Buddy Hield NBA Combine 2016: Measurements, Analysis and Draft Projection

Buddy Hield is one of the most polarizing prospects coming into the 2016 NBA draft. He dazzled last season at Oklahoma, winning the John Wooden Award and Naismith Player of the Year, but he ended on a down note with a subpar performance in the Final Four. 

The NBA Draft Combine seemed like a good opportunity for Hield to showcase his skills for pro scouts with one month before the draft, but ESPN's Chad Ford reported the 22-year-old would only be doing interviews and measurements because he's graduating this weekend. 

Hield did take measurements in Chicago on Thursday, so let's look at the results before diving into his draft projection, per NBA.com:

Height with Shoes	Standing Reach	Wingspan	Weight	Body Fat	Hand Length
6'5"	8'5"	6'9.25"	212.4 lbs	6.1%	8.5"

Draft Analysis

Eric Gay/Associated Press

It's not unusual for a potential top pick to skip the combine, since it will really only hurt their stock. Hield does have a lot to prove at the next level, but he's going to do that wearing a professional uniform and not in a workout. 

While there may be some skeptics out there about Hield's NBA prospects, one general manager had nothing but rave reviews about him. 

"I'll be shocked if that young man fails in the NBA," the GM told Ford. He has the mentality that reminds me a lot of Damian Lillard. He's a warrior. He's driven. He's a leader. He's relentless. We all loved him."

Hield's character and work ethic have become huge talking points. He told Spenser Davis of OUDaily.com his basketball inspiration was another player with a legendary work ethic: 

"

Kobe (Bryant) made me believe. His shot making ability and the tough shots he’s always making. I always thought ‘that’s going to be me doing that.’ He amazed me as a little kid. ... I always read articles about him working and waking up early to work out. I try to, but you really can’t mimic what he does because he’s on a different level than me right now. But I just try to do the things he does.

"

Hield could have left Oklahoma after last season as a potential first-round pick, but he returned to school for his senior season. It turned out to be a wise decision, as he had a career year with 25.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 50.1 percent overall and 45.7 percent from three-point range.

There's no doubt Hield will go in the top half of the first round this year, which will earn him a lot more money as soon as he puts pen to paper. 

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman noted after Hield measured in at the combine that his size compares favorably to a current NBA sharpshooter:

Bradley Beal was the third overall pick by the Washington Wizards in 2012, which is not an unreasonable expectation for Hield coming into this draft. LSU's Ben Simmons and Duke's Brandon Ingram will presumably be the first two players taken, with everything after that a mystery right now. 

However, despite some rave reviews, Hield is not without detractors. He wasn't always consistent in college, even during his brilliant 2015-16 season.

In a full scouting breakdown of Hield, Wasserman wrote that his weaknesses include a lack of elite athleticism and a questionable in-between game: "He also relies heavily on his jumper. And if it isn't falling, there is a chance he can be a non-factor, considering he doesn't offer playmaking or difference-making defense."

In two of Oklahoma's biggest games of the season—against West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament and Villanova in the Final Four—he scored a total of 15 points on 5-of-20 shooting with four assists and seven turnovers. 

Hield is a shooter who is going to try to shoot his way out of a slump. It can lead to some brilliant performances, but when things aren't working, he's going to be a mess.

There's enough scoring potential with Hield that those lackluster efforts aren't going to destroy his draft stock. It's a concern that he will have to alleviate through work in the gym and studying film when he gets to the next level. 

Draft Projection

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

This year's draft class is not particularly deep. Simmons and Ingram look like the only players with superstar potential, though both have their flaws coming into the NBA. 

Ford currently has Hield ranked sixth on his big board, noting he's heard "enough scouts say that they think he might now be overrated" after his stock exploded in the NCAA tournament before the Villanova game. 

Being the sixth-best player in the draft feels about right when projecting where Hield will go. He's not a perfect prospect, but his ability to shoot from the outside is going to be attractive to teams starting at the No. 3 overall pick. 

Jonathan Givony of The Vertical projects Hield to be drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the seventh pick, noting his ability to step in immediately will help an already young roster and Emmanuel Mudiay's size at the point can help offset some of Hield's defensive limitations. 

It will be easier to make a more concrete estimate about where Hield will be drafted following the lottery on May 17, but his ceiling starts at pick three, with the floor being in the seven or eight range.