LawoftheWest wrote: ↑Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:08 am
Question: In what particular areas does Lawrence need additional improvement to be an NBA prospect?
He has decent size for a shooting guard at a listed 6' 4". He is explosive driving to the basket.
As examples, does he need: More strength? To improve three point shooting?
He's not explosive at all by NBA standards, so relying on that is a mistake. And in the modern NBA, a slender 6'4" without super long arms is not decent sized. Remember, playing the wing in the NBA means guarding people about the size of Devin Booker, Ant Edwards, or Kevin Huerter
every night and people like Kevin Durant, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, or Luka Doncic about once a week. So I would say that
Jordan Wright has decent size for an NBA shooting guard, not Tyrin Lawrence. And he's not super quick, like Saben Lee, or particularly athletic by NBA standards either.
He's got some important attributes that will translate: He shoots well off the bounce, he can penetrate, he can change speeds, he's got an adequate handle (although the Pat Beverleys and Matisse Thybulles will terrorize him), he can pass alright on the move, and he's a willing defender and rebounder. But none of those stand out.
What he'll need to do is become a much better shooter (I mean, like >40% from three and showing NBA range and >80% from the line) and defender if he wants to play the wing. Or--and this is his real chance--he needs to take Ezra Manjon lessons and become a true point guard. If I were him I'd work a lot on my shooting, of course, but I'd really focus on tightening my handle with both hands, passing on the move with each hand, entry passes and lobs, running the pick & roll, moving my feet much more quickly on defense, reading the passing lanes, cutting over and under screens, and moving without the ball. Maybe watch a lot of film with Ezra and ask him what to work on. And maybe watch some film on guys who are great moving without the ball--Havlicek, Reggie Miller,... the two guys that play for U Conn...
It will be interesting to see him go up against Kobe Bufkin of Michigan. He's about the same size and has similar numbers, but is two years younger (which makes a
huge difference to the NBA). He's probably going to be drafted in the last third of the first round.