2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Zach LaVine

2013 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Home Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA Isaiah Austin, C, Baylor Cameron Bairstow, PF, New Mexico Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier Jordan Clarkson, SG, Missouri Aaron Craft, PG, Ohio State Joel Embiid, C, Kansas Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse C.J. Fair, SF, Syracuse Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State Rodney Hood, SF, Duke Nick Johnson, SG, Arizona DeAndre Kane, PG, Iowa State Sean Kilpatrick, SG, Cincinnati James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton Jordan McRae, SG, Tennessee Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut Jabari Parker, SF, Duke Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State Dwight Powell, PF, Stanford Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky JaKarr Sampson, SF, St. John's Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State Russ Smith, PG, Louisville Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee Xavier Thames, PG, San Diego State Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas Kendall Williams, PG, New Mexico James Young, SG, Kentucky Patric Young, PF, Florida

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Zach LaVine


Position: Shooting Guard

Size: 6-6, 181

School: UCLA, Freshman


Strengths:

Athleticism

Explosive at the rim

All-around scorer

Three-point shooting

NBA range from deep

Catch-and-shoot ability

Step-back and pull-up jumper

Creating his own shot

Awesome in transition

Ball handling

Plenty of upside

Weaknesses:

Needs to get stronger

Toughness

Shies away from contact in the lane

Shot selection

Decision-making

Is he a point guard or shooting guard?

Defensive effort is mostly non-existent

Summary: LaVine is the definition of somebody who will get drafted solely based on his potential. He scored just 11 points in UCLA’s final five games of the 2013 season and is nowhere near NBA ready. However, since LaVine can jump out of the gym, has solid handles, good height and a promising outside stroke, some team may gamble on him in the late lottery. Regardless, he should see a good amount of time in the D-League before he ever becomes a contributor in the NBA.

Player Comparison: Josh Selby. Great athletes who don’t have a true position at the NBA and left after a somewhat underwhelming freshman seasons in which they were overshadowed by other players; Selby and LaVine have obviously similar backgrounds. Selby never found his niche and is now out of the NBA. LaVine has a higher ceiling than Selby did, plus better size for the next level. When LaVine is on, I see bits of Steph Curry in him. However, I am not high on LaVine and think he may end up being a bust like Selby.

2013 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports - Home Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA Isaiah Austin, C, Baylor Cameron Bairstow, PF, New Mexico Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier Jordan Clarkson, SG, Missouri Aaron Craft, PG, Ohio State Joel Embiid, C, Kansas Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse C.J. Fair, SF, Syracuse Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State Rodney Hood, SF, Duke Nick Johnson, SG, Arizona DeAndre Kane, PG, Iowa State Sean Kilpatrick, SG, Cincinnati James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton Jordan McRae, SG, Tennessee Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut Jabari Parker, SF, Duke Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State Dwight Powell, PF, Stanford Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky JaKarr Sampson, SF, St. John's Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State Russ Smith, PG, Louisville Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee Xavier Thames, PG, San Diego State Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas Kendall Williams, PG, New Mexico James Young, SG, Kentucky Patric Young, PF, Florida

RELATED LINKS:


2014 NBA Mock Draft


2015 NBA Mock Draft


2014 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings


2014 NBA Draft Scouting Reports








Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]



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