NBA Draft Scouting Report: Taylor Hendricks Is Ready Upon Arrival

NEW ORLEANS- The NBA Combine's scouting scrum has dispersed and the NBA Draft is just around the corner. The New Orleans Pelicans came out of the week holding the 14th overall pick and with a few roster issues to resolve. If the front office cannot find a trade for a veteran, there are a few options with the last lottery pick that could possibly contribute from Day 1.

The question looms over this front office and coaching staff: Why draft'em if you ain't going to play'em? Dyson Daniels and Kira Lewis Jr. got inconsistent minutes at somewhat illogical times, especially late in the season. Taylor Hendricks is at the top of my mid-lottery draft board because the stocky, sturdy wingman has skills and length that will translate immediately.

Hendricks wasn't even projected to be a one-and-done draft pick much less a lottery lock when he enrolled at UCF. Now he could be a top-10 selection.

"A big part of that was choosing the right school," Hendricks said. "A place that would let me grow and give me the opportunity to show my skills and develop."

Could that same approach lead Hendricks to New Orleans?

The Pelicans just need more hoopers who can play multi-positional basketball. As Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone explained this week after a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, "In the playoffs, you can’t be a specialist. Specialists don’t play in the playoffs."

Finding someone to act as a second line of defense behind Herb Jones would take pressure off of Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. Getting a guy who can rebound, stay engaged offensively, and finish possessions without being a high-usage ball handler helps open up the offense. Hendricks can do all of those things.

“Hendricks is big, knows how to play, can shoot well, and can defend and guard in a switch because he can block shots at the rim even if the guard gets by him,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He’s the best prospect coming out of the AAC ahead of (projected top-6 pick) Jarace Walker.”

Measurables

Height (w/o shoes): 6'8.25''
Weight: 213
Wingspan: 7'0.5''
Standing Reach: 8'11''
Free Throw: 78.2%
3PT: 39.4%
3/4 Sprint: 3.32 seconds
Lane Agility: 11.27 seconds
Max Vertical: 36 inches

Offense

Hendricks, who had offers from more prestigious NCAA programs, led UCF in field goal (47.8%) and three-point percentage (39.4%) as a freshman. Hendricks got up 4.6 attempts a game, making three or more three-pointers in 10 games.

The 19-year-old scored double-digit points in 28 of the Knights’ 34 games and had 21 games of 15 or more points. He hit a career-high 25 points twice, showing an ability to stretch the floor and get hard-earned buckets from the low block. For the price of a 14th overall pick, that is not a bad option.

NBADraftNet wrote back in March that Hendricks, "has the potential to put up solid scoring production (15 ppg on nearly 48 FG%) without having to dominate the ball. Finishes above the rim often and with good explosion & power, and shows promise converting through contact. More of a face-up player than a true post-up guy, and has enough quickness to beat bigger players off the bounce with his 1st step. Decisive, unselfish decision-maker who takes what the defense gives him when it’s time to score or as a passer (1.4/1.4 A/TO)."

Teams like to aim for high ceilings early in the draft. Hendricks is more of a high-floor bet who needs a team with an established playmaking engine and a strong foundation for ball movement and spacing. More importantly, most of those three-pointers were contested. Hendricks just shot over the contesting defenders with ease.

It gets even better in the pick-and-roll. Hendricks plays bigger than his 6'9'' frame and can jump out of the gym. He also plays above-the-rim when giving the lane post-screen action and is a highlight waiting to happen. Adding another threat that can downright demoralize the opposition with their play would fit along well with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, and Larry Nance. Jr.

Rebounding

Hendricks has shown a knack for being at the right place at the right and an ability to the second hop effortlessly, grabbing 2.4 offensive rebounds per game. An instinctual rebounder with the size to clear the boards, he led UCF at 7 rebounds per game.

Rebounding comes down to the desire to chase down 50/50 chances and the discipline to box out. It will take a couple of years to add more muscle to his frame but eventually Hendricks should be able to establish position on both ends consistently.

Defense

It's hard to argue with 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals against just 2.0 fouls a night. Hendricks projects to be a better NBA defender than Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangomez sooner rather than later. Hendricks is almost as athletic as Hayes with a more polished all-around game. The Second-Team All-AAC sensation has a more nuanced understanding of the game than Hayes and can switch on the perimeter better than Hernangomez.

Hendricks displays tremendous instincts around the basket, rotating in a timely fashion and seldom getting caught out of position. He defends harder and smarter than your average 19-year-old. A rim protector of Hendricks’ caliber who can also fight over screens and stifle ball handlers at the top of the key is a rare gem.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor believes Hendricks is "willing to take a charge, fight for a loose ball, or get posterized for the sake of contesting a shot. He’ll deter more attempted highlights than he will be the victim of them, though. Most importantly, his effort sets an intense tone."

Summary: Hendricks can defend all five positions and made 39% of his shots from three-point range. He averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and doesn't need to handle the ball much to stay engaged. Bringing in a seven-foot wingspan with a high motor averaging almost 2 blocks a game would help the Pelicans with rim protection without giving up speed in the transition game.

Zion Williamson will be in a position to grab rebounds and run most of the time. New Orleans will employ a traditional big man like Jonas Valanciunas, but the role may be limited moving forward.

Larry Nance Jr. could spend the season showing Hendricks (and last year's second-round pick EJ Liddel) the ropes as a small-ball five. Sadly, I see Hendricks going no lower than Orlando at 11th and as high as 5th overall to the Houston Rockets. A trade up to 10, even if just as a tweak to the roster, would be a play I could get behind.

Either way, it's been a remarkable journey up the draft charts. "It really came down just trying to win," Hendricks explained to ESPN. "Trying to do everything in my skill set to compete every time I stepped on the court, and not going outside of what coach asked me to do. Just playing my role."

Creating his own shot will be difficult unless it's backing down on the low block but, as for the future, "It doesn't matter where I'm drafted," Hendricks said. "I'll be there for a reason. I will make the best of any situation."

Comps From Other Outlets

Bleacher Report: Jonathan Isaac, Jaren Jackson Jr., De'Andre Hunter, Patrick Williams, Keegan Murray
NBADraftNet: Pascal Siakam
The Ringer: Jerami Grant, Jaden McDaniels
NBADraftRoom: Antoine Jamison, Jerami Grant

Measurables

Offense

Rebounding

Defense

Comps From Other Outlets

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