Pelicans NBA Draft: 2nd round sleeper compares to Pascal Siakam

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: 2nd round sleeper Lamine Diane

Lamine Diane’s Strengths

Diane is a difficult player to evaluate even though he dominated in both of his seasons in the Big West, winning player of the year in back-to-back years.

Diane had to sit out his freshman year with an injury and then missed some of his redshirt sophomore year with academic issues, but still did enough to be the best player in the Big West.

Diane’s strength is his scoring, as the guy knows how to get buckets all over the floor. He averaged 25.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1.7 steals per game in his final collegiate season, numbers that are going get attention no matter what conference you play in.

Diane doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well but relies on slashing, dribble penetration and an insane motor to get buckets in a variety of ways.

He’s one of those long herky-jerky players whose game isn’t pretty but he somehow gets it done. He operates mostly in the paint, where he shoots a high percentage, and in the mid-range, where he has decent touch.

Diane excels in transition and likes to run the floor, and if he makes an NBA roster it will be because of his potential as a rim runner who can defend and bring energy off the bench.

He is a good, not elite, athlete but has a nice wingspan and very active hands, so he profiles as a guy who could be an above-average defender in the NBA.

He’s been compared to Pascal Siakam quite a lot and it’s easy to see why. Diane lacks Siakam’s overall athleticism, but they have similar games, both relying on mid-range shots and hustle to get their points.

Siakam has also developed a decent shot and if Diane wants to see an NBA roster, he will have to do the same.

A guy who averages 25 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks? Why isn’t he going in the first round? Well, Diane has some glaring weaknesses as well.