NBA Draft 2019: Player comparisons for all projected first round picks

21. Matisse Thybulle, F/G, Washington (6-5, 7-0, 200lbs) 

Player Comparison: Torrey Craig (6-6, 7-0?, 220lbs) with shot upside, poor man’s Danny Green

It’s hard to come up with an exact comparison for Washington’s Matisse Thybulle, since he’s essentially a non-threat on offense right now (he’s only a spot-up guy and run-out guy in transition, offering little self-creation abilities) and is a unique free safety on defense (while only being OK on-ball). Torrey Craig has popped up as a valuable rotation player for the Nuggets with the sole purpose of playing his tail off on defense, which is what Thybulle will be tasked with at first, too.

Maybe he’s somewhere between Craig and Toronto’s Danny Green, who made a career as one of the more successful 3&D wings of the past decade. Thybulle is nowhere near Green as a shooter or on-ball defender, but his preternatural awareness, IQ, and timing on defense is fairly similar to Green’s and he’s not exactly a non-shooter either, so he’ll carry a similar offensive (and defensive) role in the NBA.

20. Tyler Herro, G/F, Kentucky (6-6, 6-3, 192lbs) 

Player Comparison: Luke Kennard (6-5, 6-5, 196lbs)

Finding comparisons for Tyler Herro is quite difficult, not because his play style (three-point gunner with some playmaking equity and flawed defense) is uncommon or anything, but because of how rare it is to have players with negative wingspans (and in this case, a significant one) last in the NBA due to the limitations short arms place on your upside as a finisher and defender. Former Duke shooting guard Luke Kennard appears to be a similar player, also sporting a subpar wingspan and soft touch on his perimeter shot, while showing the ability to create off the dribble and make plays for others at a limited rate.

19. Rui Hachimura, F/C, Gonzaga (6-9, 7-2, 235lbs) 

Player Comparison: Jabari Parker (6-8, 7-0, 240lbs), Markieff & Marcus Morris

Let it be known that drawing comparisons to players with severe defensive deficiencies (lateral quickness, awareness, timing) and offensive play styles that aren’t efficient nor truly effective in today’s game (i.e., mid-range jumpers, post-ups, lack of passing vision) is not a positive sign for Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura.

He’s a talented athlete with great strength and a quick first step as a 4-man, but his defense is very, very shaky (generally bad), and he’s currently a reluctant three-point shooter (only one attempt per game this year), which doesn’t bode well for his future in the NBA unless he works to improve significantly. This isn’t a death knell, since it’s known that he’s a hard worker, but he projects more as a bench scorer or a fifth-starter at the very most, as he has significant limiting factors that will need to be addressed.