2021 Draft Prospect: Davion Mitchell

[driveandkick]

I'm not sure if he'll end up being my favorite prospect for us in our range, but if not he's going to be close. I think everyone is overthinking the hell out of him. He's already a really, really good two way player. I honestly think it's crazy one "weakness" that is being floated around on him is people trying to convince themselves his 45% three point shooting was actually a fluke. Would be insanely difficult to luck into shooting that well over a 35+ game sample size. People sour so quickly on players that spend multiple years in college now. Players improve and get better! Davion was an inconsistent shooter for a year or so there and simply figured it out as he matured a bit. His size is definitely a huge concern, but he absolutely bullied Cade on multiple possessions last year and Cade is like 6'7" or something crazy. In a division that has Trae, Beal, Russ, etc I can't say I'd be opposed to drafting the best on ball defender in the draft.

[SWedd523]

I don't want him simply because he's a midget.

I'm tired of being undersized across the board (except Melo)

[Hornet Mania]

I don't want him simply because he's a midget.

I'm tired of being undersized across the board (except Melo)

Pretty much.

Over the next few years we're (hopefully) going to find Melo a backcourt running mate of the future. We can either see Melo's size as an opportunity to pair him with a smaller combo guard since he has the height to guard wings anyway, or as an opportunity to pair him with another big guard and have a permanent size mismatch in our favor. I prefer the latter scenario, though to be fair it's mostly because our team has been criminally small for so many years not necessarily because it's the only correct strategic choice.

[BigSlam]

Baylor's Davion Mitchell "isn't who everyone thinks he is," said a scout who believes the 6'1" guard's defensive upside is overhyped. The scout still expects Mitchell to go in the lottery, but it's worth noting that not everyone has bought in. Another scout I spoke to does have Mitchell in the late-lottery range.

[luciano-davidwesley]

I didn't like Davion a lot previously as his measurements scream tweener but after watching more tape I'm slowly coming around.

Maybe I'm overrating his creation skills watching him playing against weaker college opposition but he has a pretty tight handle and can create his own shot. This may not translate well against bigger and more athletic NBA players but he has a very high true shooting percentage and has a bit of midrange in his game and legitimate NBA 3 point range.

He keeps low on defense and has very quick feet, he always stays in front of his man.

I see him as being Devonte Graham with significantly better defensive skills and (potentially) being able to create his own shot off the dribble. So basically I think he'll be a rich man's Devonte Graham. Not a bad player but do we want more than that at pick 11?

I feel like we could let Devonte walk and slightly upgrade or tread water at backup PG if we draft this guy. Admittedly it's not our teams biggest need and if Devonte is willing to stay on a reasonable deal maybe we are better off using the pick on a wing or trading back for a big.

[driveandkick]

I was listening to the Eye on College Basketball podcast, and while these guys aren't paid to be scouts, they watch as much college ball as anyone and I thought their analysis of Davion was very fair. But they were telling a story about how before the National Championship game, while Gonzaga's starting lineup was being introduced Davion Mitchell just stood at the half court line with his arms folded and stared down the Gonzaga players. It's easy to write this off as something that doesn't matter, but then he came out and made the first few shots of the game completely setting the tempo for the blowout to ensue. I think back to how the Pacers came out and absolutely smacked us in the mouth during that play-in game this year. Maybe you write it off as nothing, but I truly don't think we have anyone in our lockerroom that has Mitchell's killer mentality and I do think this would make us a tougher team.

[BigSlam]

Projected draft range: Top 10

Davion Mitchell's worst-case outcome is still a useful NBA player. But taking him in the top 10, where we currently project him to go, could look like a reach when we revisit the 2021 draft.

His reputation as a stopper fuels a lot of the hype. But skeptics question if Mitchell's defensive potential is overrated by the persuasive flashes of quickness and aggressiveness. There is no doubt he can cause problems for ball-handlers with pressure when locked in. But how high is the defensive ceiling of a guard who measured 6'0" in socks with a 6'4¼" wingspan?

Mitchell's strength and length are nowhere near Marcus Smart's, who's 220 pounds and five inches longer. Putting a lot of stock into his defensive outlook means expecting another Patrick Beverley, whose impact is beyond rare for a player Mitchell's size.

But even a Beverley type isn't a top-10 pick. Teams in that range should want more offense.

The first red flag questions Mitchell's shooting for a 22-year-old who'll turn 23 before his rookie season. He shot 64.1 percent from the free-throw line this past season (career 65.7 percent), which raises concern about the legitimacy of his 44.7 three-point percentage, especially since he shot 31.2 percent from deep combined during his first two college seasons.

A limited floater game (5-of-16 all season) for a small guard could also be problematic when projecting his scoring.

And despite his signature explosiveness, Mitchell didn't show the best feel for how to use it, considering he attempted only 2.1 free throws in 33.0 minutes per game. Auburn's Sharife Cooper got to the stripe 39 more times in 594 fewer minutes (12 games).

[JMAC3]

But even a Beverley type isn't a top-10 pick. Teams in that range should want more offense.

This is my problem with taking him at 11. Beverly is a solid starting option for a team with an elite score first shooting guard who can run the offense such as a Luka, Booker, Harden, Beal type...

However, LaMelo is a different player than those guys and ideally we would want more of an offensive threat playing next to him at the 2 guard spot, similar to Rozier.

New Orleans could make sense for taking Mitchell because Ingram, Zion and Naw all are more offensive players and Ingram and Naw can handle the ball for them.

[KingCat]

But even a Beverley type isn't a top-10 pick. Teams in that range should want more offense.

This is my problem with taking him at 11. Beverly is a solid starting option for a team with an elite score first shooting guard who can run the offense such as a Luka, Booker, Harden, Beal type...

However, LaMelo is a different player than those guys and ideally we would want more of an offensive threat playing next to him at the 2 guard spot, similar to Rozier.

New Orleans could make sense for taking Mitchell because Ingram, Zion and Naw all are more offensive players and Ingram and Naw can handle the ball for them.

Fire the Pelicans front office if they don't pick one of Krispert or Mitchell. Perfect win now prospects that shore up some of their needs.

[Rich4114]

Hard pass on him for me. We are one of the smallest teams in the NBA as it is.