One more unicorn is approaching. After Chet Holmgren or Victor Wembanyama, a new type of interior will arrive in the NBA in the person ofAlexandre Sarr. In the mold of these “big men” with the qualities of a winger in the body of a pivot, the Frenchman was one of the most scrutinized players in this 2024 Draft, and he did not miss his chance with his experience in Australia.
Sarr is perhaps not a phenomenon, particularly technical, like “Wemby”, but his unique profile, perfectly adapted to the current NBA, makes him one of the rare assurances to appear at the top of the Draft. Enough to make him the second Habs in a row selected as first choice? The hypothesis could not be more credible.
It might not have been as much in a promotion with a higher talent density. But Alexandre Sarr arrives at the right time to turn heads. He never left the podium of the main “mock draft” across the Atlantic all season, and he is the only player who can really boast of it this season. The little brother of Olivier Sarr, G-League champion with Oklahoma City, however asks a lot of questions… Which makes him just as intriguing.
Profile
Job : Pivot/power forward
Size : 2m16
Weight : 102 kg
Team : Perth Wildcats (NBL)
Stats 2023/24 : 9.4 points at 52%, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.5 blocks in 18 minutes
Strong points
– high -level defensive qualities. Tall, long (2.24m wingspan, like Myles Turner or Walker Kessler) and aerial, Alexandre Sarr has the almost perfect physical prototype to establish himself as an elite defensive keystone in the NBA. The native of Bordeaux has an instinct and a positioning on this side of the floor that is already advanced. His foot speed also allows him to “switch” to all positions, a strategy favored by his Perth team this season. This floor alone should ensure him a future in the league.
– Rare mobility for its size. If Sarr has also been compared to Victor Wembanyama, it is because of their same ability to move as few interior players are capable of. The former Overtime Elite and Real Madrid training center impresses with his agility and his very loose side. He is particularly formidable in transition play, where he is capable of overtaking opposing defenses and finishing successfully (82.8% shooting on the counter-attack this season). Offensively, this ability to move can allow him to consider minutes at position 4 and offer an interesting size advantage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sDemvgy9is
– A real margin for progress. Alexandre Sarr has sufficient qualities to be number one in this Draft but he is still far from being a finished product. In a crop where young prospects are not plentiful, Sarr has just turned 19, and that's plenty of time to polish him. It will be interesting to see him surrounded by good passers, which has not been the case the last two seasons and could free him up, especially after a screen. The French international (among young people) also showed some promising flashes in creation, which he could also exploit with exteriors of superior talent.
Weak points
– A body to develop. There has already been improvement in recent months, but Alexandre Sarr still needs to thicken up a little. Just over 100 kilos during the last Combine, he has just passed three figures on the scale and must gain muscle to avoid suffering against strong pivots like Joel Embiid. It is not uncommon to see him pushed around on the defensive rebound, which partly explains his relative weakness in the sector while the physical density will be of another caliber in the NBA.
– Shot selection. Who says modern interior says ability to move away. If Alexandre Sarr is comfortable around the arc, his skill leaves something to be desired (27.6% with almost two attempts in 18 minutes), and he could still use his shot to better advantage. He can take a step forward in terms of fluidity and speed in his shooting gesture from afar… While he seems much more comfortable and skillful at mid-distance, even when dribbling: 48.3%, in the waters of Chet Holmgren, 30.9% for Victor Wembanyama. Like the rookie of the year, this weapon in his arsenal is not yet lethal, but it will undoubtedly force defenses to squeeze him closer, thus freeing up space to then go towards the circle or for his teammates.
Comparison
Alexandre Sarr is a sort of hybrid between the physique of a Evan Mobleyand the characteristics of Jaren Jackson (ability to defend in several positions, correct outside shooting but weakness in defensive rebounding), two indisputable starters in the NBA. If he does not manage to turn a corner, particularly offensively, Sarr can last as a “specialist” in the same way. Jonathan Isaac.
Prognosis
In the Top 3, almost assured. Both the Hawks and the Wizards will happily take a top-notch defensive reinforcement, ready to contribute as soon as he arrives in the league.
