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          NBA draft scouting: Rising international prospects for 2020

          • Mike SchmitzFeb 25, 2019, 09:21 AM ET

          Although the 2019 NBA draft has two intriguing internationally prospects, it's the 2020 group that's really strong internationally. While we've covered Deni Avdija, as well as some of the 2019 Basketball Without Borders standouts, there are a handful of other overseas prospects who are deserving of your attention in what could be a loaded international draft.

          The headliner of this group is 6-foot-5 French point guard Theo Maledon.

          Tony Parker's understudy developing into a top-10 pick

          Like most young French point guards, Theo Maledon grew up idolizing Tony Parker. He wore black and silver No. 9 jerseys religiously. He mimicked Parker's patented spin moves and two-foot floaters in the driveway. He stayed up late to watch San Antonio Spurs games on Sundays.

          "He was the hometown hero," Maledon told ESPN. "He was still at his best when I was growing up, and that was a great era in France. ... He's really a great mentor for me."

          The Maledon family grew up in the same region of France as Parker, and their ties run deep. Maledon's father used to referee Parker's youth games. His mother worked as a physical trainer at Parker's basketball camps, where Maledon first showed up at age 10. From there, Parker and his brothers took Maledon under their wing.

          "You could see already at 10, 11, that he was just better than everybody else and really talented," Parker said.

          The 17-year-old Maledon is now the starting point guard for ASVEL, the club Parker oversees as president. With the guidance of Parker and dedicated improvement, Maledon has worked himself into the face of the team and a potential top-10 pick in next year's draft. ASVEL sits in first place among 18 teams in France's top league. The club also won its EuroCup group, advancing to the top eight, where it'll take on Andorra in a playoff series starting March 5. ASVEL is winning at a high level, and Maledon is a big reason why.

          Having started 23 of 34 games this season, Maledon is averaging 7.0 PPG, 2.1 APG and 1.6 TOV in 16.4 MPG while shooting an efficient 53.5 percent from 2 and 38.3 percent from 3. His numbers might seem run of the mill, but consider this: Only four other players have ever started more than 10 EuroCup games before turning 18. Maledon is in line to become the second ever 18-year-old EuroLeague starter when ASVEL moves up to the prestigious league next season (the other being Luka Doncic).

          "It's very rare, it's very rare," Parker said. "The goal is to start him next year and for him to be the best player and the most NBA ready just like Luka Doncic."

          Maledon has taken the rare opportunity and embraced it.

          "How he approaches the game," Maledon said of what he takes from Parker. "I think he did a really great job improving his game. When he came, he was only seen as a player that was only going fast, at a high speed. Now, he developed his 3-point shot, his midrange game, and that's something that I really find interesting about his game."

          On a typical day, Maledon arrives at Astroballe arena at 8:45 a.m. for core work. He goes through an individual practice with ASVEL player development coach Jo Gomis. He comes back around 6:45 p.m. for more core work and shooting before film and team practice.

          "The thing that amazes me about is his maturity -- coach coaches him hard, gets on him in practice, and you wouldn't be able to tell," said longtime veteran AJ Slaughter, who also played with Frank Ntilikina in Strasbourg. "Most young guys, the coach yells at him, they shut down or get scared, and he doesn't do any of that."

          At the French Cup in a quarterfinal loss, Maledon was the one to attack the rim on the final play in hopes of tying the game. Even though he missed, taking that on at age 17 speaks to his confidence level and the respect he has earned.

          "That's the first thing that I thought was very similar to me, is his ultimate confidence," Parker said.

          Path to this point

          Maledon moved to INSEP Academy at 14 and attended Adidas EuroCamp at 15. From there, Maledon became a mainstay at virtually every scouting event.

          It was often the flashier Killian Hayes who ended up in the headlines at these events. At the 2017 Under-16 European Championships, Hayes won MVP after France took gold.

          Regularly playing second or third fiddle, Maledon incrementally got better and better. While several of the other top French prospects have questions about their approach to the game, that doesn't apply to Maledon.

          "I think he's passing up all those guys," Slaughter said. "Something clicked this year and he took off."

          Maledon is with the senior national team during the current FIBA window, and he's the nation's second-youngest player to score at that level. Over the weekend, he notched eight points in 17 minutes in a win over Czech Republic.

          The scouting report

          Maledon's NBA intrigue starts with his positional size at 6-foot-5, 188 pounds with a 6-8½ wingspan. According to our historical draft database, he has some physical similarities to D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay.

          Maledon is rock-solid across the board as a fairly mistake-averse point guard who takes care of the ball, can make an open shot and uses his size to get into the paint. He's capable of defending two positions on the other end of the floor, and his feel has allowed him to run the show so successfully at a high level this season.

          "He's got all the tools, man," Parker said. "Now it's just about gaining experience."

          Maledon's game doesn't always pop, as he's not all that dynamic with the ball or overly explosive at the rim. He's a career 48.1 percent shooter from 2, partially a factor of his so-so shot-creation in the half ,court. In the past he played far too upright and still doesn't have a whole lot of shift in his game, which oftentimes results in him sliding over to the off guard spot.

          Watching his progression throughout the season, though, it's clear Maledon is making more of an effort to change pace and keep defenses guessing. He studies Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo for pick-and-roll play. Since he's unlikely to develop elite explosion, it's important he turns himself into a more consistent shooter.

          A career 36.4 percent 3-point shooter, he's capable with his feet set, but he still turns down a fair amount of open looks, and his mechanics tend to break down a bit when he's put in on-the-move situations. But as long as he's able to punish defenses for going under screens, Maledon should develop into an excellent ball-screen player. Maledon does have his struggles playmaking in tight spaces at times, and his creativity around the rim can also improve. On top of that, he's not a vocal quarterback of the offense.

          Maledon also has the size to defend off-guards long term, which will allow him to play next to more dynamic shot creators, shrinking some of his perceived weaknesses. He's a bit up-and-down on the defensive end right now given his age, as he'll get caught on screens or beat off the bounce by quicker guards. But Maledon is competitive with impressive tools, and he projects as an above-average, two-position defender as he gains more experience.

          Some scouts might see Maledon as more of a George Hill type who is steady across the board, but Maledon has the positional size, feel and skill level to develop into much more than that.

          "When I see Frank Ntilikina drafted No. 8, Theo is a lot better than him," Parker added. "Like, you can't even compare because at 17 years old, Frank was averaging, I think, two points; he wasn't even playing. With us at 17, Theo is an all-star, he's a starting point guard, playing in big minutes and in big games. He's already way in advance if you compare the last point guard who got drafted from France."

          Franz Wagner

          Wagner is a high-floor wing prospect with clear 2020 first-round potential deserving of some recognition.

          The 17-year-old stands 6-foot-9 and has earned a fairly regular spot in Alba Berlin's rotation, both in the EuroCup and German BBL. Although he hasn't been overly prolific with his production, the simple fact Wagner can get on the floor at the EuroCup level for a competitive club speaks to his maturity. Only 12 players in our database have averaged at least 10 MPG (10 game minimum) in EuroCup before the age of 18, a list that includes Maledon, Ricky Rubio, and Dzanan Musa.

          We went out to Monaco to see Wagner in EuroCup competition. Unfortunately, Wagner played only four minutes, but we were still able to get a feel for how he has progressed physically, the state of his shooting stroke and his plans for the future.

          What stood out most was Wagner's improvement defensively and physical maturation. He's still growing into his body, but he did an excellent job of sliding with explosive point guards, covering ground on closeouts impressively. He's a high-IQ defender who knows where to be off the ball, as well, even if he's not overly physical at this stage.

          Offensively, Wagner plays a simple game predicated mostly on standstill jumpers and off-ball movement. As he has grown, his jumper has actually changed a little bit, looking somewhat less dynamic than in the past. Even so, Wagner has the size to play a fair amount of 4 at the NBA level, which should give him ample time for his slow release. Wagner is shooting 35 percent from 3 on the season and 92.6 percent from the free throw line with clear natural touch. He's not that dynamic with the ball in his hands, limited to mostly straight-line drives. He's a smart cutter and ball-mover, which has allowed coach Aito Garcia Reneses to trust him playing minutes at a high level.

          Wagner's draft stock will likely depend on where he decides to play next year. He's not technically bound to any contract with the German club, and there has been some speculation that he'd consider the collegiate route, given the path of his older brother, Moritz Wagner. Alba Berlin will clearly make a hard push to keep Wagner. If he stays in Germany and takes on a bigger role next year, there's no reason to think he can't be a first-round pick come June 2020.

          Malcolm Cazalon

          Guard Malcolm Cazalon was a summer breakout prospect at the NBA Global Camp and Under-17 World Championships. The 6-foot-5, 17-year-old lefty missed close to two months with an ankle injury and didn't look like his usual bouncy self in the session we evaluated in France -- a full practice with a fair amount of 5-on-5.

          When we first truly evaluated him at the January 2018 Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT), Cazalon stood out with his smooth athleticism, ability to play above the rim in space, scoring instincts and intriguing physical profile as a lean, long-armed lefty with measurements similar to a young Jeremy Lamb. However, a year later, his frame looks more undefined, and he struggled both to get up around the rim and cover ground defensively. It quickly became clear he's not in tip-top shape at this stage of his development, potentially a contributing factor to his lack of playing time at the Pro A level.

          With a 6-11 wingspan, Cazalon has excellent tools for an off guard, and his fluidity and three-level scoring potential has wowed NBA scouts. Cazalon still showed his tremendous talent level during practice. Playing a fair amount on the ball, he flashed his versatile shot-making potential, touch in the paint and passing instincts. He's ultra-confident in his game, regularly pulling up on defenders in semi-transition with no numbers. That belief also gets him in trouble at times, as he's not the purest decision-maker, often to the chagrin of his teammates and coaches. He can stand to fine-tune his handle, as well, but his shooting stroke appears much cleaner than his 28.2 3-point percentage would suggest.

          Defensively, Cazalon has the tools to be effective, but he's not moving all that well on that end of the floor right now. Some of this could certainly be a product of the time he missed due to injury. He has some questions to answer about his approach to the game, and we'll have an eye on his physical condition this summer at the Under-18 European Championships. He remains a high-upside, scoring off-guard who scouts will evaluate closely next season during his first draft-eligible year.

          Future prospects

          Usman Garuba | 2021 draft

          Garuba continued his onslaught against youth competition, earning ANGT Munich's MVP while posting 16.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.0 BPG in just 19.5 MPG for champion Real Madrid. Garuba finished the four-game tournament with a ridiculous 50.8 player efficiency rating on 73.3 true shooting. There have long been questions in Europe about whether or not Garuba's youth dominance can translate to the higher levels. He's maxed out physically, and his game is certainly on the clunky side with sometimes shaky hands and unnatural shooting mechanics.

          But Garuba has a place in the modern NBA with his versatile defense, motor on the glass and above-average feel for a small-ball big. At 6-8 with self-reported 7-2 wingspan, Garuba has the physical profile of a Grant Williams type, but he's capable of chasing around wings or perimeter players. He did a number on potential 2020 top-five pick Deni Avdija in the finals, limiting him to 8-of-26 shooting and five turnovers. He has outstanding feet on both ends of the floor and quick hands. He crashes the defensive glass aggressively, runs the floor hard and can even push on occasion. It's hard to envision that he'll ever be much of a perimeter threat, but there's a role for players like Garuba in today's game. It's not out of the question that Garuba starts getting more ACB reps as soon as next season.

          Yannick Nzosa | 2022 draft

          Stella Azzurra's Nzosa was the best long-term prospect we saw in Kaunas, Lithuania. The 15-year-old Congolese big man stood out with his defensive agility on the perimeter, rim protection, high motor and finishing ability at 6-11 with a wiry 199-pound frame and a 7-1 wingspan. Nzosa finished the ANGT averaging 15.7 PPG, 7.3 RPB, 2.3 SPG and 3.0 BPG in 31.2 MPG. Having only played basketball seriously for about 20 months, he's not overly skilled in terms of his hands, feel for the game and touch, but Nzosa fits the modern NBA at the 5 with his defensive versatility, rim running and ability to space the floor vertically as a lob-catcher.

          Kymany Houinsou | 2023 draft

          Perhaps the most interesting long-term guard prospect we evaluated was 2004-born Kymany Houinsou, who recently joined ASVEL and played 20 MPG at ANGT Valencia (U18) in December as a 14-year-old. Now 15, Houinsou has the combination of physical tools, skill and toughness you look for in a prospect his age. Standing 6-3 with wide shoulders, a 6-9 wingspan and big feet, Houinsou resembles a young Frank Ntilikina physically, as he's likely to grow a couple inches over the next few years. He has lead guard potential with a developing handle, sharp passing instincts and a clean shooting stroke when left alone. He's ultra-competitive defensively, sitting down to slide with guards while using his length to be disruptive. He's clearly at an early stage of his development but Houinsou should continue to gain steam as an NBA prospect, especially if he plays with the under-16 French national team this summer.

          Victor Wembanyama | 2023 draft

          Wembanyama has clearly grown since standing 6-9 last year, sprouting closer to 7-0 now. He's still thin, with huge feet and skinny legs, and he might not be done growing. He's a layup-line wonder, cashing jumper after jumper, oftentimes even off the dribble with impressive fluidity for a player his size. In actual game play, he showed both what makes him the most interesting long-term prospect in Europe regardless of age, as well as why he may not be in the best position to maximize that potential. He's starting to unleash some of his athletic upside with above-the-rim finishes, while also flashing his touch with a short turnaround jumper. He whipped outlet passes to open teammates impressively and made some instinctual reads in the half court. He also gave us glimpses defensively, collecting a few blocks by virtue of sheer length and instincts.

          However, Wembanyama is developing some bad habits in Nanterre. Part of it is due to his extremely thin frame, but his effort level is low on the defensive end, failing to buy into being an elite rim protector -- his ticket to the NBA. He's more focused on leaking out in transition than going to the defensive glass. Offensively he runs almost 3-point line to 3-point line, and he's functioning mostly as a jump shooter at this stage. While he has natural touch and it's a positive the club gives him freedom to explore his skill level, he rarely rolls hard to the rim or puts his tools to good use. When Wembanyama jacks up a contested turnarounds that hit all glass, he simply shrugs to his coach. A high-intangible prospect, Wembanyama still needs to develop his toughness.

          Nanterre has never had a prospect at the level of Wembanyama and the club almost has tried to hide him, worrying about losing him to a bigger club and denying requests for interviews along the way. There's no question it's important not to overexpose young prospects, but Wembanyama is a rarity, and one trip to Nanterre made it clear he might not be in an ideal environment to maximize his potential. Whichever agent lands him would be wise to look for other situations where Wembanyama can fully develop. It remains to be seen whether or not Wembanyama will play at the Under-16 European Championships this summer, which would mark his first FIBA event.