Best of Tuesday at the NBA combine: Day 1 standouts, what we're hearing, draft buzz
The draft lottery results, Cooper Flagg's play and a draft withdrawal dominate the day in Chicago.
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan: The highest-ranked prospect, and lone projected first-round pick who is fully participating in all competitive action, Lendeborg did nothing to diminish his standing with an outstanding all-around day in drills and 3-on-3 play. His measurements are outstanding, a hair under 6-foot-10 in shoes, 235 pounds with a 7-4 wingspan, a 9-½ standing reach, and huge hands, comparable to the likes of Isaiah Stewart and Amare Stoudemire, per the DraftExpress historical database.
Lendeborg demonstrated legitimate skill in drills -- converting 69% of his aggregate field goal attempts (tied for 10th best at the combine) and also showed off his ballhandling and passing ability in 3-on-3, showing off in impressive plays as both as a creator and finisher. Lendeborg's defense is a work in progress, something another year in college could certainly help with, but there's little doubting his skill and talent, and he has more upside than most 22-year-olds, barely playing any organized basketball before graduating high school.
Michigan's Dusty May, Lendeborg's potential future coach, was present Tuesday to support him along with much of his coaching staff. Whether Lendeborg ever plays a game for May probably will depend on how he performs in 5-on-5 play over the next two days, as the crowd of NBA executives had greatly diminished when Lendeborg appeared in the very last session of prospects.
