Countdown to the NBA Draft: Melo Trimble

With the 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick, the CelticsLife hive-mind selects: Melo Trimble.


At first glance, it might seem ridiculous to use a pick this late in the draft on a position that's already severely over-represented on the Boston Celtics' roster, given most general managers tend to take risks on high-upside guys with a fair amount of risk, usually at positions of need, just in case they get lucky. And while Trimble, a junior point guard out of Maryland, is by no means playing at a position of need, he is good enough at scoring and passing that he should be taken if still available this late in the draft.



Trimble was seen as a potential lottery pick after his sophomore season, but returned to school after disappointing results from the 2016 NBA Draft Combine. Upper-body weakness, a tendency to turn the ball over, and a surprisingly short wingspan (6'2) for his height, an inch taller, combine to give Trimble problems against bigger, faster competition like he'll face in the NBA, but his fearless demeanor, relentless attack on both ends of the court, and proficiency in the pick-and-roll suggest he has a future as a solid backup who could become a low-end starter with improved ball control and conditioning. His shot is solid, with NBA three-point range, but he also has a bad habit of playing down to weaker opponents.


All in all, Trimble would be a fantastic choice this late if available - but there's a very good chance the picks will either be packaged or otherwise moved for fewer or future assets, as more than a few of noted. If Trimble was selected, finding a way to stash him overseas (or even domestically, as the Oklahoma City Thunder did with Josh Heustis) would be imperative with the roster/cap situation being what it is.





RUNNER UP: AMIDA BRIMAH
Although the competition for first and second place weren't even close - Trimble beat out Brimah by 40% of the vote - the difference between second and third was only 1% apart, with Brimah narrowly beating out Aleksandar Vezenkov by the thinnest of margins. Vezenkoff's scoring and relative maturity for his age - just 21 - with a half-decade of pro experience under his belt overseas was likely a selling point, though Brimah's unearthly rim protection and local status as a UConn player gave him a slight edge for second place. Brimah, who is oozing potential as a shot eraser, is only an average rebounder (about 6 a game this year) with limited offensive capabilities away from the basket, but would be a great project for a longer-term stash situation if available in this range.


TOP WRITE IN: HASSAN MARTIN
Martin, a 6'7 combo forward playing for Rhode Island, is not unlike Brimah in that he's an accomplished shot-blocker with limited offensive skills, though slightly better at getting rebounds and scoring away from the basket, and slightly worse at blocking or altering shots. His size would limit his effectiveness in the NBA to an extent, though he could play his way into a Montrezl Harrell-type of role with some increased depth of shooting added to his game.
BEST HIVE-MIND ANALYSIS


OTHER OPTIONS NOTED


For more stories about the NBA Draft, click here. For more by Justin, click here.





Photo via Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports
Data via sports-reference.com, draftexpress.com and nbadraft.net
Follow Justin at @justinquinnn


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