2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 22: College basketball is over

Tyler Lydon is a 6-foot-9 combo forward who offers a 3-and-D skill set that should translate well in terms of being a roleplayer at the next level. In two seasons at Syracuse, Lydon made 39.8 percent of his 3-point attempts, shot 80.9 percent from the foul line and hoisted over four 3s per 40 minutes. He has a quick and high release and is willing to pull up from well beyond the arc in order to help warp the floor. That ability to open up space should be highly valued among NBA teams.

Defensively, there are a few more questions because Lydon nearly all of his time playing in the Orange’s 2-3 zone. How he’ll translate athletically in terms of lateral movement is one of those concerns. The biggest value that Lydon brings defensively is rim protection. He averaged 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes during his college career and should be able to provide some weak side help at the next level.

The question is whether Lydon can be anything more than a 3-and-D piece at the next level. It’s not something he’s shown at the college level in two seasons with the Orange.

Learn more about Tyler Lydon at The Step Back.