Draft Profile: What Jaylin Williams Could Bring to Mavs
There are several things that NBA scouts use to determine the value of a draft prospect. Whether it's their size, skill or athleticism, each draft candidate gets put under the microscope to determine their fit on each team.
In the NCAA Tournament this year, Arkansas forward Jaylin Williams made a name for himself with strong performances every time he took the floor. He managed in double-double in all four of the Razorbacks' tournament games, including a highs of 19 points against Duke and 15 rebounds against New Mexico State.
Williams could be an interesting prospect for the Dallas Mavericks to consider in the draft on June 23.
At 6-11, 240, with a 7-1 wingspan, he could provides an imposing presence in the paint. With a search for bigs being a priority for the Mavericks this offseason, Williams could be a cost-friendly solution.
Another strength is Williams' ability to be in the right position to grab rebounds. On the season, Williams averaged 10.9 points and 9.8 boards, while playing with ferociousness. He also averaged more than a block per game, which is another need for Dallas.
“We need some rim protection. That’s one thing that we don’t have a lot of on our team. I think that’s the easiest thing to say,” Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said on the Ben and Skin Show.
One of Williams' weaknesses is his inability to stretch the floor. Spreading defenders out is what helped the Mavericks in series wins over the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. Williams shot a very poor 23.9 percent on 3-pointers this season.
With Luka Doncic, and his elite ability to drive to the basket, Williams not being a threat from deep could potentially clog up the paint, as evident with Dwight Powell at times.
Williams, 19, does possess a large, long frame, and a hunger for rebounding — which the Mavs need inside. Currently, Williams is expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick.
