Sagaba Konate made a bold move to return to school after having heavy momentum heading into the 2018 draft. His decision didn’t pay off in the short-term, but Konate could still neutralize the decision long-term. In his final two seasons at West Virginia (44 games) he averaged 11.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 3.1 BPG, and 1.4 TOPG on shooting splits of 49/39/79. Here is his full scouting report:
Name: Sagaba Konate
Height/Weight: 6’8
Wingspan/ standing reach: 7’0/ 8’10.5
Hand size: 10
Position: C
College/ country: West Virginia
Tools: Shot blocking, athleticism
Pros:
- Improving shooter out to mid range
- Dynamic shot blocker- great timing & anticipation
- Plays above the rim
- Runs the floor well
- Plus rebounder
- Elite help side shot blocker
- Excellent athlete with explosiveness from a standstill
- Mobile defensively; can step out to the perimeter and defend
Cons:
- Sometimes overcommits to shot blocking instead of contesting
- Undersized at 6’8
- Can get tunnel vision at times
Overall: Sagaba Konate is one of the most memorable and most electrifying shot blockers college basketball has seen in years. Unfortunately, he missed almost all of the 2018-19 season due to injury. When healthy this last year, Konate showed off his improved shooting touch out to the 3 point line. It was clear that NBA teams told him last summer before withdrawing, that he needed to show that he could do more damage on the court than just inside the paint, and he took that feedback to heart. Konate has top-tier athleticism from a standstill, runs the floor well, and plays above the rim in both the half-court and full-court. Defensively, his combination of athleticism and length has helped him become one of the most dynamic shot blockers the NBA Draft has seen in years. Only Kenny Wooten is a more explosive shot blocker than Konate in this draft. Konate enters the draft with low stock due to missing all of conference play in 2019.
NBA Comparison: Bernard James
Projected draft range: 50-60/undrafted
Fit with Dallas:
Konate would be a good fit with Dallas, simply due to his interior presence and excellent rebounding. Additionally, he is able to switch defensively and cover the perimeter. Konate’s fit with Kristaps Porzingis should be positive, as long as Konate primarily plays helpside defense and lives near the paint defensively. Konate also could be a positive with Porzingis due to his ability to switch on the perimeter. The Mavs would need to fix his habit of chasing blocks, which often forced him out of position at West Virginia. Offensively, his biggest flaw is that he doesn’t always let the game come to him at West Virginia. Whether it be forcing shots and foregoing the simple pass, or his tendency of going for the highlight play instead of the right play, his feel for the game needs improvement. Konate can step into the rotation right away, but he would be best fit as a limited minutes option, which is something Rick Carlisle specializes in with his big men. Konate could be one of the most sought after undrafted free agents, and must be a top target for Dallas after the NBA Draft concludes.
