Chase Budinger: 6-7, 206, SF, Jr. (University of Arizona)
Draft Rank: #32
SF Rank: #8
Strengths:
Has very good leaping ability when getting a full head of steam. Very good perimeter shooter. Shoots the ball with great fundamentals and arc that will allow him to continue to extend his range. Good elevation on his shot. Quick release on his shot. Uses picks well to get open. Has good size to play the 3 in the NBA. Good free throw shooter. Is very smooth when dribbling and taking the ball to the rim. Has very good touch from everywhere on the court. Very good spot up shooter. Is unaffected when being contested on shots. Does a very good job at getting to a spot where he can set himself up to shoot and score. Can go up and get alley-oops. Has a nice scoop shot that he uses when attacking the basket. Is a good finisher in transition. Has a nice hesitation move that he uses when he is on bigger players to get to the hoop. Good ball handler for a wing player.
Weaknesses:
Very soft on both ends of the floor. Has struggled to take over games at the college level. Will be a liability on defense in the NBA. Is very passive when passing the ball the perimeter. Doesn’t have a great wing span. Often telegraphs passes. Isn’t assertive enough. Struggles when he plays against more physical players. Needs to do a better job of slashing to the hoop with the ball. Doesn’t have good post up skills. Should be a better shot blocker.
Mental:
The biggest thing holding Buddinger back is his passive nature. His team the last couple of years really needed him to be more assertive and he often let them down when it mattered most. He has all of the skills that you want from a small forward, but he often doesn’t challenge himself or his opponent and instead settles for whatever the game dictates.
Extra info:
--All American volleyball player.
Comparison: Jarvis Hayes, 6-7, 220, SF
Would be a good fit for: Sacramento Kings, LA Lakers or Minnesota Timberwolves
Conclusion:
Budinger is another wing player who has the skills to be successful in the NBA, but I worry about his lack of aggressiveness. I do think that he will be able to fit in on a team and have a role because of his ability. He is going to have to show more confidence and more assertiveness as his outside shot will probably be his meal ticket. While he does have terrific leaping ability his game is really reliant on his shooting ability and his ability to score from the outside.
He reminds me of Jarvis Hayes. Like Hayes he has good leaping ability but he doesn’t always utilize that leaping ability to get to the rim. Like Hayes he will get most of his looks in spot up opportunities on the perimeter. Hayes was a similarly accomplished college player and their numbers are very similar across the board.
Overall there’s a lot to like in Budinger’s game. But I don’t see him ever being a difference maker in the NBA. He could fit in as a nice piece off the bench, but I don’t think he is starting material.
improved his game over the years and now has the ability to dominate a game. Has the size and strength to be an effective four. Attacks the rim with both hands and finishes with a lot of power. Has a very soft touch on his jump shot. Releases his shot high up, which makes it very hard to defend. Has a nice fadeaway jump shot when working from the post. Does a great job of sealing his man down by the rim and forcing his defenders to gamble or stay on his backside. Runs the floor well for a big man. Very good shooter on the baseline when he squares up to the rim.