NBA Draft 2016: Lakers draft Ivica Zubac in 2nd round

The first thing anyone notices about Zubac is his size. He’s a towering center that uses his height exceptionally, playing strong and physical with good athleticism for his size. Although there’s always a transition period, Zubac will be able to hold serve and even overpower other big men from the moment he starts in the NBA thanks to his 265-pound frame.

After playing for a few clubs around Europe, Zubac ended up with Mega Leks late last season, playing with lottery prospect Timothe Luwawu. In his best game, Zubac scored 31 points with seven rebounds and three blocks, and while many of the points came merely due to his size, the highlights showcase Zubac’s excellent hands and good touch around the basket. At 7’1, he’s about to hit half hooks and even throw in short floaters with relatively good accuracy, which are skills that big men in the NBA must have no matter how tall they stand.

Those traits are mostly what make Zubac such a strong prospect. He’ll catch virtually everything rolling down the lane on pick-and-rolls, and has good awareness about where to find open space in the paint. He’s not explosive around the basket, but at 7’1, he often doesn’t need to be. He hit free throws at a 69 percent pace and has a few post moves, but generally doesn’t attempt any other shots outside the paint. Overall, Zubac projects as a traditional center with real NBA size.

Zubac’s biggest weaknesses come on the defensive end, where he’s a poor shot blocker and mediocre defensive rebounder. But Zubac has quickly risen as a prospect, indicating that there still may be room for improvement in both of those areas with proper NBA training and coaching. Zubac also missed time last fall with a meniscus injury, which is concerning for a player that big and that young, even if NBA teams didn’t label him an injury risk headed into the draft.

How good Zubac will be able to defend pick-and-rolls in space is a big question, too, and an increasingly important one in the modern NBA where any player on the court can be exploited by the best offenses. Still, as the old NBA adage goes, there’s no teaching height. Zubac’s one of only a few true 7-footers in the 2016 Draft, which is a huge reason why he’s so enticing.

If his defense can develop, there’s no question Zubac can be a starting NBA center with his preexisting offensive skills. Even if he doesn’t, there’s always room for a player that big off somebody’s bench.