2016 NBA Mock Draft: Brooklyn Nets Trade Into First Round
By Jay Siskin
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16. player. 18. . PF. Gonzaga. Domantas Sabonis
Potential lottery pick Domantas Sabonis only worked out for four teams, and the Boston Celtics are one of those teams. The Gonzaga product also worked out for Phoenix, Toronto and Utah.
The Lithuanian-American, who is listed 6’10”, played for the Spanish basketball club Unicaja Malaga’s junior and senior teams before turning down a three-year contract from Unicaja to play for Mark Feud at Gonzaga prior to the 2014-2015 NCAA season.
After the 2014-15 season, he earned All-WCC Second Team honors as a freshman despite playing only 21.8 minutes per game off the bench for coach Feud. Sabonis returned to Spokane as a key reserve for the Bulldogs behind Przemek Karnowski and Kyle Wiltjer.
He finished top 10 (seventh) in the country in post-up scoring and third in efficiency according to Synergy Sports Technology, Sabots has excellent footwork with tremendous hands, good body control, and a nice shooting touch, converting 67 percent on post ups.
Sabonis’ rebounding and inside scoring would be a good fit for Brad Stevens and the Celtics. The potential development of his jump shot makes him even more enticing as he continues to develop his game.
He became one of the most productive big men in the NCAA this past season, averaging a double-double with 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Sabonis and Wiltjer were the main reasons Gonzaga made a great run to the elite eight in March.
Oh yeah, it helps having a father who played in the NBA. Arvydas Sabonis played in the NBA for parts of eight seasons.
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