It's no secret that this year's NBA Draft isn't filled with many star-studded prospects.
But that doesn't mean teams can't draft a player with specific skills that will aid them, especially with the proper team scouting.
Rob Dillingham Scouting Report
There's also certain players that jump out when watching film. One player that easily draws attention is Kentucky Wildcats guard, Rob Dillingham. His Instagram username is @robwithdashifts, which is very fitting for Dillingham. He is very shifty off the dribble, which makes creating offense easy for him.
Dillingham has had notoriety starting on the high school level, being highlighted on social media for his offensive game and dribble package. He was one of the most exciting players in college, especially playing for a major program in Kentucky, being coached by John Calipari.
Last season, Dillingham was a spark plug off the bench for the Wildcats in his 32 games played, with averages of 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He also had impressive shooting splits, making 47 percent of his shots from the field and shooting 44 percent from three-point range. He won the SEC Sixth Man of the Year and was selected to the All-SEC second team.
His ability to accelerate off the dribble and create separation from defenders will tremendously help compete on the NBA level, which is why a case can be made that Dillingham can end up being the best offensive prospect in his draft class.
What also stands out about Dillingham is his creativity when finishing around the basket. He's had some acrobatic finishes in college. Though that might not immediately translate to the NBA just yet, the potential is there.
While there are exciting aspects about Dillingham's game, he also has some question marks.
At the NBA Draft Combine, he measured in at 6'1" without shoes, and has a 6'3" wingspan. He's also 164 pounds, which is very light. Dillingham will have to put on some more weight in order to not only be a capable defender when guarding other guards, but also being able to absorb contact when driving to the basket.
Though he has great offensive strengths, Dillingham needs to improve on the defensive end. Being the point of attack on defense doesn't help when trying to win games.
Dillingham definitely has the motor and will compete on the defensive end. He averaged one steal at Kentucky, and can get feisty.
Dillingham is listed as a point guard, but his playmaking abilities can still improve. With his quickness and ability to get by defenders, there's a good chance that Dillingham makes greater strides when it comes to leading an offense. Though he's very likely to have the combo guard tag placed on him (Lou Williams, Immanuel Quickley, Bones Hyland), there's a chance that he can be a lead guard in a couple of years.
Player Comparison
A player that comes to mind when thinking of Dillingham's abilities and size is former NBA guard, Brandon Jennings. During his NBA tenure, Jennings was an exciting guard, who utilized his speed and ball-handling skills to be an impactful player on offense. They also have a similar built, as Jennings was listed at 6'1" and weighed 170 pounds during his career.
As a rookie, Jennings dropped 55 points in only his third NBA game, which is the fifth most points scored by a rookie in a single game.
Though he was never an All-Star and faced some injuries in his nine year NBA career, Jennings was always a threat during his prime years with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons, and had the ability to get really hot shooting the ball.
Dillingham is already a better three-point shooter and has a great shot to be a better all-around shooter than Jennings, who shot 38 percent from the field during his career.
The career averages of Jennings are 14.1 points, 3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. At the very least, these are solid numbers for a starting guard. Dillingham might exceed expectations and be one of the best guards in the league one day, but if his trajectory is Brandon Jennings, that's not bad at all.
Draft Projection
In recent mock drafts that have been released by numerous publications, Dillingham is seen at the lower end of the lottery, typically from ranges of 8-13.
Evaluating Dillingham's game and what he can bring to the table, there are a couple of potential best fits for him.
What seems like a no-brainer when it comes to fit is the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have the fourth and eight pick in the draft. Using one of those picks, likely the eighth, would be a smart idea.
What the Spurs lack is burst on offense. Of course they have Victor Wembanyama, who is indeed an alien, but he can use another running mate on offense. The Spurs ranked 26th in offensive rating and 23rd in points per game last season.
Bringing Dillingham will help expand the offense and the Spurs continue to build their young core. Being coached by Gregg Popovich would be a great for Dillingham, as he would learn from one of the greatest coaches ever.
Add that with the Spurs having a great defender in Wembanyama, along with other solid wing defenders such as Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell, San Antonio seems like a suitable destination for Dillingham.
Wherever Dillingham does get drafted, he has the skills to improve a team's offense right away and it wouldn't be surprising if Dillingham ends up being the best offensive player in this draft class.
