A_dub06 wrote:If Sheppard had elite speed I would be fine drafting him, but he’s a below average athlete for even the college level let alone the NBA meaning all these defensive stats and plays mean less since he’s not going to be able to do that to the majority of players that are not only bigger but faster too.
I don’t see a world where he’s even a remote consideration if you are picking 1-3
I have seen this said about so many players it's absolutely insane at this point.
He is not below average for a college athlete. He has insane hands on defense. He is one of the best shooting college athletes
ever.
He has intangibles that a vast majority of players just don't have.
In today's NBA you need elite bball IQ(check)elite defensive metrics(check)and elite shooting(check).
Anytime a team is picking top 5, they want a player that shows an elite skill, at their position, in one, or several facets of the game.
Reed sheppards game was built for the modern NBA, and he is exactly the type of player who should be next to Cade.
No one ever knows if a players skills are going to translate to the NBA, no matter where they come from(Europe, college, Australia, e.t.c)but in this draft, Reed stands out.
Of course, there is a good chance I'm wrong, as usual, but man, his shooting is absolutely **** wild.