Ability
Elliot Cadeau is a 6-foot-1 point guard who is listed as the No. 11 overall recruit in the 2023 class. The UNC commit has a multitude of strengths, ranging from self-creation on the offensive end to off-ball defensive awareness and rotations. Cadeau's most clear-cut strength, however, is his ability to create for others. This was on full display in Link Academy's game against Sunrise Christian back in March earlier this year. Cadeau finished with 10 assists in that GEICO Nationals semifinal game.
Let's break down Cadeau's passing ability into transition plays & playmaking in the half-court:
Transition
These first set of clips with unset defenses or transition plays show that Cadeau puts constant pressure on defenses and is a threat to get an assist at all times.
Half-Court & Live-Dribble Playmaking
Cadeau has the potential to be a primary ball-handler in the NBA. His combination of court vision and accurate live-dribble righty passing allows him to create open shots for his teammates consistently, especially out of the pick-and-roll. Additionally, his awareness of where his teammates are allows him to react instantly to strong-side stunts, oftentimes leading to a corner three that was only open for a split second.
The Size Concern for Cadeau
There is clear concern among scouts regarding Cadeau's 6-foot-1 size. Zero players shorter than 6-foot-2 were drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft and only two were drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. The two players were Kennedy Chandler and J.D. Davidson, both of whom have struggled for minutes at the NBA level.
Since 2015, only 13/27 (48%) of NBA Draft selections who are 6-foot-1 or shorter have played 5 or more years in the NBA or are currently on NBA rosters. However, Cadeau deserves legitimate consideration to be projected into that 48% due to his elite playmaking ability.
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