The Big Board 2020: Devin Vassell (Or, is the Hitch Real?)

The 2020 NBA Draft is starting to sneak up on everybody.  Coverage has started to ramp up with everyone continuing to groupthink into a consensus of a “top three” consisting of James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball, and Anthony Edwards.  Despite having more time than ever to dissect film, perform interviews (albeit mostly socially distanced or virtually), and watch workouts, the top of the draft board seems to only become more rigid and locked in.  Teams at the top of the draft will always look for the best prospects.  While the “top three” seem to have the most upside according to the longest groupthink of NBA Draft preparation, this may be the year to go for the “high floor” player against traditional thinking.

Enter Devin Vassell, who was arguably the best three & D player in the country with the physical tools to guard 1-4 with his length and basketball IQ.  Vassell has been all over the projections, with some folks liking him in the top 5 while others have him as a mid-to-late lottery talent.  Vassell isn’t on top of most draft boards because he’s viewed as a more finished product with limited upside.  In fact, the biggest news of Vassell during the pre-draft process is a 20 second clip (now deleted from his camp but presented below) of an unorthodox shooting motion that seemed like a trebuchet compared to his two years of film at Florida State.

The Breakdown: Devin Vassell; Sophomore; Age: 20.2 (Born August 23, 2000); Height:6’7”; Weight: 194 pounds; Wingspan: 6’10”; College: Florida State; Splits: 28.8 minutes, 12.7 Points, Shooting Splits: (49%/42%/74%), 3.2 Rebounds, 1.6 Assists, 1.0 Blocks, 1.4 Steals, 0.8 Turnovers, 1.9 Fouls.

Vassell can immediately contribute in the NBA from day one.  His defense along with shooting allows him to fit every rotation.  His defense is his best attribute and although the “hitch” trebuchet shot video might scare some, he absolutely has a body of work of knocking down the long ball (42% on 3.5 attempts per game).

Kevin O’Connor at the Ringer is one of the few who are higher on Vassell, having him 7th on his big board. O’Connor, like others who are a fan of Vassell point out his defensive capabilities first.

• Elite team defender who will immediately help any NBA rotation. He is hyper-alert on rotations, disrupts opponents’ actions with timely digs, and deters shooters from firing with fundamental closeouts.

• Never stops hustling. Even when a play seems over, he’ll fly out of nowhere for a chase-down block or last-second deflection.

• Impactful on-ball defender with the right blend of agility and length to defend guards and wings, though he must get stronger.

Devin seems like a coach’s dream of a player.  His highlights include numerous hustle plays such as chase down blocks in addition to just constant defensive pressure.  In addition to his great individual ability to stay in front with his long and wiry frame, Vassell in my opinion is an even better team defender, showing advanced defensive IQ and covering for teammates when required.

Offensively, while his shooting is good, I was actually a little surprised that his free throw percentage was much lower for someone shooting over 40% from deep.  Typically the FT% is a strong indicator of good mechanics and touch. Combined with his shooting, another strength in Vassell’s game is that he seems to be always moving or cutting off the ball.  His handle and playmaking will never be a core strength but there were strong flashes and moments of vision and awareness that are rare for younger prospects.

There are some things that hold Vassell back as well.  Devin is definitely not an elite athlete.  He seems to be more of a “smooth” vs. explosive burst player.  In addition, his wiry frame could limit his defensive upside against larger players in the NBA.  Though he improved significantly on his shot after a relatively lackluster freshman year (only 10 mpg and 44% from the field), Vassell’s offensive game mostly limited to cuts, secondary/tertiary playmaking, and catch-and-shoot opportunities.

Watching Devin’s film in the half-court, it’s clear that his defense is leaps and bounds ahead of his offensive game.  He is is almost always in the right position and makes strong decisions on stunt/recovers while also playing well through screens.  Offensively, Vassell did expand to handle a little bit more but his best offense came when he dribbled 1-2 times max.  In transition, Vassell demonstrates his smooth game while also being a pull-up threat, however he’s a two-foot jumper indicating a lack of explosiveness.

Despite the weaknesses, there are many reasons why the Seminole guard would be an ideal fit for the Cavaliers: the length, the shooting, the offensive efficiency off-ball, but most importantly the defensive acumen and capabilities.  Vassell is a strong fit for all teams in the NBA and absolutely would be a foundational piece to help masks the weaknesses of some of the previous Cavs lottery picks.

How he’d fit on the Cavs

Vassell’s defense would likely make him the best wing defender on the team from day one.  Although he’s wiry, at least he is over six-six feet with the ability to intelligently impact the game without needing the ball in his hands.  Like most younger teams that want to run, Vassell could fit as a floor spacer and transition lane filler  In addition, his fit is universal and he can literally play with any of Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr., and Dylan Windler.

Given that his ultimate strength is defense, he’d help stop the bleeding from the Sexton/Garland backcourt by potentially playing with both of them or better yet, providing another key player to mix and match a more effective combination of players.

What he Should be Working On:

Get back to the “old shooting form”.  In all seriousness, the hirch video is overblown but adding strength and handles should be the most important things to work on.  Being more effective in the half-court game is also something to work on while maximizing burstiness and consistency.

Why the Cavs Should (or Shouldn’t) draft him.

Vassell is a very high floor player and it’s hard to see him not working out in the NBA.  Does he have untapped potential we all are missing?  If he does, it may come in the form of better than expected shooting or an expansion of being a secondary playmaker.  Vassell’s best case to me is a poor man’s Klay Thompson.  On the right team that can get Vassell in his spots, he will look better than he is while on a team that can’t get him looks, he may look worse than who is actually is as a offensive player.  That being said, his defense is what will carry him through his offensive lulls in the NBA.  As a player who came off the bench as a freshman to playing major minutes after improving game, that’s a mindset and experience I look at with great respect.

Candidly, after digging in and watching more film, I’m less confident in Vassell’s offensive upside than before but I still strongly believe in his defensive tools while being a legit threat as a spot-up shooter.  Vassell’s motor and skillset should be highly coveted.  All in all, Vassell is a great consolation prize that will come in and make any team better, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.