2016 NBA Draft: Best pure shooters

By Chris Stone | Jun 13, 2016

Mar 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots past Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners forward Jaylin Airington (11) during the game in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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The modern NBA offense relies heavily on spacing with shooter arrayed around the perimeter. Who are the best pure shooting prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft?

It’s no coincidence that three of the four best offenses (Cleveland, Golden State, and San Antonio) in the NBA this season where also the league’s three best three-point shooting teams. Obviously, three-pointers are worth more than two-point shots, so the ability to make them at a high rate can help alleviate many other offensive shortcomings. The league’s two best teams during the regular season, the Spurs and Warriors, have rosters filled with above average three-point shooters, especially at the wing positions. Three-point shooting is one of the most important offensive skills for perimeter players to possess in the modern NBA and the 2016 NBA draft class is filled with prospects who can knock down outside shots.

However, a few incoming professionals stand out above the rest. One player who perhaps surprisingly didn’t make this list is Duke’s Brandon Ingram, one of the top two prospects in the draft. Ingram was excellent from beyond the arc this season, hitting 41.0 percent of his 195 three-point attempts. However, the 18-year old made just 68.2 percent of his free throws as a freshman and given that statistic’s correlation to long-term three-point shooting, it’s enough of a red flag to hold off on his inclusion. So, who made the list above Ingram? Let’s find out.

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