It’s that same on-court savvy that also makes Mannion a solid team defender. Mannion has real trouble making an impact defensively, so Arizona was counting on him to be better on the other end of the floor. 18, Josh Green selected by Boston Celtics at No. 30. mynbadraft.com: Nico Mannion taken by Sacramento Kings at No. 26, Zeke Nnaji selected by Celtics at No. NBA Draft Room: Milwaukee Bucks select Zeke Nnaji at No. I’ve seen every comedy you can think of, but I’m also a big reality TV guy. 28, Rob Dauster wrote of Green: "Green is a consistent jumper away from being a guy that can stick in the league as a role player for a decade. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images), EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change. Mannion has 3-level scoring upside. Mannion is an absolutely brilliant basketball mind, but that lack of burst will hold him back at the next level. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. But his small arms aren’t going to do him any favors on either end of the floor. He enjoys setting his teammates up to score, and he knows when somebody else simply needs to get involved. Why are you writing about a player that’s typically in the first-round for quite a few reliable big boards? For starters, the Wildcats had far too much talent to finish the season fifth in the Pac-12 standings. But even so, he’s worthy of hearing his name called in the first round. He probably should’ve stayed at Arizona another year or two. It’s easy to buy in to his youth and upside, as his playmaking and shot creation can lead people to believe he can be a high-end backup point guard — or a fringe starter — someday. 16, Zeke Nnaji picked by Denver Nuggets at No.
Mannion can also be lethal as a pick-and-roll ball handler, where he ranked in the 67th percentile in the nation. 2019-2020 season (Freshman Year): 32 games played, 32.3 minutes … His 3-point percentage doesn’t indicate it, but he has decent mechanics on his jumper and his accuracy could improve with more spacing and a lesser role. He also ranked in the 71st percentile in spot-up situations last season. It had a No. And that youth and upside is why he may not be there for the Memphis Grizzlies at the 40th pick. Teams just need to decide how much upside he really has. Wildcats head coach Sean Miller said last month that Mannion would enter the draft, but his father clarified at the time that a decision hadn’t yet been finalized — now it has. Landing somewhere like Boston, where there’s a need for a backup point guard and he won’t have to play an outsized role, would put Mannion in good position to develop and succeed. Mannion, who went to Pinnacle High School in …
Either way, this deep in the first round, the fast-developing prospect is deserving of a serious look. If all three were to get picked in the first round of the draft, it would make history for the program. The 6-11 forward was a borderline top-40 prospect coming out of high school, just the Wildcats' third-best recruit on paper. His percentages might tell a different story, but Mannion has good mechanics on his jumper. Unless he becomes an elite back-up distributor and floor general — think Tyus Jones level — his inability to score in the half court would make it difficult to keep him on the floor. Nico Mannion said he also spoke about the program with several current UA players, including junior Chase Jeter, freshman Brandon Williams and sophomores Ira Lee and Brandon Randolph. Have you seen his high school mixtape all across Overtime, House of Highlights, and Ball is Life? Nonetheless, if he’s available at the 40th pick, Mannion should be on the short list of players the Memphis Grizzlies can’t pass on. He’s not the strongest guard, nor does he have a great wingspan to make up for it. But he was Sean Miller's most productive player -- one who averaged a team-high 16.1 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 30, Gary Parrish wrote of Nnaji: "Nnaji emerged as the biggest surprise of Arizona's freshman class. In 2015, Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were both first round selections for the Wildcats. 1 overall pick in 2018. The freshman was the ninth-ranked player in the 2019 ESPN 100, and he is widely viewed as a safe bet to be selected somewhere in the middle of the first round. Sean Elliott and Anthony Cook were first-round selections in 1989.
Where I’m skeptical with Nico Mannion is, he doesn’t necessarily have a good point of attack as a scorer. I analyze draft prospects and touch on the general NBA landscape. Mannion, who went to Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, averaged 14 points and 5.3 assists per game for a Wildcats team that went 21-11 this season. As a Suns fan that used to root for the Knicks, I’ve spent my fair share of. The program has had 71 players drafted through the years. As a Suns fan that used to root for the Knicks, I’ve spent my fair share of time thinking about the future.
10, Josh Green picked by Timberwolves at No. But in the NBA, he should see more clean looks at the basket. 23, Zeke Nnaji taken by Boston Celtics at No. At the next level, he’ll likely be a backup point guard. Verdict: Nico Mannion will fall into the second round, but he’ll be selected in the mid-to-late 30’s. If he doesn’t improve as a finisher, while also not shooting the ball prolifically, he won’t be able to find the floor. Memphis Grizztory Part 4: Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi train wreck, Memphis TAMS 2 year train wreck is something that is impossible to replicate and something you have to read to believe.
Nico Mannion, Guard, University of Arizona. Mannion won’t have the size to guard many off-ball players, and he already lacks the foot speed to defend quick point guards. He can get some reps with the Memphis Hustle to catch up to the NBA speed. 14, Josh Green goes at No. For him to earn that role and truly weather the storm while the starter is out, he’s going to have to continue that carefulness with the ball.