NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Tyler Lydon

Weaknesses

As I alluded to earlier Tyler Lydon’s overall game is far from a finished product. While a strength of Lydon is his shooting touch, the area most lacking in his game at present is the ability to put the ball on the floor and score.

According to Draft Express, Lydon only shot 29.2 percent on off-the-dribble jump shots, which is a clear weakness. With Lydon shooting so well from three-point range, defenders frequently run at him, allowing a pump fake and an easy one dribble pull up. Does that mean Tyler Lydon is only a spot-up shooter?

Despite Lydon’s athleticism, the NBA is filled with athletic forwards, especially those who play the forward position. Lydon’s overall build at only 215 pounds and the highest tested body fat percentage at 13.6 percent, will limit his offensive play at the rim and defensive ability against bigger and stronger opponents.

Syracuse is known for playing the 2-3 zone which is not something you will see in an NBA game. This makes it difficult to judge Lydon accurately in terms of how he matches up defensively. While athleticism allows Lydon to block shots, the zone covers up many of the deficiencies of a team which plays man-to-man.

Syracuse has brought many players to an NBA arena but few are known for their defensive prowess. The stats and instincts appear to be there defensively, the question remains will Lydon be able defend at the next level?