Catchall wrote:I don't think I'd take Davion Mitchell in the lottery, especially if he measures out small. I get that he's tough and he's got some burst, but tough, physical PGs can look good in the NCAA and pretty average in the league. Is his shiftiness and push off the dribble enough to separate him that much from a Jevon Carter or Pierre Jackson back in the day?
I disagree. He is EXACTLY what our team needs. He gives you everything we want in a PG and the contrasts with Coby could not be more glaring. Coby plays matador perimeter defense. Mitchell gets in the jocks of the guys he's guarding. And he's smart. He moves his feet pretty quick for a guy that could play outside linebacker. He uses those feet to stay in front of guys and to stop on a dime and draw charges. Mitchell was Defensive Player of the Year. And well earned. His defense is elite. Even when he's playing off ball. He has pretty quick hands. He pokes away a lot of balls yet he is not foul prone considering how incredibly active he is every minute he's on the court.
Coby is turnover prone and does not demonstrate a high degree of BBIQ. Mitchell is the complete opposite. His assist to turnover ratio is absolutely stellar. He sees the court very well on both ends. Turnovers are killing the Bulls. He'd help cut those turnover numbers right away.
And I don't see his physicality as a detriment. He's built to withstand the punishment of the NBA from Day 1. He clearly won the matchup with Suggs when they were matched against one another. I have no reason the doubt that his defense will translate to the NBA. And that is whether he measures out at 6'1" or 6"2.5" . Because he measures pretty tall if you add in heart and intensity.
I hope against hope that Ak can package Coby for the Pelican's 2nd First Round Pick and hope that Mitchell is still on the board. I think he's going to go somewhere between 9 and 14 depending on team needs. He is a ready made starter on Day 1 and would fill our biggest remaining need on a rookie scale contract. Paying him 1/3 of what Lonzo would cost us gives us more options to fill out the roster.