Tyler Cook and the NBA Draft

[BrunoMars420]

Today really showed that he isn’t anywhere close to being NBA caliber especially in today’s NBA. He has progressed in almost every aspect of his game but that jump shot is absolutely TERRIBLE. I hope it starts falling but there is no way he shouldn’t stay for another year unless he can hit a shot outside of 8 ft.

 

[Kurt Warner]

I'm a believer you are either a good shooter or you're not. Can you improve some, sure but you will probably never be a consistent knock down shooter. Not putting TC down but I am almost certain he will never be a very good outside shooter. He needs to play around the hoop, defend and rebound and do his scoring close up which he is very good at.

 

[2432Hawk]

I'm starting to believe he may return for senior season... with the returning guys we have and the additions of Joe and Patrick. I think Tyler would have a lot to gain playing with Joe T.

 

[BrunoMars420]

I'm a believer you are either a good shooter or you're not. Can you improve some, sure but you will probably never be a consistent knock down shooter. Not putting TC down but I am almost certain he will never be a very good outside shooter. He needs to play around the hoop, defend and rebound and do his scoring close up which he is very good at.

The weird thing to me is that he has a good looking stroke and form. I wonder how he does in practice compared to shooting in a game?

 

[chiphawk59]

Can we please not talk about Tyler's draft status until he decides not to play in the NCAA tournament to protect his status

 

[Gridiron24]

The evaluation he did in April clearly told him that he wasn't ready to make an NBA roster... yet. I think he's on the fringe of making an NBA roster as a role player at-best, and I certainly don't think two more years of coaching is going to hurt him in getting to that level (and that's still better than 99.999% of people who play basketball!!). What would hurt him would be playing in the summer league, getting pushed down the depth chart, getting sent to the G-League (getting minutes there is better than not playing at all!), and never getting another chance to make an NBA roster.

Unless you have first-round talent, and really, top-15 lottery pick talent, you're not going to get a lot of minutes in today's NBA. You might get a chance to make a team and find a team who will keep you around if you've got a specific skill, but you can't expect to get significant minutes. And at that point, you might as well stay in college and get better at what you're good at.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Today really showed that he isn’t anywhere close to being NBA caliber especially in today’s NBA. He has progressed in almost every aspect of his game but that jump shot is absolutely TERRIBLE. I hope it starts falling but there is no way he shouldn’t stay for another year unless he can hit a shot outside of 8 ft.

If he makes the NBA at any point in time in the future, it is not going to be because he developed a jump shot. Yes, guys can improve their shooting, but they have to be blessed with some feel/touch. Joe Embid turned himself into a guy who can make 3's, but he did it within just a year or two. Cook has put in time on him jumper. Some guys are just able to slow everything down and develop touch, others aren't.

If Cook does make it, it will be because his athleticism allows him to defend the 3-4 positions, he can rebound and finish at the rim. Reggie Evans stuck in the league as this sort of role player for years, and Cook is a better athlete and ball-handler than Evans ever was.

I am not saying he will make it, I'm saying the biggest impediment to him going the NBA after last year was his defense. It's obvious he is trying on defense. I do find it curious as to why so many posters here are bound and determined to point out Cook will never play in the NBA. As if it's offensive that he even has that goal. I'm not saying that's you, specifically, as others have been much more pointed about it. He's the one guy on Iowa's roster who could realistically dream of playing in the NBA due to his combination of size and athleticism, yet so many want to point out every flaw in his game to prove some point.

 

[24 so far]

The guy is explosive as hell, he's a dunking machine. He's very average away from the basket however. That said, I do give him some credit in other areas, as he has seemed to pick up the defensive intensity, he's been far more active I believe.

I actually think he could be a better shot blocker, but I don't think he takes that many opportunities just because he wants to avoid foul trouble and stay on the court.

I think he's also been a better passer this year. So overall I do think his game is overall better this year, but that's just from an eye test perspective. I'm assuming statistically he's improved as well, but clearly has some things he could be better at, like most folks.

I don't doubt he could make a living playing basketball, just not sure it's going to be in the United States when all is said and done.

He's been a good Hawkeye, stays out of trouble off the court, etc., so I wish him well in his endeavors after he's gone, wherever that leads him.

 

[ChiHawk21]

Cook is a good dude with the intentions the better himself to perform his craft at the highest level. Isn’t that what we all do in one way or another?

Can never fault any player for having dreams of the NBA. And certainly cannot fault TC for looking at leaving early after a 14-win season.

If we have a solid year this year, regardless of the evaluation, I think TC will seriously consider coming back for his senior year. I also think it would be the smart move professionally. As many other posters have said...he needs a jump shot, and he needs to make his free throws. He isn’t doing either right now. Today’s NBA is a shooters game. If you don’t have a decent mid range shot, your chances of sniffing the court are slim.

 

[CO_hawk]

No outside shot, but Im very pleased he is hitting his free throws consistently now.

 

[DodgerHawki]

The guy is explosive as hell, he's a dunking machine. He's very average away from the basket however. That said, I do give him some credit in other areas, as he has seemed to pick up the defensive intensity, he's been far more active I believe.

I actually think he could be a better shot blocker, but I don't think he takes that many opportunities just because he wants to avoid foul trouble and stay on the court.

I think he's also been a better passer this year. So overall I do think his game is overall better this year, but that's just from an eye test perspective. I'm assuming statistically he's improved as well, but clearly has some things he could be better at, like most folks.

I don't doubt he could make a living playing basketball, just not sure it's going to be in the United States when all is said and done.

He's been a good Hawkeye, stays out of trouble off the court, etc., so I wish him well in his endeavors after he's gone, wherever that leads him.

Both the raw stats and the advanced/efficiency metrics have him better this year than previously. His rebounds per 40 minutes have improved from 8.6 as a freshman to 10.8 this year. FT percentage from 59 as a freshman to 70 today. FT attempts per 40 minutes from 10 as a freshman to 13.5 this year. Assists per 40 minutes from 2.2 to 4.7 this year. Turnovers per 40 minutes have gone from 5.4 as a freshman to 5.7 today. He does/will turn the ball over, but it's obvious Fran is willing to live with those as he creates scores or fouls a lot too. His 2-point FG% has gone from 56 to 60%. The only thing that hasn't improved is his outside shooting. He was poor shooter when he got here, and is still a poor shooter.

Pretty much agree with your sentiment. He will make a lot of money playing basketball either here or overseas. It would be great if he played another year, but won't begrudge him if he's ready to start a pro career.

 

[Mohawkeye]

If he makes the NBA at any point in time in the future, it is not going to be because he developed a jump shot. Yes, guys can improve their shooting, but they have to be blessed with some feel/touch. Joe Embid turned himself into a guy who can make 3's, but he did it within just a year or two. Cook has put in time on him jumper. Some guys are just able to slow everything down and develop touch, others aren't.

If Cook does make it, it will be because his athleticism allows him to defend the 3-4 positions, he can rebound and finish at the rim. Reggie Evans stuck in the league as this sort of role player for years, and Cook is a better athlete and ball-handler than Evans ever was.

I am not saying he will make it, I'm saying the biggest impediment to him going the NBA after last year was his defense. It's obvious he is trying on defense. I do find it curious as to why so many posters here are bound and determined to point out Cook will never play in the NBA. As if it's offensive that he even has that goal. I'm not saying that's you, specifically, as others have been much more pointed about it. He's the one guy on Iowa's roster who could realistically dream of playing in the NBA due to his combination of size and athleticism, yet so many want to point out every flaw in his game to prove some point.

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

 

[BrunoMars420]

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

Garza would be a below average NBA prospect pre 2009. I think he does great overseas but his defense and athleticism are leaps and bounds away from being NBA ready.

I also agree with a lot of people in this thread about cook in focusing on his strengths more. I think he needs to model his game after Montrezl Harrell of the Clippers if he wants to make it.

 

[Chicagohawk2019]

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

Garza is G league bound

 

[Mohawkeye]

Garza would be a below average NBA prospect pre 2009. I think he does great overseas but his defense and athleticism are leaps and bounds away from being NBA ready.

I also agree with a lot of people in this thread about cook in focusing on his strengths more. I think he needs to model his game after Montrezl Harrell of the Clippers if he wants to make it.

I’m no expert, obviously, but I think his 3 point shooting and high basketball IQ gets him in. I’m expecting more development, but he is exponentially ahead of where Lohaus and Uthoff were at the same stage.

 

[BrunoMars420]

Garza is G league bound

China or a top league in Europe

 

[AlwaysbeaHawk]

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

Garza is G league bound

I think Garza has a better chance of making an NBA roster than Cook.

 

[TombItMayConcern]

Cook's ball handling skills and decisions really need improvement according to my eyes. How many turnovers did he have yesterday?

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

I dunno about Garza. Love his game and grit...but I don't think he can hang athletically in the NBA.

 

[Chicagohawk2019]

I think Garza has a better chance of making an NBA roster than Cook.

Garza will follow the same path as Woodbury to the G league. Good college players but not quite athletic enough for today’s NBA.

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

Cook shot better from the outside last year. When the defender dropped off and he was squared up from 12-15 he shot it pretty well. This year that shot has been WAY off.

 

[HawkLogic]

Uthoff was best Iowa prospect in years and he's in G-league.

Olesani was as athletic as Cook, but fewer offensive skills. Athleticism alone isn't enough.

It is possible that Cook could make it in the NBA if as was mentioned, he embraced defense/rebounding to level that Reggie Evans did and made himself a specialist.

Cook is improving at Iowa. I guess the question is whether he can get paid enough next year in G-league or Europe to make it more attractive than staying at Iowa another year. Even if Cook were to be drafted by NBA in 2nd round, there is pretty good chance it isn't big guaranteed money and he ends up in G-league.

 

[go-hawks37]

Wieskamp hands down is our best prospect, followed by Garza, then Cook.

 

[IAHawk2011]

I love Garza, but he’s got no shot of playing in the NBA. Garza makes Nikola Jokic look like Anthony Davis athletically. Cook is the only player on Iowa’s roster (maybe Wieskamp if he improves his strength and athleticism) that has even an outside chance of playing in the NBA.

 

[r448chlpo]

Way too early to comment on Wieskamp. Are you kidding me, he is a freshman! Garza has real speed issues. As for Cook, my novice analysis is that his present NBA ceiling is a poor-man's Dennis Rodman. Is there a roll for such a player in today's NBA? That said, I believe TC has taken his need to improve very seriously and has made real progress in several areas... how much can he progress on his jump shot remains to be seen. By all appearances Tyler shows a commendable work ethic, so I am not ready to say he can not get there!

 

[BrunoMars420]

He is a poor mans Montrezl Harrell.

 

[HawkTex]

Exactly right on Cook.

I think Garza will play in the NBA and Joe has a solid shot if he improves as expected.

Garza will be a European player. Not athletic enough for the NBA.

 

[go-hawks37]

Look at Kevin Hunter who played two years at Maryland. Both were similarly rated out of high school. Similar size. I believe Joe to be a better athlete. Wieskamp is a clone to Hueter. Cook will go thru the nba evaluation after the season and once again be told to go back and work on his offensive skills and try not to turn the ball over 110 times in your senior season. After Cooks senior season he will be off to Europe and Joe will be a projected late first round or early second round pick. Right now Cook is projected # 69 on nba draft board. Invariably young prospects from the US and Europe will pass him by, dropping him down the list. Great athlete, great dunker, good kid, hope it works out, but time may start to work against him.

 

[Legend12]

Look at Kevin Hunter who played two years at Maryland. Both were similarly rated out of high school. Similar size. I believe Joe to be a better athlete. Wieskamp is a clone to Hueter. Cook will go thru the nba evaluation after the season and once again be told to go back and work on his offensive skills and try not to turn the ball over 110 times in your senior season. After Cooks senior season he will be off to Europe and Joe will be a projected late first round or early second round pick. Right now Cook is projected # 69 on nba draft board. Invariably young prospects from the US and Europe will pass him by, dropping him down the list. Great athlete, great dunker, good kid, hope it works out, but time may start to work against him.

Joe is going to have to improve a lot and show a LOT more than he has to even be mentioned going in the 1st round.

 

[HawkSTL]

Guarding multiple positions and being able to switch NBA ball screens as a small-ball center or forward is Cook’s key to an NBA career. Not developing a jumper, which simply isn’t ever going to be a plus NBA skill.

He’s going to have to be a good, positionless defender, that can have success on offense attacking slower players off the dribble as a fourth or fifth scoring option and can have succes as garbage man.

 

[CP84]

If he makes the NBA at any point in time in the future, it is not going to be because he developed a jump shot. Yes, guys can improve their shooting, but they have to be blessed with some feel/touch. Joe Embid turned himself into a guy who can make 3's, but he did it within just a year or two. Cook has put in time on him jumper. Some guys are just able to slow everything down and develop touch, others aren't.

If Cook does make it, it will be because his athleticism allows him to defend the 3-4 positions, he can rebound and finish at the rim. Reggie Evans stuck in the league as this sort of role player for years, and Cook is a better athlete and ball-handler than Evans ever was.

I am not saying he will make it, I'm saying the biggest impediment to him going the NBA after last year was his defense. It's obvious he is trying on defense. I do find it curious as to why so many posters here are bound and determined to point out Cook will never play in the NBA. As if it's offensive that he even has that goal. I'm not saying that's you, specifically, as others have been much more pointed about it. He's the one guy on Iowa's roster who could realistically dream of playing in the NBA due to his combination of size and athleticism, yet so many want to point out every flaw in his game to prove some point.

And Evan's was a substantially better defender and rebounder than Cook. The league is full of players who can score. Elite rebounders and defenders have a better niche role than a post who can't defend and can only get points in the paint.

 

[BrunoMars420]

Guarding multiple positions and being able to switch NBA ball screens as a small-ball center or forward is Cook’s key to an NBA career. Not developing a jumper, which simply isn’t ever going to be a plus NBA skill.

He’s going to have to be a good, positionless defender, that can have success on offense attacking slower players off the dribble as a fourth or fifth scoring option and can have succes as garbage man.

^^^times 100

 

[IAHawk2011]

And Evan's was a substantially better defender and rebounder than Cook. The league is full of players who can score. Elite rebounders and defenders have a better niche role than a post who can't defend and can only get points in the paint.

I don’t remember Evans being a particularly good defender, but I could be wrong. Regardless, Cook is a much more versatile defender and better athlete, which is a must in today’s NBA. If Cook can knock down wide open catch and shoot corner 3’s, I think he can catch on in a role similar to some of the Iowa State players (like Niang, Nader, etc.) as a two-way player for a few years before joining someone’s rotation as a bench player. At this point, I think the jump shot is largely mental.

 

[Gary-Waterloo]

Guarding multiple positions and being able to switch NBA ball screens as a small-ball center or forward is Cook’s key to an NBA career. Not developing a jumper, which simply isn’t ever going to be a plus NBA skill.

He’s going to have to be a good, positionless defender, that can have success on offense attacking slower players off the dribble as a fourth or fifth scoring option and can have succes as garbage man.

This is right. Cook was never going to make the league on his jump shot, playing defense, rebounding and being able to finish when oassed to are his keys. I would bet his evaluation only mentioned a little on shooting. Look at how much better his defense is this year. He has taken that to heart, which is great.

This is a captain obvious statement but making the NBA is hard but if you work extremely hard and find the right spot a guy like Cook could do it. I loved Bowen but never thought he would make it. Bit his defense and hustle got him there.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

The evaluation he did in April clearly told him that he wasn't ready to make an NBA roster... yet. I think he's on the fringe of making an NBA roster as a role player at-best, and I certainly don't think two more years of coaching is going to hurt him in getting to that level (and that's still better than 99.999% of people who play basketball!!). What would hurt him would be playing in the summer league, getting pushed down the depth chart, getting sent to the G-League (getting minutes there is better than not playing at all!), and never getting another chance to make an NBA roster.

Unless you have first-round talent, and really, top-15 lottery pick talent, you're not going to get a lot of minutes in today's NBA. You might get a chance to make a team and find a team who will keep you around if you've got a specific skill, but you can't expect to get significant minutes. And at that point, you might as well stay in college and get better at what you're good at.

Or he'll just go play overseas or in the D League or G League or E League or whatever the f*** they're called now.......

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Garza will be a European player. Not athletic enough for the NBA.

Garza gives it his all consistently. Has a nice touch from 3. Unfortunately, he is well below the minimum quickness/speed/athletic ability that he needs to make in in the NBA. And those aren't areas in which a player can make much in the way of improvement.

Agree with others that Cook's best shot in the NBA would be as a defender, rebounder and garbageman. He seems more likely destined for Europe to actually have a paying playing career.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Cook has the tools to be an outstanding rebounder, defender and even shot blocker. He is as athletic as the best of them.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Just born too late. 30+ years ago Cook would have been a sure fire NBA player. Garza and Joe too. Even Moss may have been a draft pick back when there were more rounds.

Now, all of those guys will have to work and improve hard to get a sniff.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Today really showed that he isn’t anywhere close to being NBA caliber especially in today’s NBA. He has progressed in almost every aspect of his game but that jump shot is absolutely TERRIBLE. I hope it starts falling but there is no way he shouldn’t stay for another year unless he can hit a shot outside of 8 ft.

Tyler needs another year to work on that outside shot. He has really upped his freethrows. With some more work, he might get it done on the outside.

 

[CP84]

I don’t remember Evans being a particularly good defender, but I could be wrong. Regardless, Cook is a much more versatile defender and better athlete, which is a must in today’s NBA. If Cook can knock down wide open catch and shoot corner 3’s, I think he can catch on in a role similar to some of the Iowa State players (like Niang, Nader, etc.) as a two-way player for a few years before joining someone’s rotation as a bench player. At this point, I think the jump shot is largely mental.

Cook has not been over 1.0 defensive win shares for a season yet. He was 0.7 last year and so far this year 0.8.

Evans was 2.7 and 2.4 in his 2 years. No comparing the two defensively. Evans was good while Cook is bad.

Doug Thomas was more athletic than Evans or Cook. That alone doesn't make him a better player. Bottom line, Evans had a skill set that set him up for the NBA. He was a solid defender and elite offensive rebounder. Cook relies on dunks and post offense. That won't work in the NBA where every team has 7 footers who can shoot like Karl Anthony Towns.