How will Gbinije impact Detroit Pistons in rookie year?

Weaknesses

Despite his year-by-year improvements, scouts have picked at Gbinije’s shooting mechanics–a flaw perhaps best seen in his poor free-throw percentage (66 percent his senior season). He took his fair share of errant shots at Syracuse, and if his shooting doesn’t translate to the next level, Gbinije is in trouble: he’s not consistently explosive enough to make a career driving to the basket, and he’s not projected to be an elite defender, either. Some experts consider his all-around game to be a hindrance more than an advantage, positing that Gbinije can do a lot of things pretty well, but doesn’t project to excel at any particular skill. You could make the argument, too, that his versatility is overrated. He may not be strong enough to guard small forwards in bigger lineups, making him a shooting guard with limited experience playing point who lacks blazing speed/ elite athleticism.

Maybe the biggest holdup with Gbinije is his age. By the time he starts adjusting to the NBA game, Gbinije will likely be in his late twenties–downright ancient compared to his one-and-done draft contemporaries. However, his consistent year-to-year improvement is a good sign, and his maturity may serve him well with Stan Van Gundy as he adjusts to the next level of play.

Next: Rookie/long-term impact