2018 NBA mock draft: The NCAA season is here
Rodions Kurucs
G/F, Barcelona II
FanSided’s Trevor Magnotti has used Khris Middleton as an offensive comparison for the young Barcelona pro, and I like it. He’s being used to finish possessions in near-isolation quite a bit on Barcelona’s second team, but in the NBA, he would look great in a role similar to the one Middleton occupies in Milwaukee.
That would mean cutting, shooting and converting open attempts. Granted, few guys are blessed to play with someone as gifted as Giannis Antetokounmpo is at creating open shots for teammates, but all I mean is that Kurucs has the ability to fill such a role when and if he gets that chance.
In the meantime, the way Barcelona uses him — driving off the catch and shooting off of screens — can only help. It will allow Kurucs to improve as a decision-maker, and he’ll see hundreds of reps driving to the rim against all kinds of different defenders. His 3-point shot is already landing at an above-30 percent clip. By the time he arrives in the U.S., he’ll be a finely tuned player.