Participated in a Mock Draft on Twitter...
Turns out, Jaden Springer was available
Photo from LeBron Wire article found here.
Mock drafts with proactive participants that have a strong interest in the NBA, NCAA, International levels are fun thought exercises.
Actual drafts tend to be far more unpredictable. Personally, I aim for guys that have “best player available” big boards, more so than the accuracy of predicting the outcome of the NBA draft.
After all, I’m focused on NBA talents.
As my prior post has mentioned, there are a group of guys that I expect after the 20th pick. Occasionally, guys will slip down. Sometimes there’s news of health reasons. Sometimes. it’s just other teams drafting for positional fit or organizational fit. Sometimes, talent just falls down to the Lakers pick. That’s how it was with Talen Horton-Tucker falling to the mid-second round.
So who was the available player?
Jaden Springer.
Size: Listed officially at 6’3” w/o shoes, 6’7.75” wingspan, 8’3” standing reach. 6.3% body fat. 8.5” x 9.75” hand length and width.
Shooting numbers: Link provided by Hoop Math
57% True shooting percentage
34.4% of his Field goal attempts are at the rim
65.5% Finishing ability at the rim
39.2% Assisted shots at the rim (some indication of off-ball ability)
45.4% of his Field goal attempts are 2-point range
34% 2-point field goal shooting
25.7% Assisted shots in 2-point range
20.3% of his Field goal attempts are 3-point shots
43.5% 3-point field goal shooting
.441 free throws attempted for every field goal attempt (very good rate)
81% free throw shooting
General assessment from statistics: Very good finishing ability combined with high free throw rate can be an indication of his power and strength towards the hoop. Seeks the contact out and is able to convert. Great 3-point efficiency, most out of catch-and-shoot situations, but could use a few more attempts to boost his true shooting percentage. Some of it may be due to play type. If, he operates in more pick and roll situations, he may opt to take that 3-point shot behind the screen to show he’s a threat.
Athleticism:
Power player. Plays like a wing and utilizes upper body to initiate contact and create shots from mid-range. Outlier unique upper body strength from a guard. Two-footed jumper with allows for better balance for landing, but the NBA level is such a high level of athleticism, that he needs to become a strong one-footed leaper to gain the extra advantage toward the hoop. Uses good footwork with his initial steps when attacking the basket, but could use more space and deception when opting to euro-step towards the hoop. More of a North/South straight line driver than an East/West shifty type of attacker. Generates a lot of power and lift in his shot from his legs, but towards the release point, the shot “deadens” and has a low velocity towards the hoop.
Skillset:
Attacks the top foot of defenders and crosses his right foot going left over the top to gain a big advantage. Two steps in, utilizes a pro-hop and bounces into a mid-range jumper; flat but has a soft touch on the ball. Likes utilizing a spin move as a change of direction in the paint. Mostly a catch and shoot shooter behind the arc, but Tennessee didn’t run a ton of pick and roll. Shows the willingness to shoot behind screens, even if he’s not the most accurate out of that particular play. Embraces initiating contact in the paint. Underrated interior passing ability once he draws a help defender.
Not afraid of some physicality in the paint. Intuitive ability to protect the rim when the situation demands. Defends with his feet first, chest second, and hands last; optimal to prevent fouls while staying in front of his opponents. Comfortably defends point of attack and forces players into well-contested jumpshots. Ability to fight over the top of screens.
Other advanced numbers via Sports Reference:
7.8% Total Rebound Percentage
24.1% Assist Rate
2.7% Steal Rate
2.0% Block Rate
17.9% Turnover Rate
26% Usage Rate
Would love to see with NBA development:
More pick and roll play. Pull up jump shooting when defenders go behind the screens. The ability to accept or reject a screen and attack the open spot on the floor, then opt to his pro-hop into a midrange jumper or attack hard at the hoop. More full width of the court passing out of those pick and roll situations, not just situational interior passing on drives. Fortunately, he’s not afraid to attack the basket and has unusual (but really good!) comfort shooting from the mid-range area. Becoming a credible 3-point threat with greater volume, especially off the dribble, would ultimately make him a 3-level scoring guard, with some passing acumen, and tenacious defensive ability.
That would be incredible for the Lakers.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a solid NBA defender from the jump, just decision-making needs to tie in with game speed. Rookie players, in my humble opinion, shouldn’t always be relied upon for immediate production, especially on teams with championship windows.
Jaden Springer doesn’t turn 19 until September 25th, and outcomes tend to favor younger players to transition to NBA speed much easier.
Where does he fit?
Early on, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him as a 3-and-D player from the jump, in which case, next to LeBron would be a seamless fit. He, like Talen Horton-Tucker, are both basically wing-type players but in combo guard size. THT has a little bit more shift with his deceleration or hesitation moves, and wingspan for a wide crossover. Meanwhile Springer is more compact, but attacks the top foot properly to gain real estate to the hoop without the best burst. Either way, bigger guards, whether they’re wing-sized like Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or more average height but with outlier strength like Talen Horton-Tucker and Jaden Springer, seems to be where the NBA is trending.
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