Brooklyn Nets: 5 goals for Dzanan Musa's rookie season

Brooklyn Nets: 5 goals for Dzanan Musa’s rookie season

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Brooklyn Nets Draft pick Dzanan Musa speaks at the Post NBA Draft press conference on June 22, 2018 at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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5. Take care of the ball

As is the case with many scorers, ball security is integral to Musa’s success. A tight, refined handle can open up the shot-creating level that made him such an exciting player in Europe.

Teammate D’Angelo Russell can speak to this issue; through his first three seasons in the league, he still has difficulties in this department. Russell has good instincts as a creator and passer, but the opportunities are much more sparing without a good handle.

No one is expecting Musa to get a James Harden-esque handle (although that would be wonderful given his skill-set), just a slightly above average one. At 6’9″, his high release and sweet stroke are quite the threat already; with the ability to create separate, he could be lethal offensively.

Musa can get by with a below-average handle, but it will compromise his ceiling going forward. Scorers who don’t dribble well are often relegated to tertiary options, and Musa would be bound for a stretch-4 role at best without a league-average handle. You can’t be an off-the-dribble scorer without the dribble.

He displayed good instincts with the ball in his hands in the Adriatic League, but the NBA is, well, the NBA. Skills based on timing don’t always translate as smoothly because of the elite speed that NBA athletes play at.

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