NBA Draft 2012 Prospect Profile: Tony Wroten

Orlando Pinstriped Post turns its attention to the 2012 NBA Draft with a look at mid-tier draft prospects who might be available when the Orlando Magic select 19th overall. Previously in the series: Meyers Leonard, Terrence Jones, Arnett Moultrie, Moe Harkless, and Doron Lamb.

Washington Huskies guard Tony Wroten enters the 2012 NBA Draft as an intriguing late-lottery prospect. In his lone season at UW, Wroten earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors and was named to the All-Conference Team. It's easy to understand why: Wroten scored 16 points per game in just 30.3 minutes, pulling in five rebounds from the backcourt, dishing 3.7 assists, grabbing 1.9 steals... and committing a whopping 3.8 turnovers.

For all his production, the Seattle native--the latest in a long line of score-first guards to come from the Pacific Northwest--comes with some red flags, which red flags certainly include those turnover numbers. Wroten also struggles mightily going to his right, which deficiency is on full display in this brilliant scouting video Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress assembled, with help from Wroten himself and Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar. At the NBA level, defenses will take away the southpaw's dominant hand and force him right. As Schmitz notes in the film, Wroten is willing to go right, but only in order to set up another dribble move to go back to his left. And he cannot finish with his off hand at the rim.

Another concern for Wroten is his shooting stroke. He connected on just 16.1 percent of his three-pointers in Washington, and shot an abysmal 58.3 percent from the free-throw line.

What Wroten lacks in shot mechanics and off-hand skills he makes up for with his athleticism and other physical gifts. A combo guard, he measured 6-foot-6 in shoes, so he has NBA size for either guard position. His speed, first step, and elusiveness are pluses.

Why he fits for Orlando:
The single weakest attribute of the Magic, as presently constructed, is their utter lack of shot-creators. Jameer Nelson showed in the postseason that he's perhaps capable of creating his shot more than he does ordinarily, but apart from him, Orlando's mainly a team of stand-still shooters. There's no question Wroten can get his own offense. And at 19, he has plenty of room to grow.

Why he's not a fit for Orlando:
Questions about Wroten's shot and off-hand dribble ability will make him a somewhat risky pick for any team. It's not hard to envision NBA defenses simply playing off him in order to force him to shoot, effectively minimizing his dribble-drive game. And floor spacing is at a premium for Orlando, which, at the moment, employs the league's most dominant center in Dwight Howard.

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