SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – APRIL 07: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Florida Gators celebrates after … More
The NBA Finals are over, which means we shift our focus to the NBA Draft, the two events separated by mere days, instead of weeks.
While most are aware of the top prospects projected to go in the top five, there is considerable talent to be found in the mid-to-late lottery, and even outside of it.
Today, we conclude our three-part series of having looked at nine players, broken down into bigs, guards, and wings, who could be seen as draft day steals down the road.
Without further ado, it’s time to look at guards.
Walter Clayton Jr, Florida
Yes, Clayton Jr is only 6’3 with a 6’4 wingspan. Yes, he’s already 22. No, he doesn’t have a high All-Star ceiling. But here’s the thing – that doesn’t matter.
Clayton Jr is rock solid, and if his career ultimately leads to him being a permanent backup, he could be one of the best in the business. That’s worth a pick in the teens or early 20’s.
He’s an efficient scorer (TS% of 60.2), has a sturdy build, and he plays entire unafraid. He’ll get into the paint and challenge bigs. He’ll pull up against taller defenders from the outside. He’ll make passes that takes guts to even attempt. There’s a player there.
Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin
The French international is very much still a project, which seems fair given that he only just recently turned 19.
While not particularly efficient yet, Traore is productive in limited minutes. He put up 12.3 points in just 22.7 minutes this season in the LNB, widely considered the second-most athletic league in the world.
He’s a strong future bet for any team with a little bit of patience, and perhaps he could be convinced to stay overseas for another year, as he improves.
Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Let’s get this out of the way immediately. No, it’s not great to be just six feet, and have a reputation of not being a particularly strong playmaker.
However, Richardson shines as a shooter, and in the right system, alongside better playmakers, he could become an absolute long-range sniper.
Richardson connected on 41.2% of his outside shots this season, and should be able to rack up a ton of points in a more spaced-out league like the NBA. He’s certainly worth a look in the early 20’s, and could even be off the board sooner.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.