The Good
The first thing that stands out about Lydon is his athleticism and physical attributes.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Lydon measured at 6-foot-9.5 with a 7-foot wingspan. He hit 2.81 seconds in the shuttle run, the third-fastest time at the Combine. Lydon showed a quick burst that made him one of Syracuse’s top player the last few years.
That is what makes Lydon a NBA player. Without that ability to quickly change direction and get to full speed, he probably would not be in NBA consideration.
That athleticism enables Lydon to get above the rim when he gets to the basket. It also enables him to have a high upside defensively. Playing in Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, it is hard to say exactly what he can do defensively. It is tough to trust his defensive metrics because of the Orange’s defensive style.
The potential is undoubtedly there. Length is a commodity in the league and Lydon has it. He has all the physical attributes a team would want in a stretch-4.
And he can add some of the shooting to it too.
Lydon hit on 39.8 percent of his 3-pointers in his two-year career at Syracuse. He has to prove he can step out to the NBA 3-point line, but this is an encouraging sign for him and how he can develop.
Put him in pick and rolls and he can serve as both a lob threat on the roll and a popping threat behind the 3-point line. That kind of versatility is extremely valuable in the NBA. There are not too many role-playing power forwards who can do both.
If shooting is what matters in the league, adding a shooting along with his versatility and athleticism makes Lydon a very intriguing prospect.