Position Preview: Point Guards
Scouts' Takes on Some of the Draft's Intriguing PG Possibilities
by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
6/19/17 | Cavs.com
As of today, the Wine & Gold are without a pick in this Thursday’s 2017 NBA Draft. But they wound up getting into last year’s second round – making a deal with the Hawks and to acquire the 54th pick, Kay Felder.
Like any NBA rookie – and especially on a veteran-laden squad like the Cavaliers – Felder had his ups and downs during his freshman campaign with Cleveland.
Could the Cavaliers get back into this year’s Draft? And could they dip into a deep point guard pool and go that direction again?
While we wait for Thursday evening to roll around, here’s a look at what the scouts say about some of the point guards (projected to be outside the Lottery) who might be available for a team looking to fill some roster gaps or groom a new floor leader …
Frank Mason III drives to the basket during the NBA Draft Combine at the Quest Multisport Center on May 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Jawun Evans – Oklahoma State – 6-0, 185
Entered NBA Draft, forgoing final two years of eligibility, after OSU coach Brad Underwood departed for Illinois; one of the most impressive scorers and distributors in the college game last year; shoots well from the floor, the stripe and beyond the arc – and has a wide array of offensive tricks; decent wingspan (6-4) to offset his lack of size (6-0); plays bigger than his size using his strength to absorb contact; gives max effort on every possession; not an outstanding athlete, but very quick with nice lift; good basketball IQ, very good feel for the game; led the Big 12 with 6.4 assists per game last season; scored at least 25 points in eight games this season, with strong assist totals in each contest; might struggle to score in the lane at the next level; can be a streaky shooter; was Mr. Everything for the Cowboys, led them to six more Big 12 wins than previous season
Frank Mason III – Kansas – 6-0, 190
One of the few seniors in the 2017 Draft; will be 23 in early April; one of the more accomplished players in college hoops; at 5-11, lacks NBA size; very effective in the pick-and-roll; not exactly a pass-first PG, but adept at running a team, averaged 5.2 assists during senior year; excellent on the drive-and-kick; versatile offensive player – averaged 20.9 ppg as a senior; can get to the rim, has a solid mid-range game and improved greatly from long-range over the course of his career – shot 47 percent from deep as a senior; elite quickness and end-to-end speed; Kansas trainer listed him as the “strongest player on the team”; plays downhill; doesn’t shy away from contact around the rim; solid, scrappy defender – likes to get under bigger guards; toughness, leadership, goes hard on both ends; 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year; 2017 Naismith Player of the Year; overall record of 90-19; began as a three-star recruit, worked his way to elite NCAA level
Monte Morris – Iowa State – 6-2, 175
One of the older players in the draft – will turn 23 before NBA season begins; college basketball’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio in three of his four years – sported a 5:16 ratio in senior season; very high basketball IQ; ISU finished in nation’s top 12 in offensive efficiency every year Morris was there; excellent ball-handler; very good rebounder for his size; solid but not spectacular athlete; executes the fastbreak to perfection; set school records for total assists and steals; very good shooter – didn’t shoot below 36 from deep in any of his four seasons; adept in the mid-range game; nice end-to-end speed; good size (6-3) to stick with PGs at the next level, but will need to add muscle to his 175-pound frame; good instincts on the defensive end; strong finisher at the rim; a career 57 percent shooter at Ames, Morris will need to improve his scoring at the next level
Left-Right: Edmond Sumner, Nigel Williams-Goss, Frank Mason III, Monte Morris, Jawun Evans
Edmond Sumner – Xavier – 6-5, 175
Point guard with a shooting guard’s body, Sumner is physically imposing at the position (almost 6-6 with a 6-8 wingspan); dynamic athlete – explosive in the open floor; very good in transition, pushing the action; accurate passer with outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio; excellent rebounder for a guard; coming off an ACL injury; has improved as a ball-handler; can play out of control at times; late bloomer who’ll turn 22 in December; great finisher at the rim; can create his own offense; needs to develop some nastiness on the court; length and athleticism make him a good defender with a chance to be elite at the next level; pick-and-roll ability is still a work in progress; gets to the stripe as well as any PG in the Draft; needs to become a more efficient shooter – shot only 27 percent from deep as a sophomore; undeveloped mid-range game; coachable kid with great attitude
Nigel Williams-Goss – Gonzaga – 6-4, 195
After an outstanding college career between Washington and Gonzaga, Williams-Goss declared for the Draft after his junior season; very good size for his position (6-4 with a 6-7 wingspan); relies on change of speed attack; not a freak athlete or a flashy player, but excellent distributor and leader, gets teammates heavily involved; good frame, not afraid to mix it up in traffic; lacks a polished mid-range game; excels in the pick-and-roll; doesn’t get sped up by defensive pressure and rarely turns the ball over; good finisher at the rim; strong free throw shooter – 87 percent as a senior; will need to improve his mechanics to become a good long-range shooter at the next level; uses his energy to overcome lack of speed and athleticism on defensive end; excellent rebounder; likely lacks the flashiness to become a star, but experience, smarts and passion should land him on an NBA roster