Spurs Prospect Preview: Ron Holland

On March 21, the NBA introduced it could be canceling it’s developmental squad for prospects, the G League Ignite, simply 4 years after it launched in 2020. After a pitiful 4-32 document this season, the league determined that Title Picture and Likeness in school, and the choice for prospects to play professionally abroad eradicated the necessity for the crew. The Ignite had been by no means constructed to win a G League championship, they had been constructed to get prospects drafted.

They actually completed that activity within the 2024 NBA Draft. Three Ignite prospects are anticipated to go within the first spherical. Chief amongst them is the athletic wing from Duncanville, Texas, Ron Holland. The state’s native is one in every of “draft twitter’s” darlings, and somebody the San Antonio Spurs might choose with both the fourth or eighth decide.

Earlier than he was sidelined in February as a consequence of a thumb harm, Holland was closely concerned in first-overall decide discussions. The Ignite’s struggles and Holland’s inefficiencies on offense critically tanked his worth, with some mock drafts inserting him exterior of the top-10. But, there was no Ignite participant extra productive than Holland. He was a scoring machine this season, averaging 20.6 factors, greater than different Ignite standouts like Scoot Henderson, Jalen Inexperienced and Jonathan Kuminga.

There are moments when Holland appears like a celebrity within the making, and others the place he frustrates with defensive lapses and offensive errors. Experiences from scouts appear to be in all places on his worth. Holland’s scout may very well be the hardest, and most necessary on this yr’s draft. His instruments give him an extremely excessive upside, however his deficiencies as a participant are exhausting to miss.

Ron Holland, 6-foot-8 Wing, G League Ignite

2023-2024 stats: 20.6 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 44.3% FG, 24% 3PT, 75.7% FT (14 G League common season video games)

Participant comparability: RJ Barrett

Strengths

Holland is an unbelievable athlete. At 6-foot-8 (6-foot-6.75 with out sneakers) with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, his body is without doubt one of the greatest within the draft. He examined properly on the NBA Draft Mix, with a 38-inch vertical leap and three.10 second thee-quarter courtroom dash. His athleticism actually pops on the courtroom.

On a number of events this season, Holland jumped a passing lane for a steal and rapidly darted to the opposite finish for a reverse slam. His burst makes him a harmful weapon within the open courtroom. Holland scored most of his factors (182 of them) in transition. He was a good finisher in visitors, particularly for an 18-year-old enjoying towards older G Leaguers. Holland shot 59.8% on the rim on 271 complete makes an attempt. He’s one of many stronger drivers within the draft, as defenders simply bounce off him on the way in which to the basket.

That burst and ending potential interprets to the half courtroom as properly. Holland is great at attacking a niche when it’s there. He has a fast first step and might get to the rim in a couple of dribbles. The Ignite took benefit of this ability typically, working Holland off hand-offs from the nook, giving the wing a head of steam going to his proper hand. If he wasn’t ending on the basket, he was discovering teammates for open appears.

An underrated a part of Holland’s recreation is his passing potential. Sure, he has some turnover points he wants to handle, however he additionally makes some high-level reads as a connective playmaker. The Ignite didn’t prioritize having a real level guard to arrange the wings on the roster, moderately letting Holland and Matas Buzelis make performs. Holland stepped into the function and had a 16.1 help share. That’s about the place Jeremy Sochan’s ast% was final season. He’s not a degree guard by any means, however he’s able to making reads off the bounce.

On prime of that, Holland has some good ball abilities. His deal with wants only a bit extra work, as he nonetheless loses his dribble each as soon as in awhile. In his lone G League season he created pictures for himself at will. Did he finishes them at a excessive charge? No, and we’ll get to that. That apart, Holland can get to his spots properly and does it with the fluidity that prospects who’re scorers on the subsequent degree usually do. If his shot improves with a couple of years of intimate work with a taking pictures coach, he might flip right into a three-level scorer.

Holland has the status as a “high-motor” participant. There are occasions the place he’ll sacrifice his physique to save lots of a ball from going out of bounds, or hustle for an offensive rebound. His effort often shines via on the defensive finish. When he locks in, there are few higher perimeter defenders within the draft. Holland will put a ball-handler in jail and never allow them to out till they move it. He’s nice at leaping the passing lanes, notably on handoffs to get straightforward buckets on the different finish. His 2.5 steals per recreation had been a product of his aggressiveness on that finish. Together with his body and athleticism, he has the potential to be an elite defenders. He might want to clear up some errors on that finish to achieve his defensive ceiling.

Weaknesses

A number of experiences have indicated that NBA scouts have been upset by Holland’s lack of taking pictures development over the course of the season. He shot 24% from three on 3.6 makes an attempt per recreation, and shot simply 44.3% from the sphere. Holland additionally shot simply 36% in the course of the star taking pictures drill on the Draft Mix. His mechanics aren’t completely damaged, however there are some quirks in his higher physique that appear to result in dangerous misses.

In contrast to a few of the non-shooting gamers within the 2024 NBA Draft, Holland has proven glimpses of constructing excessive degree pictures. He regarded snug hitting step-back threes, pull-ups in mid-range and from three. He has gentle contact across the rim, and shot a decent share from the free throw line. There may be a whole lot of room for enchancment along with his jumper, however I consider there may be additionally a lot to be optimistic about.

His lack of taking pictures muddies his off-ball function on the subsequent degree. Holland confirmed little or no as a cutter with the Ignite. Maybe it was their offensive system, however Holland did a whole lot of standing and ready for the ball to come back to him. In keeping with Synergy, Holland made simply 18 shot makes an attempt on cuts (the place he made 12 pictures.) Holland most probably gained’t be the first choice on no matter crew drafts him. He might want to discover ways to impression the sport with out the ball in his palms offensively. Proper now he can bend a protection along with his driving potential and secondary playmaking, however NBA groups will seemingly wish to see extra from him off the ball.

Holland turned the ball over far too typically with the Ignite. He averaged 3 turnovers a recreation and had a number of video games with 4 or extra giveaways, together with 11 towards the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars in November. That will have been a product of a poorly structured Ignite crew that requested him to do an excessive amount of, and a giant adjustment to the NBA recreation proper out of highschool.

Usually Holland’s protection is talked about as one in every of his core strengths as a prospect, however I used to be upset by a whole lot of his possessions. When he’s locked in, he’s nice. However too typically Holland will rise up and down defensively and miss a rotation or get there late off the ball. His display navigation wants a whole lot of work, as he both can’t get round or will get misplaced on picks. He miscommunicates a swap far too typically in these actions. He’s extremely susceptible to falling for fakes and his over-aggression results in some sloppy closeouts. He misses a whole lot of field outs resulting in offensive rebounds for the opposing crew. Holland has the potential to be a extremely impactful defender, however he wants to point out he can do it on a constant foundation.

Spurs match

Holland is without doubt one of the most intriguing prospects for San Antonio. Holland may need the very best upside of the wings within the 2024 Draft. If every part goes proper in his growth, he might turn into one other star subsequent to Wembanyama. With so many gamers within the draft profiling as only a “function participant,” Holland is a respectable All-Star swing, who has the next flooring than different initiatives. He simply doesn’t match properly with the present Spurs roster.

The Spurs need the ball in Wembanyama’s palms. They want gamers who can house the ground and praise him on each ends. At the moment, there are a couple of gamers within the draft who can do this higher than Holland. Questions nonetheless stay as to what Holland appears like in a scaled down function. How will he succeed if he’s not getting a gradual weight loss plan of possessions with the ball in his palms? What number of non-shooters can the Spurs play alongside Wembanyama? Your solutions to these questions will seemingly decide how you are feeling about Holland’s match with the Silver and Black.

However is it a bit too early to low cost a participant with the upside of Holland for match considerations? The Spurs gained simply 22 video games final season. In the event that they take a affected person strategy, why wouldn’t Holland be in rivalry for the eighth decide? If he hits his ceiling, he’s the proper wing to play with Wembanyama. A participant who can run in transition, get to the rim and create a bonus within the half courtroom. If he turns into a extra constant defender, the Spurs turn into a nightmare on that finish. The ultimate piece is his bounce shot. If Spurs taking pictures coach, Jimmy Barron, and the remainder of the employees assume they’ll make him a menace from deep, he might turn into a core piece for the franchise.

If the Spurs wish to take an upside swing within the draft, Holland looks as if one of many higher choices. The considerations about his taking pictures and inefficiencies are actual, and will finally discourage San Antonio from choosing him. Virtually each prospect on this draft has flaws that preserve them from being a certain factor – not lots of them have the instruments that would make Holland a star.

Earlier Prospects:

Rob Dillingham

Reed Sheppard

Nikola Subject

Zaccharie Risacher

Stephon Citadel

Tidjane Salaun