2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 25: Lakers at No. 1, Knicks at No. 2
By Chris Stone
TJ Leaf
PF, UCLA
This is the final of three first rounders for the Portland Trail Blazers and with it, they find some offensive help that will likely come off of the bench for them in the future. UCLA’s TJ Leaf is an offense-first point guard who led the Bruins at 16.3 points per game this season.
Leaf can score from all three levels. He attacks well off the bounce in the mid-range and is sneaky athletic when it comes to finishing at the rim. Leaf also has a solid post game that he can rely on against small opponents. The 6-foot-10 forward has range out to the 3-point line and made 46.6 percent of his attempts this season, but he shot them at a low volume and struggled from the free throw line, so how that skill translates to the NBA level will be something to watch.
Leaf would be much higher on the board if he were a better defender. While he can help clean the glass, he doesn’t offer much else in terms of stopping opponents. Leaf isn’t quick laterally and has a hard time defending pick-and-rolls. He also isn’t much of a rim protector. Similar to Lauri Markkanen, you’re buying stock in Leaf because of his offensive potential. He just doesn’t have same shooting credentials that the Arizona freshman has.