2016 NBA Mock Draft: Who will teams be tanking for next year?
13. Kris Dunn – Providence – PG
Kris Dunn could have been a lottery pick had he come out after his freshman season, but he elected to return for another year in college. If that means he can expand upon the skills that already have scouts clamoring about his NBA potential, that could prove to be a wise choice.
Dunn is a big point guard with a propensity for making plays. His averages of 15.6 points, 7.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds weren’t a fluke; the guy knows how to get the ball and make things happen. With his size at the position and tremendous athleticism, his potential is quite evident.
What will help Dunn’s stock a great deal is if he can improve his shooting and finishing abilities. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor as a freshman, but that’s a percentage that actually could have been much higher if his jumper were more consistent and he put down opportunities in the lane. Moreover, he needs to play more under control, as 4.2 turnovers per game is a bit high. Even with the work that needs to be done, though, Dunn is a highly intriguing prospect at the point.
14. Zhou Qi – China – C
In terms of potential resulting from size, Zhou Qi takes the cake. The Chinese center stands at 7’2” and boasts an incredible 7’6.5” wingspan and 9’6.5” vertical reach. As much as this sounds like clichéd draft speak, you can’t teach that kind of size in a prospect.
Even better is the fact that Qi has skill to go with his size and length. He has soft hands and has a nice jumper that can extend past the mid-range. Unsurprisingly, his length and size also lead to him having potential as a shot-blocker.
The issue with Qi, though, is that his frame is extremely far from filled out at just 209 pounds. That leads to him struggling against contact and physicality, which in turn leads to him sometimes playing passively on both ends of the floor. If he can add bulk to his frame, though, Qi will be a name to watch in 2016.
15. Caris LeVert – Michigan – PG/SG
Chris LeVert is the first upperclassmen of this mock to be off the board. The Michigan guard fractured his foot during his junior season, leading him to miss the rest of the regular season after playing just 17 games. Coming back healthy for another year, though, LeVert could turn some heads around the NBA.
LeVert’s versatility is primarily what makes him intriguing. At 6’7”, he can play anywhere in the backcourt. He can handle the ball in any tempo and also operate effectively as a facilitator in an offense. Meanwhile, he also has shown a nice ability to finish and has potential defensively if he can fill out his frame further.
His frame improving will make him an even better finisher and defender if he is able to mature physically during his senior season, He’ll also need to improve his jumper off the dribble going forward. As is, though, his versatility alone is enough to make NBA teams want to enlist his services.
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