![]() Tyler Lydon seemed to regress as a sophomore, showing little to no playmaking ability and a limited post game. As a playmaking dynamo, you won’t find anyone better than the 19-year-old Smith. However, Dallas desperately needed a point guard. To be sure, he’s not as technically sound as you’d like and will struggle to make the proper reads in pick-and-roll. ![]() Often compared to Eric Bledsoe or even Russell Westbrook, Smith is a sensational athlete (46-inch vertical) who can bully his way to the basket and finish through contact. The Mavs scouted French teenager Frank Ntilikina more than anyone, but had to “settle” on Dennis Smith Jr. The Cavs didn’t make a pick in the draft. Additionally, maybe we can see an uptick in Kris Dunn, last year’s fifth pick and a guy who struggled as a rookie. One silver lining is the addition of Zach LaVine – who recently gushed to me about how well his rehab was going – and has the ability to become a star in this league. His 69 3-pointers last season were the most by a 7-footer in college basketball in the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Chicago’s rebuilding project needed to start somewhere, and Markkanen makes a lot of sense. Not unlike Gonzaga product Zach Collins – who heads to Portland – that’s the question mark for the 19-year-old Finnish big man: Will his body hold up? Markkanen can really shoot it, though (42 percent on threes), and has an advanced low-post game that translates well. Lauri Markkanen, to his credit, had a splendid freshman season in Tucson save for a limited stretch where he seemed to wear down. This grade is more a knock dealing Jimmy Butler than anything else. The rebuilding process is officially underway in the Windy City. The Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves for a package that included the No. ![]() At pick 22, Brooklyn gets a guy who will play 10 years in this league. There is some Brook Lopez to his game, and his 7-foot-5 wingspan is a huge boon for a Nets team that craves a shot-blocker. Jarrett Allen won’t do anything great, but he will do everything well. There is suddenly some duplicity on this roster, but the Celtics also got a lot better. It doesn’t hurt, either, that Ojeleye knocked down over 42 percent of his 3-pointers as a junior. In the second round, Danny Ainge hit on SMU’s Semi Ojeleye, a powerfully built, highly athletic pick-up truck. 3 pick – Jaylen Brown – though his defense remains a slight concern. Tatum is significantly better than last year’s No. Fittingly, I’ve been told that Boston believes he can fit the Paul Pierce 2.0 mold. Jayson Tatum is the most polished offensive player in the draft – a legitimate three-level scorer who can further develop an already impressive post-up game as his body progresses. March” had an epic NCAA tournament, but he lacks creativity off the bounce and doesn’t project well defensively, either. The Hawks missed badly in the second round with Tyler Dorsey. If he does, his presence inside and out could help him become one of the steals in this class. A phenomenal athlete, Collins must become a consistent 3-point threat. Better yet, he had the single-highest player efficiency rating in the country last season. John Collins is the first ACC player since fellow Demon Deacon Tim Duncan to average 19 points, nine rebounds and shoot 60 percent from the floor.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |