There seem to be two common perspectives shared on Cameron Boozer.
One of them sees the prize of the draft. The believers sound willing to bet on his unmatched, winning track record since 15 years old. These scouts choose not to overthink or put too much stock into inches, verticals, style or what’s perceived to drive upside.
“I have Cam at 1,” one scout told Bleacher Report. “For the past five years he’s always the best player on the floor, his production is just incredible.”
There is support for the idea that Boozer just always finds a way, and he’ll continue to do so in the NBA, particularly since his offensive repertoire keeps expanding and becoming more aligned with a modern big’s game. He’s hit more threes in 12 games (16) than AJ Dybantsa has through 13 (11).
An improving one-on-one scorer, Boozer is 9-of-12 out of isolation with the ability to put the ball down, use advanced footwork off the dribble, move defenders with strength and activate touch with both hands. He’s averaging 23.3 points and 10.0 boards on 56.7 percent, operating from the low block, where he’s a physical force, out to the arc, where he’s become a serious threat to shoot, drive or facilitate.
Every year in the NBA, we see more evidence of ball-handling skill and footwork allowing less-athletic forwards or bigs to create or capitalize on space to attack.
His passing is just another unteachable strength/selling point that creates more versatility and value while highlighting IQ that shows on more than just assists.
Boozer’s defensive performance and outlook do seem mixed, and NBA teams typically want positive frontcourt defenders. Still, a 3.1 steal rate shows both quick reactions and anticipation relative to his athletic reputation. And though he’s bound to look vulnerable in space or contesting above the rim, the intangibles suggest it’s worth banking on a strong team defender.
On the other hand, some scouts are just too hesitant over his lack of explosion and slower delivery when comparing him to Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.
There aren’t as many translation questions around Dybantsa or Peterson’s archetypes due to their plus athletic traits and shotmaking prowess. Throw in Boozer’s lack of shot-blocking, and there are enough potential roadblocks to hitting upside for rebuilding teams to worry about at No. 1 with Dybantsa and Peterson both on the board.
“Boozer is different from DP, AJ and even Caleb Wilson, for better and worse,” another scout said. “You know the concerns with Boozer, and they’re just causing a holdup I don’t have with the other guys. The Texas game I went to also wasn’t great for him.”
Boozer’s perceived ceiling is really what’s causing the divide and rankings of both No. 1 and No. 3. Where he ends up going will come down to how the selecting team weighs skill and historically high impact versus lack of explosion and likely neutral defense.