http://www.nj.com/sixers/index.ssf/2015/05/nba_draft_would_the_sixers_consider_mario_hezonja.html
NBA Draft: Would the Sixers consider Mario Hezonja at No. 3?
Mario Hezonja (C) of FC Barcelona and Matt Lojeski (R) of Olympiacos Piraeus in action during the Basketball Euroleague Playoffs Round 3 match held between Olympiacos Piraeus and FC Barcelona at the SEF Indoor arena in Piraeus, Greece, 21 April 2015. EPA/SPYROS CHORCHOUBAS (SPYROS CHORCHOUBAS)
He is in many ways the perfect prospect for Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie.
He can shoot. He is a great athlete. He is 6-foot-8 at the small forward position, nobody has seen him play and he is overseas tested.
Which is why Mario Hezonja should not be counted out as a possibility for the Sixers at No. 3 overall.
The idea of the Sixers taking an international prospect over a player like D'Angelo Russell likely wouldn't sit well with fans. Hezonja, a prospect from Croatia, however, seems to check plenty boxes on the both the list of what the Sixers need and what the Sixers look for.
As mentioned above, Hezonja is one of the elite shooters in the draft. He shot 39% from the three-point line last season in 31 games for FC Barcelona, and 46% from the field. What makes Hezonja's shooting percentage even more impressive is that all of his looks were not wide open.
In an excellent piece for Liberty Ballers, Marc Whittington highlights what makes Hezonja's shooting so impressive.
What's most exciting about Hezonja as a prospect, however, is that he can shoot off the dribble as well. Many spot-up shooters struggle to create their own shots, but Hezonja's ball-handling skills allow him to create in the pick and roll. And if his defender goes under the screen, he does not hesitate to pull-up and shoot a 3. While his reputation paints him as a particularly selfish player, Hezonja has always looked like a willing passer to me—he rarely hijacks an offense and plays within its flow. His passing statistics back that up. At 3.1 assists per 40 minutes, he ranks among the best of the wing prospects in this draft.
As the Sixers build their team from the inside-out, and look to surround center Joel Embiid with shooters, adding a dynamic athlete like Hezonja (who can also shoot) might be too good for Hinkie to pass up.
There is little doubt that at No. 3 overall, Hezonja would be considered a bit of reach, especially if one of the top centers in the draft, Duke's Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky's Karl Anthony-Towns, drops.
Hinkie has shown in the past, however, he will take the prospect the Sixers have at the top of their board regardless of how the outside might view the pick. The selections of Embiid (and his broken foot) and Dario Saric (who won't play for the Sixers until the 2016 season at the earliest) show that.
Would he pull the trigger on Hezonja at No. 3? Time will tell, but as fans prepare for the 2015 NBA Draft, they shouldn't count it out.
Here is a scouting report on Hezonja, via NBADraft.net.
Strengths: Standing 6-8, he has ideal size for the wing position ... Has a solid structure and high level athleticism even by NBA standards ... He has bulked up some, adding muscle to his frame over the last couple seasons, training with top level athletes in a competitive environment ... He combines good size with amazing body control, athleticism and leaping abilities, showing a quick first step and explosiveness ... Offensively he's a solid shooter, with an improved shooting form, a quick release and unlimited range, even far away behind the three point line ... His offensive repertoire includes spot up shots from the corners, pull-up jumpers or finishing by attacking the rim, where he's able to fully utilize his athleticism ... He's an underrated passer whowing the ability to find teamates with solid court vision and basketball IQ
Weaknesses: He still could work on his body strength to better withstand contact in the NBA ... He lacks a solid mid-range game, which is the area where he struggles the most ... He's effective in ISO situations, but he tends to need a screen or generally a situation that creates an advantage for him, since when he's forced to create a basket from off the dribble, he is less effective than other elite prospects ... Despite his improved shot selection, he still tends to look for his shot instead of finding an open man when the defense is good, even though he has solid passing skills