With the NBA Draft just weeks away, The Rookie Wire projected both rounds. Where does Oklahoma’s Austin Reaves land?
Austin Reaves had a breakout year in the 2020-2021 basketball season for the Oklahoma Sooners. After transferring in from Wichita State, the spot-shooter showed off a well-rounded game, helping the Oklahoma Sooners make it to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
For the Sooners last year, Reaves averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 44% from the field.
Reaves showed an adept ability to get into the paint and finish around the basket. When he couldn’t finish, he did an excellent job of drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line.
He was a strong pick and roll player with Sooners big men and at the end of this month could find himself playing with one of the best bigs in the NBA if the latest mock draft from The Rookie Wire holds true.
In The Rookie Wire’s latest NBA mock draft, Cody Taylor had Austin Reaves going number 53 overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans are led at the point guard position by Lonzo Ball and have Eric Bledsoe at shooting guard.
Reaves may not project as a starter in the NBA right away, but with his size, ball-handling, and shooting abilities, he should be able to work into a rotation at some point in his career.
Though he’s being projected as a late second round pick, it’s certainly possible that he could be taken higher. Though he isn’t the same level of player, Reaves reminds of a Luka Doncic type.
A good ball handler who understands how to use his body and ball-handling ability to get into the paint. Reaves isn’t quite the passer that Doncic is and doesn’t have the same size, but neither is gifted athletically. Instead they use their high basketball I.Q. to fond ways to score and get their teammates involved.
A team that is willing to look past some of his athletic deficiencies, they’ll get a nice player in Austin Reaves.
