Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Age: 22 years old     Size: 6’4, 214 pounds

Last Year’s Stats: 25 points; 5.7 rebounds; 2.0 assists per game

Percentages: 50.1% from the field; 45.7% from three-point; 88 % from the free throw line

With Hield being mocked to Denver more than any other player, Buddy has Denver buzzing about bringing his talents to the Mile High City. Like Murray, Hield brings elite perimeter shooting with physical limitations. The majority of his criticisms come from his age, 22 years old, and if he can produce at the NBA level the way he has in Oklahoma.

Buddy Hield is the type of college player that is the most difficult to gauge. He took a huge step forward developmentally in his senior season. Now the big question is if this season is an outlier or if this is legitimate development. Shooting 45.7 percent from three-point range is absolutely obnoxious. Add in the fact that he had the fourth highest points per possession on “guarded” jumpers and that does not point towards sustainability either. While Hield had one of the more intense statistical seasons in college basketball, can he sustain that type of scoring? Good money says no way, even if he did hit 89/100 three pointers unguarded at his Boston Celtics workout.

Hield excels most when being ran through mazes of screens to create space for him to use his rapid-fire release. When it comes to scoring off of curls or screens there is no one doing it better. He has range out past the NBA three-point line and uses that range the second you give him an inch of breathing room. Hield improving his slashing ability helps diversify his game and taught him to be a better off-ball cutter.

Hield has all of the work ethic, shot making and basketball IQ to be a solid contributor at the next level, but in terms of creating for himself and teammates, he will most likely struggle. Like Murray, if he learns to play within himself, he could be a deadly catch-and-shoot weapon for almost any team, Nuggets included. With Buddy seemingly going anywhere from three and 10, the Nuggets could find themselves with Hield still available with the seventh pick.