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Lauri Markkanen — 7’0″ Power Forward, University of Arizona (via Finland), 19 Years Old
Lauri Markkanen is a Power Forward from Jyvaskyla, Finland who has declared for the 2017 NBA Draft after one year at the University of Arizona. Last season, Markkanen led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding, while posting the best Free Throw percentage in the Pac-12. With excellent size and a sweet jump-shooting stroke, it isn’t difficult to comprehend why Markkanen is a projected top 10 pick in this June’s Draft.
Strengths
Markkanen is a rare breed. The combination of his 7’0″ frame and smooth touch from the outside make him a unique commodity in what is a very talented 2017 draft class. Markkanen’s bread and butter is his jump shot, which he can get off anytime he wants thanks to his high release point. Moreover, he is also more than capable of stepping back outside the three point arc, shooting an impressive 42.3% (69-163) from distance in his freshman year at Arizona. Markkanen even showed at times an impressive ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, which keeps defences honest and creates space for his spot-up jumper. All in all, the big Finn is a very polished offensive player who moves well for his size, making him a highly coveted asset for NBA General Managers inside the top 10.
Weaknesses
Despite his towering stature, questions have been raised about Markkanen’s toughness defending on the interior. This will be especially intriguing to keep an eye on as he transitions to the NBA, where the size, strength and physicality of opposing bigs is taken up a notch. Markkanen only ranked 12th in the Pac-12 in rebounding and has never been known as a shot blocker, averaging only half a block per game last season. Those two areas are certainly ones where Markkanen needs to improve, but the good news is he has genetics on his side. There is no question Markkanen’s physical attributes will give him the opportunity to be a force inside the paint at both ends of the floor. Whether he wants to do so will be up to him.
NBA Potential
Two things are going to determine whether Markkanen finds success in the NBA. Number one, he is going to have to prove he is capable of defending in the trenches. Not only will he have to be committed to standing his ground and rebounding the ball under the hoop, he also needs to develop more of a presence inside the paint as a rim-protector. Matching up with smaller bigs and defending on the perimeter would be a waste of his size and would also limit the ways his team can utilize him on the floor.
Number two, Markkanen can’t fall in love with his jump shot. He is going to have to also be an effective scorer with his back to the basket. Markkanen showed an ability to score down low in flashes last season, but has some work to do in terms of broadening his repertoire of post moves, finishing through contact, and crashing the offensive glass on a more frequent basis. There is no doubt his outside game will continue to be his focal point, but if he can add a more consistent low post game to his arsenal, there is no telling how dominant the soon-to-be 20-year-old Finn could be.
NBA Comparison
The obvious comparison for Markkanen is the New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis. Coming to the NBA direct from Latvia, Porzingis made an surprisingly seamless transition to the North American game. In his first two seasons, Porzingis has established himself as a pinpoint shooter and an excellent athlete despite his size. Markkanen shares many of those same traits, and has the advantage of already adjusting to the North American style of play in college. One area Porzingis certainly has on Markkanen is protecting the rim, as Porzingis has become one of the NBA’s premier shot blockers. Markkanen has a ways to go in that department as highlighted above, but offensively these two players are very similar. They are both quite agile for their size, they shoot the three efficiently, and they create matchup nightmares for opposing Head Coaches. If Porzingis is any indication, that blueprint could put Markkanen on track to become a franchise player at the NBA level.
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