Lucas Nogueira, Center, Brazil
Overview:
NBA scouts have been watching Lucas Nogueira for a while now. The 7-0 center from Brazil burst onto the American scene during the 2011 Under 18 FIBA championships. With his size and 7-foot-6 wingspan, Nogueira is a very intriguing prospect. He is not a big, bruising center, but instead is a superb athlete who can get up and down the floor.
Nogueira has been playing in Spain and, after testing the NBA waters in 2011, has finally come back and will be in the 2013 NBA Draft. Playing at the top level of Spanish basketball, Nogueira has played against some very good competition. Nogueira’s athleticism for a seven-footer is obvious, but over the last couple of years he has gotten much stronger. That has led to improvement in every facet of the game. He could emerge as a dynamic interior scorer and a decent enough defender.
Final Projection:
Despite Nogueira’s experience, he is still a relatively raw talent. He seems like the type of player that a good NBA team would select late in the first round and possibly stash overseas for a year or two. There is a ton of offensive potential here. It is not often that a seven-footer moves the way Nogueira can. He has great hands and quick feet. However, he still needs to add a lot of strength and his defense will be a huge liability in the NBA. He has plenty of potential on the defensive end, but it has not come close to reaching the level it should. That will keep Nogueira in the late first to early second round of the 2013 NBA Draft.
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