After weeks of anticipation from Detroit Pistons fans, NBA draft prospect Donovan Mitchell has finally paid a visit to the Auburn Hills practice facility.
At long last, Donovan Mitchell made his visit to the Detroit Pistons practice facility in Auburn Hills. The sophomore shooting guard out of Louisville had been expected to make his trip to town sometime this week, and his arrival came better late than never.
Mitchell stands 6’3″ and 210 lbs with a tremendous 6’10” wingspan. Per Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, he has a body fat percentage of just 5.9. He’s explosive and one of the best athletes in the draft, posting the combine’s highest standing vertical at 36.5″ and one of the combine’s fastest ever three-quarter court times at just 3.01 seconds.
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He hit just 40.8 percent from the floor in his sophomore season, but hit 35.4 percent from the three-point line and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. Collegiate free throw success is often a better indicator of translatable three-point shooting ability at the NBA level than actual college three-point percentage, so his excellent rate from the line may be an indicator of development potential from behind the arc.
He doesn’t excel at getting to the line, posting a free throw rate (number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt) of just .243 percent in his sophomore season, but in spite of his high usage he took excellent care of the ball, turning it over just over 10 percent of the time.
He’s also a stellar defender, using his strength and length to overwhelming advantage. He posted an impressive steal rate of 3.7% (a metric which tends to convert well to the NBA level) and had the highest steal-per-40 minute rate among all players in Draft Express’ top 100 prospects. His tremendous wingspan causes opposing guards great difficulty to shoot over.
The Ringer comps Mitchell to Avery Bradley and Normal Powell.
In addition to the super-athlete skills, Mitchell brings a mindset that Detroit Pistons fans embrace.
Donovan Mitchell after #Pistons workout: "A lot of guys can hit 25 or 30 threes in a row but can you guard?"
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 18, 2017
While many young players consider defense to be a necessary evil, Mitchell prides himself in his defense. He also won over the Pistons’ media contingent.
It's a safe bet the #Pistons media contingent is rooting for Mitchell at No. 12. Lit up the room with personality and wit.
— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) June 18, 2017
Whoever drafts him gets immediate boost in makeup of the locker room. Pretty sure he'll be a good player; certain he'll be a great teammate. https://t.co/E6yMUGVy5X
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) June 18, 2017
Mitchell is mocked by Draft Express to go to the Charlotte Hornets with the 11th pick and is their 11th ranked prospect, so the Pistons may need some breaks to go their way for him to drop to them. Per Ellis, he has worked out for the Sacramento Kings, who have the fifth and 10th picks, and the Hornets. He’ll work out for the New York Knicks (who pick eighth) and the Dallas Mavericks (who pick ninth) this week.
Next: Detroit Pistons draft targets: Guard edition
If Mitchell is still on the board by the time the Pistons pick at 12, he may be the most likely selection for the organization.