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2019 NBA Mock Draft: When simulating the lottery gets wonky

By Brendon Kleen

METAIRIE, LA - MARCH 14: David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, talks to the media during an introductory press conference on April 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA - MARCH 14: David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, talks to the media during an introductory press conference on April 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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player. 20. . G. Virginia Tech. Nickeil Alexander-Walker. 11

Damian Lillard has made pull-up 3-point shooting the talk of the playoffs, asking us to reckon with what particularly constitutes a good shot and how the definition of such a thing is changing as time goes in the NBA’s 3-point “revolution.”

You might also have noticed pull-up 3s determined the outcome of Sunday’s Game One between Houston and Golden State — via James Harden’s inability to get proper space to launch them and Steph Curry’s fateful dagger over the top of Nene Hilario. Later on, we will discuss the impact of such shots for the likes of Cam Reddish and Darius Garland, but one reason we believe Alexander-Walker will rise into the lottery before this draft process is finished is because of his comfort and consistency hitting pull-up 3s.

The primary point of growth from last season to this one for the Hokie product is knowing what to do with the ball in his hands creating offense off screens. Fortunately for scouts, Alexander-Walker was still rarely Virginia Tech’s primary initiator. Instead, he was operating in a role similar to that which he will occupy in the NBA as a second-side attacker and floor-spacer. Virginia Tech reached new heights this year in part because Alexander-Walker’s ceiling was higher in those situations, facing a broken defense that didn’t know what he would do.

Alexander-Walker is better getting downhill and pulling up from midrange. Often, he shoots from a step or two inside the line to get the muscle memory and momentum going in the right direction. However, when the defense sags (either by mistake or because they can’t execute more aggressive pick-and-roll defense), Alexander-Walker can make them pay.

He also has a nice spin move to create space for closer jumpers as all as the smarts to kick back out and reset when nothing’s open. All this shows just how special Alexander-Walker can be as a starting NBA guard, particularly for a Lakers team that needs players who fit better next to LeBron James.

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