With the No. 31 pick the 2016 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics have selected Deyonta Davis. Davis was promptly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to Yahoo! Sports. Davis left Michigan State after one season, becoming the first Spartan to do so since Zach Randolph in 2001.
Deyonta Davis slips out of 1st round, lands with Grizzlies at No. 31 overall
Davis was considered a possible lottery pick, but slipped all the way out of the first round.
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Davis, a 6’11 big man with a 7’3 wingspan on a 237-pound frame, only averaged 18.6 minutes per game during his freshman year in East Lansing, but he took advantage of his time on the court. He averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and was one of the Spartans’ best defenders, playing great man-to-man defense while blocking 1.8 shots per game.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo didn’t appreciate Davis’ lack of intensity at times, but the Spartans probably could have used more of Davis. He shot nearly 60 percent from the field, and his per-40 minute numbers balloon up to 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks.
Davis is the perfect big man for the small-ball style taking over the NBA. He has the athleticism and speed to stay with any power forward, and even many wings and guards. He played the pick-and-roll well at Michigan State and his instincts often put him in the right spot. He does still have some learning to do -- he looked lost at times when he was playing off the ball.
His game is still developing, especially on the offensive end of the court. But his defense is NBA-ready.
There is reason to worry about Davis’ offensive game. He shot well from the floor, but those numbers were buoyed by playing in an offense led by Denzel Valentine that created a lot of open looks. Davis played decently in the post, but his footwork is lacking, and he rarely looked comfortable with the ball. That isn’t to say he can’t develop a serviceable post presence. His soft hands make it easy to feed him the ball, and his jumping ability make him a lob threat around the hoop. He has solid shooting mechanics, impressing with his shooting abilities at a pro-day workout in early June, according to Yahoo Sports.
In late May, Davis compared himself to Chris Bosh. His shooting may not be at that point yet, but he wasn’t asked to play on the perimeter much in college. If he really wants to be more than just a rim protector in the league, he could be a huge asset as a big man who can shoot from outside. That isn’t going to happen right away, however. The 19-year-old still has a lot of room to improve.
If he can develop a higher basketball IQ and a perimeter shot, his rim protection and athleticism could make Davis a star.
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