Brooklyn’s number 27 draft selection, Danny Wolf is someone who embodies the promise of the Nets rebuild. On paper, he is exactly the kind of “positionless” big man the modern NBA craves. Wolf is a 7-footer who can dribble, pass, and shoot. But the reality is that he has some inconsistencies that are glaring, and if his flaws are not fixed, he risks becoming another high-potential player who may never fully pan out.
The next Hedo Turkoglu or Nemaja Bjelica?
The Ringer compared Wolf to Hedo Turkoglu and Nemanja Bjelica two tall, crafty forwards who could shoot, pass, and space the floor… when the conditions were perfect. But that is exactly what makes this comparison so tricky. Those players only thrived when everything around them worked. And the Nets are not there quite yet.
At Michigan, Wolf was often the most creative player on the floor. He averaged 3.6 assists and looked fluid handling the ball in space. But it came at a price with 3.2 turnovers per game and a shooting profile that raises some red flags. He hit just 33.6% from deep and 64.6% from the free-throw line over three college seasons.
Defensively, the concerns are more concrete. Wolf lacks lateral quickness, does not elevate much around the rim, and at times he often looked like the slowest player on the court. That might be fine if you are surrounded by elite defenders, but that is not the case as Brooklyn finished only 23rd in defensive rating last season. At the moment it is clear that they are not in the right position to cover for his shortcomings.
The player comparisons might be an issue.
If the Turkoglu comp is accurate, it means Wolf is a system player. That is not an insult to his talent, but it does suggest he will not make an immediate impact without serious development and roster help. Sure, Turk had his peak while spending a couple years in Orlando where everything clicked. But the rest of his career was pretty inconsistent, and system-dependent. For Bjelica it is the same story. These players had good careers as role players but not much more than that. Nets are taking a gamble with Wolf, becomes the rare version of that archetype who does not need stars around him to thrive, then maybe this can be a steal. But for now, until proven otherwise…Net fans have the right to be a little nervous.