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2018 NBA Draft: Landry Shamet offers Harden-esque capabilities for OKC

By Benjamin McCoy

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Landry Shamet poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Landry Shamet poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Landry Shamet #11 of the Wichita State Shockers handles the ball against C.J. Burks #14 of the Marshall Thundering Herd in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: Landry Shamet #11 of the Wichita State Shockers handles the ball against C.J. Burks #14 of the Marshall Thundering Herd in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

Skills:

Landry Shamet is a knockdown 3-point shooter with a silky-smooth stroke hitting 44.2 percent on 5.9 attempts per game. Despite the small frame at just under 190 pounds he is a very gifted finisher. He is long with almost a 6’7” wingspan and tall standing just over 6’5”.

Unlike some of the other point guards in this class, he moves as well off the ball as he does with it. Furthermore, he works well in the pick and roll, using screens to create space for a shot, find the open man, or get to the hole.

Unlike some of the early scouting reports suggested, he tested surprisingly well athletically. He finished with a 39.5-inch max vertical and ran the three-quarters sprint in 3.11 seconds. Those numbers put him right behind guys like Lonnie Walker and Hamidou Diallo, two of the best athletes in this year’s class. Moreover, he has a good handle and is an excellent finisher making great use of the glass.

Playing next to more talented players, Shamet’s high IQ and excellent passing ability should shine at the next level. If he can stay healthy and put on some muscle, he has all the tools to become an NBA star. 

Weaknesses:

The biggest issue here is Shamet’s injury history. Having stress fractures in both feet is a hard thing to get past. Although it’s not quite as serious as if he were a big break, it’s still scary. Especially having seen countless careers end over less.

The fact he weighed in at 188.6lbs and is nearly 6’5” means he’s going to have to bulk up. Furthermore, that means more weight on those feet, a terrifying thought a for a front office looking for you to lead their team. And despite having made it through last season healthy, the pro game is a different animal.

Finally, the only other real concern about his game is his defense. Unlike so many others at his position, size and length aren’t the issues. And while simply getting in the weight room will make a huge difference, what he really needs is improved footwork. He too often opens his hips allowing guys to blow by him something that NBA coaching will help improve.

Also, he needs to work on fitting through screens and staying with his man. Too often you see him lose his man, or get caught going under a screen. And although we see this often with point guards in the NBA, he has the size and length to be an outlier.

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