2018 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Cleveland Cavaliers select Wendell Carter Jr.
There’s quite a bit to not like about Battle, but unlike Hutchison, he’s got an incredibly high ceiling.
Battle is leaving Syracuse after his sophomore year in which he averaged 19.2 points per game. Battle wasn’t a great distributor or rebounder at Cuse, but he can step behind the arc and shoot from deep. However, even his jumper has been inconsistent, shooting 32% from behind the arc.
At 6-foot-6, Battle can handle the ball well for his size, and with proper development like the Warriors can provide, Battle can turn into a two-way star in the NBA. His size and skill set combine to make him a coveted prospect, but his risk and lack of intangibles like vision drop him to the late first round pick.
Battle is a good prospect, but there’s a lot to work on still. The Warriors, who have limited rotation space, seem like a great team to develop Battle.