NBA Mock Draft 2016: New Year's Resolutions

NBA Mock Draft 2016: New Year’s Resolutions

Dec 25, 2015; Honolulu, HI, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) flashes a "shaka" sign after the game against the Harvard Crimson at the Stan Sheriff Center. Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Harvard Crimson 83-71. Hield was named MVP of the tournament. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 19, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Domantas Sabonis (11) reacts after a call against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at KeyArena. Gonzaga defeated Tennessee, 86-79. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

27. Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga Bulldogs

Position: Power Forward

Age: 19

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 236 pounds, 6’10.5″

Slash Line: .659/.333/.826

Season Averages: 30.2 MPG, 18.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.8 ORPG, 1.4 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.7 SPG

New Year’s Resolution: Expand Shooting Range

Gonzaga Bulldogs star Domantas Sabonis will be compared to his father—Hall of Fame center Arvydas Sabonis—until the narrative runs dry. Once you get past the storyline, however, a promising NBA player can be found.

He’s not very similar to his father, but Sabonis knows how to get the job done.

Sabonis is a productive scorer and an elite rebounder who welcomes contact and competes for every loose ball. His tireless work ethic can be seen in the fact that he’s jumped from being a 66.4 percent free throw shooter in 2014-15 to a mark of 82.6 in 2015-16 on 1.5 more attempts per game.

The area in which the 19-year-old must improve is vital in the modern NBA: shooting. His range is solid and expanding, and his touch around the basket is superb, but with a relatively short wingspan and a lack of explosiveness, he doesn’t often play above the rim.

Sabonis could be a power forward or a small-ball center in the NBA, and that means he must be able to expand his already impressive versatility with the 3-point shot.

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