Jalen Hood-Schifino was selected No. 17 by the Los Angeles Lakers and Trayce Jackson Davis went No. 57 to Golden State in Thursday’s NBA draft.
We’ve compiled draft grades and other feedback from around the web about the selection of both players in the roundup below:
Hood-Schifino
LOS ANGELES LAKERS B
With D’Angelo Russell’s free agent situation up in the air, the Lakers find something of a doppelgänger in Hood-Schifino. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year is a ready pick-and-roll maestro with excellent vision and passing touch, and his Montverde Academy pedigree shines through in his disciplined defensive fundamentals. JHS has a beautiful pull-up game that currently only extends as far as the midrange. The Lakers have done a great job developing players in the Rob Pelinka era, and if they can get him comfortable from deep, it could open up a lot more in his game.
Los Angeles Lakers: C
Round 1: Jalen Hood-Schifino (No. 17)
Round 2: Maxwell Lewis (No. 40)Even though Hood-Schifino went later than expected, I’m still not a fan of the value for the Lakers. Hood-Schifino ranked outside the top 30 of my projections, and his best skills (contested shot) don’t match up with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, given that he could ultimately outlast them on the LA roster. With the 40th pick, acquired in exchange for cash earlier in the day, the Lakers made a stronger play on Lewis, the local Pepperdine player. It would not have been surprising if Lewis had gone late in the first round.
Well, it’s interesting to me personally. The Lakers’ track record in the draft over the last decade or so has been as good as any team’s in the league. On the other hand, I think Hood-Schifino is the most overrated player in the draft. As an on-ball player specializing in middies and floaters, but with limited ability to either shoot the 3 or get all the way to the cup, I don’t see a ton of upside here, and I don’t really see how he fits in on a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers’ track record here deserves respect, but I’m a little puzzled.
Adam Finkelstein, CBSSports.com:
Hood-Schifino showed in high school and college that he could be a role player, and that’s important here. Still, he’s a bit streaky as a scorer and especially as a shooter, which will be important for the Lakers right away. The long-term play here is a nice player, but is he ready to contribute to a team that expects to be good now? Grade: B
Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report:
The Lakers were likely to add a playmaker this offseason, and while they could look for more in free agency or trades, they at least scratched the surface with this pick.
Hood-Schifino passes the eye test as a big, physical playmaker, and his feel for the game may be even more impressive than his raw gifts. He can manipulate defenses, making him excellent in ball screen situations. He competes on defense and maintains his focus off the ball.
However, he comes with plenty of question marks as he is not the best athlete, ball handler or shooter. He’s having some hot nights, but he’s not nearly consistent enough. If he’s going to be a primary creator, he needs a more reliable pull-up shot. If he is going to be more off the ball, he needs to level up his spot-up shot.
If his shooting improves, he’s a good fit and a good find at this spot. If it doesn’t, it may be difficult for him to find minutes with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the floor.
Grade: B
Grade: C+
Hood-Schifino is a huge 6’6 guard who can make plays out of the pick-and-roll while offering pull-up shooting potential. He’s not a great athlete, and didn’t get many easy buckets as a freshman for Indiana, which is one of the reasons he struggled to score efficiently at times. I had Hood-Schifino ranked outside of my top-30, but NBA teams were reportedly always higher on him. His upside rests on him turning into a knockdown pull-up shooter off the dribble, but I’m not super encouraged by his college tape or percentages. The Lakers needed a guard, and if this saves them from giving D’Angelo Russell a big contract, it could be worth it.
Grade: B-
Hood-Schifino plays bigger than his 6-5 frame and was the most improved ballhandler in the pick-and-roll option this season. Defensively, he holds guards up front and can cut off players from trying to beat the corner off the switch. Hood-Schifino attended Chris Paul’s camp prior to his freshman season at Indiana, and Paul praised Hoood-Schifino’s defense on the rim.
Jackson-Davis
Golden State Warriors: A-
Round 1: Underground Brandin (No. 19)
Round 2: Trayce Jackson-Davis (No. 57)I found the talk of the Warriors adding older prospects a little overhyped. Podziemski, 20, is actually younger than the Miller and Thompson twins. The difference between him and previous Golden State picks is that Podziemski rates higher in terms of overall basketball ability than physical potential. We’ll see if that limits Podziemski in the upside, but I’m betting on someone ranked in the top 10 of my projections. Jackson-Davis, who will be on a full NBA contract, according to new Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. (a move that will save Golden State in terms of luxury tax payments), fits the older mold at 23. At the 57th pick, however, Jackson-Davis was arguably the best player on the market.
The end of Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s first draft day as the Warriors’ new general manager ended with a minor move layered into some bigger picture themes about the direction of his roster.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, a prospect the Warriors ranked as a late first-rounder on their last big board, was still available at the 57th pick. The Wizards had the 57th pick. That turned out to be relevant because earlier in the day, the Warriors agreed to a big deal on Jordan Poole for Chris Paul’s trade to Washington. This gave the Warriors a chance to extend the deal and get another goal.
They reconnected with the Wizards, agreed to add Patrick Baldwin Jr. in their outgoing package and acquired in a roundabout way the 57th pick of cash considerations. Then they used it to land Jackson-Davis, a prospect they coveted, behind the scenes manipulating him deeper into the second round and into their grasp, in part because Dunleavy has a strong relationship with Jackson-Davis’ agent – James Dunleavy. Mike’s brother.
This result appealed to both sides because the Warriors plan to give Jackson-Davis a multi-year contract on the main roster, rare for a late second-rounder.
“He’ll be on the regular 15-man,” Dunleavy said. “We’re not overly loaded in the front court (after Kevon) Looney. Hopefully we can get Draymond (Green) back. (Jackson-Davis) is a guy that will provide insurance and hopefully grow with the program.”
I don’t hand out ‘A’s very often in the second round, but I want to slap my stamp of approval on this one. Jackson-Davis was a first-round option to me, so this pick for the Warriors at No. 57 feels like a steal. He was a productive four-year college player at Indiana whose shooting touch could allow him to develop a perimeter shot in time and be a threat on the floor. Grade: A
Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report:
A draft slide for Trayce Jackson-Davis was always possible as he is older (23), undersized (6’8″) and not a shooter. But falling all the way to No. 57 was ridiculous, and the Warriors were wise to pounce.
He will fit their system like a tailored suit. He has functional handles and phenomenal footwork. He can finish above the rim and has a soft touch around it. His expansion of that shooting range to the perimeter is possible at some point. He is a smart passer who could be huge on the short throw.
It takes creativity to bring out his best, but Golden State could carve out a role for him the same way it once did for Draymond Green. Jackson-Davis is a goalkeeper. They are almost impossible to find this late in the draft.
Filed under: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Trayce Jackson-Davis