Player Breakdowns: Cheick Diallo, The Project

As the NBA 2017-18 season rapidly approaches, we look ahead at the New Orleans Pelicans roster. In this extension of our season breakdowns, we take a look at the Pelicans very promising sophomore Cheick Diallo.

Cheick Diallo presents one of many question marks for the New Orleans Pelicans this season. On a roster that doesn’t possess many intriguing, undeveloped, pieces Diallo is a bright spot.

Diallo, who has done most of his work in the G-League and the summer league is looking to add a homegrown staple that the Pels haven’t had since the predicted success of Anthony Davis.

It’s clear the Pelicans are loaded with big men. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t important going forward.

Perception

If you look at Diallo (glass half empty perspective) you’ll see a young, shot forcing talent, that will make more mistakes than successful plays.

You also see a player who’s potential is wasted, as his minutes expectation is unknown. Anything more than 15 MPG could come as a huge surprise.

Glass half full perspective, you see a player who has confidently looked the part. He’s even dominated for stretches at almost every stop in his young career when given the chance.

Strengths

Diallo is slowly becoming a jack of all trades at a close look.

Coming out of high school Diallo didn’t see much playing time, which was quite odd for a kid who was as highly recruited as him.

There was a clear reason behind that.

He was a raw talent, not yet molded.

Some players in college can get away with their strengths being athleticism, and effort. As a freshman on a national power house in Kansas, the odds are dramatically low. Averaging just over 7 minutes a game Diallo was able to show enough to be drafted. He had a motor, was athletic, long, and had tremendous upside on both sides of the floor.

The video above shows every one of those tools. You see him finish second, and third chance points, run the floor, and defend at an impressive level. That alone could’ve served Diallo a long career in the NBA with enough work.

Every team could use a player whose energy is contagious, and someone who will do the dirty work night in and out. What’s surprising about Cheick is how those skills seemed to translate quickly as a rookie. In addition, Diallo showed a respectable mid-range jumper, a developing post game, and a serviceable recipient in the pick-and-roll.

As his rookie season progressed, Diallo showed how effortlessly he could contest and block shots. He showed an ability to finish baskets with contact despite his size, and unlike a lot of big men in today’s game has a fluid free throw stroke.

Getting back to his defensive abilities, Diallo finished multiple games with more than one blocked shot. At worst, he made each player coming into the paint think twice.

Even if the contest didn’t end up in his favor.

Diallo’s favorite spot offensively on the floor is easily the pinch post (sorry hoodie ‘Melo), as when he has to create his own shot he’s most comfortable setting up there. He’s capable of creating either facing up or with his back to the basket.

The biggest contribution Diallo can provide this season is his catch and shoot ability, as he shot 72.4 percent in that department.

On a team that has numerous playmakers, Diallo won’t be asked to do much. New Orleans will need more players that can simply take advantage of what’s in front of them. Eventually teams will dare other players outside of AD and DeMarcus Cousins to beat them.

If either player gets injured Diallo is a capable replacement who is naturally programmed to fit whatever role asked of him.

Weaknesses

Most traits a player can possess can easily be a blessing and a curse. A passionate player can have moments of tumultuous repercussions. That same player could be his teams’ motivator and their overall heartbeat. Another example is, when a player with unwavering confidence can sometimes leave his teammates dry, other times he can bail them out when on a hot stretch.

Diallo is exactly that! The better his offensive game got, the more shots he would force. Sometimes with three people focused in on him this year in the Summer League you would see Diallo force shots or dribbles. Those possessions sometimes worked. Other times, however, not so much.

The video above from Diallo’s college days showed a kid with poor hands and a player that lacked patience with the basketball. It also showed a talented defensive player who played more off of instinct instead of technique or preparation. A few games last season, and in the summer league this year those problems managed to creep their way back.

Diallo on some possessions was a ball or a head fake away from being out of position. These plays would either lead to a basket for the opponent, Diallo out of position, or a foul. Diallo mainly struggles time to time with what most extremely athletic talents do early on.

Relying on his god given abilities too often.

When in a position where he’s expected to do more things early on it could become frustrating, but on a team with many battle tested veterans, and two of the best big men in basketball, Diallo will have more than enough help to learn the art of mastering the mental part of the game.

Outlook

When given consistent and lengthy stays on the court, Diallo seemed to be learning on the fly. Every game Diallo would show something he didn’t previously. He appeared to to be practicing additions to his game daily. One game it would be a slide through move out of the triple threat position, next it would be a swift right hand baby hook out of the post.

The entire summer league this year Cheick showed why he displays the confidence he possesses so well. He knew he was the best person on the floor most games, and believed it.

With a game that seems to be developing every minute, Diallo shouldn’t be an afterthought.
He’ll be able to either play his role around his playmaking counterparts, or be able to be more of a self creator if asked. As the project, and on a team that is also ironically a project, the team needs Diallo to continue his rapid progression.

Diallo has the talent to affect the game in almost every phase, a talent that only three other players can truthfully say they have on the roster (AD, Boogie, and Jrue) which can in no way be ignored. He could realistically be starting at some point this year, apart of trade talks, or very close to a 6th man for the franchise.

Next: Player Breakdowns: E'Twaun Moore

The second year for a young player is extremely important. It shows the makeup of a player, if they worked on their game, if they’re hungry, and confident. It’s no doubt Diallo has every single one of those boxes checked.

For the future and the present the Pelicans can only hope there are more to come.