Chase Budinger

Chase Budinger, #34 SG/SF, Arizona
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 218 lbs

Strengths:
- Spot up shooting
- Excellent size for a wing
- Athleticism
- Explosiveness
- Transition game
- Basketball IQ
- Offensive movement
- Three point shooting
- Unselfish

Weaknesses:
- Defensive abilities
- First step
- Ability to create own shot
- Assertiveness
- Lateral quickness
- Mid-range game
- Ball handling

Summary:
Let me start by saying that Chase Budinger is an athletic wingman (he was a dual All-State athlete in basketball and volleyball) with a strong basketball IQ. He did not really improve from his sophomore to his junior year like most expected, but he did continue to play well. He has a great sense of where he and his teammates are on the floor, where open spots are on the floor, and the ability to play in multi-speed offensive sets. All of these aspects emphasize his understanding of the game and how he can bring the best out of himself and his teammates. Budinger has many skills on the offensive end of the floor that make him a defensive nightmare. First off, he is 6'7" and plays the SG and SF positions, which is especially tall for a college wingman. He is able to use his height and athleticism to his advantage. He runs the court well in transition where he is often available for an open jump shot or ally-oop. He has great explosiveness which allows him to get up for lob passes and finish around the basket. In a half-court set, Budinger is able to find open areas on the court because he is constantly in motion. Before he starts to move to an open area, Budinger will first look to set up his defender for a backdoor cut. If he does not get the ball, he typically looks to find an open area along the perimeter. He shoots very well from behind the arc (39.9%) by either catching and shooting the ball or taking a spot up jumper. If a shot is not available, Budinger possess good court vision and passing skills to find open teammates.

Budinger does have several offensive weaknesses. First, he is an average ball handler and has a slow first step. This affects his ability to take full advantage of his athletic abilities when he looks to slash towards the basket for a layup. Second, his mid-range game is not very consistent. Third, he is does not convert well if there is contact. Fourth, I would have liked to see be more aggressive and post up smaller defenders. If he can improve these areas of his offensive game, he can certainly be a scary offensive player.

Defensively, Budinger still has room to grow because he does not always assert himself. He does not have exceptional lateral quickness to keep up with quicker defenders. Sometimes Budinger loses focus and gets out of a defensive stance, making it easier for defenders to blow by him. This leaves me to question whether he will be able to defend the better athletes at the next level. He does position himself nicely though to grab rebounds, allowing himself to use his height and athleticism to pull in boards over smaller players. Overall, he has potential on the defensive end of the court.

Considering all of his strengths and weaknesses, I believe Budinger will make a good role player in the NBA. He can do a bit of everything, but just like Tyler Smith of Tennessee, he is not great at one specific area. He has a NBA-type body and great size to play the wing position. His experience, unselfish play and offensive potential make him a promising prospect. He will more than likely not be known for his defense in the NBA, but he could be known for his offensive abilities as this is the area that I believe he has the most upside in.

Projection: mid- to late-first round (20-27)

Player comparison: Brent Barry

Best fit:
- Philadelphia: Budinger will provide outside shooting the 76ers need. He also plays into the athletic wing mentality of this team.
- Memphis: Budinger has the potential to play either the 2 or 3 in the NBA. The Grizzlies' bench is thin when it comes to a solid back up player at these positions. Budinger can step in and fill this role on a young team.