Big Board Rankings

Strengths

• "Has elite size for a point guard at 6-foot-7. Controls the game from his unique vantage point with impressive creativity

• flair

• poise and instincts operating off a live dribble. Gifted ball handler who plays at different speeds and can make every pass with either hand

• especially operating out of pick-and-roll. Throws 90-foot outlets

• makes magical touch passes."

• "Ambidextrous passer with pinpoint accuracy and omnidirectional vision. He sees everything on the court

• creating opportunities for teammates that most players simply don’t see or can’t pull off thanks to his innate ability to manipulate defenders."

• "Excellent ball handler who uses hesitations to put defenders on skates. He uses advanced moves but always remains in control

• dictating the pace like a drummer would a song’s tempo."

• "Elite touch. Though he attempts too many floaters and shys away from contact

• his ability to score creatively with either hand suggests he could develop into a finisher at the rim."

• "Attentive off-ball player who cuts and adjusts to space well behind the arc."

• "Great rebounder for his position like his older brother Lonzo. His instincts pop up here when tracking down boards."

• "Versatile defender. He’s quick laterally and quite large for a point guard. He has the size to comfortably switch onto wings."

• "Gifted playmaker with great court vision"

• "Ambidextrous passer and finisher with good touch around the rim"

• "High IQ and feel for the game -- knows where teammates are

• anticipates where they are going

• and can make high-level reads in pick-and-roll situations"

• "Tight handle allows him to thrive in leading transition

• running offense"

• "Good positional size and frame"

Areas to Improve

• "Has struggled to score efficiently throughout his career. Shot just 46% from 2-point range and 25% from 3. Shoots jumpers with unorthodox mechanics

• including a two-handed release while kicking out his legs. The touch he shows on floaters and career 82% free throw percentage leaves room for optimism

• but his inability to buy a basket at times this season in the half court was discouraging."

• "Ball is a great passer

• but he can’t be classified as a great playmaker yet because of his decision-making. He jacks up poor shots early in the clock and settles far too often rather than attacking the rim."

• "Poor shooting mechanics: He has no consistency with his form

• other than his low release. As a solid free throw shooter with good touch on floaters

• he has obvious upside. But his form—much like his brother’s—must be overhauled."

• "Rarely initiates contact and avoids it around the rim."

• "He doesn’t stay in his defensive stance and often keeps his hands down when closing out—or as Mark Jackson would say: “Hand down

• man down.”"

• "Defensive discipline: He defaults to switching instead of fighting over screens and he falls out of position off-ball when chasing steals."

• "Inconsistent and sometimes puzzling shot selection and decision-making"

• "Sometimes tries to make the highlight-reel play

• as opposed to smart play"

• "Low set point on jump shot

• and troubling results overseas as deep shooter; mechanically the shot may need tweaked to get shot off consistently at NBA level"

• "Shaky defender but potential to turn into a net neutral with expanded physical maturation"

Traits

Scouting Sources

"Jonathan Givony", "Kevin O''Conner", "CBS Sports"