2018 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
By Jean Racine
Draft Sites Say
Mike Schmitz, ESPN.com
"Gilgeous-Alexander grew up around athletics and has been praised by coaches at every level for his work ethic. He had some nice moments during the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit week but appeared to be far from certain to spend only one year in Lexington. He eventually emerged as Kentucky’s most valuable player and is now likely a lock to be drafted in the lottery given his tools and feel."
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
"Plays with fire and energy. Super-active off-ball defender who uses his long arms to get steals, cause deflections, and take away passing angles. Excellent lateral quickness with good fundamentals, which makes him an immediately impactful on-ball defender. . . . Average athlete for a guard; doesn’t get much elevation on layup attempts. Solid playmaker, but takes too many careless risks; he must learn how to value possessions. Awkward push shot with a low release when shooting off the catch, so he may need to tweak his mechanics."
Jackson Hoy, The Stepien
"Gilgeous-Alexander generated a lot of buzz as he averaged 21 points, 6.7 assists, 5 rebounds, and just 1.7 turnovers per game during Kentucky’s run through the SEC tournament to a victory in the championship. The hype only grew after his impressive play in the NCAA tournament. His size, feel, shake, and craft are all enticing especially given his ability to run an offense, but he still faces questions about his burst, three-point shooting ability, and skinny frame. Where he ends up will likely depend on a team’s trust in his ability to add value off the ball on offense, as teams may be reluctant to put him next to another ball-handler without assurance that he’ll be a reliable spot-up shooter. That said, he’s a promising developmental piece with the potential to be a dynamic two-way lead guard."
Eric Yearian, NBADraft.net
"Has excellent height and length for a lead guard at 6’6” and even more impressive length, possessing a 7-foot wingspan … Measured a 6.23% body fat percentage at Kentucky’s preseason pro day … Has a 36” vertical. . . . Slight of frame, weighing only 180 pounds … Will need to add strength to absorb contact on both ends of the floor and over the course of an 82 game season … Needs further development to be a lead guard at the next level."