Welcome back to this year’s NBA Draft preview series. To see other prospects, be sure to check out the other previews here.
Today’s prospect is Bennett Stirtz, the senior point guard from Iowa. The Raptors have a dire need for true point guard play; Bennett is going to be on their radar (and in fact has already worked out for them) thanks to his ability to slow the pace and expertly orchestrate offensive schemes. His ridiculously quick jumper will only make him more desirable for teams in need of some offensive juice.
Bennett Stirtz
Height: 6’2.5 | Wingspan: 6’6 | Weight: 186 lbs | Age on Draft Day: 22
College: Iowa | NBA Position: PG | Role: Floor General
Stats provided by tankathon.com
The Good (Shooting, Playmaking, Basketball IQ)
Bennett has an impressive trophy cabinet to his name:
Starting out in Division 2 basketball, Bennett worked his way up to Division 1 where he became one of the most impactful players in the college basketball sphere. Now he’s a first round pick. I know Raptors fans can appreciate that kind of underdog story.
Bennett is a workhorse. A consistent minutes-leader at both Drake and Iowa, there shouldn’t be any worry about his ability to stay healthy and contribute often.
Time simply slows down when Bennett has the ball in his hands… literally, he controls the pace unlike any other guard in the class. When the game slows down for him, he tends to create advantages for both himself and his teammates. His handle is maddeningly hard to stop.
Great playmaker. Nothing that jumps off the page, but Bennett makes all the right reads and delivers timely passes. He reads defences extremely well and sends skilled passes out of pick-and-roll sets or on live dribble-drives. Bennett is arguably the best pick-and-roll operator in the entire class. He’ll throw out some flashy passes like it’s instinctual, but he rarely takes risks with the ball and he just doesn’t turn it over.
I really don’t have anything other than praise for Bennett’s offensive game. He’s efficient and consistent.
The efficiency on the deep jumper was only ~36%, but Bennett’s jump shot is very quick and repeatable. He was one of the most effective shooters off the dribble on one of the highest volumes in college basketball, so there’s no concerns about his ability to create his own shot from deep. He stands to be one of the better shooting guards in the class and his overall offensive efficiency is very impressive. I don’t expect him to be a liability on the offensive end one bit. At the combine, Bennett was one of the standouts at the shooting drills:
Spot-up shooting: 20/25 (1st/26)
Off-the-dribble shooting: 23/30 (T-3rd/26)
3-point star drill: 16/25 (T-6th/25)
Free Throws: 9/10 (T-5th/26)
Side-mid-side: 21/27 (2nd/26)
Offensive RAPM provided by draftballr.com
As seen above, Bennett’s efficiency at the rim, from inside the arc, and from beyond the arc are all elite. He can get to his shot with ease and has the offensive skills to make opposing defenders pay with his jumper or with his feathery soft touch at the rim. His step-back is silky smooth.
Shot chart provided by draftballr.com
The Bad (Age, Athleticism)
Perhaps “athleticism” is an unfair label here; Bennett possesses a quick first-step, especially in screen-and-roll coverage, and plays with a shiftiness to his game that can throw off some of the better defenders in college basketball and he can dunk if afforded some runway… However, Bennett is likely going to be targeted on the defensive end just due to his lack of strength and size.
It’s not for lack of effort. Bennett knows where to be on the defensive end and he’s rarely caught out of position, but he will undoubtedly get bullied by the stronger and faster guards in the NBA. At 6’4 in shoes, he’s not exactly short for his position, but strength gain will be key in keeping him on the floor.
It’s important to note that, for a guard, Bennett’s advanced defensive stats actually aren’t that bad; but he’s still only just an average defender in college and he’ll need to adjust to the physicality of the NBA.
Defensive RAPM provided by draftballr.com
Addressing the elephant in the room, he’s definitely on the older side for prospects which can limit his perceived upside (Bennett is almost two months older than Gradey Dick, who is entering his 4th year as a pro). I’ve never been one to really dock points for a player based on their age, if they’re a good basketball player then that’s typically what matters most for me, but it’s something to keep in mind if the Raptors want to go for a prospect with a bit more developmental headroom.
Stirtz really controls the pace, and sometimes that can be to his detriment. He plays his best ball when he brings the momentum to a crawl and he can really dictate how the offence flows. If he’s pressured or hurried, he tends to make mistakes or settles into a shot rather than the right pass.
The Fit
Bennett’s age might be a preference for the Raptors who want a mature point guard to join the team and contribute right away, rather than waiting a few years for development.
In terms of play style, he fits like a glove. The team has lacked a true point guard since Fred VanVleet’s departure (some would argue since Kyle Lowry’s departure), and this would allow the Raptors to add a mature leader and floor general to their growing roster. He can alleviate pressure offensively by taking a big chunk of ball handling and playmaking duties and spacing the floor for Scottie Barnes, and his elite usage of the pick-and-roll would open up several new dimensions of Darko Rajakovic’s offence.
The defence is a little iffy, but I don’t think it’s worth passing on all the positives Bennett provides at this point in the draft. He’s shown that his game translates at every level and he’s risen to the challenge at every opportunity to show that he’s both a leader and a winner.
Conclusion
Consensus NBA Draft Range: 15-25
Brendan’s Ranking: 16th
Floor Projection: Mid-bench all-around point guard, facilitates and shoots efficiently but limited upside and lack of strength prevent further growth.
Median Projection: Perennial sixth-man of the year candidate, one of the better playmakers and shooters in the league capable of taking the starting reigns when needed. Talks of “upside” are thrown out the window when you’re already this good.
Ceiling Projection: Fringe all-star; one of the league’s premier shooters, a steadying presence who can lead a team on any given night, consistent double-double threat.