Los Angeles Clippers: 5 reasons Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a good pick

2. Defensive versatility

Today’s NBA requires players to be able to guard multiple positions emenating from the constant switching teams do off the pick-and-roll. The more positions one can defend, the better.

With his length, Gilgeous-Alexander should turn into one of the most versatile defenders in the league, capable of guarding both guards and wings.

He should look to bulk up from the 180 pounds he currently weighs if he hopes to stop some of the bigger forwards the NBA has, but that should come within a year or two of proper dieting and weight training at the professional level.

This defensive versatility will help the Clippers tremendously on that end of the floor, allowing them to switch multiple screen-and-rolls without sacrificing on that end of the court.

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What L.A. could do is slide Gilgeous-Alexander down to the 2-guard spot and have him and Patrick Beverley swarm the opposition together. It’s hard to imagine how teams would score against that defensive duo.

SGA will obviously have to learn the differences in what it takes to guard each position, but his frame is something that can’t be taught, and it should enable him to thrive once he gets used to the NBA game.