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NBA Draft: Is There Ever A Safe Pick?

By Josh Cornelissen

Feb 12, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Anthony Bennett (15) boxes out Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Anthony Bennett (15) boxes out Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas (10) dribbles the basketball during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas (10) dribbles the basketball during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Elite Shooters

Shooting is a skill that translates to every form of basketball, and so players who make a name for themselves in college as elite shooters are supposed to be safe picks to at least provide that in the NBA.

Stephen Curry is certainly the most well-known representative here, translating his record-breaking stint at Davidson into a record-breaking run with the Golden State Warriors.

J.J. Redick is still the ACC leader in free throw percentage and barely misses from both the free throw and three-point lines in the NBA. At a lower tier, guys such as O.J. Mayo and Ryan Kelly have hung around because of their outside shooting.

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But a multitude of busts litter the “safe” shooters as well. Most prominent in recent history is Nik Stauskas, a 44 percent three-point shooter during his final year at Michigan.

Stauskas’ career three-point percentage in the NBA is 32 percent, and over two seasons with Sacramento and Philadelphia has averaged only 6.4 points a game.

Other elite college shooters have failed to make an impact in the league, including John Jenkins, and Xavier Henry.

Shots in college are closer in and oftentimes more open; once the athleticism and defense of the professional game are introduced, former shooters are unable to knock them down. Shooting is not safe.

2016 Candidates: Buddy Hield, Wade Baldwin IV, Malik Beasley

Next: Freak Athletes

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