Diamond Stone is coming into the NBA at the wrong time.
Back-to-the-basket scorers like him are now referred to as throwbacks, as the NBA has evolved into a more perimeter-oriented league. Big men like Karl-Anthony Towns are much more valuable assets because they can play inside and out on ends.
Had Stone joined the league in the 1990s and waited to leave school until he was a more polished product, he may have been a lottery pick. At 6'11" and 255 pounds, he's big and strong, with solid footwork, touch and soft hands. But the number of plays built around post-ups seems to decline every season, and that's where Stone is best utilized.
There is still a place for players like Stone in the NBA; He just might have to evolve his game.
Relevant stats
Maryland had a very talented starting lineup with all five players averaging double figures, so Stone's scoring numbers are solid given the context. He likely would have put up even better averages had he not been on a roster that was so stacked.
His defensive rebounding rate is low for a player of his stature—he gr ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by C.J. Moore
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