Height: 6’5
Weight: 181
Year: Sophomore
Position: Point Guard
2014-2015 NCAA Statistics:
14.5 PTS 4.9 REB 5.1 AST 2.1 STL 1.0 BLK 50.9 FG% 35.6 3PT% 83.6 FT%
Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
NBA Player Comparison: Jordan Clarkson
Delon Wright is listed as a 6’5 or 6’6 point guard who has great handles, a good shot, and solid defense. The question you should be asking yourself is why is Wright going late in the 1st Round in every mock draft? I asked myself that same question when watching tape on him. In a day and age where length and athleticism are so important, how is a 6’5 or 6’6 point guard who seems to contain all of the intangibles falling so late in the 1st Round?
The first possible reason I could come up with had been that recent point guards with his similar stature haven’t fared well in the NBA. Shaun Livingston, Michael Carter-Williams, and many other tall point guards have been good in the NBA, but inefficient. Teams who are trying to build on their franchise don’t want inefficient players. But then the question that must be asked is whether or not Delon Wright is even inefficient. It doesn’t seem like it. Sure, he played in a weak conference, the Pac-12, but it’s not like the Pac-12 hasn’t had solid prospects before.
The problem, I’ve now somewhat uncovered, has to be his ball-handling. He doesn’t stay low enough when he dribbles and can easily get the ball stolen from him. The problem with that ‘analysis’ is that he can work on that. Give Delon Wright some time (and a way to gain 10 or 15 pounds), and he can turn into a great point guard. Maybe he can have the career Shaun Livingston was supposed to have before that injury.
Like I’ve said, just about 30 times now, it all depends on the system he is put into. If he goes to a team like Philadelphia early in the 2nd round, he has the chance to have Jordan Clarkson’s type of rookie year. A contributing role player who gets the starting gig late in the season and runs the show. Who knows where Wright’s career will take him, but after all of my “in depth-analysis”, the one thing you should be able to takeaway is that he doesn’t have too many weaknesses and has a chance to be a great player.
Future Professional Potential: Solid Role Player
