NBA Draft Scouting Report: Kentucky's Cason Wallace
NEW ORLEANS- The NBA Combine is over and the NBA Draft (June 22) is just a few weeks away. The New Orleans Pelicans kept ahold of the 14th overall pick but still have a few roster issues to resolve. Though EVP David Griffin said to expect 'tweaks' to the roster and a trade is expected, there are a few options that could fall to 14 and possibly contribute from Day 1.
Say what you want about Coach Calipari but Kentucky guards do very well in the NBA. Cason Wallace, the newest Kentucky combo guard to hit the NBA Draft, may not have All-Star potential, but he has a high floor and looks to be a sure-fire bench contributor for years.
When asked during the NBA Combine media sessions to explain why it seems Kentucky guards get “slept on” in the draft yet still become stars, Wallace replied, “I feel like Cal does a great job at preparing us for the next level, as far as putting in sets and using NBA terminology. They’re slept on, but they go pretty high in the draft, as well. So, are they really slept on?”
Wallace did not play in the combine's five-on-five scrimmages, so either he is very confident in being a lottery pick or his agent has gone further to secure a promise from a team like the Pelicans.
Measurables
- Height (w/o shoes): 6'2.5''
- Weight: 195.2 lbs
- Wingspan: 6'8.5''
- Standing Reach: 8'5''
- Free Throw: 75.7%
- 3PT: 34.6% - 4.3 3PA/G
- 3/4 Sprint: 3.34 seconds
- Lane Agility: 10.82
- Max Vertical: 36 inches
Basic measures can only do so much to help during the evaluation process. It is encouraging to know Wallace's Pro Day in Lexington was even better than his Chicago showing.
Offense
Rookie guards have a blueprint for getting minutes. Provide respectable shooting to give the rest of the team space and share the ball. Wallace has shown an ability to stick to those principles so he should be able to push for Kira Lewis Jr., Dyson Daniels, and Jose Alvarado for minutes before the All-Star break.
New Orleans does not need much from a lead guard who logs starter minutes, not with Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram on the roster. Still, Wallace would be capable of giving those stars some time to rest off the ball and pick easier spots.
Willie Green's decisions this season signaled that the Pelicans do need a more trusted hand to lead the reserve unit. Lewis Jr. and Daniels were unconvincing in the inconsistent minutes they did get. Lewis Jr.'s defense and Daniels being a non-factor on offense really hurt the team down the stretch and in the play-in game.
The 19-year-old was moved around Kentucky's offense last year, sharing the backcourt with Sahvir Wheeler. Wallace only moved into the lead role after Wheeler was hurt and still ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in assists per game. The SEC All-Freshman averaged 0.77 passes per touch, the best mark among the projected lottery picks.
He takes pride in being defensive-minded and keeps the ball moving, but can he knock down shots? The Pelicans have had problems creating space both with their play calls and lack of shooting threats beyond Trey Murphy. Another sparkplug who can find a shot is needed to relieve pressure.
Wallace may be able to cure some of those ills. He lit up NBA scouting radars with 14 points, 8 steals, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against Michigan State at the 2022 Champions Classic. The Pelicans (and practically the entire NBA) were in the gym watching.
Much like the Pelicans, the Wildcats were short on outside shooting and space. Even with defenders locked in, Wallace hit 35% from three-point range. Expect him to flirt with 40% in the NBA game.
Asked about what he got to show off in college, and what he wishes he had more tape of, Wallace replied, "Creating my own shot. I feel like I did it a little bit, but not as much as I would like to show. I definitely have a little bag to me.”
Mar 19, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Cason Wallace (22) drives to the basket against Kansas State Wildcats forward Ismael Massoud (25) during the second half in the second round of the 2023 NCAA men s basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Wallace ended his Kentucky career with 21 points (on 9-for-11 shooting) in a 75-69 loss to Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was Wallace's fourth 20-plus-point game in an offense dominated by upperclassmen. It's unusual for a Coach Cal team but the rookie finished fourth in field goals behind three seniors (Oscar Tshiebwe, Antonio Reeves, and Jacob Toppin).
A soft touch with some E'twuan Moore-type floater, decent from the free-throw line, and should be an above-average floor space in time? Sign me up.
Defense
Tough point-of-attack defense and an ability to make plays for others are traits that get a young guy on the court under this coaching staff. Just ask Jose Alvarado.
Well, Wallace is tenacious on defense, getting 2 steals per game. He is a strong on-ball point-of-attack defender but near-elite as an off-ball gap shooter who can slide into the paint as a helper. Wallace would be another Swiss army knife to pair with Naji Marshall when the starters need a rest.
“It’s just gotta be in you,” Wallace said of the “dog mentality...You can’t teach it. That’s just who I am as a person, and it’s always been there since I was a little one...I know how to read defenders. When I watch film, I think about how I can be disruptive and beat them to spots or how I should go about guarding them.”
Wallace tallied 63 steals wearing a Kentucky uniform. Only Rajon Rondo and John Wall have had more as a one-and-done Wildcat. His defensive squat just looks like a young Jrue Holiday. Keep an eye on a team trading up for Wallace if he drops to 9th or lower. He isn't just good at basketball, he's been a two-way hooper since high school. Some outlets asked last summer if Wallace wasn't the best two-way guard in America.
Kentucky s Cason Wallace greets fans before the game against Providence in the NCAA Tournament. March 17, 2023 Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Summary: The Pelicans need better shooting and rebounding. Keeping a stout defense of part of the Willie Green coaching identity. Wallace may not have the highlight reel showcasing high-flying athleticism but he is the most ready-to-compete rookie that is a realistic possibility with the 14th overall pick.
He plays bigger than his 6'2'' height with a 6'8 wingspan all while making plays for others. He can get downhill to attack the rim at an elite level, learned to share the ball in college, and would immediately be in a battle to lead the reserve unit.
The stocky 6'5", 195-pound guard can hold a position on defense, knock down shots at an average to above-average clip, and finish through contact attacking the rim. It's just a question of how quickly the rest of his offense catches up. Still, Wallace is a high-level guard prospect with great defensive instincts, arguably the best defensive player in this draft.
Wallace said that, as of Wednesday, he’d met with representatives of the Bulls, Lakers, Nuggets, and Rockets, with more meetings and team workouts expected in the coming weeks.
(They say) that I have a dog mentality that they want to see,” Wallace said. “I get after it on defense.”
New Orleans already has Herb Jones but it would be hard to pass up on an opportunity to add another Kentucky guard dog to the yard.
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