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NBA Mock Draft 2016: Impact of the NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men
Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men /
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Mar 31, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine speaks to media during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine speaks to media during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Denzel Valentine, Michigan State Spartans

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 22 (11/16/1993)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 223 pounds, 6’9.5″

Slash Line: .462/.444/.853

Season Averages: 33.0 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 3.4 3PM

Key Strengths

  • Court vision. Can help run an offense at the next level. Has become more responsible with the ball.
  • Elite shooter. Legitimate NBA 3-point range. Lethal off the catch, dangerous off the bounce.
  • Ideal size, build, and length for an NBA shooting guard.
  • Versatility as a scorer. Can space the floor, attack off the bounce, or operate in transition. Moves well off-ball.
  • Transition offense. Is a one-man show with his playmaking.

Key Weaknesses

  • Athleticism. Not a bad athlete, but exemplary quickness and leaping ability hurts.
  • Can facilitate in transition, but lacks quickness to beat his man for drive-and-dish opportunities.
  • Individual defense. Can help in a zone, but quick guards expose him in isolation.
  • Isolation offense. Left hand is weak. Could struggle to create space against NBA-caliber defenders.

Analysis

Denzel Valentine has been called the Draymond Green of shooting guards. Aside from the fact that both players were members of the Michigan State Spartans, Valentine mirrors Green’s versatility as a statistically prolific playmaker who contributes across the board.

Those well-rounded statistics helped Valentine win the AP National Player of the Year award.

Whether or not you feel he was the right choice, there was certainly some measure of logic behind this decision.

Valentine is an outstanding 3-point shooter who can facilitate the offense, contribute power forward-like numbers on the boards, and play at a respectable level as a team defender. He’s converted at least 100 3-point field goals on 41.6 percent shooting or better in back-to-back seasons, and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.89 in 2015-16.

Valentine isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he has a skill set that is built for the modern era in the NBA.

Next: Interior Load

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