Could defense land Tulane’s Frazier with world champs?
OAKLAND >> Those lifelong lessons that Melvin Frazier Jr. learned very well might cement an NBA future, help him collect a few rings and ensure he plays with his childhood idol (Kevin Durant).
Well before Frazier starred for three seasons at Tulane, he embraced wisdom that coaches and family members stressed about defense. Frazier would not just stop his opponent from scoring with strong defense. It could lead to a bigger role.
“That’s what always kept me on the floor was defense,” Frazier said. “I never was an offensive player. But everybody picked me because I hustle and play defense.”
It appears the Warriors could pick Frazier with their 28th selection in the NBA draft on Thursday for those same reasons.
The Warriors have enough scoring from Stephen Curry, Durant and Klay Thompson. They still have enough defense from Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. But even if the Warriors have won three NBA championships in the past four years, they are well aware other teams will continue to stockpile their rosters in hopes of ending that trend.
One of the Warriors’ ways to stop that: adding more young talent that can address specific needs. The Warriors might want to add more wing depth because of Iguodala’s injuries last season and uncertainty on second-year swingman Patrick McCaw, who will become a restricted free agent on July 1.
“We’re looking for a guy who can play, which is a little unusual,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said recently. “We’re going
to need to have guys who can go out there and give us minutes. Who that guy will be I don’t really know.”
It could be Frazier, who worked out for the Warriors on Monday with Oklahoma State senior forward Jeffrey Carroll, Winthrop senior forward Xavier Cooks, Southern Methodist senior guard Ben Emelogu III, Connecticut junior guard Terry Larrier and University of Buffalo senior forward William Lee. Frazier was the only player in that group projected to be selected late in the first round or early in the second round. Frazier also said he has fielded comparisons to San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard.
“A lot of guys in this generation don’t like to play defense. It’s something I like to do,” Frazier said. “I know defense is going to get me on the floor. I know I can impact any team from Day 1 with my defense.”
Frazier also impacted Tulane with his improved scoring and shooting. Consider his improvement in scoring, shooting percentage and 3-point shooting as a freshman (5.2 points, 40.1 percent, 28.6 percent), sophomore (11.5 points, 43.8 percent, 26.4 percent) and junior (15.9 points, 55.6 percent, 38.5 percent). Frazier attributed the improvement to increased repetitions and better shot selection. In related news, Frazier became the American Athletic Conference’s most improved player.
Frazier considered himself a so-called “3-and-D” player who can excel as a perimeter shooter and wing defender.
“Whatever they need me to do,” Frazier said, “I’ll do it.”
Frazier reportedly fulfilled that job description well in Monday’s workout, which consisted of agility and shooting drills as well as 3-on-3 scrimmages. He credited that preparation partly to Tulane coach Mike Dunleavy Sr., who had Frazier complete similar drills. Dunleavy’s insight stemmed from a previously extensive NBA head-coaching career. So after also working out for Portland, Atlanta, Utah, Indiana, Milwaukee and Minnesota, Frazier boasted “it’s like I got the answers to the test already.”
Some of those answers: how Frazier plans to excel on defense. He might not admittedly study many NBA players or watch many games other than in film sessions. But he appears to have compensated for that temporary deficiency with a permanent mentality: “I always like to check the best player on the team.”
“You do the little things no one wants to do,” Frazier said. “Just getting up in him and getting aggressive. People don’t like when you get up in them. You throw them off.”
In the Warriors’ case, it might prompt them to select Frazier, whose game arguably fills the team’s main offseason needs.