NBA Draft: Should Jamal Murray Be a Top 5 Pick?

Jamal Murray was the best scorer in college basketball among players 20 years old or younger. He averaged exactly 20 points per game on 45% shooting while mostly playing shooting guard. He coupled that with an average of 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Murray does a lot of his damage from the three-point line, averaging 3.1 makes per game on 7.7 attempts, good for 41% shooting. He also shot a respectable 78% from the free throw line. There are no questions about Murray's shooting. That is his elite skill that will translate to the NBA. Other aspects of his game however, can leave a little to be desired.

At 6'5" 200 pounds, he has good, not great, size for a two guard in the NBA. He'll need to bulk up a little to be able to hang with the bigger shooting guards on defense. However, many teams will see him as more of a combo guard or a point guard. Murray has a decent handle on the ball, but he's not the greatest playmaker or passer. He did average more turnovers than assists in his one year at Kentucky. His usage rate, the percentage of possessions a player uses, was almost 26%. This would have been the 29th highest rate in the NBA this season. Despite this usage rate, Murray only averaged 2.2 assists and he only recorded an assist on 12% of the possessions he used. His assist to turnover ratio was below 1 at .94. This should be troubling for teams that would draft Murray looking to make him a point guard.

Murray can probably come into the league and earn minutes by scoring the ball. He is great at catch and shoot shots and he was actually the best player in college basketball at shooting off of screens, making 56% of his attempts. His ability to move off the ball is reminiscent of a J.J. Reddick or Kyle Korver, who will come off countless screens and run their defenders all over the court to get open. He will probably be better at creating his own shot than both Korver and Reddick are too. This should be the reason Murray is drafted in the top 5. Not for his playmaking or potential to become like Steph Curry, because that is not going to happen.

Murray has average court vision at best and his decision making definitely needs to be improved. He had a tendency to over-dribble and try to attack 1-on-1 far too often at Kentucky, despite struggling in both those situations. Murray is not great at creating his own shot, as he shot just 36% in isolation last season. He wasn't much better in the pick and roll either, shooting a measly 38%. His lack of elite athleticism also reduces his effectiveness in transition, where he only shot 49%.

Defense will be a point of concern for any team drafting Murray. He made some progress this year. He was fairly abysmal to start the year and was passable defensively by the end of it. He is not quick enough or fundamentally sound enough to stay in front of a lot of guards in the NBA and he doesn't have the length needed to contest shots very well. A huge question for Murray will be who he can guard at an NBA level. He needs to work on getting quicker and stronger, a combination that does not normally go hand in hand, for him to be even an average defender in the NBA. However, if teams understand that he might be a liability on the defensive end, he could come in and make up for it with his shooting ability.

A team that needs someone who can spread the floor without placing a large burden of creating offense on him would be the ideal fit for Murray. Boston at 3, Minnesota at 5, or New Orleans at 6 would all be good fits for Murray. He wouldn't have to come in and run the show for any of these teams, but he would also be afforded room to operate and get his shots off. I don't think Murray will fall below pick number 7 in the draft, but I also don't think he has the upside to become a true star in this league like some of the other top picks have. He does not have the wide range of skills that are necessary to be a best player on a championship team, nor is he athletic enough to overcome this lack of diversity by just outjumping/hustling/running other players. Murray will be very good at shooting and scoring, maybe elite, and that is enough to be worthy of a top 5 pick. However, if a team is looking for upside, they might want to look else where.

NBA Mock Draft Version 2.0

For the next month leading up until the NBA draft, we will hear all sorts of information coming out about which teams like what players, who’s willing to move up to get someone they like, and which prospects could free fall. The best we can do is guess who will go where. However, after the NBA Combine and Draft Lottery, we now have the clearest picture we’ve had yet. Here’s how I see the draft going down.



1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons: F, LSU



Simmons is the best player in this draft, he has the potential to be a superstar. He can do almost everything on the basketball court, score, rebound, pass, dribble, defend you name it. The 76ers are still at the point in their rebuild where they should be drafting best player available and not for fit, although Simmons does fit well as he can come in and be the primary ball handler. The one thing that Philly really needs that Simmons does not bring to the table is shooting. Simmons has almost no range outside of 5 feet. But that can be improved.



NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom



2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram: F, Duke



Ingram garnered some hype this year and he could challenge Simmons for the top pick. Ingram has the potential to be a prolific scorer in the NBA, many people have compared him to Kevin Durant. Ingram will probably never be that good, but the star potential is there. He would be a great fit on a Laker team that needs scoring and shooting. He also would help round out a great young core consisting of Deangelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle.



NBA Comparison: Tayshaun Prince



3. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn Nets)- Dragan Bender: F, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)



Bender is big, can shoot from distance, and has an incredible motor. In an offseason where the Celtics could lose Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko, they could use another big man who can come and stretch the floor. You can check out my more detailed profile of Bender here.



NBA Comparison: Frank Kaminsky



4. Phoenix Suns- Jaylen Brown: F, California



If this was any other team, I would have Jamal Murray or Buddy Hield at this spot. However, the Suns are already ripe with guards with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, and Archie Goodwin. What they really lack is a power forward to fit with their young core. Brown is raw, but he has the athleticism that could allow him to become a solid player in the NBA.



NBA Comparison: Harrison Barnes



5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jamal Murray: G, Kentucky



The Timberwolves have one of the most promising young cores in the league. With the last two number one picks on their roster, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, they seem to be sitting pretty for the future with new coach Tom Thibodeau. Murray would fit in the back court nicely, as he could play next to both Ricky Rubio and Zach Lavine at either the 1 or the 2. Murray brings outside shooting that the Timberwolves sorely need as well.



NBA Comparison: Brandon Roy



6. New Orleans Pelicans- Buddy Hield: G, Oklahoma



The Pelicans have been struggling to build a competitive team around Anthony Davis. They made the playoffs last season, and probably would have competed for the 8th seed again this year if it wasn’t for all their injuries. Buddy Hield fits in their win-soon timeframe as he can come in and immediately contribute. Eric Gordon is a free agent this offseason and Hield’s skillset is very similar to Gordon’s so he could come in and make up that production and possibly be a building block for the future.



NBA Comparison: Bradley Beal



7. Denver Nuggets- Kris Dunn: G, Providence



There’s no perfect fit at this point in the draft for the Nuggets, so I would not be surprised if they traded down. Even though the Nuggets drafted point guard Emmanuel Mudiay in the first round last year, they could use another guard. Dunn is a solid playmaker and could come in and make a positive impact on a Nuggets team still looking for an identity.



NBA Comparison: Jeff Teague



8. Sacramento Kings- Henry Ellenson: F, Marquette



The Kings would have loved Dunn to fall one more pick to them at number 8, but Ellenson is the best player left on the board, and would fit well with both Demarcus Cousins and Willie Caulie-Stein. He can shoot, rebound, and even create his own shot a little.



NBA Comparison: Mix of Chris Bosh and Kevin Love



9. Toronto Raptors (from New York Knicks)- Marquesse Chriss: F, Washington


Chriss is a tantalizing prospect due to his athletic ability and potential as a stretch four. The Raptors are the best team with a lottery pick this year, so they might look for someone who can contribute more immediately than Chriss, but if they’re willing to be patient, he could be just what the Raps need.



NBA Comparison: Aaron Gordon



10. Milwaukee Bucks- Jakob Poeltl: C, Utah



With the Greg Monroe experiment proving to be a bust, I would not be surprised to see the Bucks draft a center and try to move Monroe during the offseason. Poeltl has shown that he can rebound, score, and protect the rim and he has excellent size for the center position.



NBA Comparison: Jonas Valanciunas



11. Orlando Magic- Skal Labissiere: F/C, Kentucky



The Magic need a rim protector. They’re current frontcourt of Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon is undersized and lacks a shot blocking presence. Labissiere as the potential to be one of the best shot blockers in the league. He also showed the potential to stretch the floor with a silky smooth jump shot. He could play alongside both Vucevic and Gordon.



NBA Comparison: John Henson with a jumpshot



12. Utah Jazz- Wade Baldwin: G, Notre Dame



If this season proved anything to the Jazz, it’s that they need another point guard on the roster. When Dante Exum went down, they were left without a truly competent point guard for most of the year. Baldwin is athletic and dynamic and could come in and be a back-up to Exum and possibly challenge him for minutes.



NBA Comparison: Eric Bledsoe



13. Phoenix Suns- Deyonta Davis: F/C, Michigan State



With their second lottery pick, the Suns should continue to look for frontcourt help. Davis is an incredible worker with potential to be a great shot blocker, rebounder, and defender.



NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka without a jumper



14. Chicago Bulls- Demetrius Jackson



The Bulls need a backup point guard (or perhaps a point guard of the future if they move on from Derrick Rose… don’t kill me Bulls fans). Jackson can come in and run the second unit while providing scoring and athleticism.



NBA Comparison: Patrick Beverley



15. Denver Nuggets- Furkan Korkmaz: G, Anadolu Efes

NBA Comparison: Danny Green



16. Boston Celtics- Timothe Luwawu: G/F, Mega Leks

 NBA Comparison: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope


17. Memphis Grizzlies- Domantas Saboins: F/C, Gonzaga

NBA Comparison: Julius Randle



18. Detroit Pistons- Tyler Ulis: G, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: T.J. Ford



19. Denver Nuggets- Denzel Valentine: G/F, Michigan State

NBA Comparison: Nicolas Batum



20. Indiana Pacers- Taureen Prince: F, Baylor

NBA Comparison- Marcus Morris


21. Atlanta Hawks- Ben Bentil: F, Providence

NBA Comparison: Markieff Morris



22. Charlotte Hornets- Damian Jones: C, Vanderbilt

NBA Comparison: Bismack Biyombo



23. Boston Celtics- Ante Zizc: C, Cibona Zagreb

NBA Comparison: Marcin Gortat



24. Philadelphia 76ers- Thon Maker: F/C, High School

NBA Comparison: Terrence Jones



25. Los Angeles Clippers- Diamond Stone: C, Maryland

NBA Comparison: Gorgui Dieng



26. Philadelphia 76ers- Ivica Zubac: C, Mega Leks

NBA Comparison: Jusuf Nurkic



27. Toronto Raptors- Brice Johnson: F, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried


28. Phoenix Suns- Malik Beasley: G, Florida State
NBA Comparison: Aaron Afflalo



29. San Antonio Spurs- Chinanu Onuaku: F/C, Louisville

NBA Comparison: Tristan Thompson



30. Golden State Warriors- Malachai Richardson: G/F Syracuse

NBA Comparison: Jeremy Lamb



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NBA Draft: Why Dragan Bender Should Be the 3rd Pick

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More than just his incredible name, Dragan Bender has many things going for him as we approach the NBA Draft. Bender is consistently mocked a top five by experts, oftentimes as the number three pick after LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram. Despite this, he is probably the most likely prospect to get booed when Adam Silver calls his name this June, a la Kristaps Porzingis from last year. However, no one, small child or not, should cry over Bender going to your favorite team.

Dragan Bender is 18 years old and already 7’1” with a standing reach of 9’3”. He has great size for the NBA whether he is playing the 3, 4, or 5. He is the youngest prospect in this draft class, but does not lack experience playing against good competition. He has recently played in the Euroleague, the EuroCup, and the Israeli League.

Bender’s skill set is what makes him truly unique and is why any team could appreciate his talents and utilize him. At over 7 feet tall, Bender is prolific shooter for his size. This season, he shot 22-49 from 3 point range (45%), an admittedly small sample size, but reports from his practices say that he routinely strokes from long range. Watching him play, you see that Bender has terrific mechanics that make for a smooth shot. You can see the progression that he has made in this area too. If you watch highlights from a year or two ago, you notice a hitch in his shot and the fact that his shots have very little arc on them. Watching him play this year however, you notice that the shot is much smoother and looks like a rainbow falling into the hoop.

He is also and adept ball handler and playmaker, especially for being a 7 footer. Bender possesses excellent court vision and has no problem leading a fast break. You will see him oftentimes grabbing a rebound and starting the break himself, with him either going coast to coast or making a pass leading to a layup. He also runs the court very well, a great quality to have out of your big men. If you can get a 7 footer out in front of the defense, you’re going to get a lot of easy layups and dunks.

Bender’s toughness is described as one of his best qualities. Every year, you hear draft analysts, former players, and sports anchors describe every white European that declares for the draft as soft and perhaps afraid of contact. That could not be farther from the truth of Dragan Bender. Jonathon Givony from The Vertical described him as so: “Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career.”

The biggest area of weakness for Bender has to be his weight. He is about 215 pounds, and at 7’1” that makes him incredibly skinny. However, he is only 18 years and filling out his frame should come naturally as he gets older and his body finishes growing. If he can fill out and become a little bulkier, he could be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. Now, you might look at his stats from the Euroleauge this season and assume Bender isn’t very good. He is barely averaging 10 minutes per game. But this a common occurrence in the Euroleague. Often they will limit the minutes of younger players. Kristaps Porzingis played about 20 minutes a game in his last season and he was a full year older than Bender. When Bender gets consistent playing time, he does well. Just look at his stats from last year when he played 27 minutes a game:

• PPG: 10.1

• RPG: 7.4

• APG: 2.5

• STL: 0.8

• BLK: 1

• FG%: 51.1%

The Boston Celtics just landed the 3rd overall pick and would love a player like Bender and would be foolish to pass on him. The Celtics could possibly lose Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko this offseason. This will leave their frontcourt remarkably thin. Bender would be able to step in and contribute by spacing the floor, rebounding the ball, and perhaps even a little bit of playmaking from the 4 or 5 spot. Bender has the most upside of anyone in this draft not named Simmons or Ingram and I fully expect him to be the 3rd overall pick in June.

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NBA Mock Draft Version 1.1

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

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The date for underclassmen to declare for the draft has come and passed, so the draft field is fairly realized at this point, making now an excellent time for a mock draft. The order is just based on regular season record and I have taken team need into account for each pick.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons: F, LSU

Simmons is the best player in this draft. He can do almost everything on the basketball court, score, rebound, pass, dribble, defend you name it. The 76ers are still at the point in their rebuild where they should be drafting best player available and not for fit, although Simmons does fit well as he can come in and be the primary ball handler. The one thing that Philly really needs that Simmons does not bring to the table is shooting. Simmons has almost no range outside of 5 feet. But that can be improved.

NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram: F, Duke

Ingram garnered some hype this year and he could challenge Simmons for the top pick. Ingram has the potential to be a prolific scorer in the NBA, many people have compared him to Kevin Durant. Ingram will probably never be that good, but the star potential is there. He would be a great fit on a Laker team that needs scoring and shooting.

NBA Comparison: Tayshaun Prince

3. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn Nets)- Dragan Bender: F, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)

Bender is big, can shoot from distance, and has an incredible motor. In an offseason where the Celtics could lose Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Jerebko, they could use another big man who can come and stretch the floor.

NBA Comparison: A mix of Kristaps Porzingis and Boris Diaw

4. Phoenix Suns- Jaylen Brown: F, California

If this was any other team, I would have Jamal Murray or Buddy Hield at this spot. However, the Suns are already ripe with guards with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, and Archie Goodwin. What they really lack is a power forward to fit with their young core. Brown is raw, but he has the athleticism that could allow him to become a solid player in the NBA.

NBA Comparison: Harrison Barnes

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jamal Murray: G, Kentucky

The Timberwolves have one of the most promising young cores in the league. With the last two number one picks on their roster, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, they seem to be sitting pretty for the future with new coach Tom Thibodeau. Murray would fit in the back court nicely, as he could play next to both Ricky Rubio and Zach Lavine at either the 1 or the 2. Murray brings outside shooting that the Timberwolves sorely need as well.

NBA Comparison: Brandon Roy

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Buddy Hield: G, Oklahoma

The Pelicans have been struggling to build a competitive team around Anthony Davis. They made the playoffs last season, and probably would have competed for the 8th seed again this year if it wasn’t for all their injuries. Buddy Hield fits in their win-soon timeframe as he can come in and immediately contribute. Eric Gordon is a free agent this offseason and Hield’s skillset is very similar to Gordon’s so he could come in and make up that production and possibly be a building block for the future.

NBA Comparison: Bradley Beal

7. Denver Nuggets- Kris Dunn: G, Providence

There’s no perfect fit at this point in the draft for the Nuggets, so I would not be surprised if they traded down. Even though the Nuggets drafted point guard Emmanuel Mudiay in the first round last year, they could use another guard. Dunn is a solid playmaker and could come in and make a positive impact on a Nuggets team still looking for an identity.

NBA Comparison: Damian Lillard

8. Sacramento Kings- Henry Ellenson: F, Marquette

The Kings would have loved Dunn to fall one more pick to them at number 8, but Ellenson is the best player left on the board, and would fit well with both Demarcus Cousins and Willie Caulie-Stein. He can shoot, rebound, and even create his own shot a little.

NBA Comparison: Mix of Chris Bosh and Kevin Love

9. Toronto Raptors (from New York Knicks)- Skal Labissiere: F/C, Kentucky

The Raptors will be thrilled if Ellenson drops to them at 9. The one piece they are missing is a power forward who can stretch the floor and rebound. However, Labissiere is a nice consolation prize. He is big, can block shots, and stretch the floor. The only question with him is his rebounding ability.

NBA Comparison: John Henson with a jump-shot

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Jakob Poeltl: C, Utah

With the Greg Monroe experiment proving to be a bust, I would not be surprised to see the Bucks draft a center and try to move Monroe during the offseason. Poeltl has shown that he can rebound, score, and protect the rim and he has excellent size for the center position.

NBA Comparison: Jonas Valanciunas

11. Orlando Magic- Timothe Luwawu: G/F, Mega Leks

Luwawu has the potential to be a prototypical wing in the NBA. He can shoot, defend, and distribute. He needs to work on his playmaking ability, but he would be a great fit on the Magic where he can provide some much needed floor spacing.

NBA Comparison: Danny Green

12. Utah Jazz- Demetrius Jackson: G, Notre Dame

If this season proved anything to the Jazz, it’s that they need another point guard on the roster. When Dante Exum went down, they were left without a truly competent point guard for most of the year. Jackson could come in and be a back-up to Exum and possibly challenge him for minutes.

13. Phoenix Suns- Marquese Chriss: F, Washington

With their second lottery pick, Phoenix looks for potential and Chriss has a ton of it. An athletic forward who has shown some range would be a great fit for the Suns.

NBA Comparison: A more athletic Tobias Harris

14. Chicago Bulls- Wade Baldwin: G, Vanderbilt

The Bulls need at least a backup point guard, if not a point guard of the future. Baldwin has shown potential to be a legitimate scorer and a decent distributor from the point guard position.

NBA Comparison: Eric Bledsoe

15. Denver Nuggets- Furkan Korkmaz: G, Anadolu Efes

NBA Comparison: J.J. Redick

16. Boston Celtics-  Denzel Valentine: G/F, Michigan State

NBA Comparison: Nicolas Batum

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Deyonta Davis: F/C, Michigan State

NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka before he started shooting threes

18. Detroit Pistons- Tyler Ulis: G, Kentucky

NBA Comparison: A tiny Chris Paul

19. Denver Nuggets- Malik Beasley: G, Florida State

NBA Comparison- Arron Afflalo

20. Indiana Pacers- Domantas Saboins: F/C, Gonzaga

NBA Comparison: Julius Randle

21. Atlanta Hawks- Taurean Prince: F, Baylor

NBA Comparison: Marcus Morris

22. Charlotte Hornets- Diamond Stone: C, Maryland

NBA Comparison: Gorgui Dieng

23. Boston Celtics- Ante Zizc: C, Cibona Zagreb

NBA Comparison: Marcin Gortat

24. Philadelphia 76ers- Thon Maker: F/C, High School

NBA Comparison: Terrence Jones

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Damian Jones: C, Vanderbilt

NBA Comparison: Bismack Biyombo

26. Philadelphia 76ers- Ivica Zubac: C, Mega Leks

NBA Comparison: Jusuf Nurkic

27. Toronto Raptors- Deandre Bembry: G/F, Saint Joseph’s

NBA Comparison: Demar Derozan

28. Phoenix Suns- Zhou Qi: C, Xinjiang

NBA Comparison: John Henson

29. San Antonio Spurs- Stephen Zimmerman: C, UNLV

NBA Comparison: Brook Lopez

30. Golden State Warriors- Brice Johnson: F, North Carolina

NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried

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How to Make Andre Drummond the Most Dominant Big Man in the NBA (AKA Fixing Hack-A-Shaq)

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

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Intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters, otherwise known as “Hack-A-Shaq”, has become an increasingly popular strategy among NBA teams. This strategy started out as a way to try to overcome a deficit in the last few minutes of games. It is now grown to the point where teams will execute a hack-a-Shaq at any point in the game. This strategy works because, when a player shoots less than 50% from the free throw line, the expected points per possession becomes less than 1 when they shoot two free throws. This is a poor rate for a professional basketball team. The league average points per possession in the 2015-2016 season was 1.03. So, if a team fouls Andre Drummond, who shot 35.5% from the free throw line this year, the expected points per possession would be .71 points. This is why the strategy works. However, it also takes the excitement out of a basketball game. No one wants to watch Andre Drummond take 36 free throws and miss 23 of them like he did against the Rockets in January. This amount of free throws slows the games down incredibly and it is awfully boring to watch. The rules need to be changed to ensure that the NBA is putting its most entertaining product on the floor that it can.

My proposal for the rule change is simple. When an off-ball foul occurs, like most of the fouls that are committed when using the hack-a-Shaq strategy, the team that got fouled gets to choose if they want to shoot free throws or if they’d like to just in-bound the ball. This removes the incentive for the defending team to foul someone when they haven’t even ran across half court yet (or before they’ve even stepped in bounds like what we saw Danny Green do to Clint Capela). No team will intentionally foul off ball when all that will occur afterwards is an inbounds play. It also does not reward players for being bad free throw shooters. If a player gets fouled while they have the ball and that team is in the bonus, they will still have to shoot free throws. This should cease almost all intentional fouling just to cause a poor free throw shooter to shoot foul shots.

Offenses won’t just be strictly benefiting however. If a defense wants to intentionally foul, they can. They would just have to wait until the player they want to foul has the ball. So offenses would have to adapt and either avoid giving the ball to certain players, or only giving them the ball when they can immediately shoot it, such as an alley-oop or on a cut through the paint. I think this is a good balance between defenses having to stop a strategy that can benefit them while also not rewarding poor free throw shooters too heavily.

A faster paced game with less free throw shooting will alleviate many of the complaints that fans have. Not many people like to watch a free throw shooting competition, and the NBA knows this. There was a report last week that the league would be looking to change their rules regarding intentionally fouling. These changes can only be for the better as they will provide a more exciting and entertaining sports product that more people will enjoy watching and being a part of.