Jontay Porter, Chuma Okeke are risks worth taking for the Pacers
By Ben Pfeifer
Jontay Porter’s above average basketball IQ is worth investing in
Like Okeke, Jontay Porter’s IQ and feel for the game stand out as elite on both ends of the game. Porter is a fantastic passer, not just out of the post, but operating on the perimeter as well.
His handle is rare for a big man and he moves well for somebody as pudgy as freshman Jontay. Check this pump fake, smooth handle and dump down to the cutter.
Porter’s elite shooting bends the will of defenses; not many big men shoot off-movement and snipe from beyond the arc with touch like him. When defenses react to Jontay on the perimeter, he makes them pay with cross-court skip passes on the money.
Again, two defenders rotate to Porter, who reads the defense in a snap and hits his teammate underneath the bucket.
Along with the flash, Jontay is a pristine decision maker, with a penchant for the right play. In the post, he catches and makes the quick hit to the corner shooter.
Porter’s lack of athleticism will make defense difficult at times. Though there is some athletic upside given his high body fat and he has already shed a significant amount of it. If Porter has put on more muscle and become quicker, his defense could be positive due to his elite IQ and feel. Despite this sizable cushion on the closeout, the defender dusts Porter with ease.
Porter’s motor on defense is good and his natural instincts will help him make plays off of the ball, here reading the PNR and blocking from behind.
Again here, Jontay tails off of the popper to stymie this drive and record another rejection:
While Jontay isn’t explosive, he is mobile and fluid in space. He shows off his mobility here in drop coverage, sliding with the ball handler and swatting his layup.
Next. The Indiana Pacers' case for Mike Conley. dark
Like Okeke, Jontay Porter’s feel for the game and IQ will take him as far as he can go. He might develop into an elite shooter with a plus handle for a big man. In the modern NBA, perimeter-oriented bigs like Jontay bring extreme value, especially if his conditioning improves and he better defends the perimeter. For the Pacers, they don’t have too much room for another big, but if he is there at 51, the talent is too great to pass up.