The Golden State Warriors were already full of developing guards and wings. It made sense that Mike Dunleavy Jr. would trade Patrick Baldwin Jr. along with Jordan Poole to get Chris Paul. I pass him by washington wizards he’s going to have a lot to prove if he plans to stay in the NBA for the foreseeable future. The NBA Summer League was not looking good for him and there are big aspects of his game that point to him not being ready for the league.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. was a reliable guard and small forward during his tenure with Milwaukee basketball. His 6-foot-9 stature allows him to tower above other opponents, making him a scoring threat on all three cylinders. This allowed him to score 12.1 points on 34.4% shooting from the field. Baldwin Jr.’s game leaves a lot to be desired. This is because the shot from him hasn’t been phenomenal. The NBA shooting coaches also needed to help elevate his outside shooting because he only shot down 26.6% from outside during his college days.
It could well be a striker for any team. Although, that adjustment has yet to be made. The Wizards’ player focus remains scoring rather than developing other skills like rim protection, ball defense or playmaking. He has recently developed some of these abilities. But, his lack of minutes is holding him back from a great season. His stint in the NBA Summer League also raised some eyebrows. The 20-year-old didn’t get a chance to show what he can do with plenty of playing time. His ankle and toe injuries prevented him from all these opportunities to show greatness.
Patrick Baldwin’s NBA Summer League Season
His game against the Indiana Pacers saw him score 13 points for the Wizards. Patrick Baldwin Jr.’s shot he also came in handy as he knocked down 45.5% of his field goals. Scoring on big volumes seems to be a non-issue for him, but other aspects of his game need work.
He has proven to be a good forward who can trade big men to find them above the rim. The Wizards can also benefit from his ability to protect all positions. as seen in nba summer league. His three blocks against the Pacers demonstrate his ability to do well on the defensive side of the ball.
Like most young guns in the NBA, he still struggles when shooting from beyond the arc. The seven attempts from him from outside the arc were too much. He was only awarded two marks. This would have been better if he could have rotated the ball. Another option is to facilitate reads instead of shooting the ball from the outside. His skills are already there and it will only be a matter of time before he hones his IQ on both sides of the floor.
There is still a lot to improve for Patrick Baldwin Jr. to be a constant rotation player on an NBA roster. This can prevent him from getting stuck in a two-way contract. His determination to improve himself is a great sign that he can help the rebuilding Wizards along with Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma, among others.
Will he make the leap to be a permanent rotation player for the Wizards?
