In the final few moments prior to the trade deadline’s expiration two weeks ago, the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings agreed to swap two similarly struggling young big men. Caleb Swanigan, the 26th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft was sent to Northern California, while Skal Labissiere, the 28th overall pick from the year prior, was shipped to Portland.
On Wednesday, the front office assigned their newest addition to the Stockton Kings, and the 21-year old had himself a night. Swanigan scored 18 points, snagged 18 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists, while turning the ball over 7 times:
Those numbers, while impressive at first glance, also correlate with what the big man does well and the areas in which he struggles.