Baylor's Gangly Center Isaiah Austin To Enter Draft, But Is He Ready?

Baylor center Isaiah Austin is probably making a mistake entering the NBA draft after his sophomore season -- if you're of the school of thought that it's better for a questionable prospect to develop in college than the pros. I'm in that school and I think it's a mistake for Austin to enter the league at this time.

With his goggles (protecting a prosthetic right eye) and gangly frame, the 7-foot-1 Austin is a sight on a college basketball court. He'll be something of a sight on an NBA court, too, if he ever sees playing time. Austin is the classic case of a skilled-but-soft big man. He's got a great set of hands and moves well for a man of his size limbs. He's also got a pure jump shot that's slow to develop but has good rhythm with a high release once the ball clears his head. In a way, Austin's slow forming jumper seems more tied to his mentality than his fundamentals. If he was a little stronger with the ball, he would probably have a quicker shot.

Possessing respectable form for a man of Austin's size and timid game is almost more a curse than a blessing -- something I've dubbed the Rajon Rondo effect for the way he's had to favorably adapt his game to compensate for an inconsistent jump shot. Austin's shot (which isn't even that accurate) is also likely a lifelong product of choosing to shoot rather than to drive, most evident in his suspect finishing abilities. He is routinely manhandled inside on the offensive end. On defense, he's more of a force in terms of disrupting and blocking shots, but not as a post defender. The latter trait is probably more important in the NBA and tough to teach to someone severely lacking.

Austin's next most glaring weakness is a lack of what most call explosiveness, but I like to call "Russell Westbrookness." Worse, Austin seems even less springy because of his aforementioned soft game.

As the second round pick he's projected to be, Austin is worth a gamble. Still -- In a professional league that requires a special toughness -- I don't think Austin is nearly ready. Two more years of college probably would have served him better than an early entry.