Ranking the Best Iso Scorers of 2017 NBA Draft
Teams looking for scorers in the 2017 NBA draft will have a handful of promising names to consider.
The following five prospects have established themselves as the toughest one-on-one players in June's projected class.
We're ranking isolation scoring ability in a vacuum—not each prospect's NBA potential. No. 2 could be the better long-term overall prospect than No. 1.
The rankings are based on future projections as well—not necessarily stats from the season. Our No. 5 scorer may have been more effective this year in isolation, but No. 4's tools and athleticism suggest his game will immediately translate smoother.
5. Allonzo Trier (Arizona, SG, Sophomore)
1 of 5
Billed a scorer out of high school, not much has changed for Allonzo Trier through two seasons at Arizona.
That's good and bad news, with the latter highlighting the fact he never developed convincing combo-guard playmaking ability. He has, however, showcased the scoring potential that could generate interest from NBA teams looking for second-unit offense.
Trier can create room with pull-back dribbles and step-back footwork, both inside the arc and behind it. He's somewhat streaky around the perimeter but can also catch fire like he did against UCLA on February 25, when he went for 28 points on three missed shots.
Attacking, Trier has a quick first move and tight crossover. He's demonstrated strong instincts off the dribble, showing a good feel for knowing which route or step to take (euro or stutter) and how to get off a makeable shot.
Still, limited strength, length and explosiveness—as well as his one-on-one shot selection—make it difficult to picture Trier's college efficiency carrying over. If he's going to stick, it will be in a bench role that calls for scoring in spurts.
4. Donovan Mitchell (Louisville, SG, Sophomore)
2 of 5
Donovan Mitchell's identity always revolved around athleticism and explosive leaping. But after a breakout sophomore year, NBA teams will now view him as a scorer.
His perimeter game made significant strides from one year to the next, both in terms of shot-creating and shot-making. He's developed a mean pull-up and step-back game, showing much-improved footwork, timing and fluidity, which allows him to create extra separation and rise into his jumpers with balance.
Knocking them down with more consistency will be the priority, but ranking Mitchell top five means assuming his growth won't suddenly stop here.
Otherwise, he's at his best shaking off the dribble and attacking the rim. Defenders have trouble staying low during Mitchell's stop-and-start hesitation move, which he uses to freeze his man and blow by or split screens.
Efficiency will never be a strength of his, though. Instead, Mitchell will look to carve out a career playing the microwave sixth-man scoring role.
3. Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State, PG, Freshman)
3 of 5
Dennis Smith Jr. finished second among freshmen in assists, but he'll be known for his killer scoring during his prime NBA years.
His isolation game is mostly fueled by confidence. When it's up, Smith has the ability to pull up right in defenders' grills (31 unassisted two-point jumpers, 28 unassisted made threes). His shot-creating skills aren't even highly advanced. Smith just gets good elevation when rising into his shot, and once that confidence starts pumping, he's capable of connecting off balance and under pressure.
He's still a tough cover in space on days when he isn't shooting well. Smith can go from zero to 100 off the three-point line, making him difficult to contain around the perimeter. And with explosive leaping ability and coordination, Smith creates easy finishing angles by hanging in the air.
When it all comes together, you get a performance like the one he had against Duke on January 23, when Smith went for 32 points and took over the game.
2. Markelle Fultz (Washington, PG/SG, Freshman)
4 of 5
Like most lead ball-handlers, Markelle Fultz frequently uses screens, but he wouldn't have led all freshman in scoring without an isolation game.
The ability to change speed and direction on the dime is behind his shot creativity. He has complete command of his handle and body on the move.
Unpredictable off the dribble and difficult to stay in front of, Fultz effortlessly separates into pull-ups with the hesitation rise-and-fire. He hit 77 unassisted two-point jumpers and 23 unassisted threes, shooting over 40 percent in both areas.
He's also a shot-maker capable of connecting against attached defenders. Tight coverage isn't enough to stop Fultz when he's grooving. He needs just an inch to release and convert.
Fultz also taps into his elusiveness and improvisation as a driver and finisher in the lane. He finds innovative ways to adjust, create space and score acrobatically within a crowd.
His one-on-one game, along with his size and shooting stroke, should wind up allowing Fultz to punish opponents from both backcourt positions like James Harden does in Houston.
1. Jayson Tatum (Duke, SF, Freshman)
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Jayson Tatum projects as the 2017 NBA draft's most advanced, one-on-one scorer.
Tight ball-handling and sharp footwork fuel next-level shot-creating ability. He uses jab steps, step-backs and hang dribbles to rock his man back before separating into pull-up jumpers—a shot he's been comfortably making since high school.
He'll get to the basket off hesitation, crossovers, stutter-steps or rip-throughs. But it's the post game that helps separate him from Fultz. Tatum can be unpredictable with his back to the basket, where he spins baseline into layups and fools defenders by craftily pivoting into fallaways and turnarounds.
With strong size and length, he doesn't have trouble getting shots off. And he can create them from every spot on the floor, whether it's the top of the key, the wings, the elbows or short corners.
Whoever drafts Tatum will ultimately expect he becomes a top-two option, and one the coach can feature in the half court and at the end of quarters or games.
Advanced stats courtesy of Hoop-Math.com.
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