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Calvin Chappell
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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Sheppard is projected to be picked early in the draft. Could the Jazz find a way to get him?
Reed Sheppard has been climbing draft boards, and it's no surprise why. He is arguably the best shooter in the draft, an excellent playmaker, a relentless defender, and has a great feel for the game. In a draft with no surefire star players, a prospect like Sheppard, who seems a near certainty to be at least a good NBA player, becomes highly coveted. Not only is Sheppard a high-floor prospect, but I believe he has legitimate all-star potential.
Stats & Measurements:
Height: 6' 1.75" without shoes, 6'3" with shoes
Wingspan: 6' 3.25"
Max vertical leap: 42" (Tied 1st in the Combine)
Weight: 181.6 lbs
Per game stats: 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, 2.0 turnovers
Shooting: 55.5% 2P, 52.1% 3P, 83.1% FT, 69.9% TS.
Strengths
Sheppard's most apparent, and likely most useful, strength is his shooting ability. He shot a ridiculous 52.1% on three-point attempts in his single season at Kentucky. That's not a typo. And those weren't just occasional open catch-and-shoot threes, either. He took 4.4 three-point attempts per game; many were off the dribble and guarded. Sheppard is a fearless shooter, pulling up in transition, in clutch time, from deep beyond the line, you name it. He's a deadeye shooter in just about every category.
Sheppard's second standout strength is his defensive impact. While his unimpressive size may lead many to believe he'd be a poor defender, his effort, aggressiveness, court awareness, and nose for the ball more than make up for it. He is a disruptive off-ball defender with a nose for the ball. His 2.5 steals per game ranked 8th in the entire NCAA and first in his SEC conference. Sheppard racks those steals up with quick hands on the ball and sneaky plays in the passing lanes. He also managed to record 0.7 blocks per game (23 blocks in 33 games) despite being a 6'3" guard. Sheppard excels at recovering to shooters with an explosive burst to get improbable blocks. He is an excellent team defender, continually seeking ways to create turnovers. Individually, Sheppard is a solid defender who aggressively navigates screens, though he tends to lose his man too often when he doesn't have the ball.
Playmaking is another strength of Sheppard's game. He shared ball-handling duties with Rob Dillingham at Kentucky, so neither got to show how they would fare as a clear-cut point guard, but he showed enough to see the playmaking skill. Sheppard sees the floor exceptionally well. He's an excellent decision-maker with some impressive passes in his bag. His ball-handling doesn't jump off the screen, but his kick-out passes to shooters and lobs to cutting wings certainly do. Sheppard's self-creation is an underrated aspect of his game that unlocks his star potential. He's a better finisher at the rim than he gets credit for and can get himself there in tightly guarded situations. When his game is even more refined, Sheppard will be terrorizing defenses in the pick-and-roll with the threat of his pull-up and quick decision-making.
Weaknesses
Yes, he's small. 6'3" with shoes is a pretty average height for NBA point guards, but it's still something we must bring up, especially with his thin body type. While Sheppard isn't afraid of contact, bigger guards will be able to overpower him 1v1. I think height is overvalued in NBA scouting, leading to some of the most talented players being overlooked due to being "small." If Sheppard isn't picked in the top five, his size will be the reason, and it will be a mistake.
Aside from size, Sheppard tends to gamble too much on defense. That can be a coach's nightmare, but the good news is that it can be improved. Sheppard will likely always be a bit of a gambler, but he'll need to learn to reign it in and not lose his man when he's steal-hunting.
To be a point guard at the next level, Sheppard must show more on-ball creation. He showed flashes in college, but he'll need to bring it consistently in the NBA to reach his potential.
Utah Jazz fit
The Jazz are in a spot that allows them to draft the best talent available without much worry about fit. The roster in three to five years will likely look very different from the roster now. That said, Sheppard fits well with the Utah Jazz’ core pieces. Lauri Markkanen would benefit from playing next to shooters who demand the defense's attention. Keyonte George could be helped by sharing the ball-handling duties with a guard who's a willing passer. Sheppard has a game that fits well with any team. Everybody benefits from smart players who shoot the lights out.
How could Utah get him?
Many mock drafts predict Sheppard will be selected among the top four picks. Utah's spot at 10 seems too late to hope for Sheppard to drop. If Danny Ainge and Co. want Sheppard, they'll have to make some magic happen. Rumors and reports around the league have said that Utah is active in trade talks. There is also a lot of talk about teams in the top five being willing to trade down. The Jazz have picks 10, 29, and 32. They also have a wealth of future picks, young players, and veterans on tradable contracts. The Jazz are set up to be able to trade for anything at any time. If there is a team near the top of the draft willing to trade back, Utah could make it happen.
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