#25: Oklahoma City Thunder: Nico Manion | Point Guard | Arizona
A lot of Phoenix Suns fans have their eye on Manion because he is a local kid who went to an in-state college and the Phoenix Suns are in perpetual need for a point guard. However, after being a one-time lottery projection, Manion has slipped down most draft boards due to some inconsistent play with the Wildcats.
After watching a fair amount of U of A games this season and rewatching some highlight reels, Manion seems to me like a more athletic version of Ty Jerome. He’s savvy, runs his team well, and will deliver the occasional wow moment, but he is at least a few years away from being an impact player in the NBA.
On top of that, his shooting needs to improve, as he only shot 32.7 percent from behind the arc. He does, however, shoot with confidence, which is more than I can say for Ty Jerome lately.
His natural feel for the game presents potential, and a team like the Thunder could cultivate it under a budding star like SGA.