Going into the second night of the NBA Draft, there was a good chance that former Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal was going to hear his name called. In fact, most were certain that his name was going to be called when head coach Mike Young flew to Brooklyn, New York, to be with Lawal and his family in the Green Room.
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Most mock drafts had Lawal going in the second half of the round, and that ended up being the case. With the 48th pick, the Dallas Mavericks and new head coach Dusty May selected Lawal to complete his dream of being drafted after not picking up the game of basketball until he was just 16 years old. Now 23, he'll begin his quest to make a big enough impression to make the opening night roster next season for Dallas.
Bleacher Report drops disappointing draft grade for Tobi Lawal
There is no doubt that Lawal has some work to do and some areas of his game that need to be fine-tuned for him to play in the NBA. His athletic ability is not a question, nor is his ability to rebound the ball and alter shots around the hoop with his wingspan. However, one potential roadblock is his game on the offensive end. Bleacher Report delivered a disappointing grade for the Mavericks' pick of Lawal, giving it a C+.
"He is already 23 years old, but he lacks the polish you'd normally see in a prospect that age, since he didn't pick up the sport until he was 16. His jumper is very much a work in progress, and his handle is nonexistent. He'll need a lot of help from playmakers, and Kyrie Irving certainly checks that box. But he also has Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II to leapfrog if he wants to earn minutes,'' Bleacher Report wrote.
Again, nobody is denying that Lawal's offensive game needs some work. His numbers from the floor and free throw reflect that; however, playing with Kyrie Irving could create a nice combination of lobbing the ball and dunking it. Lawal could become a highlight-reel dunker, but there is more to that in the NBA.
There is a reason why Lawal was picked by Dallas, the athletic ability is through the roof, and with some work, he could make an impact at some point. Bleacher Report did mention that Lawal could be a potential candidate for the Slam Dunk contest All-Star Weekend, which is something that Hokies fans would love. Given Lawal's story, this is a disappointing grade.
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