2016 NBA Draft: Malcolm Brogdon has NBA potential in right system

The former University of Virginia standout, Malcolm Brogdon, is likely headed towards the second round in the 2016 NBA Draft.

The week of the NBA Draft has arrived and it seems Thursday can not come soon enough. This draft class appears to be deeper than recent years, as teams will be able to find positive additions following the lottery.

University of Virginia guard Malcolm Brogdon will not expect to hear his name early in the draft, but will likely find himself on a team in the middle of the second round.

Being drafted any later than the first round almost never sounds appealing to a player, but when you’re reminded that NBA champions like Draymond Green and Manu Ginobili were second round picks, it doesn’t sound all that bad if the player works hard and has a high IQ.

The 6-foot-5 guard spent four years with the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Tony Bennett. Bennett is known for his defensive approach, and Brogdon is no exception.

Brogdon was voted ACC Player of the Year, and also locked up the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. In addition, he was an AP First Team All-American and was one of the top two-way players in the nation.

Despite all these awards, Brogdon still can’t find himself with a first round projection because of his lack of athleticism, age and lack of explosiveness.

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So what are teams getting themselves into with the former Cavalier?

Brogdon saw his numbers climb each year of his college career. In his senior season, he averaged 18.2 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He finished shooting 45 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind the arc.

While Brogdon didn’t put up flashy defensive stats, he was one of the best on-ball defenders in the nation. He helped the Cavaliers to a 29-8 record and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament by covering opposing teams’ best player on a consistent basis.

Brogdon is never going to leap over a defender or blow past a quicker player in transition, but he can surely make an immediate impact at the next level due to his feel for the game and above average experience level.

Brogdon can be a superb on-ball defender at the next level, much like a Tony Allen or Iman Shumpert. While neither player is called upon for their offensive capabilities, there is always a place for a lock down defender at the next level – especially one that is capable of guarding multiple positions.

Brogdon’s physical stature is a plus as well. He has a strong frame at 215 pounds and will not back down from players that are similar in size.

While Brogdon wasn’t a poor shooter from behind the three point line, Brogdon will need to adapt to today’s modern game and improve his consistency from deep.

An NBA team can surely use Brogdon’s defensive prowess as more and more NBA players are becoming efficient from behind the three point line. He could potentially be used as a counter attack to that by contesting shots from the perimeter and getting into the shorts of sharp shooters who run off constant screens.

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If Brogdon is drafted into the correct system, he can see his potential maximized, and soon could turn himself into a solid role player for the years to come.

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