4. Theo Pinson (UNC)
North Carolina’s Theo Pinson is one of the most polarizing names in this draft. Some see a player that will never work in today’s NBA because of his poor outside shooting, others see someone that is a consistent jump shot away from being the ultimate glue guy. With the Tar Heels, Pinson was the latter over the course of his four years in Chapel Hill. Pinson played anywhere Roy Williams could fit him in. Need a point guard to spell Joel Berry a few minutes? Pinson’s your guy. Need someone to facilitate from the middle of a zone offense? Pinson’s your guy? Need someone to defend the opposing team’s best player? Pinson’s your guy. Need a momentum spark? Pinson’s your guy.
The North Carolina-native has been to two national championships in college, and playing at a storied school like UNC means he’s also seen his fair share of big-time games. He’s about as solid as a prospect as you can get.
The only drawback is that what he is now is potentially all that he’s going to be. The jumper has been a work in progress since high school. Teams regularly gave him the Tony Allen treatment in college on offense. Pinson could occasionally get hot and drain a few, but ultimately opponents lived with him taking those shots. Pinson has a hitch in his release, dragging the ball behind his head before catapulting it forward. Maybe a change in the mechanics is all that’s needed.
At 6-foot-6 with a wingspan a quarter of an inch short of 6-foot-11, Pinson possesses the profile of some of the most highly-sought after wings in the league. Defensively he’s a ready made hound that will guard up or down a position with no questions asked — he was the Tar Heels main defender for Marvin Bagley III this year. Pinson has reportedly signed a two-way deal with the Brooklyn Nets after the draft. With Kenny Atkinson at the helm, there’s no better place for Pinson to go round out his game than with a renowned player develop guru like Atkinson. Worst case scenario, he’s a cheap replacement for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in 2019.