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Draft: Timothe Luwawu should play point guard

By Braden Shackelford

Nov 25, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head basketball coach Stan Van Gundy watches the action during the first quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons defeated the Heat 104-01. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head basketball coach Stan Van Gundy watches the action during the first quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons defeated the Heat 104-01. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
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Timothe Luwawu is an international player that I expected to shoot up draft boards as we near closer to the daft. But if he somehow falls to the Detroit Pistons, he could fill multiple roles, including point guard.

Often times we focus too much on what a player is listed as versus what he can bring to the table.

Take for example Draymond Green. Going into the draft no one thought about his potential as a center or as a point guard–we all just knew he could play, but we didn’t know how to label him.

Timothe Luwawu is another player that I think could play extremely well at a position that no one is thinking about.

Labeled as a 6’7″ (with a 7’2″ wingspan) shooting guard/small forward–Luwawu definitely fits his current position label.

However, after watching Luwawu’s film I can’t help but think about his potential as a point guard. In fact–as it pertains to the Detroit Pistons–I actually have him listed as a point guard on my big board.

When watching Luwawu, his athleticism immediately jumps off of the film. As does his ability to score and pass.

He is subject to turn the ball over (3.4 turnovers per game), which admittedly doesn’t help his case as a point guard–especially with only 2.3 assists per game–but what I look for more than stats is feel for the game, and he’s got that at as both a scorer and passer.

The other thing to consider when looking at Luwawu’s stats is what he was asked to do. On his team, Luwawu’s role was to score and lock down defensively. In 31 games this season he averaged 35.6% from three with nearly 15 point per game overseas. Those numbers won’t wow you, but the skill is there.

Another reason I like Luwawu at point guard is his ability to match up with virtually anyone on any given night. His size will allow him to body smaller defenders and get to the rim, or shoot over the top. Against bigger guards, he’ll be able to use his speed to get to the bucket.

As a backup point guard–where he’d be playing if he were to be drafted by the Pistons–he would have the upper hand against pretty much anyone he comes across.

In today’s NBA you have to have versatility. Luwawu is about as versatile of a guard you’ll find, and with the Pistons he will have time to improve his ball handling and point guard skills behind Reggie Jackson, while also offering a significant upgrade behind Jackson immediately.

For the record, I also see similar characteristics in Furkan Korkmaz–another international prospect–though I don’t see the same speed, athleticism, and quickness in him that I do in Luwawu.

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