2023 NBA Draft Positional Breakdown: Shooters
Shooting
is at a premium in today’s NBA. Even role players that can space the floor and
hit big shots are getting paid like stars. As far as the team building process
goes, many GM’s look for a sharpshooter as soon as they have found two young
building blocks.
Every
team picking in the 11-20 range could use another shooter to get them over the
hump.
FIRST ROUND
LOCKS:
Gradey Dick-SG/SF-Kansas
6'8''/204/6'8.75''
14.1 PTS 5.1 REB 40.3%-3PT 85.4%-FT
Fr./19.6
Hometown: Wichita
NBA
Comparison: Mike Miller/Kevin Huerter
ROLE: Starting
Wing Sharpshooter
BEST
TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Defense/Hustle
Dick
has a highly recruited player that more than lived up to the hype at Kansas. He
has all the tools one looks for in a shooter. He could be as good as Miller who
had a 17-year career and won two titles along with a 6th Man Award. Like
Huerter and Miller he can be a starter and 3rd option on a playoff
team.
Jett
Howard-SF-Michigan
6'8''/215
14.4 PTS 2.7
REB 36.9%-3PT 81.2%-FT
Fr./19.8
Hometown: Miami
NBA Comparison: Doug McDermott/Kyle Kuzma
ROLE: Starting Wing Sharpshooter
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Hustle/Feel for the Game
Howard is a good scorer that knows his role as
a scorer. He is a very efficient player that can move without the ball and
create his own offense. He played one year for his father Juwan Howard who was
a 19-year pro. Like Kuzma and McDermott, he lacks ideal athletic ability and
length but makes up for it by knowing how to score.
Jordan
Hawkins-SG-UConn
6'5''/186/6'8.75''
16.2 PTS 3.8
REB 38.8%-3PT 88.7%-FT
So./21.2
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
NBA Comparison: Wayne Ellington/Tim
Hardaway Jr.
ROLE: Sharpshooting Starting Wing or 6th/7th
man
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Scoring
Hawkins took the biggest step from Freshman to
Sophomore season of any player in the draft. His minutes doubled and he was
crucial in UConn winning the title. He knows his role a shooter and plays well
with other great players. It will benefit him if he goes to a playoff team
right away. His frame is small and he is not a great dribbler for a guard. At
best he could be a good 3rd option like Hardaway Jr. but is more
likely to be a very good role player for a long time like Ellington.
Brice Sensabaugh-CF-Ohio St
6'6''/235
Fr./19.8
16.3 PTS 5.4
REB 40.5%-3PT 83.0%-FT
Hometown: Orlando
NBA Comparison: Desmond Bane/Solomon Hill
ROLE: Starting Wing Sharpshooter
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Power/Toughness
Sensabaugh is another one and done prospect
that is a very good shooter. He is not the biggest or greatest athlete, but he
has a very good skill set. There is very little bust potential for him as he
knows his role and knows when to pick his spots. At 235 pounds he has the
physicality to play the 2-4. He could be another Desmond Bane if drafted by a
contender late in the first round.
Maxwell Lewis-G/F-Pepperdine
6'7''/207/7'0''
17.1
PTS 5.7 REB 2.8 AST 34.8%-3PT
So./20.9
Hometown:
Las Vegas
NBA
Comparison: Caleb Martin/Jalen McDaniels
ROLE: 3
and D Wing
BEST
TOOLS: Scoring/Hustle/Length
Lewis
is a rangy wing that has seen his stock rise during the pre-draft process. He
fits perfect as a 3 and D player that has the perfect combination of skill and length
to contribute in the modern NBA.
Dariq Whitehead-SF-Duke
6'7''/215/
6'10.25''
8.8
PTS 2.4 REB 42.5%-3PT 93.3%-FT
Fr./18.8
Hometown: Newark,
NJ
NBA
Comparison: Daequan Cook/Nassir Little
ROLE: 3
and D Wing
BEST
TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Scoring at the rim/Length
Whitehead was the top prospect in the 2022
high school class but battled through injuries at Duke. When he was healthy, he
showcased his elite shooting prowess. He does not provide much as a creator or
rebounder. Cook and Little were both high rated high school prospects turned one
and done that were drafted in the twenties. That is the draft range for Whitehead
after a disappointing season at Duke.
Brandin Podziemski-SG-Santa Clara
6'5''/204/6'5.5''
19.9 PTS 3.7
REB 3.7 AST 39.6%-3PT 80.9%-FT
So./20.3
Hometown: Muskego, WI
NBA Comparison: Luke Kennard/Joe Ingles
ROLE: Second Unit Floor Spacer
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Playmaking/Hustle
Podziemski has improved their stock in the
pre-draft process. He was the number one option at Santa Clara where he won the
WCC Player of the Year (shared with Gonzaga’s Drew Timme). At the combine he
showed his ability to score both off the ball and on the dribble. He is a
crafty lefty that should be a very good role player.
Julian Strawther-SF-Gonzaga
6'6''/209/6'9.5''
15.2 PTS 6.2
REB 40.8%-3PT 77.6%-FT
Jr./21.2
Hometown: Las Vegas
NBA Comparison: Reggie Bullock/K.J. McDaniels
ROLE: Second Unit Floor Spacer
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Defense/Hustle
Strawther hit a huge game winner vs UCLA in
the NCAA Tournament. He played three years at Gonzaga alongside multiple NBA
players and he improved every season especially as a shooter. He has a nice
combination of skills and length to become a good player off the bench.
Keyontae Johnson-CF-Kansas St.
6'5''/239/7'0''
17.4 PTS 6.8
REB 2.1 AST 40.5%-3PT
Sr./23.0
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
NBA Comparison: Iman Shumpert/Semi Ojeleye
ROLE: Versatile Second Unit Wing
BEST TOOLS: Athletic Ability/Shooting/Power/Length
Johnson is the best story of the draft as he
collapsed while playing at Florida then waited two years to be cleared to play
basketball again. He was an All-league performer in both the SEC at Florida and
in the Big 12 last season. He is a great athlete with enough size and length to
play either forward spot and shooting guard. His story is special, and
I really hoped he is drafted sometime in the second round.
Seth Lundy-G/F-Penn St
6'5''/214/6'10.25''
14.2 PTS 6.3
REB 40.0%-3PT 80.7%-FT
Sr./23.2
Hometown: Paulsboro, NJ
NBA Comparison: Wesley Matthews/Sean Kilpatrick
ROLE: Second Unit Wing and Shooter
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Defense/Hustle
Lundy is a thicker wing that uses his body
well to get to the rim. He is a good shooter and excellent rebounder for his
size. His upside is that of Wes Matthews, Matthew went from undrafted to a
quality role player for several years. Lundy was always a good shooter but
really improved his defense and rebounding this past season.
GETTING DRAFTED BORDERLINE:
Isaiah Wong-CG-Miami
6'4''/178/6'6.75''
16.2 PTS 4.3 REB 3.2 AST 38.4%-3PT 84.5%-FT
Sr./22.4
Hometown: Piscataway, NJ
NBA Comparison: Landry Shamet/Eric Maynor
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Multilevel Scoring/Dribbling
Wong was the 2023 ACC Player of the Year and led Miami to the Final Four. He is a very good shooter but will need to be more of a creator and defender in order to make it in the NBA. Shamet is the model for Wong as a good backup that plays 20 mpg.
Hunter Tyson-SF-Clemson
6'8''/209/6'9.75''
15.3 PTS 9.6 REB 40.5%-3PT 83.8%-FT
Sr./23.0
Hometown: Monroe, NC
NBA Comparison: Cedi Osman/Kyle Korver
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Rebounding/Hustle
Tyson is a versatile player that finally broke out as a 5th year senior. He along with PJ Hall led Clemson to a 23 win season and Tyson was named All ACC. He is an excellent shooter that plays very well off the ball. He has Kyle Korver upside but should be a good bench player like Osman in Cleveland.
Landers Nolley II-SF-Cincinnati
6'7''/208/6'11.75''
16.8 PTS 5.8 REB 41.7%-3PT 75.0%-FT
Sr./23.3
Hometown: Fairburn, GA
NBA Comparison: Kyle Wiltjer/Cam Johnson
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Rebounding
Nolley is a confident scorer with a sweet looking jumpshot. He played at Virginia Tech and Memphis before playing his 5th year at Cincinnati last year. Cam Johnson is the model as role player for a guy like Landers although Landers will not be a lottery pick.
Sir'Jabari Rice-SG-Texas
6'4''/173/6'9.25''
13.0 PTS 3.5 REB 37.1%-3PT 86.3%-FT
Sr./24.5
Hometown: Houston
NBA Comparison: Jeremy Lamb/Ty Jerome
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Defense/Length
Rice was the Big 12 6th Man Award winner after transferring from New Mexico St. He lacks bulk but has long arms and is a willing defender. He was a very efficient team player only taking nine shots per game.
Joey Hauser-CF-Michigan St
6'9''/214/6'8.25''
14.4 PTS 7.0 REB 46.1%-3PT 87.6%-FT
Sr./23.9
Hometown: Stevens Point, WI
NBA Comparison: Steve Novak
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Rebounding/Hustle
Hauser is pretty much automatic from three when left wide open. He has good height and nice release point. He is a good rebounder despite lack of length and athleticism.
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