Egor Demin is on the NBA Draft trail as he takes to the highest level of professional basketball in the world. After an up-and-down season at BYU, the Russian playmaking guard answered plenty of questions about his toolkit, but left plenty more to be desired.
Can he bulk up to counter the strength of better perimeter defenders? Will his turnovers be converted to distribution brilliance? Can he develop his jump shot into a weapon more so than a situational pressure-release valve? Is this kid ready to play with the big boys in the NBA?
Well, every doubt opens endless possibilities -- some good and some bad -- and Egor's rolling stone has collected plenty of skeptics through his lone collegiate season. The largest doubt, of course, is just how well he'll adapt to the speed, strength, and skill saturating the NBA.
If you ask me, I believe Egor's future all comes down being drafted by the right team.
When it comes to player development in the NBA, there are three types of prospects. First, the sure-thing winners. These are the hoopers that will go on to develop comfortably at the next level thanks to their talent and basketball IQ. Think of players like Cooper Flagg this season, or the likes of Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, Victor Wembanyama, and other players who flourished despite non-ideal starting circumstances.
Then, we have the no-way, no-hows. These are the players who will never gather enough momentum or positive performances to actually reach the peaks of the basketball world. Though we may have faith in them before they set foot onto an NBA floor, these players' careers will never reach the great heights we once envisioned. Think Jarrett Culver, Josh Jackson, and even going back to Anthony Bennett. Sorry guys, it just wasn't in the stars, and hindsight has confirmed this.
Finally, we arrive to the messiest of the three archetypes: the situational superstars. These are players who will either rise or fall depending on the situation they arrive in. This is a highly common archetype for many on-the-fence players, and will likely be the fate of BYU's jumbo point guard, Demin.
It's all about fit. From the training and development staff, to coaches capable and willing to place their blossoming youngsters into positions primed to boost confidence as they battle test.
Despite Egor's visionary passing repertoire, his spare inches at the top of his frame, and the capability to become one of the best playmakers in all of basketball, his weaknesses suggest that his time in the NBA may require a bit of patience, and a healthy dose of faith in his home organization.
So which teams would be the best spot for Egor? Who can deliver this hoopster to his ideal setting, and help him reach his ultimate potential?
Sure, this is the cliche answer, but the Spurs would be an incredible landing spot for Demin. San Antonio hangs their sombrero on their historic capability of developing foreign talents into all-star level players. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were a petri dish of international flavors that were all added to the recipe in just the right amounts to deliver a flurry of championship hardware to the Spurs' trophy case.
Already touted as a pinnacle of player development, Egor Demin could add another file to their cabinet of basketball success stories. The Spurs could grab him in the lottery, as they sit with the 9th-best odds.
But here's the best part, and this is a non-hypothetical: Chris Paul's presence would be major for bringing along a young guard in the pace of the modern NBA. The only downside would be De'Aaron Fox's presence at the top of the roster. Forcing Egor below the starting lineup may be a positive long-term, but finding sufficient playing time could be tricky in the early stages.
The best team in the NBA (by record) and also one of the youngest, the Thunder have seen a serious influx of youth saturating a highly-talented roster.
Though they're happy with their backcourt tandem of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, adding Demin may be a wise move for their roster depth and playmaking capabilities.
The main reason to look at OKC as an ideal landing spot for the youngster is on their coaching staff, however. Gander at Chip Engelland, assistant coach under Mark Daigneault, a coach that has long been referred to as the "shot doctor". An exceptional shooting coach could elevate Demin's ceiling as a player, and it could be a wise move to bolster their roster even further.
Ok, so this organization is a mess -- we get that. But hear us out for a second. With Luka Doncic out of the picture and a "Luka-lite" player entering the NBA waters, the Mavericks could do well to add another XL European playmaker to their roster.
With a vacuum in the Mavericks' backcourt, Egor could be in an ideal situation to see the floor with regularity alongside seasoned veteran Kyrie Irving. Irving, one of basketball's best ball handlers, could help bring Egor's handle along, as it proved to be a bit shaky throughout his year with the Cougars.
Playing for this organization carries plenty of risks, of course...