
15. Denzel Valentine – Shooting Guard (Michigan State)
Words by Ti Windisch
Valentine’s 2015-16 season: 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 47.3% FG
Denzel Valentine is one of my absolute favorite players in this draft. He’s billed as a shooting guard, but I would be happier playing him at point guard in the NBA.
Valentine is smart enough to run the point, and would likely continue to pour in the assists and rebounds considering his size advantage over more typical point guards. At 6’6″, Valentine would be one of the NBA’s taller point guards.
There’s range to Valentine’s game too, as he’s currently shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc. His almost 20 points per game demonstrates how gifted a scorer he is. It’s hard to poke holes in Valentine, who has been terrific for Michigan all season.
Hopefully whatever team is lucky enough to snag Denzel Valentine realizes that he can play point guard. Valentine could likely be a good shooting guard, but I feel like he has the chance to be special if he plays the point guard position.
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