College success
To start off, it should be very clear that the expectation isn’t for Chandler Hutchison to become an elite shooter by any means. Countless forwards in this league are successful because of the other tools they possess but still maintain a semi-consistent 3-point shot.
This season so far, Hutchison has attempted 14 3’s and has made just four. Furthermore, he’s never attempted more than three in a game and has never made more than one. When comparing this to his senior season at Boise State just a season ago, things were fairly different.
Chandler wasn’t an elite 3-point shooter and success from beyond the arc in college doesn’t always translate to the NBA, but he shot fairly well his last two years. Aside from averaging a noteworthy 20.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest his senior season, the young forward shot 35.9 percent from three in 4.1 attempts.
Furthermore, he made three or more in nine of 31 total games as well as a season-high of seven. Obviously, his playing time in college significantly differs from his time and opportunity in Chicago but the point still remains; Hutchison isn’t too far away from developing a consistent jumper.
Hutch came into Boise state with an unrefined jumpshot, but worked on it throughout his four years to eventually become a solid wing for college standards.
He progressed from under 30 percent in under one attempt per contest his first two seasons to over 35 his next two and is now tasked with facing a similar dilemma.
This is no major issue considering Chandler Hutchison has time, but it’ll prove beneficial to improve on this area much sooner rather than later. Given the fact that he was able to make a fairly significant jump in college, this shouldn’t be much of an issue over the coming years.
A draft gem
Late first-rounders aren’t the players you expect to be superstars. Chandler Hutchison may never be the next Paul George, but he’s got some talent and maturity that simply can’t be taught.
If he brings a similar work ethic to the NBA that he had in college, he’s bound to turn into a fairly valuable prototypical forward for today’s NBA.
Many players have come into the NBA with a defensive-minded approach and developed their offensive game soon after.
Hutchison has some offensive tools already and is a near exceptional defender at just 22, so the chances he develops his 3-pointer sooner rather than later are pretty high.
While he may not turn out to be Jimmy Butler, another Butler-esque situation could be in play here.