NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Lauri Markkanen

Strengths

In a league that values shooting and spacing, Markkanen is definitely an attractive piece for any team. Markkanen can shoot off the dribble, but he excels shooting in pick-and-pop situations.

Markkanen is a sharpshooter. During his one-year tenure at Arizona, nearly 45 percent of his 10.2 shots per game came from behind the three-point line.

As he transitions to playing against larger, more athletic competition and continues to increase his own strength and size, Markkanen will likely rely heavily on his outside shot to start his NBA career.

It’s hard to not compare a seven-foot European with a sweet shot to Dirk Nowitzki; I’m sure that will be the story during the draft. But it’s just not accurate in this case.

Markkanen’s NBA ceiling appears to be more aligned with a Channing Frye or Ryan Anderson-type: he’s smart, he’s an active rebounder and he can score from anywhere on the floor – especially from beyond the arc.