Position Preview: Wings
Breaking Down Some of the Draft's Interesting Swingmen
by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
6/20/17 | Cavs.com
The 2017 Draft is just two days away and although the Wine & Gold have no picks slated for Thursday night, we know that anything is possible as the day draws near.
The NBA is a constantly-evolving league and, in its current incarnation, long and lean wing players are highly coveted.
The Cavaliers got back into last year’s Draft and with some of the two-way wings available, might turn to the college ranks once again.
The list of wings who might be available range from defensive specialists to long-range marksmen. Where they wind up and how they perform when they get there will determine their futures at the next level …
Wesley Iwundu dribbles the ball up court 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
Tyler Dorsey – Oregon – So. – 6-4, 185
Not many players come into this year’s Draft with a more recently-impressive resume than Tyler Dorsey, who completed his career at Oregon with eight straight 20-point performances, leading the Ducks to the Final Four and earning the nickname “Mr. March”; has parlayed his NCAA run into strong workouts, reportedly shooting the lights out, improving his stock after two up-and-down seasons in Eugene; excellent scoring instincts; not great size for an NBA swingman – measuring in at 6-4 with a 6-5 wingspan – and needs to pack muscle on a slight 185-pound frame; smart player who plays under control; can knock down the three-ball consistently – shot 41 percent from deep at Oregon; plays well off screens and in the pick-and-roll; didn’t run the offense on a regular basis, but did play some point guard for the Ducks and proved to be a solid decision-maker; shooting and offensive skill-set are a valuable commodity and might just push Dorsey into the late First Round of Thursday’s Draft
PJ Dozier – South Carolina – So. – 6-6, 200
Though he doesn’t have a true NBA position carved out, the versatile Dozier – who can play and defend against three positions – is one of the more intriguing players in the Draft; boosted his stock tremendously, leading South Carolina to an improbable Final Four run in 2017; measuring in at 6-6 with a 7-0 wingspan and 8-5 standing reach; quick hands and feet on the defensive end; shot just 28 percent from long-range in college; has the build of a prototypical SG, but has all the skills of a PG and is being viewed as a big point guard/secondary ballhandler at the next level – drawing comparisons to Golden State’s Shaun Livingston; not a completely polished ballhandler yet, but has good court vision in transition and can see over defenders; needs to improve on free throw shooting – shot just over 60 percent in two seasons at SC – and will likely have to develop an overall offensive game at NBA level, but scouts love his potential as a defender
Josh Hart – Villanova – Sr. – 6-5, 210
One of the most accomplished players in school history, Hart entered, then withdrew from the 2016 Draft after winning the National Championship; high-character, mature player (with a game to match) should have no problem transitioning to the NBA; very good but not an elite athlete by NBA standards; gets to the stripe often and converts on over 75 percent of free throws; physically mature – measuring 6-5 with a 6-9 wingspan and weighing in 10 pounds heavier than last year’s combine; can knock down the long-range shot and improved throughout his career – shooting over 40 percent as a senior; lacks ideal size and length for an NBA wing; at 22 years old, concerns about his upside; not a flashy player, compensates for physical shortcomings with intensity and intelligence; Hart’s true value at the next level will likely be his ability to space the floor and play a jack-of-all-trades role as a backcourt reserve
Left-Right: Wesley Iwundu, PJ Dozier, Semi Ojeleye, Josh Hart, Tyler Dorsey
Wesley Iwundu – Kansas State – Sr. – 6-7, 195
Versatile four-year player who improved throughout his college career and led K-State to an NCAA berth as a senior; long and lean, Iwundu will need to pack some pounds on and get stronger in the lower body to bang at NBA level; valuable two-way player; good size and length for a wing (6-7 with a 7-1 wingspan and a 8-8 standing reach); carried much of the offensive load in college, but won’t be a big NBA scoring threat; excellent quickness and leaping ability; not a great shooter – gets most of his offense going in transition; was a strong defensive player in a strong defensive system at Kansas State; improved his free throw shooting throughout his career; also has the ability to create for teammates – averaged 3.5 assists per contest; has the physical traits to defend SGs at the next level, but will need to fill out to effectively check SFs at this stage; decent but low-volume three-point shooter; with a valuable skill-set in today’s NBA, Iwundu projects as a defensive-minded role player at the next level
Semi Ojeleye – SMU – Jr. – 6-7, 240
Duke transfer and physical beast, Ojeleye is viewed as one of the Draft’s true sleepers; at 6-7 and a developed 240, already has NBA body and, already 22 years old, might be ready to contribute immediately; has good handle for a big man, can hit the spot-up or off-the-dribble three-pointer (shot 42 percent from deep this year) and can create his own shot in the halfcourt; high IQ player, doesn’t commit many turnovers; dangerous face-up post player; very nice footwork; excellent motor; gets to the free throw line frequently due to his aggressive and physical style; flew under the radar in a week AAC Conference; intelligent, confident, coachable; uses size, physicality well on the glass – more so on the offensive end, needs work on defensive end; outstanding athlete in space and thunderous finisher at the rim; doesn’t have great length (6-10 wingspan); doesn’t have a lot of experience guarding NBA-level wing players, but could be an interesting mismatch player at the next level