(NBA) Draft or Pass: Mario Hezonja

Over the next few weeks leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft we’ll be reviewing some of the top prospects slated to be drafted before or around the No. 7 overall pick, currently owned by the Denver Nuggets. Because abundant backdrop on each of these players can be found across the Internet, our goal is not to recycle statistics, personal upbringing stories or opinions held by the general public, but rather to interpret the data and ultimately determine whether the Nuggets should draft or pass on these future NBA-check collectors.

In BSN’s sixth Draft or Pass article we take a look at one of the more polarizing prospects in the upcoming draft, Mario Hezonja.

Dimensions

20 years old | 6-8 | 200 pounds | Shooting Guard | F.C. Barcelona

Rundown

Mario Hezonja (also known as “Super Mario” or “Dave Franco,” as some in the Denver media have dubbed him) is projected by many experts to be the first or second European player off the board in the 2015 NBA Draft. He’s a pure shooting guard from Croatia who currently plays on one of Europe’s best teams, F.C. Barcelona. Hezonja comes with an impressive skill set that blends what is arguably the best jumper in his class with elite athleticism and the confidence and charisma that have some pundits foreseeing him as a potential All-Star in the future.

Why He’ll Succeed

On the surface Hezonja checks off a lot of boxes you’re looking for in a modern NBA wing. He’s an NBA-level athlete who can get up to the rafters and grab a lob but also finish in the lane through contact. Hezonja has good form, a consistent release on his jumper and is shooting an impressive 38 percent from three-point range this season. He’s great in the half court as well, either curling or flaring off pin-downs, and has an arsenal of moves he uses to create space off the dribble. Despite playing on a veteran F.C. Barcelona team that only allots him 15 minutes per game, Hezonja plays in a more complex offense than he would have seen in college and has experience running intricate sets that contain similar elements to what he’ll see in whichever NBA offense he plays in.

Currently, Hezonja’s not considered a plus defender but his body type and lateral quickness give him a lot of potential to one day be two-way wing and develop in a similar way Klay Thompson has. He’s in many ways unlike your modern European prospect in that his athleticism and toughness prove he’s ready to contribute to an NBA team right now so whoever drafts him shouldn’t have to wait a year or two to reap his benefits. Furthermore, Hezonja has a reportedly uncanny work-ethic. He’s got a desire to be one of the best and has gained a reputation as a “gym rat.”

Why He’ll Fail

Hezonja’s a showman, and although his flare and knack for producing a highlight reel moment are attractive and allude to his star potential — the kind general manager Tim Connelly and president Josh Kroenke salivate over — they’re also his achilles heel. Hezonja isnt necessarily a selfish player but he does look to score first and sometimes will pass up an open teammate for a contested shot. He’s someone who’s often going to look for the jaw-dropping play even if there’s an easier option available. Hezonja’s a little loose with his handle in transition and isn’t that creative with the ball in the halfcourt, which becomes apparent when he struggles to get by his defender in one-on-one situations.

Defensibly, Hezonja is inconsistent. He tends to lose focus when he’s off the ball and can routinely miss weak-side rotations. When he’s on the ball, Hezonja has yet to show great footwork and positioning defending pick and rolls, gets distracted and comes up from his stance too often and his lazy close-outs produce open lanes for the offense. The rap on Hezonja is that his offense determines his defense, meaning if he’s in rhythm offensively he’s going to bring more effort on the other end of the floor. That’s a scary label to think about, especially if he struggles initially on the offensive end his first year — as many rookies do — and his career arc starts looking more like J.R. Smith and less like the All-Star he could be.

Draft or Pass?

By all accounts Hezonja passes the eye test for an NBA prospect. He jumps off the screen in comparison to the rest of his teammates in terms of his athleticism, potential and shot-making ability. His jumper is NBA-ready, his skill set should get him on the floor for Game 1 of next season and his charisma and flare for the dramatic would seemingly fit well in a league that caters to those qualities. Yes, Hezonja forces things at times and makes sure to “get his” when he’s on the floor, but that’s somewhat understandable only playing 15 minutes a night on a loaded Barcelona squad. European prospects are still difficult to project at the next level and Hezonja is no different; however, his work ethic — which has never been in question — is something that is at least comforting when evaluating him. He could also fit in well with the Nuggets’ European contingent of Danilo Gallinari, Joffrey Lauvergne, 2014 second-round pick Nikola Jokic and of course Jusuf Nurkic who last week tweeted out his approval of a Hezonja dunk. From everything I’ve read, Hezonja wants to be the best and has the drive and work ethic to someday reach his potential.  Because of that, Hezonja is a “draft,” and depending on how the cards fall on draft night he could very well be the Nuggets’ selection at No. 7 overall.