School: Oklahoma
Stats: 27.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 8.7 apg
Measurables: 6-2, 180 pounds pg
Classification: Freshman
Projected Draft Range: Top 10
Strengths:
- Great 3-point shooter
- Spaces the floor well
- Good vision
- Talented playmaker
- Can create his own shot
- Needs minimal space to get shot off
- Has the range too shoot from NBA 3-point land
- Quick release on the shot
- Fast and moves well with the ball
- Shoots well even while moving
- Good floater
- Leads the break well
- Puts passes in shooters pockets
Weaknesses:
- Lacks proper length
- Does not have the height to be a above average defender
- Lacks explosiveness
- Needs to get stronger and put on some weight
- A bit trigger happy at times and needs to improve shot-selection
- Needs to improve lateral movement
- Will be a negative on the defensive end
- Has to do a better job about staying in-front of guys
- Needs to put up better effort.
Summary: Trae Young has been one of the most hyped and talked about prospects all year and with good reason. What he did in his freshman year in college is remarkable. Trae has the makings of an offensive superstar with his curry-esque range from 3-point land and remarkable vision, but along with it you are getting somebody who will be a liability on the defensive end and will be targeted on defense. Teams will dream of Steph Curry and he's not that, but he can still be very good. It is all about just determining if his offensive contributions will out-weight his defensive limitations.
NBA Player Floor: Lou Williams
NBA Player Ceiling: Isaiah Thomas
Looking at Tape:
In this gif, you see Trae Young pull up from about 3 feet behind the 3-point line which illustrates two things. First, he has NBA range and second he has quick release and does not need much space to get his shot off.
In this gif, you can see Trae Young's defensive limitations and lack of effort. The gif starts of with Trae guarding his man and then getting hit with a screen which makes him caught and unable to recover to contest the shot. In fact, he makes no effort to even contest the shot and for somebody who is a liability on that end, effort is a must. Highlights: