The Celtics fan’s guide to falling in love with Kris Dunn
The 6-foot-4 guard out of Providence is a smart bet to help a team right away
The Basics:Position:
Point guard, shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 lbs
Age: 22
College: Providence
Year: Redshirt junior
The game: Dunn could have been a lottery pick last season, but he elected to return to Providence for one more year to refine his all-around game. In a draft that lacks a deep stash of pure point guards, Dunn should be the best option for an NBA team with a little bit of everything. He can score, dish, create his own shot and guard 2-3 different positions on the court. The 22-year-old’s size and athleticism make him a versatile commodity for any team’s backcourt, although his streaky shooting and high turnover rate could raise questions at the next level.
The statistics (2015-16 season): 16.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.2 apg, 44.8 FG%, 37.2 3PT%
NBA-ready skill: Playmaker. Outside of Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner, the Celtics lacked players that could reliably create their own shots last season and that’s one area in which Dunn thrives. Whether it’s attacking the basket in transition or effectively running a pick-and-roll, Dunn has shown the ability to create consistent opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Needs to improve: Turnover rate. Dunn committed 112 turnovers during his junior season, the 12th-highest total in the entire NCAA Division I player pool. His propensity to make careless passes and go for ‘home run’ plays will be exposed quickly at the NBA level if he doesn’t improve his decision-making.
The hype: Even though Dunn’s considered a potential No. 3 pick, several notable mock drafts have him going no higher than No. 5 overall as of the first week of June. The seasoned guard is a player ready to help teams now, but his ceiling is limited a bit by his age (22), compared to other top prospects. Many franchises (like the Celtics) also have a logjam at the guard spot already, making it tough to justify taking another without lining up trades to free up playing time at point. Last month, Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical reported Dunn’s camp doesn’t want him drafted by the Suns or Celtics due to the crowded backcourt situations with those teams.
Despite those warning signs, draft experts are high on Dunn’s abilities, with Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports calling him, “the best guard in this draft, an athletic monster at the point guard position who has the size, length, and speed to affect the game at both ends of the floor.”
The highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiABDLhPn1w
The Celtics’ historical comp: Dunn has been compared to Rajon Rondo for his passing and rebounding ability in some circles, but I feel like Tony Allen (pre 2006 ACL tear) is a better match. Allen could fill up the box score as an offensive sparkplug and defensive stopper before he tore up his knee and Dunn has the same size and physical attributes to wreak the same kind of havoc, with a better jump shot to boot.
Bust potential: Dunn’s chances of flopping entirely are lower than most prospects due to his strong all-around skill set, but his turnover rate, average finishing ability and questionable shot mechanics could keep him from becoming an above-average floor general in the league. His decision making and defensive discipline also need to be addressed, otherwise the 6-foot-4 guard could be no better than a backup point guard.
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