Redrafting the fifth pick from the 2015 NBA Draft

Trey Lyles

First off, there is an awful lot to like about Trey Lyles.

Although he is currently playing in the shadow of Utah’s other big power forward, Derrick Favors, the 6-foot-10, 234-pound sophomore out of the Kentucky has found a niche for himself on a developing Utah Jazz team.

Taken 12th overall, Lyles had a solid rookie year, averaging 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. Fast forward a year and he is putting up 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 21.6 minutes per game, as the banged-up Jazz look to push for the postseason.

If they are to succeed, Lyles’ versatility could be crucial, as, unlike Favors, he can step out to the 3-point line, where he shoots 35 percent. He is also very effective inside too, as this year he has made 46 percent of his shots from inside the arc, while also bumping his free throw percent up to around 80 percent.

In fact, Lyles put in one of the best performances of his career against the Toronto Raptors last week, as he scored 19 points, hitting 4-of-6 from behind the arc and adding seven rebounds in 30 minutes of play.

Had Orlando drafted him over Hezonja they may not have needed to trade for Serge Ibaka. That said, Lyles is still working on his defensive game, as he tends to struggle on the boards and is far from an effective shot blocker.

While it is extremely unlikely Lyles’ rate of development would have suited the Magic, his size and mobility should enable him to become a decent all-around player at some point in the not too distant future.

While his ability to stretch the floor means he would have made an interesting front court mate for Aaron Gordon in smaller lineups, had things played out differently.