Pippen Ain’t Easy’s 2017 NBA Draft Guide for the Chicago Bulls
Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell
2016-17 season: 34 games played, 15.6 points on 46.3 percent shooting inside the arc (35.4 percent from 3 on 6.6 attempts per game), 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game
Donovan Mitchell rose some spots on draft boards everywhere after an impressive weekend at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago recently. His measureables are what make him so intriguing as a guard at the next level. Mitchell stands at 6-foot-3 (in shoes), but with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, his ceiling has gotten higher for scouts and he very well could find himself taken inside of the lottery on draft night.
(Best-case scenario) comparable players (via The Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide): Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris and Toronto Raptors wing Norman Powell
Personally for me, I got to watch two of Mitchell’s games in Indianapolis during the 2017 NCAA Tournament this past spring and it really showed his flux. In the first round against Jacksonville State, Mitchell missed 12 of 15 shot attempts, but had 10 rebounds and five assists despite the bad shooting afternoon.
Then, in Louisville’s Round of 32 loss to a hot Michigan bunch, Mitchell shot 8-of-17 from the field for 19 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and five assists. He’s a streaky, inconsistent player, but the potential’s there for him to be a good one. He’s got good size, quickness and has that relentlessness you like to see when you watch him play.
What does Draft Express think of Mitchell?
"Perhaps the most appealing part of Mitchell’s profile, particularly early on in his career, lies on the defensive end. Two years under Rick Pitino has benefited him greatly in this regard, as he’s emerged as a multi-positional stopper who a coach can sic on point guards, shooting guards and even some small forwards and expect results. Mitchell has outstanding physical tools to get the job done, with his elite length, chiseled frame and quick feet, but also the mentality, as he’s a highly competitive guy who is willing to pick up full court, get on the floor for loose balls, and generally make life difficult for opposing players. Jonathan Givony, DX"