2014 NBA Redraft: 26. Nik Stauskas, Miami Heat
With an emphasis on outside-shooting like never before, plenty of forgotten snipers have found new life in the NBA as valuable members of their respective teams. Unheralded guys like Joe Harris and Davis Bertans have managed to carve out niches as elite floor-spacers, something that likely wouldn’t have been possible just a decade ago.
It’s for this reason one would think Nik Stauskas would have more of a consistent career than what’s transpired. Instead, the former Michigan Wolverine has managed to suit up for five separate teams in his short five-year career.
A sturdy 6’6” and roughly 205 pounds, Stauskas certainly has the necessary size to match up with those at the shooting guard position. He possesses a quick release jumper that, at his height, can get past the hands of most defenders.
Early in his career, Sauce Castillo struggled in his one area of expertise, shooting less than 33.0 percent in each of his first two seasons. Without a consistent 3-point shot, Stauskas doesn’t bring much else to the table, limiting his productivity when on the court.
Since then, his lowest 3-point percentage has been 36.8 percent, a respectable number that keeps defenses honest. For as good of a shooter as he is though, the amount of attempts he’s received from beyond the arc is surprisingly low.
Among players to shoot above 37.0 percent from deep this past season, Stauskas ranks only 64th in total threes attempted. Part of that is a function of his 14.9 minutes per game, but it also may be a product of the coaching staff for the Cleveland Cavaliers — his current team — underutilizing one of his best shooters.
The Cavs aren’t likely to be playoff relevant any time soon. If they were to increase the opportunities given to Stauskas on a nightly basis, maybe they’d come to find a diamond in the rough so many before them failed to do.